Overview
Surendranagar district is an administrative district in the state of Gujarat, in western India. Located in the Saurashtra region, it serves as a transitional zone between the peninsular Saurashtra plateau and the mainland Gujarat plains. The district headquarters is the twin-town municipality of Surendranagar–Wadhwan, often referred to collectively as Surendranagar–Dudhrej–Wadhwan.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Region | Saurashtra |
| Headquarters | Surendranagar (Surendranagar–Wadhwan) |
| Type | District of Gujarat |
| Official language | Gujarati |
Geography
The district lies in the north-eastern part of the Saurashtra peninsula. To its north lies the Little Rann of Kutch, a vast saline marsh that forms part of the Wild Ass Sanctuary, the only habitat of the Indian wild ass (Khur). The district is largely flat, with the Bhogavo, Falku, Vansal and Sukhbhadar rivers traversing parts of its terrain. The climate is semi-arid, with low and erratic rainfall, and summers are typically hot and dry.
Surendranagar is bordered by the districts of Morbi and Kutch to the north, Ahmedabad and Botad to the east, Bhavnagar to the south, and Rajkot to the west.
Administration
The district is divided into several talukas, including Wadhwan, Chotila, Sayla, Muli, Chuda, Limbdi, Lakhtar, Dasada (Patdi), Thangadh and Dhrangadhra. Civic administration in the urban headquarters is handled by the Surendranagar–Dudhrej–Wadhwan municipality, while rural areas are governed by a network of taluka and gram panchayats under the District Panchayat. Following the bifurcation that created Morbi district in 2013, certain northern talukas of the former Surendranagar district were transferred to Morbi.
History
The region has historic associations with the princely states of Saurashtra under the British paramountcy, including Wadhwan State, Dhrangadhra State, Limbdi State, Sayla State, Chuda State and Muli State, most of them ruled by Jhala Rajput dynasties. The town of Wadhwan is among the older settlements, while Surendranagar itself was developed as a planned settlement (originally Wadhwan Camp) under the Wadhwan rulers and was named after Surendrasinhji, the last ruler of Wadhwan State.
After the integration of the princely states post-1947, the area became part of the United State of Saurashtra, then of Bombay State, and from 1960 part of the newly formed state of Gujarat. In 2013 the northern part of the district was carved out to form Morbi district.
Economy
The economy is predominantly agrarian, with cotton, groundnut, wheat, cumin, sesame and pulses among the principal crops. The district is a notable centre for cotton ginning and pressing, and has long been associated with the trade in cotton in Saurashtra. Thangadh is well known for ceramics and sanitary-ware manufacturing, while Dhrangadhra is associated with chemicals and salt-related industries; the Little Rann supports salt production by the Agariya community. Handloom weaving, including the traditional Tangaliya shawl craft of the Dangasia community (a recognised Geographical Indication of Gujarat), is also practised in parts of the district.
Transport
Surendranagar lies on the Ahmedabad–Rajkot rail and road corridor and is an important junction on the Western Railway. National Highway 47 (formerly NH 8A) and other state highways pass through the district, connecting it with Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Bhavnagar. Surendranagar Junction is a major railway station serving the area.
Demographics and culture
Gujarati is the principal language, with Kathiawadi dialects widely spoken. The district has communities of Patidars, Rajputs, Kolis, Bharwads, Rabaris, Dalits, Muslims and Jains, among others. Major fairs and pilgrimages include those at Chotila, where the hill-top temple of Chamunda Mata draws large numbers of devotees, and at Tarnetar, where the annual Tarnetar Fair held during Bhadrapada is famed for its folk dances, embroidered umbrellas and traditional matchmaking gatherings.
Notable places
- Chotila – hill shrine of Chamunda Mata.
- Tarnetar – Trinetreshwar Mahadev temple and annual fair.
- Wadhwan – historic town with stepwells and the Madhavrai temple.
- Dhrangadhra – former princely capital; gateway to the Wild Ass Sanctuary.
- Little Rann of Kutch – saline marsh and wildlife habitat partly within the district.
Related topics
- Gujarat
- Saurashtra
- Districts of Gujarat
- Little Rann of Kutch
- Wild Ass Sanctuary
- Tarnetar Fair
- Morbi district
References
- Wikidata: Q237535
- Government of Gujarat – District administration portals.