Gujarat, India

The North-Western state of Gujarat borders up against Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch.It is an arid state, with ancient cultures and cities, like Bhuj, which were important on maediaeval trade routes. The birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat is very much a Hindu heartland, with pilgrimage temples, and a predominantly vegetarian population...and NO ALCOHOL!. On the Arabian sea coast, traditional dhow building and fishing still recall earlier centuries, yet this state has an economic growth over 10% p.a. Irrigation greens the desert with cropping, giant solar, wind and wave energy plants power huge industry, with European companies like BMW, Siemens etc manufacturing here. It is amazing to see the dual level of life...subsistence farming or fishing, and rapidly rising middle classes burgeoning from the economic boom.

The North-Western state of Gujarat borders up against Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch.It is an arid state, with ancient cultures and cities, like Bhuj, which were important on maediaeval trade routes. The birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat is very much a Hindu heartland, with pilgrimage temples, and a predominantly vegetarian population...and NO ALCOHOL!. On the Arabian sea coast, traditional dho…  (read more)