Gujarat Tourism

Gujarat is the 6th largest state in India, located in the western part of India with a coastline of 1600 km (longest in India). It is one of the most popular tourist regions in the country and was visited by 20 million domestic and international tourists in 2010-11. Gujarat offers scenic beauty from Great Rann of Kutch to the hills of Saputara. Gujarat is the one and only place to view pure Asiatic lions in the world. During the Sultanate reign, Hindu craftsmanship mixed with Islamic architecture, giving rise to the Indo-Saracenic style. Many structures in the state are built in this fashion. It is also the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, iconic figures of India's independence movement. Amitabh Bachchan is currently the brand ambassador of Gujarat Tourism. The ‘Khushboo Gujarat Ki' campaign by celebrity Amitabh Bachchan has increased tourism in Gujarat by 14 per cent per annum, twice that of national growth rate. Ahmedabad is considered[by whom?] to be an ideal hub to cover all the destinations in Gujarat.

History
The history of Gujarat is an illustrious one. The history of Gujarat state comprises an important part of Indian historical texts. Gujarat finds mention in ancient historical artifacts. The history of Gujarat encompasses the Indus Valley civilization. The history of Gujarat is replete with the mementos and associated artifacts of the ancient civilization. About 50 Harappan settlement ruins were discovered in Gujarat. The Dravidian tribes were the original inhabitants of the region. The ancient history of Gujarat was enriched by their commercial activities. There is a clear historical evidence of trade and commerce ties with Sumer in the Persian Gulf during the time period of 1000 to 750 BC. The history of Gujarat saw an Aryan invasion followed by a brief period of Greek rule. There were a succession of Hindu kingdoms including the era of the Guptas and culminating in the reign of the Solankis. The 9th century history of Gujarat saw the emergence of the Muslims in the political arena of the state. The first Muslim conqueror was Mohammad of Ghazni whose conquer of Somnath effectively ended the rule of the Solankis. The Mughals established and consolidated their rule from Delhi The rule of the Mughals lasted for two centuries before it was ended by the Marathas in the 18th century.

Fairs & Festivals
Gujarat fairs and festivals are well known world wide. It is due to the celebration of numerous fairs and festivals in Gujarat that it is also called the 'Land of fairs and festivals'. Around 3500 fairs and festivals at Gujarat are celebrated all the year around. The fairs and festivals of Gujarat can be celebrated for the change of season, at harvesting time of a green field, on some religious event. The significance of Gujarat fairs and festivals is that they take you closer to the rich cultural diversity of the people there. You get to see the customs, ethics, values and beliefs of the people of Gujarat. Moreover, you also get to know the regional cuisine, clothes, etc, during the fairs and festivals of Gujarat.

Best Time to Visit
Gujarat is a land dotted with many wondrous tourist destinations. If you want to enjoy a fantastic holiday at Gujarat, you must know thoroughly about the ideal travel season. This article will introduce you to the ‘best time to visit Gujarat’. Gujarat is located on the west part of India, and experiences a tropical dry climate. Needless to say, the region is mostly dominated by long spells of arid summer months, though it manages to have a share of monsoon and winter respectively. The land is known for its vigor, color, and vibrant lifestyle.

How to Reach :-

BY AIR - Gujarat has a high degree of aviation connectivity. There are as many as 17 airports all across the Gujarat state. Gujarat Civil Aviation board works towards promoting flight services in Gujarat. There are many flights connecting Gujarat to different parts of the globe as well as nation. International flights take off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport which is located in the city of Ahmedabad. Also, there are several other airports all across Gujarat such as Surat airport, Kandla airport, Vadodara airport, Rajkot airport, Porbandar airport, Bhavnagar airport, Keshod airport, Deesa airport.s

BY RAIL - Well developed railway networks connect Gujarat to different parts of India and also run within the state connecting various parts of the state to each other. Gujarat comes under Western Railway Division of Indian Railways. There are many important railway stations all across the state. Some of the notable stations are Surat, Rajkot, Ahmedabad. Vadodara railway station however is the busiest station as the station falls on the western rail highway between Mumbai and Delhi. Super fast trains regularly ply between these stations and other stations in the other parts of the country.

BY ROAD - Gujarat consists of some of the most superior roadways in Western India. The roadways of Gujarat extend to a total length of 68,900 kms and include National Highways, State Highways plus other types of roadways. These roads connect Gujarat to various other parts of India. Also, Gujarat has several other 2 and 4 lane Highways that run between the various cities of Gujarat. State road transportation Corporation of Gujarat is the major bus service outlet offering bus services all across the state and also to other parts of India. Tourists can avail both bus and taxi services during their tour of Gujarat.

Tourist Attractions
Gujarat is one of the most beautiful and popular states of India. The state allures travelers from all across the globe with its breathtaking attractions. All cities of the state have much to offer when it comes to tourist attractions in Gujarat. The state has all what a traveler requires for a perfect holiday in Gujarat. From shrines to sanctuaries, Gujarat houses numerous attractions. All these attractions make Gujarat, one of the most famous tourist destinations in India. Packed with pilgrims, Dwarka is one of the holiest char Dham Hindu Pilgrimage sites in Gujarat.