GUJARATH

Aavo Padharo, words of welcome in the language of Gujarat because it is here that these words ring truely and the guest is 'God' and the people of Gujarat are gregariously friendly, inviting and will entice you to come again and again.
Here in Gujarat you will discover centuries of history as spanning the geological core of the earth onto a fascinatingly vibrant future. Gujarat is unique in its geological and topographical landscape. From volcanic outpourings through bedrock to fossil fields of indegenous dinosaurs; from the art of the neolithic cave painter to the stone masterpieces of a series of civilized architecture. Gujarat has it all.
Ancient cave paintings to historic murals, natural and man made caves. Art, history, music, culture, all dovetail within each other to form a wondrous matrix that is the cultural exuberance of the people of the state.

Location

Western tip of India
Area
196077 sq. km.
Population
5.06 Crore (as on 1st March 2001)
Capital
Gandhinagar
Language
Gujarati
Religion
Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity
Time
GMT +5:30
Currency
Indian Rupee
Climate
Wet in the southern districts and Desertic in the north-west region
Winter: November to February (12 - 29 Celsius)
Summer: March to May (29 - 41 Celsius)
Monsoon: June to October (27 - 35 Celsius)

Name of the Districts


Ahmedabad, Amreli, Anand, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Dahod, Dang, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kutch, Kheda, Mahesana, Narmada, Navsari, Panchmahal, Patan, Porbandar, Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Surat, Surendranagar, Tapi, Vadodara, Valsad

Major Cities
Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhuj, Junagadh, Jamnagar


Religious Sites


Hutheesing Jain Temple, Sidi Sayeed Masjid
Swaminarayan Temple, Jama Masjid
Mahudi Jain Temple, Akshardham

Archaeological & Architectures

Walled city and gates, Heritage Walk
Rani no Hajiro, Badshah no Hajiro
Pols of Old City
Heritage Monuments & Structures

Dada Harir Vav (Stepwell), Jhulta Minara
The Adalaj Stepwell, Sarkhej Roza
The House of Mangaldas Girdhardas

Museums & Learning Spaces

Vechaar Utensils Museum

Calico Museum & Sarabhai Foundation

Sanskar Kendra
Institute of Indology
N C Mehta Gallery
Shreyas Folk Museum
Hussain Doshi's Gufa
CEPT Campus
Kanoria Ctr for Arts
Hutheesing Visual Arts Centre
Community Science Center
Sardar Patel Museum
Science City
Auto World
Sundarvan
Indroda Nature Park

Gardens & Lakes

Kankaria Lake

Buddhist Foot Print in Gujarat
Institue of Indology

Gandhi
Gandhi Ashram

Others

Ravivar (Sunday) Market
Manek Chowk
Vishala


 NALSAROVAR BIRD SANCTUARY


Explore the Sanctuary ird Sanctuary Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary

A black tailed godwit gracefully descends upon the tranquil water, flutters its wings and sails on. A small, brown and white wader with a slightly up curved bill, the bird has traveled 3500 kms from its nesting ground in Central Europe to spend the winter at Nalsarovar in Gujarat!

Clouds upon clouds of more than 200 types of birds land in this lake having made an equally long journey to escape the harsh winter of their nesting areas. Here they find food and warmth. These migrant birds visit Nalsarovar every year from November to February. During these four months water is plentiful and fish, insects and aquatic plants abound in the lake - an ideal environment for the birds. Nalsarovar at this time is a birdwatcher's delight.

When food and water are scarce in Nalsarovar, some birds go away for short periods to nearby areas and return to the lake after monsoon to a feast of fish and insects. These are the resident birds. The lake - Nalsarovar - and the wetlands around it were declared a bird sanctuary in 1969. Spread over 120 sq.kms, the lake and the extensive reed beds and marshes are an ideal habitat for aquatic plants and animals. The lake attracts a large variety of birds like plovers, sandpipers and stints.

National Park & Wildlife SanctuariesNalsarovar
Background

The Nal region is a low-lying area between the plains of the Central Gujarat and Eastern Saurashtra. Owing to its low lying topography, it is believed to represent a filled up sea link, that previously existed between the Little Rann in the north and the Gulf of Khambat in the south. Remnants of this sea are thought to be represented by the Nalsarovar.
By road: The Nearest bus station are at Ahmedabad (64kms), Viramgam (40 kms) and Sanand (42 kms).
By rail: The Nearest Railway station are Viramgam - 40 kms & Ahmedabad - 64 Kms
By air: The Nearest airport is Ahmedabad (64 kms).