Gujarat stretches along India's western coast with 1,600 kilometres of Arabian Sea shoreline, making it the state with the longest coastline in the country. It is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and its history as a trading hub goes back thousands of years -- the ancient port city of Lothal was part of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
The state is remarkably diverse. In the north, the vast salt marshes of the Rann of Kutch stretch to the horizon, flooding during monsoon and drying into a white expanse the rest of the year. The Gir Forest in the south is the last refuge of the Asiatic lion. Gujarat's coastline offers everything from sacred pilgrimage towns like Somnath and Dwarka to quiet beaches at Ahmedpur Mandvi and Chorwad.
Gujarat is predominantly vegetarian, and Gujarati cuisine is one of India's most distinctive -- a balance of sweet, sour, and spicy flavours that makes even simple dal and rice feel like a celebration. The state is also dry: alcohol is officially prohibited, though permits are available for visitors.
The major cities are Ahmedabad, the former capital and by far the largest city; Gandhinagar, the current capital; Vadodara (also known as Baroda); Surat; Rajkot; and Jamnagar. The temple towns of Modhera and Patan are worth the detour from Ahmedabad, and the ancient ruins at Lothal offer a fascinating window into a civilisation that flourished 4,500 years ago.
Navratri, the nine-night festival of music and dance, is celebrated here with more intensity than anywhere else in India. If you can time your visit for October, the all-night Garba and Raas dances are unforgettable.
