Banaskantha is a district in the northern part of the state of Gujarat, India. The district takes its name from the West Banas River, which flows through the region. Its administrative headquarters is located at Palanpur. Banaskantha shares an international-adjacent character through its long border with the state of Rajasthan to the north and east, and lies close to the arid Rann of Kutch to the west.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Region | North Gujarat |
| Headquarters | Palanpur |
| Major river | West Banas (Banas) |
| Neighbouring state | Rajasthan |
| Country | India |
Banaskantha lies in the semi-arid belt of north Gujarat. The terrain ranges from the foothills of the Aravalli range in the north-east, around the area near Mount Abu in neighbouring Rajasthan, to flat alluvial plains in the south and dry, sandy tracts approaching the Rann to the west. The Banas River, from which the district takes its name, is the principal watercourse and originates in the Aravallis before flowing westward into the Rann of Kutch.
The district borders Sabarkantha district to the east, Mehsana district and Patan district to the south, and Kutch district to the west, while sharing its northern boundary with Rajasthan.
The district is divided into a number of talukas (sub-districts), with Palanpur serving as the administrative and judicial centre. Other notable towns in the district include Deesa, Tharad, Dhanera, Vadgam, Danta, and Ambaji. Local self-government is exercised through the Banaskantha Zilla Panchayat, taluka panchayats, and municipal bodies in the larger towns.
The region historically formed part of several princely states under the British Indian political agency known as the Banas Kantha Agency, later reorganised as the Palanpur Agency. The princely state of Palanpur, ruled by the Jhalori and later the Lohani Pathan dynasty, was the most prominent of these. After Indian independence in 1947, the princely states of the area acceded to the Indian Union and were integrated, initially into the Bombay State. Following the bifurcation of Bombay State in 1960, Banaskantha became a district of the newly formed state of Gujarat.
In 2000, parts of the former Banaskantha district were carved out to form the new Patan district.
The economy of Banaskantha is predominantly agrarian. Major crops include bajra (pearl millet), wheat, mustard, castor, cumin (jeera), isabgol (psyllium), and potatoes; Deesa is widely known as a centre of potato cultivation in Gujarat. Dairying is a major rural occupation, organised through the cooperative movement under Banas Dairy (Banaskantha District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union), one of the constituents of the Amul federation and among the largest milk unions in India by procurement.
Mining and quarrying, particularly of marble, granite, and china clay, are significant in parts of the district. Small and medium industries, including ceramics and agro-processing, are present around Palanpur and Deesa.
Banaskantha is home to the temple town of Ambaji, which houses the Arasuri Ambaji Mata temple, regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in Hindu tradition. The annual Bhadarvi Poonam fair at Ambaji draws large numbers of pilgrims from across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and beyond. The district also has a notable Jain heritage, with several temples and historic sites, and Palanpur has long been associated with the Palanpuri Jain community, which is prominent in the Indian diamond trade.
Banaskantha is served by the broad-gauge railway network of Indian Railways, with Palanpur Junction being a major station on the