Gujarat is a state in western India bordering Pakistan. It is one of the most modernized states in India. At the same time, the state has many ancient heritage sites that remind us of its glorious past. Here are 15 interesting facts about Gujarat.
15 interesting facts about Gujarat
Overview
Gujarat is the fifth-largest state in terms of area and the 9th largest in terms of population. It is bordered by three states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The state has an international border with Pakistan and a long coastline with the Arabian sea.
Longest coastline
Gujarat has the longest coastline among all the states (not considering Union territories) in India. The state has a coastline of about 1,600 kilometers on the Arabian sea.
Largest district
The largest district in India, Kutch is in Gujarat. It has an area of 45,674 square kilometers and is famous for its Rann of Kutch which is one of the largest salt deserts in the world. The famous Kutch Rann Utsav is organized every year in the Rann of Kutch which celebrates the beauty and the culture of the salt desert.
The tallest statue in the world is in Gujarat
The tallest statue in the world, the Statue of Unity is located in the Narmada district of Gujarat. The statue is 182 meters (597 ft) tall and is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Largest cricket stadium in the world is in Gujarat
The largest stadium in India, the Narendra Modi Stadium is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The stadium has a seating capacity of 1,32,000. It is also the largest cricket stadium in the world.
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat. With a population of over 8 million, it is one of the most populous cities in India.
Forest cover and National Parks
The total forest cover in Gujarat is 14,926 square kilometers which is 7.61 % of the total geographical area of the state. There are 4 National parks in Gujarat.
- Vansda National Park- 23.99 sq km
- Blackbuck (Velavadar) National Park- 34.53 sq km
- Gir National Park- 258.71 sq km
- Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) National Park- 162.89 sq km
Gir National Park is famous for its Asiatic Lions. Gir is the only forest in the world where the Asiatic Lions are seen in the wild.
The Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat was established in 1982. It was the first Marine National Park to be established in India
Capital
The capital of Gujarat is Gandhinagar which is a planned city. The city is known for its greenery. It has a green cover of over 50 percent.
Tourism
Gujarat is one of the most visited states in India. Millions of domestic and international tourists visit Gujarat every year. Some famous tourist destinations are Gir National Park, Somnath temple, Dwarka, and Rann of Kutch. There are four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Gujarat-
- Historic City of Ahmadabad
- The Harappan city of Dholavira
- Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan
- Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
Dwarka, one of the Char Dhams
Dwarka, a major pilgrimage city in Hinduism is located in Gujarat. It is one of the Char Dhams, the other three being – Badrinath, Puri, and Rameswaram.
The famous Somnath temple
The famous Somnath temple is located in the Gir Somnath district of Gujarat. In Hinduism, it is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva.
Clean Cities
3 of the top 25 cleanest cities in India are in Gujarat. Surat, a large city in the state, is the second cleanest city in India.
Surat
The city of Surat is famous as the ‘Diamond City of India’. The majority of diamonds in India are cut and polished in Surat. Surat is also the fastest-growing city in India.
Jainism
Gujarat has one of the highest Jain populations in India. The state has many famous Jain temples like the Palitana temples and Girnar temples.
Girnar hill
Girnar Hill is the highest point/peak in Gujarat. It has an elevation of about 1,100 meters.
Gujarat state basic facts
| State animal | Asiatic Lion |
| State tree | Banyan tree |
| Literacy rate | 78.03 % (2011 census) |
| State bird | Greater Flamingo |
| Official languages | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Area rank | 5 |
| Population rank | 9 |
| Capital | Gandhinagar |
These were some interesting facts about Gujarat. If you want to learn about other states, the following are some options.