Gujarat: Where wildlife, culture and celebrations come alive

In western India, Gujarat unfolds as a vibrant tapestry of culture, cuisine and celebrations. From the majestic Asiatic lions roaming Gir National Park to its radiant festivals, the state pulses with life in every form.The Asiatic lion. Image: Shutterstock

Gujarat is a land of striking contrasts, with vibrant festivals, salt deserts, sacred temples, and a vast coastline. It is the last natural home of the majestic Asiatic lion. Also, Gujarat is a land of intricate handicrafts and a cuisine as bold and diverse as its landscapes.

From 1st to 8th century AD, Buddhism and Jainism thrived in Gujarat, together with Hinduism, under the patronage of the Western Kshatrapas, the Guptas and the Maitraka dynasties.

The rock-cut Buddhist and Jain monastic caves in Kutch, Saurashtra and Eastern Gujarat, the Buddhist excavations at Vadnagar and Shamlaji, are important monuments of this period.

Continuing north from Vadnagar, you can see the intricately carved 12th-century Jain temple at Taranga, the Jain complex of Kumbhariya with temples built between 1062 and 1134 that feature fine marble carvings and the ornate Bohra mansions of Sidhpur.

Another gem is the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site that comprises forts, palaces, pavilions, mosques and temples.

Left: The magnificent Modhera Sun Temple. Right: Rani ki Vav, one of the finest examples of stepwell architecture in Gujarat.

Every winter, the Kutch or Rann Utsav, a cultural extravaganza, is hosted amid the awe-inspiring landscape in the state’s Kutch region.

An array of folk music and dance performances is held against the shimmering moonlit landscape. It began as a three-day festival and has evolved into a 100-day celebration from the end of November at Dhordo.

With its cultural diversity, Gujarat has several holy places of different religions and sects. Some of them enjoy spectacular locations in the hills or by the sea. Ambaji Temple is one of the most important Shakti Peethas (sacred temple dedicated to Goddess Shakti) in India.

The pilgrimage includes a visit to the summit of Gabbar Hill over the town. Somnath Temple by the sea is one of the holiest of the 12 Jyotirlingas (special shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva) in India.

The shore temple has withstood destructions by waves of invaders and was restored in 1951. Somnath also has other holy sites like Bhalka Teerth, where Lord Krishna is believed to have ended his incarnation, and Triveni Sangam, which marks the confluence of rivers Hiran, Kapila and the Saraswati.

The coastal town of Dwarka is revered as the kingdom of Lord Krishna. From here, you can also visit the richly carved 12th-century Rukmini Devi Temple and the holy island of Bet Dwarka with multiple temples and a much-visited gurdwara.

From left: Jagdip Mehta’s Heritage House in Ahmedabad; Ambaji Temple; and a festival shrine.

From intricate stepwells (vavs) and ornate Jain temples to Indo-Islamic mosques, the state reflects layered cultural influences. Distinctive pols of Ahmedabad, the closely knit heritage neighbourhoods with carved wooden façades, internal courtyards and bird feeders, showcase community-centric urban planning and climate-responsive design.

One of the most prominent festivals is Navratri (a Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga), during which colourfully dressed people throng to dance for nine consecutive nights in the entire state.

Evenings are filled with dance and music. Janmashtami that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, is another festival that is marked across the entire state. Multiple tribal fairs can be witnessed in the Chhota Udepur district of East Gujarat and the hills of North Gujarat.

During the Hindu festival of Navratri, meaning ‘nine nights’, Gujarat erupts into a nine-night dance carnival to celebrate feminine divinity, referred to as Shakti.

Gujarat is also famed for its handicrafts that are a living legacy built with age-old skills passed on from generations.

These handicrafts are part of the lifestyle of people of Gujarat, whether it is Patola, a silk weaving technique patronised by the Solanki Rajput rulers in Patan, or Lipan, the popular tradition of decorating mud houses with terracotta relief designs, murals and mirror inlay works in the rural areas of Kutch and Saurashtra.

Ajrakh is one of the intricate crafts of Kutch, where fabrics are printed through multiple processes. In Kutch and Saurashtra, Bandhani or tie and dye is widely practised. Tangaliya is a weave native to Gujarat’s Surendranagar district.

“Surat Nu Jaman Ane Kashi Nu Maran” is a popular saying in Gujarati, which means dining in Surat and dying in Varanasi, lead to heaven.

For a taste of the excellent vegetarian Gujarati cuisine, savour a traditional thali, which is the ultimate wholesome delight.

Intrinsic to this meal, dal (lentil curry), shaak (vegetable dish) and kathol (legumes) promise a bounty of flavours, aromas and a uniquely satisfying dining experience.

The staple lentil soup in Gujarat is tuver dal and chana dal is widespread in the form of besan (gram flour) and popularly used in snacks and sweetmeats.

Traditional Gujarati snacks, such as the fluffy dhokla, the crispy flatbread khakhra, the savoury khandvi and the soft flatbread thepla are enjoyed by locals throughout the year.

Soft, spongy Gujarati dhokla is a steamed, mildly tangy savoury cake, prized for its light texture and subtle sweetness. Image: Shutterstock

Gujarat has a remarkable geographical diversity encompassing a salt-covered desert, a 1,660-km-long coastline, forests, grasslands and wetlands. Gir National Park is the last abode of the Asiatic lion.

While the regal beasts form the heart of the wildlife sanctuary, it is a vibrant ecosystem that supports over 40 species of mammals, including leopards, jackals, striped hyenas and Indian foxes.

The Rann of Kutch offers some of India’s remarkably dramatic vistas. Stretching more than 7,500 sq km, it is one of the largest salt deserts left behind by geological factors that stopped the flow of the Arabian Sea waters that once covered the Rann and changed the course of rivers. Here, a thick crust of salt extends to the horizon, creating a glimmering white landscape.

Left: Rann Utsav Tent City in the Great Rann of Kutch. Right: The Chinkara (Gazella bennettii), an Indian gazelle native to Gujarat’s dry scrubs and grasslands. Images: Shutterstock