History
Main article: History of Ahmedabad
Map of Ahmedabad, depicted in a miniature style painting on a cloth, circa 19th century
Archaeological evidence suggests that the area around Ahmedabad has been inhabited since the 11th century, when it was known as Ashapalli or Ashaval.[6] At that time, Karandev I, the Solanki ruler of Anhilwara (modern Patan), waged a successful war against the Bhil king of Ashaval,[7] and established a city called Karnavati located at the present time area of Maninagar close to the river Sabarmati. Solanki rule lasted until the 13th century, when Gujarat came under the control of the Vaghela dynasty of Dholka and Karnavati was conquered by the Sultanate of Delhi. In 1411, the rule of the Muzaffarid dynasty was established in Gujarat. According to legend, Sultan Ahmed Shah, while camping on the banks of the River Sabarmati, saw a hare chasing a dog. Impressed by this act of bravery, the Sultan, who had been looking for a place to build his new capital, decided to locate the capital at this forest area close by to Karnavati right on the river bank and christened it Ahmedabad.[8]
In 1487, Mahmud Begada, the grandson of Ahmed Shah, fortified the city with an outer wall 10 km (6 miles) in circumference and consisting of twelve gates, 189 bastions and over 6,000 battlements.[9] Ahmedabad was ruled by the Muzaffarid dynasty until 1573 when Gujarat was conquered by the Mughal emperor Akbar. During the Mughal reign, Ahmedabad became one of the Empire's thriving centres of trade, mainly in textiles, which were exported to as far as Europe. The Mughal ruler Shahjahan spent the prime of his life in the city, sponsoring the construction of the Moti Shahi Mahal in Shahibaug. During a drought, the Deccan Famine of 1630-32 affected the city, as did famines in 1650 and 1686.[10] Ahmedabad remained the provincial headquarter of the Mughals until 1758, when Mughals surrendered the city to the Marathas.[11] During Maratha governance, the city lost some of its past glory, and was at the center of contention between two Maratha clans—The Peshwa of Poona and the Gaekwad of Baroda.[12] The British East India Company took over the city in 1818 as a part of the conquest of India. A military cantonment was established in 1824 and a municipal government in 1858. In 1864, a railway link between Ahmedabad and Mumbai (then Bombay) was established by the Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway (BB&CI), making Ahmedabad an important junction in the traffic and trade between northern and southern India. Large numbers of people migrated from rural areas to work in textile mills, establishing a robust industry.
The Sabarmati Ashram, home of Mahatma Gandhi
The Indian independence movement developed strong roots in the city when, in 1915, Mahatma Gandhi established two ashrams — the Kochrab Ashram near Paldi in 1915 and the Satyagraha Ashram (now Sabarmati Ashram) on the banks of the Sabarmati in 1917 — that would become centres of intense nationalist activities. During the mass protests against the Rowlatt Act in 1919, textile workers burned down 51 government buildings across the city in protest at a British attempt to extend wartime regulations after the First World War.[13] In the 1920s, textile workers and teachers went on strike, demanding civil rights and better pay and working conditions. In 1930, Gandhi initiated the Salt Satyagraha from Ahmedabad by embarking from his ashram on the famous Dandi Salt March. The city administration and economic institutions were rendered functionless by the large masses of people who took to the streets in peaceful protests in the early 1930s, and again in 1942 during the Quit India movement. Following independence and the partition of India in 1947, the city was scarred by intense communal violence that broke out between Hindus and Muslims.
Ahmedabad became the capital of the new state of Gujarat after the bifurcation of the State of Bombay on 1 May 1960. During that period, a large number of educational and research institutions were founded in the city, making it a major centre of higher education, science and technology. Ahmedabad's economic base was diversified with the establishment of heavy and chemical industries in its vicinity around the same period. But the growth in the next two decades was punctuated by political events in and around the city. In 1974, Ahmedabad occupied the centre stage in national politics with the launch of the Nav Nirman agitation — a protest against a 20% hike in the hostel food fees at the L.D. College of Engineering that snowballed into a mass agitation against general corruption to remove Chimanbhai Patel, then-chief minister of Gujarat.[14] In the 1980s, a reservation policy was introduced in the country, which led to anti-reservation protests in 1981 and 1985. The protests witnessed violent clashes between people belonging to various castes.[15]
2002 communal riots in Ahmedabad between Hindus and Muslims
On 26 January 2001 a devastating earthquake struck the city, centred near Bhuj, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale. As many as 50 multistory buildings collapsed, killing 752 people and devastating the city's infrastructure.[16] The following year, communal riots between Hindus and Muslims spread to Ahmedabad, paralysing the city for more than a month. The crisis resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,044 people across the state.[17] The displacement of thousands of Muslims led to the erection of refugee camps around the city. On 26 July 2008 a series of seventeen bomb blasts rocked the city, killing and injuring several people.[18]
In recent years, the effects of liberalization of the Indian economy has energized the city's economy towards tertiary sector activities like commerce, communication, construction activities.[4] The city has witnessed the establishment of scientific and service industries, the expansion of the information technology sector, and significant improvements in transportation and communications. Ahmedabad's population is growing, which has resulted in a construction and housing boom.[19]
[edit] Geography and climate
Main article: Geography of Ahmedabad
River Sabarmati
Vastrapur Lake
Ahmedabad is located at 23.03° N 72.58° E in western India at an elevation of 53 metres (174 ft). The city sits on the banks of the River Sabarmati, in north-central Gujarat. It spans an area of 205 km² (79.15 square miles). The Sabarmati frequently dries up in the summer, leaving only a small stream of water. The city is located in a sandy and dry area. Many of the localities and roads are often spread in sand, reflecting the intensifying fallout caused by deforestation. The steady expansion of the Rann of Kutch threatens to increase desertification around the city area and much of the state. Except for the small hills of Thaltej-Jodhpur Tekra, the city is almost flat. Two lakes are within the city's limits — Kankaria Lake and Vastrapur Lake. Kankaria lake, in the neighbourhood of Maninagar, is an artificial lake developed by the Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aybak, in 1451.[20] According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the town falls under seismic zone-III, in a scale of I to V (in order of increasing proneness to earthquakes)[21]
There are three main seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Aside from the monsoon season, the climate is dry. The weather is hot through the months of March to June — the average summer maximum is 36 °C (97 °F), and the average minimum is 23 °C (73 °F). From November to February, the average maximum temperature is 30 °C (85 °F), the average minimum is 15 °C (59 °F), and the climate is extremely dry. Cold northerly winds are responsible for a mild chill in January. The southwest monsoon brings a humid climate from mid-June to mid-September. The average rainfall is 93.2 cm (36.7 inches), but infrequent heavy torrential rains cause the river to flood. The highest temperature recorded is 47 °C (116.6 °F) and the lowest is 5 °C (41 °F).[22] In recent years, Ahmedabad has suffered from increasing air, water and soil pollution from neighbouring industrial areas and textile mills.
Ahmedabad is divided by the Sabarmati into two physically distinct eastern and western regions. The eastern bank of the river houses the old city, which includes the central town of Bhadra. This part of Ahmedabad is characterised by packed bazaars, the clustered and barricaded pol system of close clustered buildings, and numerous places of worship. It houses the main railway station, the General Post Office, and few buildings of the Muzaffarid and British eras. The colonial period saw the expansion of the city to the western side of Sabarmati, facilitated by the construction of Ellis Bridge in 1875 and later with the modern Nehru Bridge. This part of the city houses educational institutions, modern buildings, well-planned residential areas, shopping malls, multiplexes and new business districts centred around some roads like Ashram Road and Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway.[23]
[edit] Civic administration
The Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad is administered by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Some of the regions surrounding the city are administered by the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). The AMC was established in July 1950 under the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act, 1949. For administrative purposes, the city is divided into 43 wards.[24] City is divided into 5 zones and has total 43 wards. Citizens elect corporators during civic elections. At present the corporation consists of 129 corporators elected from 43 wards. These 129 corporators elect a mayor and deputy mayor for a turn of two and a half years.[4][25][26] Executive powers are vested in the municipal commissioner, who is an IAS officer appointed by the Gujarat state government. The mayor is responsible for the day-to-day running of the municipal school board, the city bus service, the municipal hospital, and the city library.[4] The city serves as the headquarters of Ahmedabad district and as the seat of the Gujarat High Court. The Ahmedabad city police are headed by a Police Commissioner, an Indian Police Service officer.[27] Ahmedabad's Kamla Nehru Zoological Park features endangered species like flamingoes, caracal, asiatic wolf, chinkara and many more.[28] AMC has initiated the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project with an of objective environmental improvement with provision of slum rehabilitation for poor living on the river banks.
Electricity in the city is provided by Torrent Power group, previously a state-run corporation. The city elects one member to the Lok Sabha and seven to the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha. Two main political parties have won a significant number of seats in elections — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC). Of the thirteen assembly seats of Ahmedabad, ten were won by the BJP and three by the Congress Party during the legislative elections in 2007.[29] In the 2005 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation elections, the BJP won 96 seats, 32 seats went to the Congress, and one seat went to an independent candidate.[30]
[edit] Economy
Mills in Ahmedabad
Traditional clothes called Chania Cholis being sold at Law Garden
Main article: Economy of Ahmedabad
In the 19th century, the textile and garments industry received strong capital investment. On 30 May 1861 Ranchhodlal Chhotalal founded the first Indian textile mill, the Ahmedabad Spinning and Weaving Company Limited.[31] This was followed by the establishment of a series of textile mills such as the Calico Mills and Arvind Mills. By 1905 there were about 33 textile mills in the city. [32] The textile industry further expanded rapidly during the First World War, and benefited from the influence of Mahatma Gandhi's Swadeshi movement, which promoted the purchase of Indian-made goods.[33]
Ahmedabad has a thriving chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry. Two of the biggest pharmaceutical companies of India — Zydus Cadila and Torrent Pharmaceuticals — are based in the city. The city serves as the corporate headquarters of the Adani Group, which is a leading multinational trading and infrastructure development company. The Nirma group of industries, which runs a large number of detergent and chemical industrial units, has its corporate headquarters in the city. In recent year many foreign companies have set up their sales offices and production facilities in Ahmedabad. Amongst them are Bosch Rexroth, Germany (hydraulic components); Stork, Netherlands (textile machinery; joint venture with ATE, India's leading textile equipment trading house); Rollepaal, Netherlands (pipe extrusion equipment); and Johnson Pumps, Sweden.
The completion and operation of the Sardar Sarovar Project of dams and canals has improved the supply of potable water and electricity for the city. In recent years, the Gujarat government has increased investment in the modernisation of the city's infrastructure, providing for the construction of larger roads and improvements to water supply, electricity and communications. The information technology industry has developed significantly in Ahmedabad.[34] A NASSCOM survey in 2002 on the "Super Nine Indian Destinations" for IT-enabled services ranked Ahmedabad fifth among the top nine most competitive cities in the country.[19] City is the largest supplier of denim and one of the largest exporters of gems and jewelery in India.[4]
A diverse labour force of migrant workers from different parts of Gujarat and neighbouring states is integral to the economy of the city. These workers provide vital household labour and services for the city's large middle class. Ahmedabad plays a strong and significant role in providing commercial resources and market access for the economies of neighbouring cities. A majority of the working-age citizens of Ahmedabad are traders and business people. This has led to the creation of major mercantile corporations and artisan guilds that are a key influence on the economic life of Gujarat. The city's educational and industrial institutions have attracted students and young skilled workers from the rest of India.[35]
[edit] Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Ahmedabad
[show]Ahmedabad population
Census
Pop.
%±
1981
2,548,000
—
1991
3,312,200
30.0%
2001
4,362,900
31.7%
Source: Census of India[36]
As per the 2001 Indian census, the area under Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has a population of 3,520,085.[1] The population of the Ahmedabad urban agglomeration (which includes the region governed by AUDA) was 4,525,013.[1] The urban agglomeration accounts for 21.7% of Gujarat's urban population.[37] Ahmedabad has a literacy rate of 79.89%, which is the highest in Gujarat; 87.81% males and 71.12% females are literate.[38] According to the census for the Ninth Plan, there are 30,737 rural families living in Ahmedabad. Of those, 5.41% (1663 families) live below the poverty line.[39] Approximately 440,000 people live in slums within the city.[40] Ahmedabad is home to a large population of Vanias (i.e., traders), belonging to the Vaishnava sect of Hinduism and the sects of Jainism. Most of the residents of Ahmedabad are native Gujaratis. Hindi and English are commonly spoken, especially in commerce, education, politics and government.
According to National Crime Records Bureau(NCRB) report of 2003, Ahmedabad ranks 12th in the list of 35 Indian cities with a population of more than 10 lakh in the crime rate ratio.[41] City's main jail is Sabarmati Central Jail.[42]
Magen Abraham Synagogue in Ahmedabad
Since its founding, the city has attracted migrant workers from other areas of Gujarat, including Kutch and Saurashtra, and from the neighbouring states of Rajasthan and Maharashtra as well as the Pakistani province of Sindh. There is a sizeable population of Punjabis, Marathis, Telugu, Tamils, Sindhis, Malayalis and Marwaris, who bring their native language and culture to the city. The city is home to some 2000 Parsis and some 300 members of Bene Israel Jews community.[43][44] There are 2273 registered NRI's from Ahmedabad.[45] Slightly less than half of all real estate in Ahmedabad is owned by "community organizations" (i.e. cooperatives), and "the spatial growth of the city is to the extent contribution of these organizations."[46] Ahmedabad Cantonment also provides residential zones for Indian Army officials.[47]
[edit] Culture
Main article: Culture of Ahmedabad
Jumma Masjid, Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad enjoys a thriving cultural tradition, being the centre of Gujarati cultural activities and diverse traditions of different ethnic and religious communities. Popular celebrations and observances include Uttarayan — an annual kite-flying day on 14 January. The nine nights of Navratri are celebrated with people performing Garba — the folk dance of Gujarat — at venues across the city. The festival of lights — Deepavali is celebrated with the lighting of lamps in every house, the decorating the floors with the rangoli and the bursting of firecrackers. Other festivals such as Holi, Eid ul-Fitr and Christmas are celebrated with enthusiasm. The annual Rath Yatra procession on the Ashadh-sud-bij date of the Hindu calendar and the procession of Tajia during the Muslim holy month of Muharram are integral parts of the city's culture.
The people of Ahmedabad enjoy rich culinary traditions. The most popular form of meal — a typical Gujarati thali (meal) — consists of rotli, dal, rice and Shaak (cooked vegetables, sometimes with curry), with accompaniments of pickles and roasted papads. Popular beverages include buttermilk and tea; sweet dishes include laddoos and mango. There are many restaurants, which serve a wide array of Indian and international cuisines. Most of the food outlets serve only vegetarian food, as a strong tradition of vegetarianism is maintained by the city's Jain and Hindu communities. The first all-vegetarian Pizza Hut in the world opened in Ahmedabad.[48]
The architectural history of Ahmedabad stretches across the last millennium. The Sultanate fused Hindu craftsmanship with Islamic architecture, giving rise to the Indo-Saracenic style. Many mosques in the city are built in this fashion. [49] After independence modern buildings came up in Ahmedabad when renowned architects were given commissions in the city like Louis Kahn who designed the Indian Institute of Management; Le Corbusier who designed the Shodhan and Sarabhai Villas, the Sanskar Kendra and the Mill Owner's Association; and Buckminister Fuller who designed the Calico Dome. B. V. Doshi came to the city from Paris to supervise Le Corbusier's works and later set up the School of Architecture. His local masterpieces include Sangath, the Doshi-Hussain Gufa and the School of Architecture. Charles Correa, who became a partner of Doshi's, designed the Gandhi Ashram and Achut Kanvinde the Indian Textile Industries Research Association. Christopher Charles Benninger's first work, the Alliance Francaise, is located in the Ellis Bridge area. Hasmukh C. Patel, and his son Dr. Bimal Patel, are renowned architects of the city having designed the St. Xavier's High School Loyola Hall, Gujarat High Court and the Ahmedabad Management Association. Anant Raje recently designed a major addition to Louis Kahn's campus, the Indian Institute of Management.
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad
Parts of Ahmedabad are known for their speciality of folk art. The Paldi area is famous for shops selling works of embroidery from the Kutch and Saurashtra regions. The artisans of Rangeela pol are famous for making bandhinis (tie and dye work), while the cobbler shops of Madhupura sell traditional mojri footwear. High-quality idols of Ganesha and other religious icons are made in huge numbers in the Gulbai Tekra area. The shops at the Law Garden are famous for their mirror work handicraft. Victorian architecture is showcased in most college, railway station and government buildings, mainly constructed during the colonial period.
Many Gujarati intellectuals migrated to Ahmedabad due to its prosperity. Three main literary institutions were established in Ahmedabad for the promotion of Gujarati literature — Gujarat Vidhya Sabha, Gujarati Sahitya Parishad and Gujarat Sahitya Sabha. Musicians and instrumentalists from across the world come to perform at the popular classical music festival held each 1 January by the Saptak School of Music. The Sanskar Kendra — one of the many buildings in Ahmedabad designed by Le Corbusier — is a city museum depicting history, art, culture and architecture of Ahmedabad. The Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial have a permanent display of photographs, documents and other articles of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. The Calico Museum of Textiles has a large collection of Indian and international fabrics, garments and textiles. Ahmedabad maintains a strong popular literary tradition in large public libraries maintained by the literary societies, research and government institutions and colleges. The Hazrat Pir Mohammad Shah Library has a collection of rare original manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Sindhi and Turkish languages.[50]
[edit] Sports
Cricket stadium at the Sports Club of Gujarat
Cricket is the most popular sport in the city. Sardar Patel Stadium, built in 1982, hosts both one-day internationals and test matches.[51] The stadium also hosted the 1996 Cricket World Cup.[52] Ahmedabad also has a second cricket stadium at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Sports Club of Gujarat which is the home ground of the Gujarat cricket team that plays in domestic tournament of Ranji Trophy.[53] City is represented by Ahmedabad Rockets in Indian Cricket League which is played in Twenty20 format of the game. Other sports gaining popularity are field hockey, badminton, tennis, and squash. Ahmedabad currently has three golf courses.[54] Mithakhali Multi Sports Complex is being developed by the AMC to promote various indoor sports.[55] There has been a significant increase in recent years in the number of private sports clubs, gymkhanas, gymnasia and sports teams sponsored by corporations, private associations, schools and colleges. Young people congregate in the evenings to play cricket and football at numerous public and neighbourhood grounds. Recently Ahmedabad hosted national level games for roller skating and Table Tennis.[56] Kart racing is fast gaining popularity in the city, with facility of 380 meter long track based on Formula One concept.[57][58] In 2007, Ahmedabad hosted the 51st national level shooting games.[59] Geet Sethi, a five-time winner of the World Professional Billiards Championship and a recipient of India's highest sporting award, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, hails from Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad has produced cricketers such as Jasu Patel and Parthiv Patel who have been members of the Indian cricket team.[60][61] Tejas Bakre, a chess grandmaster, is from Ahmedabad.[62][63]
[edit] Transport
Bridge in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad is one of the six operating divisions of the Western Railway.[64] Railway lines connect the city to all towns in Gujarat and other major Indian cities. The Ahmedabad Railway Station is the city's main terminus; Ahmedabad's five other stations are Maninagar, Vatva, Gandhigram, Asarva and Sabarmati.[65] The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport serves both domestic and international flights to and from Ahmedabad and the neighboring cities of Gandhinagar, Mehsana and Nadiad. The airport connects the city with destinations across India and the world.[66]
National Highway 8, linking Delhi to Mumbai, passes though Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is connected to Vadodara through National Expressway 1, a 94 km (58 mi) long highway with only two exits. This expressway is part of the Golden Quadrilateral project.[67] Ahmedabad is directly connected by highways to Bhavnagar, Nadiad, Mehsana, Surendranagar, Bhuj, Rajkot and Gandhinagar.
S.G. Highway
The city's main traffic arteries are the Mahatma Gandhi Road, C. G. Road, the Jawaharlal Nehru Road, the Ashram Road and the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway (S.G. Highway). Auto rickshaws, share autos and buses are the most popular forms of public transport. The Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) runs the local bus service in the city. In 2005, AMTS began a drive to convert all of its petrol and diesel engine buses to run on compressed natural gas engines to reduce the effects of air pollution. AMTS runs 750 buses.[68] Bicycles and motorcycles are a popular medium of transport with the city's young people and students. The Ahmedabad BRTS project has been launched by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The project's first phase had a projected completion date of September 2007, but delays have pushed the date to August 2008.[69]
In 2001, Ahmedabad was ranked as the 4th most polluted city in India, out of 85 cities, by the Central Pollution Control Board. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board gave auto rickshaw drivers an incentive of Rs. 10,000 to convert all 37,733 auto rickshaws in Ahmedabad to cleaner burning compressed natural gas to reduce pollution. As a result, in 2008, Ahmedabad was ranked 50th most polluted city in India.[70]
[edit] Education
Main article: Education in Ahmedabad
The Gujarat University clock tower in Ahmedabad
Schools in Ahmedabad are run either by the municipal corporation, or privately by entities, trusts and corporations. Most schools are affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board. A few schools are affiliated to the Central Board for Secondary Education and International Baccalaureate . A large number of colleges in the city are affiliated with Gujarat University. Other deemed universities in Ahmedabad include the Nirma University of Science & Technology and the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University.[71] The Gujarat Vidyapith was established in 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi without a charter from the British Raj and became a deemed university in 1963.[72] Other institutions such as the Indian Institute of Management, the National Institute of Design, the Mudra Institute of Communications, the National Institute of Fashion Technology, the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, and the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology are located in Ahmedabad. Many national academic and scientific institutions, such as the Physical Research Laboratory and the Space Applications Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation, were established in the 1960s largely through the efforts of prominent astrophysicist and industrialist Vikram Sarabhai.[73] The Ahmedabad Management Association is a notable institution established to impart management training and experience to young students and professionals. A satellite campus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay is located at the Vishwakarma Engineering College campus in Chandkheda. The campus was opened with a plan to offer 100 courses in various technical disciplines.[74]
[edit] Media
Broadcasting tower of the All India Radio, Ahmedabad
Newspapers in Ahmedabad include English dailies such as The Times of India, Indian Express, DNA, Economic Times and Financial Express. Newspapers in vernacular languages (Gujarati and Hindi) include Divya Bhaskar, Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh, Rajasthan Patrika and Metro. A large number of magazines, periodicals and journals are published from Ahmedabad. The city is home to the historic Navajivan Publishing House — founded in 1919 by Mahatma Gandhi.[75] The Gujarat film and television industry has a small but significant presence in the city.
The state-owned All India Radio is broadcast both on the Medium Wave and FM bands in the city.[76] It competes with six private local FM stations — Radio Mirchi (98.3 MHz), Radio City (91.1 MHz), My fm (94.3 MHz), Radio One (95.0 MHz), Gyan Vaani (104.5 MHz) and S FM (93.51 MHz). Satellite radio was launched in the city by WorldSpace in 2005.[77] The state-owned television broadcaster Doordarshan provides free terrestrial channels, while two multi system operator — InCablenet and Siti Cable — provide a mix of Gujarati, Hindi, English and other regional channels via cable. Direct broadcast satellite is yet to gain popularity in Ahmedabad. A network of optical fibre cables connects almost the entire city. The city's telephone services are provided by landline and mobile operators such as BSNL, Reliance Infocomm, Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and Tata Indicom. Broadband Internet services are provided in most parts of the city by the telecom companies.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Fully Entertainment Place Near to Ahmedabad is Mount ABU & Ambaji
Mount Abu - The Mythological Beauty
Mount Abu situated at a average height of 1,219 mtr's above sea level is the oasis in the deserted land of Rajasthan and posses the honor of being the only hill-station in Rajasthan as well as north-west India, The world famous tourist destination is known for its Delwara Jain temples and natural beauty world over, situated amidst lush green forested hills on the highest peak in the Aravali range is also the summer capital for the Indian state of Rajasthan, home to lakes, waterfalls and green forests, the hill retreat, has a very cool and soothing climate thanks to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. Mount Abu with its word-class tourist facilities with hotels ranging from budget class to three star and heritage provides a great holiday escape and honeymoon attraction. Every year more then three million national and international tourists visit mount abu enjoying its scenic beauty, rich flora & fauna as well as the marble art of delwara jain temples. Mount Abu is declared closed area since 1965. Although, complete area of 328 sq. km. of Abu Hills is declared protected but officially 112.98 sq. km. is under unnotified sanctuary area (Anon., 2003). In shape, Mt. Abu Wildlife Sanctuary is long and narrow but the top spreads out into a picturesque plateau, which is about 19 km in length and 5-8 km in breadth. Once home to the meditating rishi and munis, the legend has it that Mount Abu is home to 33 crore Gods and Goddess. According to the legend the name Abu means son of Himalayas (or Ar-Booda, "the hill of wisdom"), deriving its name from Arbuada - the powerful serpent, which rescued Nandi the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. Mount Abu has been home, to many rishis and munis (sages and saints), including the famous Rishi Vashishtha, who is believed to have created four Agnikul Rajput clans, from a fire- pit, by performing a yagna or fire sacrifice, to protect the earth from the demons.
In historic times, Mount Abu was leased by the The East-India Company (British empire) from the Maharajah of Sirohi, Mount Abu was used as the headquarters for the resident of Rajputana until 1947, and as a sanatorium for troops.
How To Reach Mount Abu
Mount Abu is a well known hill-station in Rajasthan state of western India, located in Sirohi district, The mountain forms a distinct rocky plateau 22 km long by 9 km wide. Being a popular holiday destination the place is well connected to rest of the country.
To reach Mount Abu by Rail: Abu Road is the nearest railway station just 28 KM from the main city, Which is very well connected by rail routes to New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Mumbai. From Abu Road you can opt for state transport service (usually every hour) or Taxis on both sharing and private basis. To book car/taxi in advance visit here. To reach Mount Abu by Air: The nearest airport is Udaipur at a distance of 185 km, But Ahmedabad is having better connectivity and daily flights with other parts of the country and is just 221 KM from Mount Abu, from Ahmedabad or Udaipur you can book Taxi in advance. To reach Mount Abu by Road: Mount Abu is well connected by road with major cities of the country, nearest national highway no. 14 is just 24 KM's.
Major Tourist Spots
Dilwara Jain Temple
Nakki Lake
Sunset Point
AchalGarh
GuruShikhar
Adhar Devi
Trevor's Crocodile Park
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary
Gaumukh
AMBAJI TEMPLE NEAR MOUNT ABU.
About the temple
MAA AMBAJI
Gabbar Hill
At a distance of 65 Kms from Palanpur and 45 Kms from Mt. Abu near Gujarat Rajasthan border the religious town of Ambaji is located. This town is famous for the Maa Ambaji temple, one of the richest and holiest temple in Gujarat attracting lakhs of pilgrims from Gujarat and neighbouring Rajasthan every year. The original seat of Ambaji Mata is on Gabbar Hilltop, which is 3 Kms away from Ambaji town. Ambaji Mata temple is one of the 51 shakti peeths where it is believed the heart of Goddess Parvati fell.
Ambaji Mata temple at Gabbar is very ancient, origin of which is lost in antiquity. It is believed that Goddess Amba was one of the deities of Pre-Aryan race, which Aryans absorbed in their pantheon. On the Gabbar Hill the footsteps of Goddess are imprinted. The imprint of Her chariot is also found here. It is believed that the tonsure ceremony of Lord Krishna also took place here. Ambaji temple has a golden yantra made jointly with the yantra of Nepal Shaktipeeth at Ujjain. There are 51 shlokas on the yantra.
Lakhs of devotees visit the temple every year especially on Purnima days culminating into a large mela on Bhadarvi Purnima. Goddess Ambaji Mata has been fulfilling wishes of her devotees for thousands of years.
Maa Ambaji
MAA AMBAJI
Maa Ambaji Udankhatola at Gabbar Hill is operational since Sepemeber, 1998. The level difference the upper and lower stations is about 140 mts. Pilgrims by can reach the hill top in about 3 mins. whereas the other mode of climbing by foot takes about 45 mins. covering a steep winding path. This is a boon to the visiting pilgrims, old, infirm, children etc. to have a quick, safe and comfortable journey for the darshan of the Goddess Ambaji.
Timings of Udankhatola8.30 am to 5.30 pm AMENITIES
Landscaped Garden
Sitting & Resting Area
Toilets
Drinking Water
Music System
Vehicle Parking
SCHEMES
Tkt Type
Fare
Details
Single
Rs. 75
One to & fro journey per person on Ambaji
Students
Rs.525
One to & fro journey for a group of 8 students on all days
Concession
Rs. 45
For physically and visually handicapped persons and war widows.
Annual Pass
Rs. 540
journey once in a month valid for 12 months.
Free Rides for
Children below 110 cm height
For more information and advance block bookings of tickets, contact:Resident Manager,Maa Ambaji ,Gabbar Hills, Ambaji, Gujarat. Phone: 02749-264520Fax: 02749-262726Email: ambadevi@ushabreco.com
How to reach Ambaji
Distances :From Ahmedabad – 180 Kms.From Abu Road station – 20 Kms.From Mt. Abu – 45 Kms.From Delhi – 700 Kms.From Palanpur – 65 Kms.From Himmat Nagar – 110 Kms.
Nearest Station : Abu Road
From
Train No.
Delhi
2957, 2916
Nearest Airport – Ahmedabad
From
Flight No.
Delhi
IC 613
Bombay
9W 323
Where To Stay In Ambaji
Hotel Akash Ganga Phone : 02749-262764
Balaram Resort Phone : 02742-84278
Local Transportation in Ambaji
Taxi , Jeeps, Auto Rickshaw
Other Places to visit in Ambaji
Goddess Amba temple in Ambaji town, Koteshwar temple, Maa Kamakshi temple
Important Festivals in 2003
Budh Poornima - 16 May.'2003
Navratri - 26 Sept' 2003 to 4 Oct.'2003
Diwali - 25 October'2003
Tours and Travels
Vidhi Travels, Ahmedabad Phone : 079-6563065
Other Information at Ambaji
Police Station(Ambaji)Phone : 62148
Hospital(Ambaji)Phone : 62155
Important Festivals in 2007
Makar Sankranti : 14 January' 2007
Republic Day: 26 January' 2007
Maha Shivratri: 16 February' 2007
Chatra Navratra: 19 March ' 2007 to 27 March' 2007
Mahavir Jayanti : 31 March 2007
Guru Purnima : 29 July 2007
Independence Day: 15 August' 2007
Rakshabandhan : 28 August 2007
Krishna Janmashtami: 4 September ' 2007
Bhadravi Poornima : 26 September 2007
Sharad Navratra: 25 October' 2007
Diwali : 09 November' 2007
Gujarati New Year: 10 November' 2007
Kartik Poornima: 24 November' 2007
Nearby Cities / Places of Importance
Mount Abu - 45 KmsThe hill resort of Mount Abu on Aravallis is magnificent land of sages and seers. The major attractions are Nakki Lake, 1000 years old Dilwara Jain temples, Head Quarters of Brahmkumaris Foundation etc.
Ahmedabad - 180 KmsAhmedabad, once associated with Mahatma Gandhi, is renowned as a great textile and commercial centre. The major attractions are Jama Masjid, Kankaria Lake, the Shaking Minarets, Rani Rupwati Masjid etc.
Palanpur - 65 KmsPalanpur is a former princely state ruled by Nawabs. The major attractions are palaces of the Nawab, Balram Mahadev temple etc.
Mount Abu situated at a average height of 1,219 mtr's above sea level is the oasis in the deserted land of Rajasthan and posses the honor of being the only hill-station in Rajasthan as well as north-west India, The world famous tourist destination is known for its Delwara Jain temples and natural beauty world over, situated amidst lush green forested hills on the highest peak in the Aravali range is also the summer capital for the Indian state of Rajasthan, home to lakes, waterfalls and green forests, the hill retreat, has a very cool and soothing climate thanks to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. Mount Abu with its word-class tourist facilities with hotels ranging from budget class to three star and heritage provides a great holiday escape and honeymoon attraction. Every year more then three million national and international tourists visit mount abu enjoying its scenic beauty, rich flora & fauna as well as the marble art of delwara jain temples. Mount Abu is declared closed area since 1965. Although, complete area of 328 sq. km. of Abu Hills is declared protected but officially 112.98 sq. km. is under unnotified sanctuary area (Anon., 2003). In shape, Mt. Abu Wildlife Sanctuary is long and narrow but the top spreads out into a picturesque plateau, which is about 19 km in length and 5-8 km in breadth. Once home to the meditating rishi and munis, the legend has it that Mount Abu is home to 33 crore Gods and Goddess. According to the legend the name Abu means son of Himalayas (or Ar-Booda, "the hill of wisdom"), deriving its name from Arbuada - the powerful serpent, which rescued Nandi the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. Mount Abu has been home, to many rishis and munis (sages and saints), including the famous Rishi Vashishtha, who is believed to have created four Agnikul Rajput clans, from a fire- pit, by performing a yagna or fire sacrifice, to protect the earth from the demons.
In historic times, Mount Abu was leased by the The East-India Company (British empire) from the Maharajah of Sirohi, Mount Abu was used as the headquarters for the resident of Rajputana until 1947, and as a sanatorium for troops.
How To Reach Mount Abu
Mount Abu is a well known hill-station in Rajasthan state of western India, located in Sirohi district, The mountain forms a distinct rocky plateau 22 km long by 9 km wide. Being a popular holiday destination the place is well connected to rest of the country.
To reach Mount Abu by Rail: Abu Road is the nearest railway station just 28 KM from the main city, Which is very well connected by rail routes to New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Mumbai. From Abu Road you can opt for state transport service (usually every hour) or Taxis on both sharing and private basis. To book car/taxi in advance visit here. To reach Mount Abu by Air: The nearest airport is Udaipur at a distance of 185 km, But Ahmedabad is having better connectivity and daily flights with other parts of the country and is just 221 KM from Mount Abu, from Ahmedabad or Udaipur you can book Taxi in advance. To reach Mount Abu by Road: Mount Abu is well connected by road with major cities of the country, nearest national highway no. 14 is just 24 KM's.
Major Tourist Spots
Dilwara Jain Temple
Nakki Lake
Sunset Point
AchalGarh
GuruShikhar
Adhar Devi
Trevor's Crocodile Park
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary
Gaumukh
AMBAJI TEMPLE NEAR MOUNT ABU.
About the temple
MAA AMBAJI
Gabbar Hill
At a distance of 65 Kms from Palanpur and 45 Kms from Mt. Abu near Gujarat Rajasthan border the religious town of Ambaji is located. This town is famous for the Maa Ambaji temple, one of the richest and holiest temple in Gujarat attracting lakhs of pilgrims from Gujarat and neighbouring Rajasthan every year. The original seat of Ambaji Mata is on Gabbar Hilltop, which is 3 Kms away from Ambaji town. Ambaji Mata temple is one of the 51 shakti peeths where it is believed the heart of Goddess Parvati fell.
Ambaji Mata temple at Gabbar is very ancient, origin of which is lost in antiquity. It is believed that Goddess Amba was one of the deities of Pre-Aryan race, which Aryans absorbed in their pantheon. On the Gabbar Hill the footsteps of Goddess are imprinted. The imprint of Her chariot is also found here. It is believed that the tonsure ceremony of Lord Krishna also took place here. Ambaji temple has a golden yantra made jointly with the yantra of Nepal Shaktipeeth at Ujjain. There are 51 shlokas on the yantra.
Lakhs of devotees visit the temple every year especially on Purnima days culminating into a large mela on Bhadarvi Purnima. Goddess Ambaji Mata has been fulfilling wishes of her devotees for thousands of years.
Maa Ambaji
MAA AMBAJI
Maa Ambaji Udankhatola at Gabbar Hill is operational since Sepemeber, 1998. The level difference the upper and lower stations is about 140 mts. Pilgrims by can reach the hill top in about 3 mins. whereas the other mode of climbing by foot takes about 45 mins. covering a steep winding path. This is a boon to the visiting pilgrims, old, infirm, children etc. to have a quick, safe and comfortable journey for the darshan of the Goddess Ambaji.
Timings of Udankhatola8.30 am to 5.30 pm AMENITIES
Landscaped Garden
Sitting & Resting Area
Toilets
Drinking Water
Music System
Vehicle Parking
SCHEMES
Tkt Type
Fare
Details
Single
Rs. 75
One to & fro journey per person on Ambaji
Students
Rs.525
One to & fro journey for a group of 8 students on all days
Concession
Rs. 45
For physically and visually handicapped persons and war widows.
Annual Pass
Rs. 540
journey once in a month valid for 12 months.
Free Rides for
Children below 110 cm height
For more information and advance block bookings of tickets, contact:Resident Manager,Maa Ambaji ,Gabbar Hills, Ambaji, Gujarat. Phone: 02749-264520Fax: 02749-262726Email: ambadevi@ushabreco.com
How to reach Ambaji
Distances :From Ahmedabad – 180 Kms.From Abu Road station – 20 Kms.From Mt. Abu – 45 Kms.From Delhi – 700 Kms.From Palanpur – 65 Kms.From Himmat Nagar – 110 Kms.
Nearest Station : Abu Road
From
Train No.
Delhi
2957, 2916
Nearest Airport – Ahmedabad
From
Flight No.
Delhi
IC 613
Bombay
9W 323
Where To Stay In Ambaji
Hotel Akash Ganga Phone : 02749-262764
Balaram Resort Phone : 02742-84278
Local Transportation in Ambaji
Taxi , Jeeps, Auto Rickshaw
Other Places to visit in Ambaji
Goddess Amba temple in Ambaji town, Koteshwar temple, Maa Kamakshi temple
Important Festivals in 2003
Budh Poornima - 16 May.'2003
Navratri - 26 Sept' 2003 to 4 Oct.'2003
Diwali - 25 October'2003
Tours and Travels
Vidhi Travels, Ahmedabad Phone : 079-6563065
Other Information at Ambaji
Police Station(Ambaji)Phone : 62148
Hospital(Ambaji)Phone : 62155
Important Festivals in 2007
Makar Sankranti : 14 January' 2007
Republic Day: 26 January' 2007
Maha Shivratri: 16 February' 2007
Chatra Navratra: 19 March ' 2007 to 27 March' 2007
Mahavir Jayanti : 31 March 2007
Guru Purnima : 29 July 2007
Independence Day: 15 August' 2007
Rakshabandhan : 28 August 2007
Krishna Janmashtami: 4 September ' 2007
Bhadravi Poornima : 26 September 2007
Sharad Navratra: 25 October' 2007
Diwali : 09 November' 2007
Gujarati New Year: 10 November' 2007
Kartik Poornima: 24 November' 2007
Nearby Cities / Places of Importance
Mount Abu - 45 KmsThe hill resort of Mount Abu on Aravallis is magnificent land of sages and seers. The major attractions are Nakki Lake, 1000 years old Dilwara Jain temples, Head Quarters of Brahmkumaris Foundation etc.
Ahmedabad - 180 KmsAhmedabad, once associated with Mahatma Gandhi, is renowned as a great textile and commercial centre. The major attractions are Jama Masjid, Kankaria Lake, the Shaking Minarets, Rani Rupwati Masjid etc.
Palanpur - 65 KmsPalanpur is a former princely state ruled by Nawabs. The major attractions are palaces of the Nawab, Balram Mahadev temple etc.
About Gujarat
GUJARAT
Location: West End of IndiaCapital: GandhinagarTourist Attractions: Gir National Park, Dwarka, KutchhBest Time To Visit: July To April
Gujarat Guide
Located on the country's western coast, Gujarat is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and southwest and Pakistan to the northwest. Rajasthan neighbours it to the north, Madhya Pradesh to the east and Maharashtra to the southeast. Gujarat has a fertile plain land in the south cut by several rivers, low hills in the west, and broad mudflats in the north that adjoin the Thar (Great Indian) Desert. A varied climate characterised by a dry northwest, scorching summers, a cold winter have made this state a land of unexplainable contrasts. Ahmedabad is the first place to stop in Gujarat. Some of its sights include some outstanding mosques, including the Jami Masjid, Siddi Bashir's Shaking Minarets and Sabarmati Ashram. Gujarat's loveliest beach - and the state is well endowed with them - is Ahmedpur Mandvi whose chief attraction is the ethnic beach resort. Situated on the Gujarat Coast, Dwarka is one of the holiest centres of Hindus. Capital of GujaratGandhinagar the capital of Gujarat, is in west-central India. It lies on the banks of the Sabarmati River, north of the former capital of Ahmedabad. Laid out in 30 residential sectors, in an ordered style influenced by the work of Le Corbusier, who designed Chandigarh, its near-symmetrical numbered streets are wide and strangely quiet, lined with a total of 16 lakh trees. An expressway connects Gandhinagar with Ahmedabad.History of GujaratSigns of civilization in the region that is now Gujarat date back to the period from 3000 to 1500 BC. The region was part of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BC under King Ashoka. In 1818 AD, the British East India Company took control of Gujarat by administering the state through local princely rulers. With the independence of India in 1947, Gujarat became part of the state of Bombay . In 1960, Bombay state was split and Gujarat was formed from the northern and western portions, which were predominantly Gujarati-speaking areas. The remainder of Bombay state became Maharashtra state. The Gujarati PeopleGujarat's population is overwhelmingly Hindu, with Muslim and Jain minorities. The diverse ethnic groups may be broadly categorized as Indic (i.e., northern-derived) or Dravidian (southern-derived). The former include the Nagar Brahman, Bhatia, Bhadela, Rabari, and Mina castes (the Parsis, originally from Persia, represent a much later northern influx); among the people of southern origin are the Bhangi, Koli, Dubla, Naikda, and Macchi-Kharwa tribes. The rest of the population, including the aboriginal Bhil tribe, exhibits mixed characteristics. Members of the scheduled castes and of the aboriginal tribes form nearly one-fifth of the state's population. Gujarati and Hindi are the state's official languages. Culture of GujaratThe folklore and folk culture of Gujarat can be traced to the mythology of Krishna, an incarnation of the god Vishnu. Dances in honour of Krishna have survived in the form of the popular folk dance, the 'garba'. A folk drama, the 'bhavai', also has survived. Gujarat is also famous for its art and craft products. Among the most durable and effective of the Gujarat's cultural institutions are the trade and craft guilds known as 'mahajans', which often solves disputes, acted as channels of philanthropy, and encouraged the arts. Occupation in GujaratGujarat has an agricultural economy; the total crop area amounts to more than one-half of the total land area. Dairy farming, primarily concerned with milk production, is also a job sector in Gujrat. The state's textiles, petroleum, cement, vegetable oil, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries are also highly important. New industries include the production of fertilizers and petrochemicals. Population in Gujarat50,596,992 as per the provisional results of the Census of India 2001.Festivals of GujaratKite Festival in January; Modhera Dance Festival in January; Rann Festival in February/March; Bhavanath Fair at Junagadh in February-March; Chitra Vichitra Fair in March; Dang Durbar in March; Janmashthami in August at Dwarka; Bhadra Purnima at Ambaji in September; the three-day Tarnetar Fair in September; Navratri festival in September; Shamlaji Fair in November; Vautha Nomelo fair in November, near Ahmedabad; Somnath Fair in November/December.
CLIMATE OF GUJARAT
The northwestern part of the state is dry, with less than 500 mm rain a year. In the southern part of Gujarat, rainfall averages 2000 mm a year. In winter, temperature average between 12° and 27° C, although freezing levels have been recorded in the state. In the summer, temperatures average between 25° and 43° C and have been known to reach as high as 48° C. Best time to visit Gujrat is October to March.
IMPORTATNT INFORMATION
A devastating earthquake hit parts of Gujarat on January 26, 2001 and has caused considerable loss of life and property. A few of the cities have been been reduced to rubble, especially in the Kachchh region. Quite a few monuments have also suffered damage. It is, therefore, advisable to find relevant information before you set out to explore them.Tourist Information Offices in Gujarat Gujarat Tourism Office: located in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, SuratGujarat Tourism, off Ashram Road, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., Airlines House, Lal Darwaja. Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited, Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai- 400 039 Toran Tourist Dormitory, Near Govt. Guest House, Dwarka, Gujarat. Office of the Administrator, Dwarka Devasthan Samiti, Dwarkadhish Temple Trust, Gujarat
Location: West End of IndiaCapital: GandhinagarTourist Attractions: Gir National Park, Dwarka, KutchhBest Time To Visit: July To April
Gujarat Guide
Located on the country's western coast, Gujarat is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and southwest and Pakistan to the northwest. Rajasthan neighbours it to the north, Madhya Pradesh to the east and Maharashtra to the southeast. Gujarat has a fertile plain land in the south cut by several rivers, low hills in the west, and broad mudflats in the north that adjoin the Thar (Great Indian) Desert. A varied climate characterised by a dry northwest, scorching summers, a cold winter have made this state a land of unexplainable contrasts. Ahmedabad is the first place to stop in Gujarat. Some of its sights include some outstanding mosques, including the Jami Masjid, Siddi Bashir's Shaking Minarets and Sabarmati Ashram. Gujarat's loveliest beach - and the state is well endowed with them - is Ahmedpur Mandvi whose chief attraction is the ethnic beach resort. Situated on the Gujarat Coast, Dwarka is one of the holiest centres of Hindus. Capital of GujaratGandhinagar the capital of Gujarat, is in west-central India. It lies on the banks of the Sabarmati River, north of the former capital of Ahmedabad. Laid out in 30 residential sectors, in an ordered style influenced by the work of Le Corbusier, who designed Chandigarh, its near-symmetrical numbered streets are wide and strangely quiet, lined with a total of 16 lakh trees. An expressway connects Gandhinagar with Ahmedabad.History of GujaratSigns of civilization in the region that is now Gujarat date back to the period from 3000 to 1500 BC. The region was part of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BC under King Ashoka. In 1818 AD, the British East India Company took control of Gujarat by administering the state through local princely rulers. With the independence of India in 1947, Gujarat became part of the state of Bombay . In 1960, Bombay state was split and Gujarat was formed from the northern and western portions, which were predominantly Gujarati-speaking areas. The remainder of Bombay state became Maharashtra state. The Gujarati PeopleGujarat's population is overwhelmingly Hindu, with Muslim and Jain minorities. The diverse ethnic groups may be broadly categorized as Indic (i.e., northern-derived) or Dravidian (southern-derived). The former include the Nagar Brahman, Bhatia, Bhadela, Rabari, and Mina castes (the Parsis, originally from Persia, represent a much later northern influx); among the people of southern origin are the Bhangi, Koli, Dubla, Naikda, and Macchi-Kharwa tribes. The rest of the population, including the aboriginal Bhil tribe, exhibits mixed characteristics. Members of the scheduled castes and of the aboriginal tribes form nearly one-fifth of the state's population. Gujarati and Hindi are the state's official languages. Culture of GujaratThe folklore and folk culture of Gujarat can be traced to the mythology of Krishna, an incarnation of the god Vishnu. Dances in honour of Krishna have survived in the form of the popular folk dance, the 'garba'. A folk drama, the 'bhavai', also has survived. Gujarat is also famous for its art and craft products. Among the most durable and effective of the Gujarat's cultural institutions are the trade and craft guilds known as 'mahajans', which often solves disputes, acted as channels of philanthropy, and encouraged the arts. Occupation in GujaratGujarat has an agricultural economy; the total crop area amounts to more than one-half of the total land area. Dairy farming, primarily concerned with milk production, is also a job sector in Gujrat. The state's textiles, petroleum, cement, vegetable oil, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries are also highly important. New industries include the production of fertilizers and petrochemicals. Population in Gujarat50,596,992 as per the provisional results of the Census of India 2001.Festivals of GujaratKite Festival in January; Modhera Dance Festival in January; Rann Festival in February/March; Bhavanath Fair at Junagadh in February-March; Chitra Vichitra Fair in March; Dang Durbar in March; Janmashthami in August at Dwarka; Bhadra Purnima at Ambaji in September; the three-day Tarnetar Fair in September; Navratri festival in September; Shamlaji Fair in November; Vautha Nomelo fair in November, near Ahmedabad; Somnath Fair in November/December.
CLIMATE OF GUJARAT
The northwestern part of the state is dry, with less than 500 mm rain a year. In the southern part of Gujarat, rainfall averages 2000 mm a year. In winter, temperature average between 12° and 27° C, although freezing levels have been recorded in the state. In the summer, temperatures average between 25° and 43° C and have been known to reach as high as 48° C. Best time to visit Gujrat is October to March.
IMPORTATNT INFORMATION
A devastating earthquake hit parts of Gujarat on January 26, 2001 and has caused considerable loss of life and property. A few of the cities have been been reduced to rubble, especially in the Kachchh region. Quite a few monuments have also suffered damage. It is, therefore, advisable to find relevant information before you set out to explore them.Tourist Information Offices in Gujarat Gujarat Tourism Office: located in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, SuratGujarat Tourism, off Ashram Road, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., Airlines House, Lal Darwaja. Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited, Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai- 400 039 Toran Tourist Dormitory, Near Govt. Guest House, Dwarka, Gujarat. Office of the Administrator, Dwarka Devasthan Samiti, Dwarkadhish Temple Trust, Gujarat
Best Place for the Holiday is Saputara & surroundings Places
SAPUTARA AND DANGS
At the Southern tip of Gujarat, folded into the densely wooded hills of the Sahayadris, lies the abode of serpents- Saputara. In the picturesque Dangs district, this is a hill station with a difference, where you can immerse yourself in a timeless land that’s still pretty much the way God made it. After all legend has it that Lord Rama spent 11 years of his exile in these very forests.
The Tribals of DangsTribes like Bhils, Kunbis, Warlis, and Gamits inhabit Dangs. They are known for their dances, which are performed wearing masks made out of Bamboo and Wood.
The Dangs Demograhics and Climate
Area: 1,725 sq. km.Population: 1.5 lacs with 94% population as TribalsLocation: Southeast of Gujarat.
Climate
Summers
32’ to 27’ C
Winters
22’ to l7’ C
Rains
Mid June to end Oct.
Variation in temp
9.2’ C (Min.) to 36.416 (Max.)
Visitors can cover Dangs in the following three circuits.
Saputara Town
Waghai
Mahal
SAPUTARA TOWN
Long walks along the beautiful lake are some of the treats of this uncluttered and simple hill station. The more adventurous can trek down to nearby villages, the Hatgadh Fort or the legendary Pandava Caves.The hill station does not require any local transport and is best covered on foot. Some of its highlights are:
The RopewarA ten-minute ride straddles the valley to the Sunset Point. The comfortable coupe is safe and ideal for a family. The view from the halt midway is breathtaking, unforgettable on a moonlit night. Refreshments are also available at Sunset Point and at the Vaity restaurant.
BoatingRight in the heart of the valley is the extremely calm Saputara Lake. Row and paddleboats are available for hire.
Valley View PointA bird’s eye view of the valley, a somewhat adventurous climb (1-1.5 km)
Sunset PointThere's picturesque view of the sunset over the entire valley. Visitors can climb or use the ropeway to approach the point.
Artist VillageVisitors can pick up fine pieces of pottery, jewellery, vases, paintings, pen stands, key chains, all made from bamboo chips and other locally found material. Children can learn to make simple items in the workshop organised by the craftsmen.
MuseumThere is a small museum with a tribal theme displaying the lifestyle, ornaments and musical instruments of the tribes of Dangs. There is also a workshop making some of the traditional displays.
GardensThe Lake garden, Step Garden and the Rose Garden offers scenic places for the tourist to laze in, while walking around Saputara.
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WAGHAI
49 km from Saputara begins the town of Waghai around which many delightful tourist spots are situated. The drive itself is scenic and the air pure and refreshing. Highlights of this circuit are:
Gira FallsA km. off the Saputara-Waghai Road leads to a vast clearing where the picturesque Gira Falls emerging from the Kapri tributary can be viewed. An absolute must from June to November. Visitors can get refreshments from a small tea and snack stall. Picnic Huts make it an ideal spot for relaxing and picnicking.
Botanical GardenIt's a large (24-hectare) garden with 1,400 varieties of plants from all over India. The amateur nature lover can marvel at different varieties of bamboo like the Chinese Bamboo, Golden Bamboo, Beer Bottle Bamboo etc. and enjoy strolling along the beautiful walkways each lined with different species of tree. Visitors can also pick up cactus plants and enjoy a picnic at the picnic spot in the garden. Permission is required to enter. Drinking water and toilet facilities are available.
ShopgingA small private outlet selling locally crafted items fashioned out of Bamboo roots and chips. Unique items like the big sized bamboo lamps, kangaroos, deer are available only here and not elsewhere in the region.
Unnai Mata tempte and Hot SpringsA drive of about 19 kms. from Waghai brings one to the Unnai Mata temple. Visitors can bathe in the hoc spring attached to this famous temple of considerable historical significance.
Vanil UdyogA sprawling sawmill cum woodworking unit, which also sells furniture that, the tourist can book and get delivered by paying an advance. The visitor can enjoy a guided tour and watch the transformation of logs of wood into tasteful furniture. Permission is required to enter. Vanil Udyog provides employees to assist as tour guides. Drinking water facilities are available.
Vansda National ParkA rich and old forest predominantly covered by very tall teak trees, mango groves and gigantic creepers. The forest is extremely dense and some parts are dark even during normal daytime. The forest is a habitat of Monkeys, Deer, a few Leopards and a wide species of birds. Permission is required to enter the Park.
AmbapadaA typical Dangi Village located about 1 km off the Saputara-Waghai Road, near the Gira Falls. The route to it is somewhat tricky but very scenic as it is surrounded on all sides by lush and tall bamboo. The tourist can take a walk in and around the village and also see some tribals engaged in the making of toys and lamps out of bamboo roots.
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MAHAL
The Mahal Region situated 60 km away from Saputara is dominated by the Purna Sanctuary. The longish drive passes through the most beautiful parts of Dangs with high wooded slopes of bamboo. It is endowed with rivers & bamboo glades and is a must for picnics walks and treks.
Purna SanctuaryA vast and rich forest laced with the Purna and Gira rivers. The hilly region with its cool interiors would tempt any tourist to explore. You would need a pair of sturdy shoes and packed lunch to best explore the cool interior of this hilly forest. Less strenuous ang easy walks are pleasurable. Picnic huts are also available for use. Permission is required to enter the forest.
Girmal FallsEasily the most marvelous sight during monsoons, the Girmal Falls is a little off the Mahal-Singana Road. The approach leads via a tribal village to a steep fall on the Gira River. The facing hillside is rich with rare flora and is worth exploring by the more adventurous trekkers. Provision for light refreshments are available. Picnic huts are available for use.
Cultural Show at AhwaAs the tourist heads back to Saputara, a halt at Ahwa to enjoy the fast paced and acrobatic Dangi Dance would be the best way to say goodbye to Dangs. The dance had been performed at the Festival of India in Paris and is one of the most entertaining dances of this region. Held at the open-air theatre Rangupvan, it's worth giving a visit.
Dangs DarbarAn annual colourful tribal festival held prior to Holi (generally March/April), at Ahwa. its a five day fun filled colourful affair where the tribals congregate to celebrate an old custom of political pensions given to the tribal kings. There is merry making, dance and music, colour and a brisk buying and selling of tribal wares. The tourist can participate and enjoy the festivities of this unique celebration.Related ArticleDang Darbar Festival
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Getting ThereBy Road: From Bombay - Private Luxury bus on alternate days during season (Modern Travels) From Surat/Ahmedabad/Baroda -ST buses.If you are driving down in your own car, be sure to fill petrol near Waghai (51 Kms. from Saputara) or at a petrol pump 40 Kms. towards Nasik before you enter Saputara as there are no petrol pumps in Saputara,
Distances By Road Bombay 255km (via Nasik, Mah.) 345km (via Chikli, Guj.)Surat 135kmAhmedabad 400km
By Railway The nearest railway station is 49 km from Saputara. You can get trains for Bilimora, Nasik, Valsad, Waghai (narrow gauge)
By Air - Nearest Airport Surat and Bombay
Local TransportHired jeeps from Ahwa are available. Organised tours within and outside Saputara in mini-buses by Chitrakoot/Vaity during peak seasons (two buses). Organised tours by TCGL.
Where to stay At Saputara, the private runs a decent range of hotels sector as well as by TCGL. Book in advance during the peak season. You can negotiate discounts during off peak seasons.
GENERAL TIPS FOR VISITORS
Don’t forget to bring a pair of sturdy shoes suitable for walking & trekking.
Please don’t litter the forest area with plastic bags and other waste. Apart from being ugly, this can be dangerous to animals.
Add to your pleasure by bringing a pair of binoculars to better observe the rich birdlife of the region.
The night sky at Saputara is remarkably clear. If interested in astronomy, don’t forget your telescope and starcharts.
A light haversack to carry some packed lunch (recommended) and a water bottle will enable hours of pleasurable walking.
At the Southern tip of Gujarat, folded into the densely wooded hills of the Sahayadris, lies the abode of serpents- Saputara. In the picturesque Dangs district, this is a hill station with a difference, where you can immerse yourself in a timeless land that’s still pretty much the way God made it. After all legend has it that Lord Rama spent 11 years of his exile in these very forests.
The Tribals of DangsTribes like Bhils, Kunbis, Warlis, and Gamits inhabit Dangs. They are known for their dances, which are performed wearing masks made out of Bamboo and Wood.
The Dangs Demograhics and Climate
Area: 1,725 sq. km.Population: 1.5 lacs with 94% population as TribalsLocation: Southeast of Gujarat.
Climate
Summers
32’ to 27’ C
Winters
22’ to l7’ C
Rains
Mid June to end Oct.
Variation in temp
9.2’ C (Min.) to 36.416 (Max.)
Visitors can cover Dangs in the following three circuits.
Saputara Town
Waghai
Mahal
SAPUTARA TOWN
Long walks along the beautiful lake are some of the treats of this uncluttered and simple hill station. The more adventurous can trek down to nearby villages, the Hatgadh Fort or the legendary Pandava Caves.The hill station does not require any local transport and is best covered on foot. Some of its highlights are:
The RopewarA ten-minute ride straddles the valley to the Sunset Point. The comfortable coupe is safe and ideal for a family. The view from the halt midway is breathtaking, unforgettable on a moonlit night. Refreshments are also available at Sunset Point and at the Vaity restaurant.
BoatingRight in the heart of the valley is the extremely calm Saputara Lake. Row and paddleboats are available for hire.
Valley View PointA bird’s eye view of the valley, a somewhat adventurous climb (1-1.5 km)
Sunset PointThere's picturesque view of the sunset over the entire valley. Visitors can climb or use the ropeway to approach the point.
Artist VillageVisitors can pick up fine pieces of pottery, jewellery, vases, paintings, pen stands, key chains, all made from bamboo chips and other locally found material. Children can learn to make simple items in the workshop organised by the craftsmen.
MuseumThere is a small museum with a tribal theme displaying the lifestyle, ornaments and musical instruments of the tribes of Dangs. There is also a workshop making some of the traditional displays.
GardensThe Lake garden, Step Garden and the Rose Garden offers scenic places for the tourist to laze in, while walking around Saputara.
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WAGHAI
49 km from Saputara begins the town of Waghai around which many delightful tourist spots are situated. The drive itself is scenic and the air pure and refreshing. Highlights of this circuit are:
Gira FallsA km. off the Saputara-Waghai Road leads to a vast clearing where the picturesque Gira Falls emerging from the Kapri tributary can be viewed. An absolute must from June to November. Visitors can get refreshments from a small tea and snack stall. Picnic Huts make it an ideal spot for relaxing and picnicking.
Botanical GardenIt's a large (24-hectare) garden with 1,400 varieties of plants from all over India. The amateur nature lover can marvel at different varieties of bamboo like the Chinese Bamboo, Golden Bamboo, Beer Bottle Bamboo etc. and enjoy strolling along the beautiful walkways each lined with different species of tree. Visitors can also pick up cactus plants and enjoy a picnic at the picnic spot in the garden. Permission is required to enter. Drinking water and toilet facilities are available.
ShopgingA small private outlet selling locally crafted items fashioned out of Bamboo roots and chips. Unique items like the big sized bamboo lamps, kangaroos, deer are available only here and not elsewhere in the region.
Unnai Mata tempte and Hot SpringsA drive of about 19 kms. from Waghai brings one to the Unnai Mata temple. Visitors can bathe in the hoc spring attached to this famous temple of considerable historical significance.
Vanil UdyogA sprawling sawmill cum woodworking unit, which also sells furniture that, the tourist can book and get delivered by paying an advance. The visitor can enjoy a guided tour and watch the transformation of logs of wood into tasteful furniture. Permission is required to enter. Vanil Udyog provides employees to assist as tour guides. Drinking water facilities are available.
Vansda National ParkA rich and old forest predominantly covered by very tall teak trees, mango groves and gigantic creepers. The forest is extremely dense and some parts are dark even during normal daytime. The forest is a habitat of Monkeys, Deer, a few Leopards and a wide species of birds. Permission is required to enter the Park.
AmbapadaA typical Dangi Village located about 1 km off the Saputara-Waghai Road, near the Gira Falls. The route to it is somewhat tricky but very scenic as it is surrounded on all sides by lush and tall bamboo. The tourist can take a walk in and around the village and also see some tribals engaged in the making of toys and lamps out of bamboo roots.
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MAHAL
The Mahal Region situated 60 km away from Saputara is dominated by the Purna Sanctuary. The longish drive passes through the most beautiful parts of Dangs with high wooded slopes of bamboo. It is endowed with rivers & bamboo glades and is a must for picnics walks and treks.
Purna SanctuaryA vast and rich forest laced with the Purna and Gira rivers. The hilly region with its cool interiors would tempt any tourist to explore. You would need a pair of sturdy shoes and packed lunch to best explore the cool interior of this hilly forest. Less strenuous ang easy walks are pleasurable. Picnic huts are also available for use. Permission is required to enter the forest.
Girmal FallsEasily the most marvelous sight during monsoons, the Girmal Falls is a little off the Mahal-Singana Road. The approach leads via a tribal village to a steep fall on the Gira River. The facing hillside is rich with rare flora and is worth exploring by the more adventurous trekkers. Provision for light refreshments are available. Picnic huts are available for use.
Cultural Show at AhwaAs the tourist heads back to Saputara, a halt at Ahwa to enjoy the fast paced and acrobatic Dangi Dance would be the best way to say goodbye to Dangs. The dance had been performed at the Festival of India in Paris and is one of the most entertaining dances of this region. Held at the open-air theatre Rangupvan, it's worth giving a visit.
Dangs DarbarAn annual colourful tribal festival held prior to Holi (generally March/April), at Ahwa. its a five day fun filled colourful affair where the tribals congregate to celebrate an old custom of political pensions given to the tribal kings. There is merry making, dance and music, colour and a brisk buying and selling of tribal wares. The tourist can participate and enjoy the festivities of this unique celebration.Related ArticleDang Darbar Festival
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Getting ThereBy Road: From Bombay - Private Luxury bus on alternate days during season (Modern Travels) From Surat/Ahmedabad/Baroda -ST buses.If you are driving down in your own car, be sure to fill petrol near Waghai (51 Kms. from Saputara) or at a petrol pump 40 Kms. towards Nasik before you enter Saputara as there are no petrol pumps in Saputara,
Distances By Road Bombay 255km (via Nasik, Mah.) 345km (via Chikli, Guj.)Surat 135kmAhmedabad 400km
By Railway The nearest railway station is 49 km from Saputara. You can get trains for Bilimora, Nasik, Valsad, Waghai (narrow gauge)
By Air - Nearest Airport Surat and Bombay
Local TransportHired jeeps from Ahwa are available. Organised tours within and outside Saputara in mini-buses by Chitrakoot/Vaity during peak seasons (two buses). Organised tours by TCGL.
Where to stay At Saputara, the private runs a decent range of hotels sector as well as by TCGL. Book in advance during the peak season. You can negotiate discounts during off peak seasons.
GENERAL TIPS FOR VISITORS
Don’t forget to bring a pair of sturdy shoes suitable for walking & trekking.
Please don’t litter the forest area with plastic bags and other waste. Apart from being ugly, this can be dangerous to animals.
Add to your pleasure by bringing a pair of binoculars to better observe the rich birdlife of the region.
The night sky at Saputara is remarkably clear. If interested in astronomy, don’t forget your telescope and starcharts.
A light haversack to carry some packed lunch (recommended) and a water bottle will enable hours of pleasurable walking.
Best Fetival Navratri & Makarsankranti ( Uttarayan) in Gujarat
NAVRATRI
The historical background Navratri or the Festival of Nine Nights from Ashvin Sud 1 to 9 is devoted to the propitiation of Shakti or Divine Mother. She represents prakriti, counterpart of purusha jointly making possible the creation of the world according to the religious ideology of Goddess worship. Such worships were prevalent in India even before the advent of the Aryans, who adopted it as a religious practice. References in vedas and puranas confirm this opinion. The main temples of mother goddess that are visited by multitude of devotees during Navratri are the shaktipithas, of which there are three in Gujarat. It is believed that Lord Vishnu had to cut the body of Sati into pieces to stop the destruction by Shiva who was perturbed by her death. At fifty-two places these pieces fell, the three in Gujarat being; Ambaji in Banaskantha, Bahucharaji in Chunaval and Kalika on Pavagadh hill in Panchmahals.
This festival is essentially religious in nature. It is celebrated with true devotion in the various temples dedicated to the Mother, or Mataji, as she is familiarly called. In some homes, images of the Mother are worshipped in accordance with accepted practice. This is also true of the temples, which usually have a constant stream of visitors from morning to night.
Celebration Galore The most common form of public celebration is the performance of garba or dandia-ras, Gujarat's popular folk-dance, late throughout the nights of these nine days in public squares, open grounds and streets. Females wear ethnic Chania Choli and Males wear Dhoti-Kurta and enjoy garba and dandiya ras (dance) the whole Night. The participants move round in a circle around a mandvi (garbo), a structure to hold earthen lamps filled with water and to house the image or idol of mother goddess. A betel nut and a silver coin are placed within the pot, called a kumbh, on top of which a coconut has also been placed. Pandals are erected over these madvis and decorated with asopalav, date palm leaves, flowers and electric light. As the dancers whirl around the pot, a singer and a drummer provide the musical accompaniment. The participants clap in a steady rhythm. The dance usually starts slowly. It gets faster and faster as the music too gets more rapid until the dance abruptly comes to a halt. There is a pause for a while and the dance commences once again, the singer leading with a new song.
Another dance which is also a feature of Navaratri is the dandia-ras or ‘stick’ dance, in which men and women join the dance circle, holding small polished sticks or dandias. As they whirl to the intoxicating rhythm of the dance, men and women strike the dandias together, adding to the joyous atmosphere. So popular are the garba and the dandia-ras that competitions are held to assess the quality of the dancing. Prizes are given to those judged to be the best. The costumes worn for the dances are traditional and alive with colour. The dances usually commence late in the night and continue until early morning, testifying to their great popularity.
Navratri in GujaratIn different parts of the state the celebration of Navratri has different emphasis. In Saurashtra, bhavai, a dance drama is played. At Vadnagar in Mehsana Vada Garbani Sheri is focus of the attention as large number of men and women participate in garba. In Ahmedabad the fusion of modern music is at its peak and youngsters have gala time. The overnight extravaganza is worth witnessing for pomp, splendour and exhilaration that permeates everywhere. Isanpur near Ahmedabad is famous for its mandvi, which is erected on the thirteenth day with arti being performed the next day early in the morning. Account of Navratri would be incomplete without reference to Vadodara, the city of art and culture. Here, number of groups performs garba in quite professional manner. A bhavai performance is also held at Baroda’s Ambaji temple, during Navratri. The grace and dignity of the performances of Baroda leaves nothing to chance for its perfection.
Navratri is thus the festival that combines religious, devotional, cultural and recreational activities for almost a fortnight. To be in Gujarat during Navratri is to witness Gujarat at her best.
Uttarayan & the Kite Festival of Gujarat
As millions of kite enthusiasts pitch themselves at the rooftops, waves of flying kites overwhelm an otherwise deep blue sky. On January 14, watch the sky change colors... like a rainbow in a glittering sun after the rain and bask in the glory of Uttarayan, when the skies of Gujarat give way to colorful kites.
About UttarayanUttarayan (known as Makar Sakranti in other parts of India) is the day when the sun starts to travel northwards marking the decline of winter. The days become longer, the skies clearer and the breeze cooler. A feeling of anticipation, joy and jubilation grips all who celebrate the occasion of thanksgiving and merry-making.
Gujarat celebrates 2,000 festivals every year! Among these, the festival of Uttarayan is one of the grandest and stands tall. In Gujarat, Uttarayan is a holiday when every family can be met outdoors. People of all ages fly kites from dawn to dusk. Crowded rooftops, fun-loving rivalry to outdo each other in kite flying skills and delicious traditional Gujarati feast are the hallmarks of the day.
History & SignificanceThe fascination and the revelry associated with the kite flying cuts across age groups, class and communities. Although, Uttarayan is predominantly a Hindu festival marking the awakening of the gods from their deep slumber, history has it that India developed a rich tradition of kite flying due to the patronage of the Kings and Nawabs who found the sport both entertaining and a way of displaying their prowess. Trained fliers were employed to fly kites for kings. Slowly, the art started becoming popular amongst the masses. Today, manufacturing of kites is a serious business. It attracts big names of the corporate world as kites provide for the most cost-effective opportunity for branding. The stakes are high and prizes for the competition grand.
Months before the festival of Uttarayan, homes in the localities of various cities in Gujarat turn into kite producing factories with all family members doing their bit in the seasonal cottage business. The paper and sticks are cut, the glue is stirred and thousands of kites are prepared in the market. The string is coated with a special glass powder and rice paste, all set to cut each other's strings and knock down the kites. The size of the kite ranges from nine inches to three feet.
Members of various communities irrespective of cast and creed are engaged in the business of kites. Rich or poor, people enjoy this festival in their own ways. The aerodynamic skill, devotion and ingenuity that goes into the kite making and flying is almost a religion in itself, honed to the level of an art form, though it looks deceptively simple.
Ahmedabad: Kite CapitalAlthough the Kite Festival is celebrated all over Gujarat, it is the most exciting in the capital city of Ahmedabad. The night before is electric with brisk business in buying and selling kites, in amazingly numerous bulk purchases. The Patang Bazaar (kite market), situated in the heart of Ahmedabad city, is open 24 hours a day during the Uttarayan week. A visit to the Bazaar in the middle of the night proves beyond all doubt that the entire population of the city is obsessed with kites and they crowd the streets and buy the stocks while negotiating and enjoying through the night.
Uttarayan is the time to indulge in ceaseless amazement - in the most pulse racing kite competitions. There are kites and more kites, in all shapes and designs, but some stand out for their sheer size and novelty.
And the excitement continues even after dark. The nights see the arrival of the illuminated box kites, often in a series strung on one line, to be launched into the sky. Known as tukkals, these kites add a touch of splendor to the dark sky. What's more, the day is marked with the traditional food/delicacy festival of Gujarat like the undhiyu (a delicacy of vegetables), jalebi (sweets), til ladoo (sweets made of sesame seeds) and chikki for the guests from different parts of world.
The International Kite FestivalEvery year, the extraordinary fanfare associated with the paper works of art called kite brings people together from far and wide - be it from Japan, Australia, Malaysia, USA, Brazil, Canada and European Countries - to participate in the International Kite Festival.
For details, visit http://www.vibrantgujarat.com/ or contact Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL): Telephone +91 79 23222523, 23222645; E-mail: gujtour@icenet.net
The historical background Navratri or the Festival of Nine Nights from Ashvin Sud 1 to 9 is devoted to the propitiation of Shakti or Divine Mother. She represents prakriti, counterpart of purusha jointly making possible the creation of the world according to the religious ideology of Goddess worship. Such worships were prevalent in India even before the advent of the Aryans, who adopted it as a religious practice. References in vedas and puranas confirm this opinion. The main temples of mother goddess that are visited by multitude of devotees during Navratri are the shaktipithas, of which there are three in Gujarat. It is believed that Lord Vishnu had to cut the body of Sati into pieces to stop the destruction by Shiva who was perturbed by her death. At fifty-two places these pieces fell, the three in Gujarat being; Ambaji in Banaskantha, Bahucharaji in Chunaval and Kalika on Pavagadh hill in Panchmahals.
This festival is essentially religious in nature. It is celebrated with true devotion in the various temples dedicated to the Mother, or Mataji, as she is familiarly called. In some homes, images of the Mother are worshipped in accordance with accepted practice. This is also true of the temples, which usually have a constant stream of visitors from morning to night.
Celebration Galore The most common form of public celebration is the performance of garba or dandia-ras, Gujarat's popular folk-dance, late throughout the nights of these nine days in public squares, open grounds and streets. Females wear ethnic Chania Choli and Males wear Dhoti-Kurta and enjoy garba and dandiya ras (dance) the whole Night. The participants move round in a circle around a mandvi (garbo), a structure to hold earthen lamps filled with water and to house the image or idol of mother goddess. A betel nut and a silver coin are placed within the pot, called a kumbh, on top of which a coconut has also been placed. Pandals are erected over these madvis and decorated with asopalav, date palm leaves, flowers and electric light. As the dancers whirl around the pot, a singer and a drummer provide the musical accompaniment. The participants clap in a steady rhythm. The dance usually starts slowly. It gets faster and faster as the music too gets more rapid until the dance abruptly comes to a halt. There is a pause for a while and the dance commences once again, the singer leading with a new song.
Another dance which is also a feature of Navaratri is the dandia-ras or ‘stick’ dance, in which men and women join the dance circle, holding small polished sticks or dandias. As they whirl to the intoxicating rhythm of the dance, men and women strike the dandias together, adding to the joyous atmosphere. So popular are the garba and the dandia-ras that competitions are held to assess the quality of the dancing. Prizes are given to those judged to be the best. The costumes worn for the dances are traditional and alive with colour. The dances usually commence late in the night and continue until early morning, testifying to their great popularity.
Navratri in GujaratIn different parts of the state the celebration of Navratri has different emphasis. In Saurashtra, bhavai, a dance drama is played. At Vadnagar in Mehsana Vada Garbani Sheri is focus of the attention as large number of men and women participate in garba. In Ahmedabad the fusion of modern music is at its peak and youngsters have gala time. The overnight extravaganza is worth witnessing for pomp, splendour and exhilaration that permeates everywhere. Isanpur near Ahmedabad is famous for its mandvi, which is erected on the thirteenth day with arti being performed the next day early in the morning. Account of Navratri would be incomplete without reference to Vadodara, the city of art and culture. Here, number of groups performs garba in quite professional manner. A bhavai performance is also held at Baroda’s Ambaji temple, during Navratri. The grace and dignity of the performances of Baroda leaves nothing to chance for its perfection.
Navratri is thus the festival that combines religious, devotional, cultural and recreational activities for almost a fortnight. To be in Gujarat during Navratri is to witness Gujarat at her best.
Uttarayan & the Kite Festival of Gujarat
As millions of kite enthusiasts pitch themselves at the rooftops, waves of flying kites overwhelm an otherwise deep blue sky. On January 14, watch the sky change colors... like a rainbow in a glittering sun after the rain and bask in the glory of Uttarayan, when the skies of Gujarat give way to colorful kites.
About UttarayanUttarayan (known as Makar Sakranti in other parts of India) is the day when the sun starts to travel northwards marking the decline of winter. The days become longer, the skies clearer and the breeze cooler. A feeling of anticipation, joy and jubilation grips all who celebrate the occasion of thanksgiving and merry-making.
Gujarat celebrates 2,000 festivals every year! Among these, the festival of Uttarayan is one of the grandest and stands tall. In Gujarat, Uttarayan is a holiday when every family can be met outdoors. People of all ages fly kites from dawn to dusk. Crowded rooftops, fun-loving rivalry to outdo each other in kite flying skills and delicious traditional Gujarati feast are the hallmarks of the day.
History & SignificanceThe fascination and the revelry associated with the kite flying cuts across age groups, class and communities. Although, Uttarayan is predominantly a Hindu festival marking the awakening of the gods from their deep slumber, history has it that India developed a rich tradition of kite flying due to the patronage of the Kings and Nawabs who found the sport both entertaining and a way of displaying their prowess. Trained fliers were employed to fly kites for kings. Slowly, the art started becoming popular amongst the masses. Today, manufacturing of kites is a serious business. It attracts big names of the corporate world as kites provide for the most cost-effective opportunity for branding. The stakes are high and prizes for the competition grand.
Months before the festival of Uttarayan, homes in the localities of various cities in Gujarat turn into kite producing factories with all family members doing their bit in the seasonal cottage business. The paper and sticks are cut, the glue is stirred and thousands of kites are prepared in the market. The string is coated with a special glass powder and rice paste, all set to cut each other's strings and knock down the kites. The size of the kite ranges from nine inches to three feet.
Members of various communities irrespective of cast and creed are engaged in the business of kites. Rich or poor, people enjoy this festival in their own ways. The aerodynamic skill, devotion and ingenuity that goes into the kite making and flying is almost a religion in itself, honed to the level of an art form, though it looks deceptively simple.
Ahmedabad: Kite CapitalAlthough the Kite Festival is celebrated all over Gujarat, it is the most exciting in the capital city of Ahmedabad. The night before is electric with brisk business in buying and selling kites, in amazingly numerous bulk purchases. The Patang Bazaar (kite market), situated in the heart of Ahmedabad city, is open 24 hours a day during the Uttarayan week. A visit to the Bazaar in the middle of the night proves beyond all doubt that the entire population of the city is obsessed with kites and they crowd the streets and buy the stocks while negotiating and enjoying through the night.
Uttarayan is the time to indulge in ceaseless amazement - in the most pulse racing kite competitions. There are kites and more kites, in all shapes and designs, but some stand out for their sheer size and novelty.
And the excitement continues even after dark. The nights see the arrival of the illuminated box kites, often in a series strung on one line, to be launched into the sky. Known as tukkals, these kites add a touch of splendor to the dark sky. What's more, the day is marked with the traditional food/delicacy festival of Gujarat like the undhiyu (a delicacy of vegetables), jalebi (sweets), til ladoo (sweets made of sesame seeds) and chikki for the guests from different parts of world.
The International Kite FestivalEvery year, the extraordinary fanfare associated with the paper works of art called kite brings people together from far and wide - be it from Japan, Australia, Malaysia, USA, Brazil, Canada and European Countries - to participate in the International Kite Festival.
For details, visit http://www.vibrantgujarat.com/ or contact Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL): Telephone +91 79 23222523, 23222645; E-mail: gujtour@icenet.net
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