Overview
Rajkot district is an administrative district in the Saurashtra region of the state of Gujarat in western India. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Rajkot, which is also the fourth-largest city in Gujarat and a major industrial and commercial centre. The district lies in the central part of the Saurashtra peninsula and forms part of the Rajkot division.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Region | Saurashtra |
| Headquarters | Rajkot |
| Division | Rajkot division |
| Type | District of Gujarat |
Geography
Rajkot district occupies a central position on the Saurashtra peninsula. It is bordered by Morbi district to the north, Surendranagar and Botad districts to the east, Amreli and Junagadh districts to the south, and Jamnagar and Porbandar districts to the west. The terrain is largely a gently undulating plain crossed by seasonal rivers, including the Aji, Bhadar, Machhu and Demi. The Aji Dam, built across the Aji river, is a major source of water for Rajkot city.
The district has a semi-arid climate with hot summers, a south-west monsoon between June and September, and mild winters. Black cotton soil predominates in much of the agricultural land.
Administration
The district is administered by a District Collector and Magistrate appointed from the Indian Administrative Service. Local self-government in rural areas is exercised through the Rajkot Zilla Panchayat and subordinate taluka panchayats and gram panchayats, while urban areas are administered by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation and several smaller municipalities and nagar panchayats.
Following the bifurcation that created Morbi district in 2013, Rajkot district was reorganised, with several talukas transferred to the new district. The remaining talukas include Rajkot, Lodhika, Kotda Sangani, Jasdan, Vinchhiya, Gondal, Jetpur, Dhoraji, Upleta, Paddhari and Jamkandorna.
History
The area now forming Rajkot district was historically a patchwork of princely states under the suzerainty of the British Crown during the colonial era, administered as part of the Western India States Agency, with Rajkot serving as the seat of the agency's political resident. Among the prominent princely states were Rajkot, Gondal, Jasdan, Virpur and Jetpur. Gondal, ruled by the Jadeja dynasty, became known under Maharaja Bhagvatsinhji (reigned 1869–1944) for early reforms in education, public works and women's rights.
Rajkot is also closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, who spent part of his childhood in the city; his father Karamchand Gandhi served as Diwan of the Rajkot state. The Kaba Gandhi no Delo, the Gandhi family residence, survives as a memorial.
After Indian independence in 1947, the princely states were integrated into the United State of Saurashtra in 1948, with Rajkot as its capital. Saurashtra was merged into Bombay State in 1956, and on the bifurcation of Bombay State on 1 May 1960, the district became part of the new state of Gujarat. The district was further reorganised in August 2013 when the talukas of Morbi, Tankara, Wankaner, Maliya and Halvad were carved out to form Morbi district.
Economy
Rajkot district has a diversified economy combining agriculture, agro-processing and a strong manufacturing base. Major crops include groundnut, cotton, wheat, bajra, jowar, sesame and pulses. The district is part of Gujarat's groundnut belt and supports oil mills and cotton ginning units.
The Rajkot urban region is one of Gujarat's leading industrial clusters, with concentrations of engineering, casting and forging units, machine tools, automobile components, diesel engines, kitchenware and bearings. Jetpur is widely known for screen-printed and block-printed textiles, particularly sarees, while Gondal and Dhoraji have agro-processing and jewellery industries. Rajkot is sometimes referred to as a centre of small and medium engineering enterprises in western India.
Demographics
Gujarati is the principal language of the district, written in the Gujarati script, with Hindi and English also widely used in commerce and education. Hinduism is the majority religion, with significant Jain, Muslim and other communities. Major communities historically associated with the district include Patidars, Kathis, Lohanas, Kolis, Brahmins, Rajputs and Bohras.
Transport
Rajkot is well connected by road, rail and air. National Highway 27 (part of the East–West Corridor) and National Highway 151 pass through the district. Rajkot Junction is a major station on the Western Railway, with direct services to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and other cities. Rajkot Airport handles domestic flights, and a new greenfield international airport at Hirasar, on the outskirts of the city, has been developed to replace the older facility.
Culture and notable places
- Watson Museum, Rajkot — a regional museum housing artefacts from the Saurashtra region.
- Kaba Gandhi no Delo, Rajkot — childhood home of Mahatma Gandhi, now a memorial.
- Rashtriya Shala, founded by Gandhi in 1921 as a national school.
- Naulakha Palace and Riverside Palace in Gondal — heritage residences of the former rulers.
- Virpur — known for the shrine of the saint Jalaram Bapa (1799–1881).
- Khambhalida caves — Buddhist rock-cut caves dating from around the 4th–5th century CE.
Education
Saurashtra University, established in 1967 and headquartered in Rajkot, is the principal affiliating university for higher education in the region. The district also hosts the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar's regional partner institutions and the Indian Institute of Information Technology Vadodara campus at Rajkot, along with medical, engineering and management colleges.
Related topics
References
- Wikidata entity: Q1815245
- Government of Gujarat, Rajkot District Administration.
- Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India — District Census Handbook, Rajkot.