Surendranagar district General information
Surendranagar district is a district in the state of Gujarat. The district headquarters are located at Surendranagar town. The district occupies an area of 10,489 km² and has a population of 1,515,148 of which 26.56% were urban (2001 census).
Surendranagar is gateway for Saurashtra. Surendranagar is district place and main city of surendranagar district. It is developed by Maharaja Surendrasinh. Main business of surendranagar city is cotton. It is located between Ahmedabad and Rajkot. It has 10 taluka (Wadhwan, Muli, Limbdi, Sayla, Chotila, Halvad, Dhrangdhra, Lakhtar, Chuda, Dasada ). Wadhwan, Jorawarnagar, Ratanpar and Dhudhrej are near by city, town & village. Wadhwan is one of the historical city where old historical rankdevi temple is located. Major City of Surendranagar district are Surendranagar, Wadhwan, Limbdi, Dhrangdhra, Halvad, Thangadh, Lakhtar, Chotila.
Many Ceramic industry located in Thangadh. Famous Tarnetar Fair (Tarneter no Melo) held every year in village tarnetar is located near Thangadh. Gujarat Tourism arrange accommodation facilities for Out State, NRI, and other country's visitors at Tarnetar Village.
Geography
The district occupies an area of 10,489 km² and has a population of 1,515,148 of which 26.56% is urban (as of 2001).
Other cities in the district include Dhrangadhra, Halvad, Wadhwan, Limbdi, Chuda, Lakhtar, Muli, Sayla, Thangadh, and Tarnetar.
Economy
In the past, Surendranagar was used by colonialists as a hill station as it has a dry environment which was beneficial for some physical as well as mental ailments. In fact, Surendranagar's dry air is still believed to be the best place in Gujarat to cure Tuberculosis patients.
Surendranagar has the second highest rate of development in the whole of Gujarat state and is considered to be a strongest candidate for status of Municiple Corporation.[citation needed] It also has the second highest number of educational institutes in ratio of population.
SME's
Many SMEs and industries are also present, including confectionery, ceramics, pharmaceuticals,engineering plastics and salt production. Wadhwan City is now a major trade and processing centre for agricultural products, soap, glass, cotton, salt, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics, textile bearings, ceramics and sanitary ware.A number of substantial companies like Makson Machinery, Makson Pharmaceuticals,Textile Bearings (KCI) Industries, Luxite Industries, Mepro Pharmaceuticals, New Age Industries, LMS Foundry, Amba Mechanic Works, Meghdev Enterpries, Rimtex group of companies, Biodeal Laboratories, Panama group, Ronak Cotton ind. are situated in the city or the Wadhwan GIDC area.
Cotten & Salt
Surendranagar is a hub of cotton and ginning activities of India, with a large number of ginning and pressing units. It is one of the largest producers of quality "Shankar" cotton in world. In fact Surendranagar houses the first Cotton Trading Exchange in India.[citation needed] Nearly 25% of India's salt supply comes from mining in the area.[citation needed] There are miles of "Agar" (Salt pans) specially in Kharaghoda area. Prosperity has increased recently due to bumper cotton production, good rains and rapid industrial development.
Textiles
The city is also home to a big textile and clothing market, specialising in saris. Big clothing showrooms are located in the city on Jawahar Road and Vithal Press Road. The city has a wholesale grain market called Mehta Market.
Tourist Place
Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary is a 100 km² plus bird sanctuary located on the border between Ahmedabad and Surendranagar and attracts over 210 species of birds during the four months of winter, including the endangered wild ass and the blackbuck, its migratory bird population includes Rosy Pelicans, White Storks, Brahminy Ducks and Herons,Flamingos. Mainly inhabited by migratory birds in winter and spring coming from as far as Siberia, it is the one of largest wetland bird sanctuaries in India. The shallow area and ponds on the outer fringes of the lake feed many wading birds.
Wild Ass Sanctuary
The world's only Onager(wild ass) sanctuary. It is located in Little Rann of Kutch in Surendranagar district.
Chotila Hill
Chotila Hill, located approx 60 km from Surendranagar city, is a place for the worship of Chamunda Mataji, a Hindu goddess and Kuladevi (divine protectress) of the Gohil clan of Rajaput. Thousands of pilgrims walk as far as 300 km to this place. The main business in Chotila is the production of pure ghee from the milk of the huge numbers of livestock here.
Tarnetar
Tarnetar is famous for its fair, popularly known as the Trinetreshwar Mahadev Mela (Fair), held near the Trinetreshwar Mahadev temple. Villagers from all over the region, dressed in their colorful traditional costumes and exquisite jewellery, throng Tarnetar during this fair. About 100,000 people belonging to various tribes like Rabari, Kathi, Charans, Bharwads and Bhangis, and Koli come to the fair. The fair also attracts a large number of tourists from India and abroad. More than 500,000 people visit the fair during its three days. The fair is also a match-making event. Tradition holds that if a girl stops to talk to one of the men, it is a sign that she has found the man of her choice. Then the elders of both the girl's and the boy's families meet and decide about their choices. The fair is also known for various dance and village sports competitions. The competitions include the horse cart race, bullock cart race and camel race, along with cultural competitions such as rass (Gujarati dance) competition, doha (poem recitation) competition and umbrella decoration competition.
Zharia Mahadev
A natural waterfall near Chotila(aproxx 30 km) and an enjoyable picnic spot, where water continuously drips from the rocks and There is a temple of Bholenath.
Rotary Garden
The Rotary Garden in the GIDC area of Wadhwan is gaining some popularity. The garden, developed and maintained by the Rotary Club of Wadhwan City, has become a place to chill out, especially on weekends.
People
The majority of the population is Jains, and the city is also called as Baniya's city. Other residents include Brahmins, Kshatriya, Bapoos, Patels, as well as significant numbers of Bharvad and Rabari. The various communities live harmoniously together. There has been a huge influx of people from surrounding villages due to the development of educational institutes in the city. People are very fond of spicy food and golla (finely granulated ice with different sweet and sour flavors).