About Kutch

Hey,Are you going for adventure, vacation, or getting some desert safari fun? Then,go for Kutch. Yes, really Kutch, Gujarat, India...





Kachchh literally means something which intermittently becomes wet and dry; a large part of this district is known as Rann of Kachchh which is shallow wetland which submerges in water during the rainy season and becomes dry during other seasons. The same word is also used in the languages of Sanskrit origin for a tortoise and garments to be worn while having a bath. The Rann is famous for its marshy salt flats which become snow white after the shallow water dries up each season before the monsoon rains.



The district is also famous for ecologically important Banni grasslands with their seasonal marshy wetlands which form the outer belt of the Rann of Kutch.

Kachchh District is surrounded by the Gulf of Kachchh and the Arabian Sea in south and west, while northern and eastern parts are surrounded by the Great and Small Rann (seasonal wetlands) of Kachchh. When there were not many dams built on its rivers, the Rann of Kachchh remained wetlands for a large part of the year. Even today, the region remains wet for a significant part of year. The district had a population of 1,583,225 of which 30% were urban as of 2001.[1] Motor vehicles registered in Kutch district have their registration Number starting with GJ-12.

Beaches of Gujarat

Somnath Beach



Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach




Porbandar Beach

Jhaverchand Meghani

Jhaverchand Meghani (Gujarati: ઝવેરચંદ મેઘાની; August 28, 1896(1896-08-28)-March 9, 1947) was noted poet, litterateur, social reformer and freedom fighter from Gujarat.He is well known name in the field of Gujarati literature. He was born in Chotila. Mahatma Gandhi spontaneously gave him the title of Raashtreeya Shaayar (National Poet). Besides this he received many awards like Ranjitram Suvaranachandrak and Mahida Paaritoshik in literature. He authored more than 100 books. His first book was a translation work of Rabindranath Tagore's ballad Kathaa-u-Kaahinee titled Kurbani Ni Katha (Stories of martyrdom) which was first published in 1922. He was attached to Gujarati folk literature. He went village-to-village in search of folk-lores and published them in various volumes of Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar. Other Gujarati authors like Harilal Upadhyay have also shown respect to the writing skills of Shri Meghani. He was also the Editor of Phoolchhab Newspaper of Janmabhoomi group (which is being published till date from Rajkot).
A sample of his collection of folk tales from Saurashtra has recently been published in an English, with the translation done by his son Vinod Meghani. The three volumes published so far are titled A Noble Heritage, A Shade Crimson and The Ruby Shattered.

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રાજ, મને લાગ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ !
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બહેનીને કંઠે નીતરતાં હાલરડાંમાં ઘોળ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ
ભીષણ રાત્રિ કેરા પહાડોની ત્રાડોએ ચોળ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ… રાજ..

દુનિયાના વીરોનાં લીલાં બલિદાનોમાં ભભક્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ
સાગરને પારે સ્વાધીનતાની કબરોમાં મહેક્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ… રાજ..

ભક્તોના તંબૂરથી ટપકેલો મસ્તીભર ચાખ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ
વહાલી દિલદારાના પગની મેંદી પરથી ચૂમ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ… રાજ..

નવલી દુનિયા કેરા સ્વપ્નોમાં કવિઓએ ગાયો કસુંબીનો રંગ
મુક્તિને ક્યારે નિજ રક્તો રેડણહારે પાયો કસુંબીનો રંગ… રાજ..

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શહીદોના ધગઘગતા નિ:શ્વાસે નિ:શ્વાસે સળગ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ … રાજ..

ધરતીનાં ભૂખ્યાં કંગાલોને ગાલે છલકાયો કસુંબીનો રંગ
બિસ્મિલ બેટાંઓની માતાને ભાલે મલકાયો કસુંબીનો રંગ … રાજ ..

ઘોળી ઘોળી પ્યાલાં ભરિયા : રંગીલા હો! પીજો કસુંબીનો રંગ
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ઝવેરચંદ મેઘાણી

Beautiful Beaches From Gujarat.

"Gujarat" has a wide range of the most spectacular attractions-which includes breathtaking locations and scenic landscapes and also is home to several architectural marvels, and is a pilgrim center for many faiths. Gujarat has a coastline measuring more than 1660 km, and this is the longest among all Indian states. Beyt Dwarka, Diu Beach, Somnath & Veraval beach, Chorward are other famous beaches of Gujarat. If Beyt Dwarka is sensuous then Chorwad is perfect for long beach walks and a quiet holiday. The coast was also a historical centre with interesting Portugese forts, shore temples, princely port cities and beach palaces.

" Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach
" Chorwad Beach
" Diu Beach
" Gopnath Beach
" Umbergam Beach
" Tithal Beach


Ahmedpur Mandvi
Mandvi is one of the finest beaches on the Gujarat shoreline. The beach is white and firm, ideal for walks, and the water perfect for swimming. Seemingly unending, with sands ideal for castle building by kids, and shallow waters for a wading, this is a great spot for a family holiday. A variety of water sports like water scooters, skiing, surfing, para sailing, speed boat trips ...... are on offer. Cottage Resort Magico Do Mar is one of the highlight of this beach offering air-conditioned rooms, pleasant lawns, palm groves. The resort bungalow facing garden towards sea offers wonderful sight which should not be missed.

Chorwad Beach
Chorwad , a small fishing village is a great place to enjoy. Chorwad is famous for rocky shores and boat riding. It is also a base to visit places like Porbandar, Somnath etc. A resort is there which was previously a palace built by Nawab Saheb Mohabbat Khan as a vacation spot on hot summer days where he held weddings of his dogs, royal banquets and processions amidst cool breezes from the sea. Porbandar the historic princely state on the shores of the Arabian Sea is famous for being the birthplace of the Father of The Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. His old residence Kirti mandir is now a memorial museum having a series of memorabalia and library. The Daria Mahal Palace facing the sea, is a delightful work of architecture.

Kutch Mandvi Beach
Another fine beach in Gujarat is in Mandvi, a historic port town of the Maharao's of Kutch. The port of Mandvi was an important sea trade post between the near east and the far east which brought prosperity to the Royal family. Mandvi town was important city for the Maharaos of Bhuj being endowed with some splendid palaces and buildings. The Vijay Vilas Palace built in the 1940's depicts some splendid arcitectural features like umbrella domes and cupolas etc. For peace and tranquillity, visit the Maharao's private beach, accessible for a fee. Watch the sunset from the pavillion.

Gopnath
Gopnath by sea is just 80km from Bhavnagar, which has daily flights from Mumbai and overnight trains from Ahmedabad. It was the summer home of Maharaja Krishna Kumar Singhji of Bhavnagar 75 kms from Bhavnagar, Gopnath is well connected by rail and bus to Ahmedabad. The breathtakingly beautiful sea coast with it's spectacular limestone cliffs and great views, sea breezes and colourful birdlife, must have made an excellent break from the city during the summer months.

Dwarka
Dwarka is an important city for Hindu Pilgrimage. This was the kingdom of Lord Krishna. The entire city was revealed by marine excavations. The city is famous for the Dwarkadish temple or Jagat Mandir. Today it is not only a major pilgrimage site but a pleasant spot for a beach holiday. Dwarka has fine stretches of beach and though crowded by pilgrims one can always find quiet spots too. Large number of birds could be seen on the coast. There is a small island covered with temples, a white beach, coral reefs and extensive marine life. Dolphins and porpoise can be seen surfacing to breathe, sea turtles, octopus, star fish, sea urchins etc. inhabit the beach.

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About Dwarka Temple

Dwarka is located on the western coast of Gujarat on the shore of the Arabian Sea. Dwarka is famous for the Dwarkadheesh temple (Jagat Mandir) built on the north bank of the Gomti River . Dwarka was destructed by the sea and present dwarka is the 7 th city built.

Dwarka is once of the seven holy cities of India . Lord Krishna spent 100 yrs hear. The main temple is of Lord Dwarkadhish. There is temple of Lord Baladevaji to the right of the main temple. The main temple is five-story high with the lavishly carved conical spire rising to a height of 157 feet. Dwarka is also the site of Dwarka Pitha, also known as Kalika Pitha.
The present temple was built in 16th century CE, while the original temple was believed to have been built by Krishna's grandson, Vajranabha. The 5-storied temple is made of limestone and sand. A flag hoisted in the temple tower five times each day. There are two gateways - Swarga Dwar, where pilgrims enter, and Moksha Dwar, where pilgrims exit. From the temple one can view the Sangam (confluence) of River Gomati flowing towards the sea. In Dwaraka, there are also shrines for Vasudeva, Devaki, Balarama and Revati, Subhadra, Rukmini Devi, Jambavati Devi and Satyabhama Devi. You can get fair throught this site: Ahmedabad To Dwarka

About Somnath Temple

Somnath: celebrated city of India, situated on the shore of the sea, and washed by its waves. Among the wonders of that place was the temple in which was placed the idol called Somnath. This idol was in the middle of the temple without anything to support it from below, or to suspend it from above.You can serf it with our blog About Gujarat
Facing the wide open Arabian Sea, the temple at Somnath is an imposing structure offering a spectacular sight to the beholders. At a distance of 79 km from Junagadh and 25 km from Chorwad is the temple of Somnath, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

It was held in the highest honor among the Hindus, and whoever beheld it floating in the air was struck with amazement, whether he was a Musulman or an infidel. The Hindus used to go on pilgrimage to it whenever there was an eclipse of the moon, and would then assemble there to the number of more than a hundred thousand. They believed that the souls of men used to meet there after separation from the body, and that the idol used to incorporate them at its pleasure in other bodies, in accordance with their doctrine of transmigration. "The ebb and flow of the tide was considered to be the worship paid to the idol by the sea. Everything of the most precious was brought there as offerings, and the temple was endowed with more than 10,000 villages.

Soma is the name for the moon, the son in-law of Daksha. Once Soma disobeyed a certain instruction of his father-in-law. Daksha was so angry that he cursed him, saying, "Thou shalt wane!" The moon, who used to shine in full splendor every night till then, started to shrink. However, before the curse brought about an absolute end to the moon, many a god requested Daksha to revoke his curse. Daksha asked Soma to take a bath in the sea at the mouth of the river Saraswati and then to pray to Lord Shiva. Hence at Prabhasa, Shiva came to be known as Somanath, the Lord of the moon.

About Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad was founded in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah to serve as the capital of the Gujarat Sultanate, and was named after him. Under the British rule, a military cantonment was established and the city infrastructure was modernized and expanded.

Tourist Places of Ahmedabad:
The Walled City
On your tour to Ahmedabad you will at once notice that the walled city is one of the must visits. Leading into the city of Ahmedabad, it allows a glimpse of the affluence of the ancient buildings of the 18th century.

Gandhi Ashram
Another of the tourist attractions in Ahmedabad is the Satyagraha Ashram, set-up in AD 1920 on the lull western banks of the Sabarmati River.

Mosque of Sidi Sayid
The Mosque of Sidi Sayid with its stone tracery and the patterns of the banyan tree on its windows is another of the tourist attractions in Ahmedabad.

Hathee Singh Jain Temple
Built by Sheth Hathee Singh in 1848, the Hathee Singh Temple, located outside the Delhi Gate, is worked in pure white marble. It houses 52 shrines, each with an idol of a Jain Tirthankar.

Sidi Bashir Mosque
The Sidi Bashir Mosque situated outside the Sarangpur Gate, has minarets, one of which when shaken, leads to the vibration in another.

Kankaria Lake
A circular lake constructed in AD 1451 by Sultan Qutub-ud-din, the Kankaria Lake offers tourist places of interest like the island garden known as Nagina Wadi, parks, an aquarium, a boat club, a natural historical museum, and a zoo.

Bhadra Fort and Teen Darwaza
A venue for Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations in Ahmedabad, the Bhadra Fort of Ahmedabad has a temple devoted to the Mother Goddess, Bhadrakal.

Teen Darwaza
Used as a royal entrance to the Royal Square of the Bhadra Fort, the massive Teen Darwaza is another place of interest in Ahmedabad.

Calico Museum
The Calico museum of fabric, yarn and textiles was established in 1949 consequent to the meticulous efforts of Ms Gira Sarabhai.

The other sites worth visiting in Ahmedabad are the Rani Sipri's Mosque, Rani Rupmati's Mosque, Raj Babri Mosque, Shreyas Museum of Folk Art, the Kite Museum, and Utensil Museum.

Excursions
Excursions to places like Sarkhej, Adlaj Vav, Lothal, Modhera, Patan, Gandhinagar, Mahudi and Nalsarovar Wildlife Sanctuary can be entertaining and exciting at the same time.

Events and Festivals
Navratri and Rath Yatra are the main festivals celebrated in Ahmedabad and the city also hosts the contemporary International Kite Festival too.

Districts of Gujarat

On 1960-05-01, Gujarat was created out of the 17 northern districts of former State of Bombay. These districts were further subdivided later on. There are 26 administrative districts in the state (as of 2007).
1. Ahmedabad
2. Amreli
3. Anand
4. Banaskantha
5. Bharuch
6. Bhavnagar
7. Dahod
8. Dang
9. Gandhinagar
10. Jamnagar
11. Junagadh
12. Kheda
13. Kutch
14. Mehsana
15. Narmada
16. Navsari
17. Panchmahal
18. Patan
19. Porbandar
20. Rajkot
21. Sabarkantha
22. Surat
23. Surendranagar
24. Tapi
25. Vadodara
26. Valsad

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.

The Muslim reign comprised the medieval period in the history of Gujarat.

The British Raj got a toehold in the region in the year 1803. The Union Jack consolidated its rule by 1827. The East India Company resurrected the principal trading post of Surat before transferring the administrative seat to Bombay (now Mumbai).