Aravalli district is a district in the state of Gujarat in India that came into being on August 15, 2013, becoming the 29th district of the state. The district has been carved out of the Sabarkantha district. The district headquarters are at Modasa.[1]
Aravalli District | |
|---|---|
 Shamlaji Temple | |
 Interactive Map Outlining Aravalli District | |
 Location of district in Gujarat | |
| Coordinates: 24°0′N 73°0′E / 24.000°N 73.000°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Gujarat |
| Named for | Aravalli Hills |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,308 km2 (1,277 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 1,039,918 |
| • Density | 310/km2 (810/sq mi) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Website | arvalli |
Etymology
editThe district has been named for the Aravalli Hills that run across Gujarat and Rajasthan.[2] According to records with the Government of Gujarat, the Arasur branch of Aravalis passes through the regions of Danta, Modasa and Shamlaji in the district.[3]
History
editIt was one of 7 new districts in the state whose formation has been approved by the Government of Gujarat in 2013.[4] The district has a large tribal population and its formation, announced in the run up to the Assembly elections in Gujarat in 2012.
Geography
editAravalli district consists of Bhiloda, Meghraj, Modasa, Malpur, Dhansura and Bayad talukas of former Sabarkantha district.[5] Of these, Meghraj, Malpur and Bhiloda are tribal dominated talukas.[3] The district includes 676 villages and 306 village panchayats with a total population of 1.27 million and is the most literate tribal district in Gujarat.[5]
Demographics
editAt the time of the 2011 census Aravalli district had a population of 1,039,918, of which 126,562 (12.17%) lived in urban areas. Aravalli district had a population of 953 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 62,223 (5.98%) and 213,913 (20.57%) of the population respectively.[6]
Hindus are 975,342 while Muslims are 58,536.[7]
Language
editAt the time of the 2011 census, 97.88% of the population spoke Gujarati and 1.31% Hindi as their first language.[8]
Politics
edit| District | No. | Constituency | Name | Party | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aravalli | 30 | Bhiloda (ST) | PunamChand Baranda | Bharatiya Janata Party | ||
| 31 | Modasa | Bhikhusinh Parmar | Bharatiya Janata Party | MoS | ||
| 32 | Bayad | Dhavalsinh Zala | Independent | |||
Places of interest
editTalukas
editAravalli district has 6 talukas:
Villages
editEconomy
editAravalli district has the first private sector, 5 MW solar power plant of Gujarat at Kharoda near Modasa.[5] The district is industrially backward, having no major industrial units although small scale industrial areas exist in Modasa, Bhiloda and Dhansura talukas. The Mazum is a major river in the region with two large dams on it. Another major river is the Watrak River.[3]
Notable people
editReferences
edit- ^ "Aravalli now a district in Gujarat". DNA. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ "Narendra Modi packs in a new dist, Nitin Gadkari hopes for 'Gujarat-like govt' in Delhi". The Indian Express. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ a b c "Namesake of oldest mountain, Aravalli scores nil in industry". The Indian Express. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ^ "Seven new districts to be formed in Gujarat". Daily Bhaskar. January 24, 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ a b c Dave, Kapil (August 25, 2013). "Dignity of PM office has reached its nadir: Modi". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ "District Census Hand Book – Sabarkantha" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
- ^ a b "Population by Religion - Gujarat". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
- ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Gujarat". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
- ^ "Election results". Election Commission of India, New Delhi.
External links
edit
- Official website
Geographic data related to Aravalli district at OpenStreetMap
