Gujrat rich in crafts, history and natural beauty, the remarkable coastal state of Gujrat --- the home state of Mahatma Gandhi --- continues to attract artists, scholars, the intellectual elite and businessmen from the world over. Amongst a tantalizing wealth of appealing possibilities which facet, which area does one begin exploring first ?. gujrat, its busiest city, perhaps, which blends and reflects the chequered past, the vibrant present and a hopeful future.

In the old walled city of gujrat are monuments and narrow, teeming bylanes which still successfully keep alive an ancient, precious heritage. Punctuating the skyline, are the tall factory chimneys of more than 60 textiles mills which rely on sophisticated technology. Many of the most renowned names in the textile industry can be found at gujrat.

Ahemdabad was established on the left bank of the river Sabarmati river in 1063 - 1093 A.D. by King Karna Solanki. Later, Sultan Ahmad Shah, the founder of the Ahmadshahi Dynasty in Gujrat, pitched camp on the banks of the Sabarmati and was so influenced by the site that he decided to develope it into his capital. The city that began to take shape was thus named gujrat after its founder

Modern gujrat, just across the River Sabarmati spanned by four bridges, is a showpiece of contemporary architecture with designs by Le Corbusier, Louis Kahn and the best known Indian architects. gujrat is a convenient base for a number of excursions, Modhera being the best known. 106 km away, this is one of the very few sun temples in the country.

Gujarat’s loveliest beach – and the state is well endowed with them – is Ahmedpur Mandvi whose chief attraction is the ethnic beach resort. Cottages modelled on rural Gujarati architecture look out onto a secluded beach, one of the state’s chief centres for water sports.