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Gujarat Cities |
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The state of Gujarat
is made up of three main areas. The eastern region
includes the major cities of Ahmedabad, Surat, and
Vadodara (Baroda). The Kathiawar peninsula, also known
as Saurashtra, is the coastal plain that is divided
from the mainland by the Gulf of Cambay. The Kutch
area, separated from Saurashtra by the Gulf of Kutch
is an island, that is cut off from the rest of Gujarat
to the east and Pakistan to the north by the low lying
deserts. In the north west, during the summers, the
seasonal island
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of Kutch trickles into hardened slat
plains and local artisans weave the finest
textiles in India and battle the unforgiving elements of the
Little Rann, habitat of the wild ass and flocks of
flamingoes. The walled town of Bhuj is the major town of
Kutch and a delightful heaven off the beaten tourist track.
It was the capital of the former native state of Kutch and
now it is the headquarters of the Kutch district. This city
was greatly destroyed in the earthquake in the year 1819 and
2001. Only 100 kms. south is Saurashtra, a long, lush,
remote coastal region dotted with small towns and villages.
Bhavnagar is situated in the southeast corner of the
Kathiawar peninsula in the Saurashtra plains. Bhavnagar grew
into one of the 15th richest princely states in India during
the 20th century. Daman and Diu, the two small Portuguese
enclaves are the union territories which were the part of
the Gujarat. Daman is a picturesque port town hugged by the
Arabian Sea and swaying casuarines. The town is divided into
two parts by the Daman Ganga river. Diu is a tiny island in
the Arabian Sea, about 11 kms. long and 3 kms. wide,
separated from the coast by a narrow channel running through
the swamp. |
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Cities in Gujarat |
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Ahmedabad |
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Ahmedabad, also known as
Amdavad is the second largest city of west India and the
largest city in Gujarat.
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Bhavnagar |
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Bhavnagar lies in the
southeast corner of the Kathiawar peninsula in the
Saurashtra plains. |
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Bhuj |
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A flourishing walled city
is the most important town in the Kutch area. Bhuj was the
capital of the former state of Kutch. |
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Champaner |
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Champaner, situated about
47 kms. north east of Vadodara, stands on a 882 m high hill
in the Girnar Hills. Champaner is a UNESCO World Heritage
site. |
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Chhota Udepur |
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The founders of Chhota
Udepur were the direct descendants of the famous Hindu king
Prithviraj Chauhan. |
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Daman |
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Daman is the tiny union territory which was
the Portuguese enclave and situated on the southern side of
the Gulf of Cambay. |
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Diu |
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Diu has a very long and
glorious history that stretches back into legends and
mythology. It was believed that Pandava brothers of the
Mahabharata spent a part of their fourteen years exile in
Diu. |
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Dwaraka |
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Dwaraka is one of the four
most important holy places of the Hindus and attracts
tourists from all over the world. |
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Gandhinagar |
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Gandhinagar is the new
state capital of Gujarat after Ahmedabad. The main tourist
attraction in Gandhinagar is the Akshardham Temple. |
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Gondal |
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Gondal, a fortified town
is located on the River Gondali. Gondal was the capital of
the former princely state of Gondal. |
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Jamnagar |
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Jamnagar is a small 16th
century pearl fishing town. The old town of Jamnagar is
built around a lake with the Lakhota Palace. |
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Junagadh |
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In Gujarati, "Junagadh"
means an ancient fort. The town of Junagadh takes its name
from the fort that enclosed the medieval town. |
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Lakhpat |
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Lakhpat is the last town
situated at the western end of India, on the India -
Pakistan border. |
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Lothal |
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Lothal is situated about
85 kms. southwest of Ahmedabad. This important
archaeological site was discovered in 1954. |
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Mandvi |
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Mandvi was a originally a
fortified town having a fort wall of about 8 m high and 1.2
wide stone masonry. |
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Modhera |
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The village of Modhera is
situated about 106 kms. north west of Ahmedabad. Modhera was
a site of great importance at one time. |
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Palitana |
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Palitana is one of
Jainism's holiest pilgrimage sites and gateway to the
Shatrunjaya hill. Besides being a pilgrimage centre,
Paliatana is also knowm for the horse-breeding. |
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Patan |
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Patan is an ancient
fortified town, situated about 130 kms. north west of
Ahmedabad, on the banks of the sacred Saraswati river. |
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Porbandar |
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Porbandar, the coastal
heritage town of Gujarat is located on the Saurashtra
peninsula, on the Arabian Sea. This city is described in
Skanda Purana as Sudamapuri and Ashmavati and had a
flourishing trade with Africa and Arabia. |
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Rajkot |
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Rajkot is a city of
Gujarat state in India and administrative headquarters of
the Rajkot District. |
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Somnath |
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Somnath consists of a few
streets leading away from its phoenix like temple. The
pilgrim trade is constant, but merchants are relaxed,
perhaps in deference to the shadows cast by the
awe-inspiring temple. |
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Surat |
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surat is associated with
the name Saurashtra, 'The Good Land', the regions covering
the peninsula of Gujarat. |
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Vadodara |
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Vadodara, also known as
Baroda is a cultured, harmonious university town, situated
about 100 kms. southeast of Ahmedabad. |
