Sabarkantha district | |
|---|---|
     Clockwise from top-left: Roda Temples, Rajchandra Vihara,Idar,Brahma Temple,Khedbrahma, Abhapur temples inPolo Forest, Tower Chowk,Himatnagar | |
 Interactive Map Outlining Sabarkantha District | |
.svg) Location of district in Gujarat | |
| Coordinates:23°36′N72°57′E / 23.600°N 72.950°E /23.600; 72.950 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Gujarat |
| Headquarters | Himatnagar |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,390 km2 (2,080 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 2,428,589 |
| • Density | 450/km2 (1,200/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati,Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| ISO 3166 code | GJ-IN |
| Vehicle registration | GJ-9 |
| Website | sabarkantha |
Sabarkantha district is one of the 33 districts ofGujarat state ofIndia, located in thenortheastern part of the state.[1] The administrative headquarters of the district are located inHimatnagar and the National Highway no. 48 passes though this district.[1] The district comprises a total of 1,389 villages (includingPedhmala andTakhatgadh Kampa[2]) and has an estimated population of 2.5 million people as of January 2025 based on recent demographic projections.
Sabarkantha District is bounded byRajasthan to the north and northeast, theBanaskantha district and theMehsana district to the west, theGandhinagar district to the south and theAravalli district to the southeast.[3] It is spread across an area of 5390 km and its geographical location: 23.030 to 24.30 N latitude and 72.43 to 73.39 E. longitude.
The district has a climate of a minimum temperature of 9o C in the winter and a maximum temperature of 49o C in the summer. The region also includes a number of rivers which includeSabarmati,Khari, Meshvo,Hathmati, Harnao,Vatrak and Mazam. There is a variety of soil and flat available around these rivers.
With all these factors, the district has given rise to a number types ofagriculture. Crops include paddy,millet,cotton,wheat,sorghum,tobacco,groundnut,castor,raido,vegetables,tomatoes andcauliflower.
During theWestern Satrap rule, the region was known asShwabhra (Gujarati:શ્વભ્ર). The region was under the rule of Satrap Rudradama in 150 A.D. as indicated inAshoka's Major Rock Edicts atJunagadh. The river of the region was originally namedShwabhravati and is now known as theSabarmati River. The region is also named in the auxiliary textGaṇapāṭha ofPāṇini's grammar work,Aṣṭādhyāyī.[4]
During theBritish Raj,Vijaynagar in the Sabarkantha district was the capital ofVijaynagar State or Pol State, one of theprincely states of theMahi Kantha Agency.[5]
The present-day district of Sabarkantha was formed in 1949 through the merger of 29princely states and some parts of the British-governedAhmedabad district.[6] When the formerBombay state was bifurcated in 1960, Sabarkantha became a part of the newly-formedGujarat.[6]
In 2006, theMinistry of Panchayati Raj named Sabarkantha one of the country's 250most backward districts (out of a total of640).[7] It is one of six districts in Gujarat currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[7]
Agriculture is the backbone of Sabarkantha district's economy, with approximately 62.8% of the workforce engaged in farming[8] and related activities. The region primarily cultivates wheat, cotton, pulses, and groundnut, which are among its most significantcrops.
Sabarkantha district has eighttalukas:[9]
According to the2011 census, the Sabarkantha district has apopulation of 2,428,589,[10] roughly equal to the nation ofKuwait[11] or the U.S. state ofNew Mexico.[12] This gives it a ranking of 183rd in India (out of a total of640). The district has a population density of 328 inhabitants per square kilometre (850/sq mi). Itspopulation growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 16.56%. Sabarkantha has asex ratio of 950 females for every 1000 males and aliteracy rate of 76.6%.
The residual district had a population of 1,388,671, of which 237,158 (17.08%) lived in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 125,462 (9.03%) and 328,243 (23.64%) of the population, respectively.[10]
There are 1,285,218 Hindus, 90,027 Muslims and 9,990 Jains, within the total population.[13]
At the time of the2011 Census of India, 97.85% of the population in the district spokeGujarati and 1.63% spokeHindi as their first language.[14]
| District | No. | Constituency | Name | Party | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabarkantha | 27 | Himatnagar | VinendraSinh Zala (V D Zala) | Bharatiya Janata Party | ||
| 28 | Idar (SC) | Ramanlal Vora | Bharatiya Janata Party | |||
| 29 | Khedbrahma (ST) | Dr. Tushar Chaudhary | Indian National Congress | |||
| Sabarkantha | 33 | Prantij | Gajendrasinh Parmar | Bharatiya Janata Party | ||
Also known asIdar Fort, is an ancient hill fort located on the southern edge of theAravalli Range in Idar, Gujarat. Historically referred to as'Ilva Durga', the fort is mentioned in ancient texts, including theMahabharata, and later in the travel records of the Rathore Rajputs during the British Raj in the Mahi Kantha Agency. The fort is an example of natural hill fortification. At its foothill lie the remnants of an old palace, notable for its carved balconies. The entry into Idar is marked by a three-story clock tower, which also serves as an entrance gate, featuring an arch and a semi-circular dome. The road leading to the fort is flanked by a bazaar and ends at the base of the fort.[15]
Located inVijaynagar at the foothills of theAravalli Range, is situated near one of Gujarat's remaining dense forests, close to the Gujarat-Rajasthan border. This historic site, nestled in natural surroundings, reflects a blend of architectural andcultural heritage[16]
Located approximately 18 km from Ambaji,Darbargadh in Poshina is a historical palace that has been converted into a heritage hotel. The region is home to various tribal communities, including theGarasias,Bhils, andRabaris. The area is notable for its unique tribal shrine that houses thousands of terracotta horses, offered in reverence to a local goddess. The palace itself features gateways, domes, pillars, arches, courtyards, and terraces, reflecting the architectural legacy of the Chalukyas, a dynasty that once ruled parts of Gujarat and Central India in the 12th century. In addition to the palace, Poshina contains Jain temples dedicated toParshvanath andNeminath, and a Shiva temple.[17]
ThePolo Forest spans an area of 400 square kilometers near the village of Abhapur in Vijaynagar taluka, Gujarat. The forest is surrounded by the Aravalli hills, and the Harnav River flows through it. Within the forest are remnants of ancient temples, including a Shiva temple and Jain temples, which date back to the 10th and 15th centuries. Every year, thePolo Festival is organized by the Gujarat government, featuring various activities such as trekking, cycling, and camping.[18]
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Geographic data related toSabarkantha district atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Sabarkantha district | |
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| Topics |  | |
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| Regions of Gujarat | ||
| Districts | ||
| Major cities | ||
| Ecoregions | ||
| Economy | ||
