Aravalli is a district in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Gujarat. It was carved out of the erstwhile Sabarkantha district in 2013, when the Government of Gujarat reorganised several districts to improve administrative reach. The district takes its name from the Aravalli Range, the ancient hill system whose southern spurs extend into this region.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Region | North Gujarat |
| Headquarters | Modasa |
| Formed | 2013 |
| Parent district | Sabarkantha |
| Named after | Aravalli Range |
Aravalli district lies in the north-eastern corner of Gujarat, bordering the state of Rajasthan to the north. It is bounded by Sabarkantha to the west, Mahisagar to the south, and Dahod further to the south-east. The terrain is a transition zone between the rocky hills of the Aravalli system and the alluvial plains of north Gujarat. The district is drained by tributaries of the Sabarmati and Mahi river systems.
The administrative headquarters of the district is at Modasa, a historic market town in north Gujarat. The district is divided into six talukas:
The district is administered by a District Collector, with parallel structures for the District Development Officer (overseeing the Zilla Panchayat) and the Superintendent of Police.
The area now constituting Aravalli district was historically part of the larger Sabarkantha region, which derives its name from the bank (kantha) of the Sabarmati. Following independence, this region was integrated into Bombay State and subsequently became part of Gujarat on the state's formation in 1960.
On 15 August 2013, the Government of Gujarat announced the creation of seven new districts, bringing the total to 33. Aravalli was one of these new districts, formed by separating the eastern talukas of Sabarkantha. The reorganisation was intended to bring administration closer to the predominantly rural and tribal population of the region.
The district has a significant Scheduled Tribe population, particularly in the eastern talukas of Bhiloda and Meghraj, where communities such as the Bhil are well represented. Gujarati is the principal language, with tribal dialects used in parts of the district.
The economy is predominantly agrarian. Major crops include maize, wheat, cotton, groundnut, and pulses, supported by both rain-fed cultivation and irrigation from local reservoirs. Dairying, supported by cooperative societies linked to Gujarat's wider cooperative dairy network, is an important supplementary activity. Modasa serves as the principal commercial centre, while small-scale agro-processing and trade in forest produce contribute to the rural economy.
National Highway 168 (formerly part of NH-8) passes through the district, connecting it with Ahmedabad to the south-west and onward to Rajasthan. State highways link Modasa with Himmatnagar, Shamlaji, and other regional centres. The district is served by Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation bus services.