GUJRAT

**Adil Malik** · #1 08-05-2007, 10:27 AM

Information:

Gujrat (Urdu/Punjabi: گجرات) is a city in Pakistan located in Gujrat District in the Punjab Province. A person living in Gujrat is called Gujrati.

Climate

This district has moderate climate, which is hot in summer and cold in winter. During Peak Summer, the day temperature shoots up to 45ºC, but the hot spells are comparatively shorter due to proximity of Azad Kashmir Mountains. The winter months are very pleasant and the minimum temperature may fall below 2ºC. The average rain-fall on the Kashmir border is over 100 cm, at Kharian it is 75 cm, at Gujrat 67 cm and at Dinga 50 cm.

Natural Resources

Agriculture

Main Crops:
Wheat and Rice are the main crops grown in the district. Besides, Sugarcane, Bajra, Tobacco, Maize, Jawar, Masoor, Moong, Mash, Oil Seed such as Mustard and Sun/Flower are also grown in minor quantities in the district.

Main Fruits:
Citrus and Guavas are main fruits grown in the district. Besides, Mango, Jaman and Banana are also grown in minor quantities in the district

Main Vegetables:
Turnip, Potatoes and Cauliflower are main vegetables grown in the district. Besides, Carrot, Peas, Onion, Tomato, Garlic, Chillies and Ladyfinger are also grown in the district in minor quantities

Gates of Gujrat
There are four gates in Gujrat;

1. Shahdaula gate on the east, named after a famous saint Shahdaula Daryai

2. Dhaki(Ascention) gate on the west

3. Sheshanwala gate on the north

4. Kalra gate on the south

In old times, the city was situated within the gates. At the night, the gates were closed, and nobody was allowed to enter inside the city afterwords. Kabli Gate was central to the rails. The gates, except Shadoula gate, exist in names only.

Sites of interest
The Zahoor palace, situated in the center of the city (Pakistan Chawk), is the hub of political activity in Gujrat. The same building has been the residence of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi. Over the ages, the building has influenced the political history of the city. The Gujrat Fort, now in shambles, still stands, depicting the declining glory of Mughal architenture. The fort was built by Akbar the Great Mughal Emperor in 1598-99. Morever, the Baradari, built by Raja Ranja Singh, is also a worth visiting place.

Faiz-e-illah Manzil is another historical place, Where father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah resided for a short while.

Known for its huge Sufism past, the city houese the tombs and shrines of many Sufis, Preachers, Saints, etc. The most familiar include;

1. Shrine of Shahdaula Daryai (see "Gates of Gujrat")

2. Shrine of Kanwanwali Sarkar (The saint of crows)

3. Shrine of Shah Hussain

The fields of Gujrat produce one of the best rice crop of the world. Thanks to the wonderful canal system, Gujrat is producing sugarcane, wheat, gram and wide range of pulses and vegitables. There also exist big forests on the sarroundings of Gujrat.

Gujrat is also known in the world for its clay with which Gujratis produce quality pottery since ages. Apart from agriculture and clay the city is well known for its furniture manufacturing skills. Gujratis have mastered the skills of conditioning the wood and producing world class furniture having immaculate finish. Over last few decades Gujrat has also attained a name in export of electric fans.