Navsari district is an administrative district in the southern part of the state of Gujarat, India. The district headquarters is located at the city of Navsari. It lies along the Arabian Sea coast and forms part of the South Gujarat region.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Region | South Gujarat |
| Headquarters | Navsari |
| Formed | 2 October 1997 |
| Carved from | Valsad district |
| Coastline | Arabian Sea (west) |
Navsari district was created on 2 October 1997 when it was separated from the erstwhile Valsad district. It is bounded by Surat district to the north, The Dangs district and Tapi district to the east, Valsad district to the south, and the Arabian Sea to the west.
The district lies on the coastal plain of South Gujarat, with the Western Ghats rising to its east. It is drained by several west-flowing rivers, including the Purna, Ambika and Kaveri, which empty into the Arabian Sea. The terrain is largely flat and fertile near the coast, gradually becoming undulating towards the eastern talukas.
The district is divided into talukas for revenue and administrative purposes. These include:
The district forms part of the Navsari Lok Sabha constituency. Local self-government is exercised through the Navsari Zilla Panchayat, taluka panchayats, the Navsari municipality and several gram panchayats.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the rural economy, with horticulture and plantation crops being prominent. The district is known for the cultivation of chikoo (sapota), mango, sugarcane and paddy. Fisheries are important along the coast. Industrial activity includes diamond cutting and polishing units, agro-processing and small and medium enterprises, with linkages to the larger industrial belt around Surat.
Navsari is home to Navsari Agricultural University, established in 2004, which conducts teaching, research and extension across South Gujarat. Older institutions in the city include those associated with the Tata family's philanthropic and educational legacy.
The town of Navsari has a long-recorded history and is closely associated with the Parsi community in India; it served as one of the earliest centres of Zoroastrian settlement after the migration from Greater Iran. The Atash Behram and the seat of the Parsi high priesthood (Vada Dasturji) at Navsari hold particular religious significance. The industrialist Jamsetji Tata, founder of the Tata Group, was born in Navsari in 1839.
Navsari was also a notable stop on the Salt March led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930, which culminated at Dandi in the neighbouring coastal area.
The district is served by the Western Railway main line connecting Mumbai with Ahmedabad, with Navsari being a major station. National Highway 48 (the Mumbai–Delhi corridor) passes through the district, and the Surat International Airport in the adjoining district provides the nearest air connectivity.