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It is bounded on the west by the Arabian sea, on the
north-west by Pakistan, on the north by Rajasthan, on the
east by Madhya Pradesh and on the south and south-east by
Maharashtra. The state comprises three geographical regions.
1. The peninsula,
traditionally known as Saurashtra. It is essentially a hilly
tract sprinkled with low mountains.
2. Kutch on the north-east is barren and rocky and
contains the famous Rann (desert) of Kutch, the big Rann in
the north and the little Rann in the east.
3. The mainland extending from the Rann of Kutch and
the Aravalli Hills to the river Damanganga is on the whole a
level plain of alluvial soil.
Gujarat forms an area that housed the regions of the
Indus Valley civilization and Harappan sites. Around 50
Harappan sites are found in Gujarat. Lothal, Rangpur, Amri,
Lakhabaval, Rozdi etc. are some of these sites. This makes
it an important territory that reveals the history of India.
During the18th century that Gujarat was divided among number
of chiefs. From 1803-1827 the British set up their
administration. The British East India companies first head
quarters in India was at Surat. It was later moved to
Bombay. Finally in May1,1960, the state of Gujarat was
formed from the north and west portions of Bombay state, the
remainder being renamed the state of Maharashtra.
Gujarat rich in crafts, history and natural beauty, the
remarkable coastal state of Gujarat -the home state of
Mahatma Gandhi, continues to attract artists, scholars, the
intellectual elite and businessmen from the world over |
