Gujarat, Western state in India
Gujarat is a state in western India that stretches from the dry Rann of Kutch salt flats in the northwest to the coastal plains near Mumbai in the southeast. The landscape shifts between sandy desert zones, forested hills, and fertile farmland along the Arabian Sea.
The current boundaries formed in 1960 when the former Bombay state split into Maharashtra and Gujarat due to language differences. Over the centuries, the region served as a trading hub where merchants from Arabia, Persia, and Africa landed along the coast.
During the nine-day Navratri festival, people dance in circular patterns while wearing bright clothes and clapping rhythmically to the music. Street corners, public squares, and courtyards turn into dance floors where families and neighbors gather and celebrate late into the night.
Three international airports and an extensive railway network connect the main cities and towns across the state. The port of Mundra handles a large share of Indian cargo traffic and sits on the western coast.
The Gir Forest National Park is the only place in the world where Asiatic lions live in the wild. These big cats differ from African lions through their smaller manes and a fold of skin along the belly.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
