Junagadh district is a district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Junagadh.
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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.
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.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census Junagadh district has a population of 2,743,082, roughly equal to the nation of Jamaica or the US state of Utah. This gives it a ranking of 142nd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 310 inhabitants per square kilometre (800/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 12.01%. Junagadh has a sex ratio of 952 females for every 1000 males. It had a literacy rate of 67.7% in 2001 which increased to a literacy rate of 76.88% in 2011.
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.
Hindus are 1,348,315 (88.38%) and Muslims 170,338 (11.17%) of the population respectively.
Gujarati was the predominant language, spoken by 97.44% of the population.
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:
Junagadh Agricultural University
GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Junagadh
Directorate of Groundnut Research