Banas Kantha General information

Banaskantha district is a district in Gujarat state. The region is presumably named after the West Banas River which runs through the valley between Mount Abu and Aravalli Range, entering into the plains of Gujarat in this region and flowing towards the Rann of Kutch.


History

Palanpur was the capital of former princely State of Palanpur, the city is circled by hillocks in the close vicinity of Aravali Mountains. It derives its name from Palansi Chauhans who inhabited the city in 14th century. The Chauhans were replaced by Muslim rulers who ruled till independence.


Geography

The administrative headquarters of this district is Palanpur. Banaskantha has a population of 2,504,244 of which 11.00% were urban as of 2001. It covers an area of 10,751 sq.km. Banaskantha borders with Rajasthan state in the North, Sabarkantha district in East, Kutch district in South and Patan and Mehsana district in the South. In the year 2000 parts of this district were broken off for the formation of Patan district.

Overview

There is a Kirti Stambh and a Rajmahal, the old palace of the Nawab, now used for govt. offices. Outside Mira Gate, there are two Dargahs, one of the poet Anwar Kazi and the other of Saint Mursheed, worshipped by Muslims. An ancient stepwell `Mithi Vav' is the best-preserved architectural monument with seven galleries on the wall on either side.

Economy

Banaskantha is rich in Marble quarries and Copper deposits.

India's diamond industry has its origins in Palanpur.

It has very big co-operative sector. It also have one of the bigest milk dairy called Banas dairy which was founded by Late Galbabhai Nanjibhai Patel.

It has Banaskantha District Central Co-operative Bank one of the bigest District Cooperative Bank of Gujarat chaired by shri Shankar Chaudhary

It has got prestigious State Agricultural University * Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar . The main agriculture is of Bajra crops.