Some Unknown Facts about our Garvi Gujarat

Some Unknown Facts about our Garvi Gujarat 

Kutch, located in the State of Gujarat is blessed with one of the most ecologically and culturally abundant landforms. The spectacular sight of boundless white desert under the moonlight presents the stunning creation of nature, unique to this world. 

Gujarat is the only home of Asiatic Lions. With an area covering of about 1412 sq km, Gir Forest National Park is the land of Asiatic lions. Recent surveys show that 523 Asiatic lions are present in Gir. Over 2000 species are part of this forest.

Four are Gujaratis out of Top 10 Richest Persons in India, namely, Dilip Sanghavi, Mukesh Ambani, Azim Premji, and Pallonji Mistry. 

As compared to India’s total agriculture growth rate which is around 2-3%, Gujarat is leader in agriculture growth rate with around 13%, mainly due to its agriculture policies, irrigation system and agricultural education programs.

Owned by the Reliance Industries, the Jamnagar Refinery in Jamnagar is the biggest oil refinery on planet with the output of around 1.2 million barrels every day.

Alang is the biggest ship breaking yard town in the world located in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. World’s most colossal ships are broken here.

Cotton is a very popular source of clothing in India. Around 1/3 of India’s cotton is cultivated in Gujarat as it harvested around 108 lac bales of cotton in 2014-15.

More than 8 out of 10 of the world's diamonds are refined and processed in the city Surat in Gujarat. Being the main center of diamond merchants, it refines about 4/5 of world’s diamonds.

At the height of about 2000 feet, Palitana in Gujarat is the only place in the world with more than 900 Jain temples.

Gujarat ranks first nationwide in gas-based thermal electricity generation with national market share of over 8% and second nationwide in nuclear electricity generation with national market share of over 1%.

Gujarat is having the highest no. of operating airports in India (Total 14).

Gujarat has the largest sea shore in the country i.e. 1600 km. The longest sea shore compared to any other Indian state.

Gandhinagar is considered as one of the greenest cities in the world and the greenest capital city in the whole Asia.

Gujarat is the only state in India to have State Wide Gas Grid of 2,200 km.

Mundra Port is the largest private port of India located on the north shores of the Gulf of Kutch. Formerly it was operated by Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone Limited owned by Adani Group which later was expanded into Adani Ports & SEZ Limited.

The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a gravity dam on the Narmada river near Navagam, Gujarat. It is the largest dam and part of the Narmada Valley Project, a large hydraulic engineering project involving the construction of a series of large irrigation and hydroelectric multi-purpose dams on the Narmada river.

The famous Somnath Temple is a very sacred Hindu pilgrimage site. One of the 12 Jyotirlingas Shrines of Shiva, Somnath Temple is also the specimen of fine architecture. It is believed to be the place where Lord Krishna ended his Lila and thereafter for heavenly abode.

The endangered chinkara is the only gazelle in the world with horns on both males and females. Of the roughly 7000 chinkaras known to exist, 80% of them live in Kutch, and since their primary habitat is the scrub and thorn forests so common here, Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary is crucial to their well-being.

Akshardham is an architectural marvel of this Century. 6,000 tons of pink sandstone have been pieced together with incredible accuracy by more than 12 million man hours of 900 skilled craftsmen have created this magnificent monument.

Kabirwad is a famous place situated on an island in the middle of the river Narmada. It is an incredible grove of a Banyan tree which has grown over the years and now occupies an area of almost 3 kms. The place is named after the famous Saint Kabir.

The town of Dwarka in Gujarat has a history that dates back centuries, and mentioned in the Mahabharat epic as the Dwaraka Kingdom. Situated on the banks of river Gomti, the town is described in legend as the capital of Lord Krishna.

Rani ki vav is an intricately constructed stepwell situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat located on the banks of Saraswati River. It was added to the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites on 22 June 2014. The stepwell constructed in the third millennium BC and it is a subterranean water resource and storage system.

Ambaji is a census town in Banaskantha district in Gujarat. It is one of the important Shaktipeeths in India. It is known for its historical and mythological connections with sites of cultural heritage. With beautiful backdrop of Arasur Hills, it’s surrounded by thick forests. 

Girnar, sacred mountain, 3,666 ft (1,117 m) high, on the Kathiawar Peninsula; a pilgrimage place for adherents of Jainism. It has five peaks, the sides of which are dotted with ancient reservoirs. The Neminath is the largest and possibly the oldest of the Jain temples on the mountain.

There are 55 onion dehydration plants in Mahuva, making it India's number one town for dehydration. Mahuva also grows a large onion crop for export to other Indian states, and is the second-largest onion producer in India after Pune in Maharashtra.

Rani no Hajiro is located near Manek Chowk on east of the Ahmed Shah's Tomb. The walls of cloister are fitted with carved stone screens. The courtyard contains eight marble tombs of queens of Ahmed Shah I and other Gujarat Sultanate rulers.

Laxmi Vilas Palace is the pride of Gujarat. It is the four times larger than the Buckingham Palace of England. It is one of the finest Largest Royal Palaces in the World. It is the official residence of the Maharaja of Baroda and his family members.

Lothal was one of the most modern city during the time of Indus Valley Civilization. It was excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India between 13th February, 1955 to 19th May, 1960. Lothal is dated back from 2400 BCE which makes it one of the most ancient town in the World. 

Modhera is home to one of the most significant sun temples in India. Built in the 11th century by Solanki dynasty rulers, it's dedicated to Surya the Sun God. The temple is a substantial structure, consisting of a carved stepped tank, assembly hall, and main shrine. It's covered in intricate stone sculptures.

Siddi Sayed Mosque is one of the most photographed monuments in Ahmedabad. It is famed for its latticework over the yellow sandstone. The major highlight of it is the twin jails on the western wall that depicts intertwining of tree branches.

Dubbed as the second home of Mahatma Gandhi, Sabarmati Ashram is a Spartan colony of tiled houses in Ahmedabad. From here, Gandhi orchestrated the final struggle of independence. One can still see Gandhi’s personal items like round eyeglasses, wooden slippers, letters and books.

Velavadar Blackbuck National Park is home to a rare species of blackbuck. Situated in Bhal region, this national park is a treat for the wildlife enthusiasts, as along with spotting the whimsical blackbucks, they can even sight sizable amount of bird species.

Nalsarovar is a shallow yet beautiful lake with marshy lands around it. Gradually, it has become a favorite haunt of many migratory birds that come from Central Asia, Siberia and Europe. One can see as many as 250 species of birds here.

Vijay Vilas Palace in Mandvi is a Royal abode set constructed in 1920 AD. The palace has all the elements of Rajput architecture like central high dome on the pillars, the Bengal domes on the sides, windows with coloured glass, carved 'jalis', extended porch.

Dholavira is an archaeological site in Kutch. It is one of the five largest Harappan sites and most prominent archaeological sites in India belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. It is also considered as having been the grandest of cities of its time.

Haji Pir Dargah of Kutch is the ideal example of a shrine that goes beyond the borders of the religious differences. People of all religions come here to visit the shrine of Pir Haji Ali Akbar. The glorious pilgrimage in the Kutch of Gujarat is closely located to the Pakistan border. 

Saputara hill station is on a plateau in the Dang forest area of Western Ghats range at an altitude of about 1,000 meters. Saputara is free from commotion or disturbance experiences a climate that is consistently pleasant, although leaning towards chilly, throughout the year

Kirti Mandir is the memorial temple built in memory of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi located in Porbandar. It is an 'E' shaped building that consists of domes, terraces, a number of balconies and a central sikhara. The 'sikhara' of Kirti Mandir of Porbandar is 33 meters high and constructed in the Hindu style.

Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is located in Jamnagar. It has about 300 types of migratory birds. With area of 6.05 square km, it forms an excellent and unique eco-system providing unique assemblage of fresh and saline wetlands and micro habitat diversity to water birds.

Marine National Park is situated on the southern shore of the Gulf of Kutch in Jamnagar. It is the first national marine park of India. There are 42 islands on the Jamnagar coast in the Marine National Park, most of them surrounded by reefs. 

Mahabat ka Maqbara known as Bahauddin Makbara, is mausoleum of the Wazir of Junagadh. A fusion of Indo-Islamic architecture coupled with Gothic art form, it emits the sense of secularism going beyond petty religious egos and reaching new heights of equality.

Sidi bashir mosque is situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The minarets of this mosque are called shaking minarets or Jhulta Minar because of its unique construction. Due to its unique designed when 1 minaret will shake another one also shakes.

Adalaj Stepwell is a unique Hindu 'water building' built in 1499 by Muslim king Mohammed Begda for Queen Rani Roopba. It is intricately carved and is five stories deep.

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Panchmahal. The transition between Hindu and Muslim culture and architecture in the late 15th to early 16th century is documented in the park.

Polo forest is a beautiful eco-tourist place located near Abhapur village of Vijaynagar. The place is blessed with lot of natural resources, historical places, dam, and river surrounded by mountain ranges. There are more than 450 species of medicinal plants, 275 of birds, 30 of mammals and 32 of reptiles.

Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the South Central part of Gujarat which is home for a variety of animals and plants. With the highest population of Leopard, the habitat is also shared by animals such as sloth bear, jackal, blue bull, wild boar and four horned antelopes. 

Port Pipavav, India’s first port in the private sector, is a port on the West Coast of India for containers, bulk and liquid cargo.

Modest is a premier shipbuilding and ship repairs shipyard based in old port Bhavnagar. The yard has excellent facilities and competent work force to deliver high quality of ships and ship repairs services.

Ahmedabad Civil Hospital is the largest hospital in Asia with facilities for specialized diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative patient care. It's one of the oldest treating about 6 to 6.5 lac outdoor patients & admitting 70,000 patients annually. It performs about 26,000 surgeries and 6500 deliveries per year.

Kankariya Lake is situated in the heart of Ahmadabad at Maninagar area. It is the largest circular lake of city and from one point there’s a walkway which goes to the garden in the middle of lake, it is called as ‘Naginawadi’.

Shamalaji is a major Hindu pilgrimage center in Aravalli district built of white sandstone and bricks. It is dedicated to Vishnu or Krishna. Several ruins of temples, scattered idols and old brick-works surrounding the place establishes antiquity of the place.

Mahatma Mandir is a convention cum exhibition center and a memorial located at sector 13, Gandhinagar. It is inspired from life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. It is one of the biggest convention center of India spread over 34 acres.

Teen Darwaza is a historical gateway on the east of Bhadra Fort, Ahmedabad. The gateway has three arches which led into a large enclosure. It was built by Ahmed Shah immediately after the foundation of Ahmedabad and completed in 1415. 

Nageshvara Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana. Nageshvara is believed to be the first such shrine. A 25 m tall statue of a sitting Lord Shiva and a large garden with a pond are major attractions of this place.

Sarkhej Roza is a mosque and tomb complex located in the village of Makarba, 7 km south-west of Ahmedabad. It has been interpreted as being composed of both 'jism'(body) and 'ruh'(spirit), giving it the qualities of a human being.

The Brahma Kund at Sihor is a stepped tank surrounded by idols of Hindu deities. It has a design of steps, small temples, metaphors, motifs and beliefs, idols of deities, stone work, some scientific entities, carved within and across the complex.

Tulshi Shyaam is located on the Dhari-Una with an ancient temple of Lord Vishnu-Lord Shyam. The idol of Lord Tulsishyam is said to be 3000 years old. It is made up of black stone. There is a hot sulphur spring near the temple that is believed to have curative powers.

Established by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai in 1969, ISRO is the only organization in the world which has been successful in entering mars in its very first attempt. ISRO’s last 40 years expenditure is equivalent to NASA’s single year budget.

Bardoli Sugar Factory, the world’s largest sugar factory is a major source of income for many employees and farmers. Being located near Surat city, it is participating in economic growth of this entire region.

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, (IIMA) is Asia's 1st and world 45th ranked management college located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

The Maharaja Sayajirao university(MSU) of Vadodara is largest university in Gujarat ranked 10th by India today and 6th by Hindustan times in their list of India's best universities.