Junagadh district
District of Gujarat in India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Junagadh district is a district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Junagadh.
Junagadh district | |
|---|---|
     Clockwise from top-left: Girnar, Mul Dwarka temple in Visavadar, Shil beach, Mahabat Maqbara in Junagadh, Lions in Devalia Safari Park, Girnar Jain temples | |
.svg) Location of Junagadh district in Gujarat | |
 Interactive map of Junagadh district | |
| Coordinates: 21°31′N 70°27′E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Gujarat |
| Region | Saurashtra |
| Headquarters | Junagadh |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,093 km2 (1,966 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 1,525,605 |
| • Density | 299.5/km2 (775.8/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 362001 |
| Vehicle registration | GJ 11 |
| Website | junagadh |
Geography
The district is located on the Kathiawar peninsula in western Gujarat. It is surrounded by Gir Somnath district (southeast), Rajkot district (north), Porbandar District (north-west), and Amreli district (east). To the south and west is the Arabian Sea.[citation needed]
Talukas of Junagadh are Junagadh City, Bhesan subdistrict, Junagadh Rural, Keshod - in this taluka only one Air-port on this entire Junagadh district, Malia, Manavadar, Mangrol, Mendarda, Vanthali, and Visavadar.[2][dead link]
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 415,521 | — |
| 1911 | 458,829 | +1.00% |
| 1921 | 491,969 | +0.70% |
| 1931 | 579,792 | +1.66% |
| 1941 | 729,508 | +2.32% |
| 1951 | 829,760 | +1.30% |
| 1961 | 1,051,074 | +2.39% |
| 1971 | 1,408,342 | +2.97% |
| 1981 | 1,813,780 | +2.56% |
| 1991 | 2,091,182 | +1.43% |
| 2001 | 2,448,173 | +1.59% |
| 2011 | 2,743,082 | +1.14% |
| source:[3] | ||
According to the 2011 census Junagadh district has a population of 2,743,082,[1] roughly equal to the nation of Jamaica[4] or the US state of Utah.[5] This gives it a ranking of 142nd in India (out of a total of 640).[1] The district has a population density of 310 inhabitants per square kilometre (800/sq mi).[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 12.01%.[1] Junagadh has a sex ratio of 952 females for every 1000 males.[1] It had a literacy rate of 67.7% in 2001 which increased to a literacy rate of 76.88% in 2011.[1]
The divided district has a population of 1,525,605, of which 573,403 (37.59%) lived in urban areas. Junagadh had a sex ratio of 945 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are 151,971 (9.96%) and 37,810 (2.48%) of the population respectively.[1]
Hindus are 1,348,315 (88.38%) and Muslims 170,338 (11.17%) of the population respectively.[6]
Gujarati was the predominant language, spoken by 97.44% of the population.[7]
Politics
| District | No. | Constituency | Name | Party | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junagarh | 85 | Manavadar | Arvindbhai Ladani | Indian National Congress | Resigned on 6 March 2024 | |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | Elected on 4 June 2024 | |||||
| 86 | Junagadh | Sanjay Koradiya | Bharatiya Janata Party | |||
| 87 | Visavadar | Bhupendra Bhayani | Aam Aadmi Party | Resigned on 13 December 2023[8] | ||
| Gopal Italia | Elected on 23 June 2025 | |||||
| 88 | Keshod | Devabhai Malam | Bharatiya Janata Party | |||
| 89 | Mangrol | Bhagvanjibhai Karagatiya | ||||
Notable personalities
- Narsinh Mehta (1414?–1481?), poet-saint, born in Talaja, Bhavnagar
- Putlibai Gandhi, mother of Mahatma Gandhi
- Keshubhai Patel (1928–2020), politician who served as Chief Minister of Gujarat, born in Visavadar in Junagadh
- Dhirubhai Ambani (1932–2002), business magnate and entrepreneur, born at Chorwad, Junagadh
- Rajendra Shukla (1942–), poet, born at Bantwa, Junagadh
- Parveen Babi (1949–2005), Bollywood actress, born at Junagadh
- Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khan
Flora and fauna
Junagadh contains the Gir Forest National Park, which is the only home to Asiatic lions. Mount Girnar is also declared a forest reserve for bamboo. Girnari Giddh, the long-billed vultures, are found only on Girnar, as the Girnar region alone accounts for about 25 per cent of the species and about 10 per cent of the total vulture population in the Gujarat state.
Education
Educational and research institutions in the district include:
