Gujarat , State and historic region, western India. Area: 75,685 sq mi (196,024 sq km). Population: (2011) 60,383,628. Capital: Gandhinagar. It borders the Arabian Sea with a coastline of 992 mi (1,596 km) that includes the union territory enclaves of Daman and Diu, and it is bounded by Pakistan, by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra states, and by Dadra and Nagar Haveli union territory. During the 4th and 5th centuries ce it was ruled by the Gupta dynasty. It derived its name from the Gurjaras, who ruled the area in the 8th and 9th centuries. After a period of economic and cultural achievement, it fell successively under Arab Muslim, Mughal, and Maratha rule. In 1818 it came under British control, and after 1857 it was a province of British India. Following Indian independence in 1947, most of Gujarat was included in the state of Bombay, which was divided into Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960. Gujarat is a leading industrialized state of India and a petroleum producer. It is also famous for its arts and crafts.
