Introduction

Navsari district is located in the south eastern part of Gujarat state. The district has 5 talukas of which Navsari, Gandevi, and Chikhli are major talukas. Navsari district is known for its floriculture activities and sugar business. The hub sectors of the district are agro and food processing industries, textiles, mineral related industries, and marine based industries. Famous historical place Dandi and Vansda National Park are located in Navsari district.

Education in Navsari District

There are 723 primary schools and 150 secondary and higher secondary schools at Navsari district. Navsari Agriculture University in the district provides education in the fields of agriculture, forestry, horticulture, and fisheries. Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technical Education and Research in the district offers courses in computer science, electrical, electronics, communication and mechanical engineering. Industrial Training Institutes in the Navsari provide training in areas like cutting and sewing, welding, fitting, dress making, chemical plant operating, computer operating, stenography, armature and motor rewinding etc

Economy of Navsari District

Economy of Navsari District in the state of Gujarat is based on Textiles, diamond, sugar industry, agro and food processing, paper, engineering and chemicals industries. The district has well developed floriculture and horticulture activities owing to its suitable climate and presence of a major player Best Roses Biotech Pvt. Ltd. Best Roses has pioneered six hectare greenhouse project in the district which is the largest export oriented floriculture project in the State. The Company exports to countries such as, Japan, Germany and UK, etc. Other large players such as Gufic Biosciences Ltd., Tata Steel Ltd., and Mafatlal Industries are present in the district.

Navsari district is the largest producer of chikoo in the State and the largest exporter of the fruit in India. The district has huge sugarcane fields as a result of which sugar manufacturing industry is a major business in Maroli and Gandevi talukas of the district. Navsari is the largest producer of Chikoo contributing 20 percent to total State production and second largest producer of mango with a share of 17 percent in State production. Navsari is the largest producer of cucurbits among vegetable crops contributing 17 percent to total State production. Turmeric is the main spice crop of the district with a share of 12 percent in total State production. Navsari district is the second largest producer of Sugarcane in the State contributing 12 percent to total State production.

There are approximately twenty three medium and large scale industries present in Navsari. Most of these units are concentrated in Navsari and Gandevi talukas. Industries under SSIs present in Navsari are food products, metal products, chemicals and rubber and plastic products manufacturing. Maximum numbers of SSI units (1,412 units) are in repairing and servicing oriented sector followed by metal products manufacturing (533 units. Highest numbers of SSI units are located in Navsari taluka followed by Gandevi and Chikhli talukas. The development of Vansi-Borsi port as direct berthing deep water port proposed by Gujarat Maritime Board will fuel the industrial growth in the district. It will improve business opportunities for industries such as mineral based industries, food and agro processing industries, salt industries and marine based industries.

The climate of Navsari district is well suited for floriculture activities. The Gujarat Government has covered floriculture activities under Jyotigram Yojana as a result of which 24- hour power supply is available. There are many floriculture projects coming up in the district which will boost the economy of the district and increase the exports of flowers which have a growing demand. Surat-Navsari is proposed to be developed as an industrial area along the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). This will augment development of textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food processing industries which are prominent sectors.

Tourism in Navsari District

Navsari District, Gujarat is a unique experience which boasts of historical places like Dandi and Dastur Meherji Rana Library and several ancient religious structures like Somnath Mahadev Temple, Dargah of Sayed Saadat, Unai Hot Springs and Jain pilgrimage termed as Shri Chintamani Parshvanath. Navsari Di>strict is famous for being the birthplace of Jamshedji Tata, the pioneer of steel industry of the country. Travellers also visit the Padamdungari Eco Campsite, Kilad Nature Education Campsite, Waghai Botanical Garden and Udvada Atash-Behram Fire Temple, amongst many other tourist places. The residence of Jamshedji Tata is a significant tourism locale present here.

Pilgrimage Tourism in Navsari District : The Somnath Mahadev Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Mahadev is existent in Billimora taluka of this district and boasts of being the tallest temple of Lord Shiva in southern part of Gujarat, measuring 108 metres. Devotees take a dip in the Unai Hot Springs, besides paying a visit to Shri Chintamani Parshvanath Temple, an important Jain pilgrimage centre which is dedicated to Lord Parshvanath, the 23rd Jain Tirthankara. The Dargah of Sayed Saadat and Udvada Atash-Behram Fire Temple are the other religious spots based in this part of India. The Udvada Atash-Behram Fire Temple is temple which is visited mainly by the Zoroastrians, who are known to worship fire.

Nature Tourism in Navsari District : Nature tourism in Navsari is incomplete without mentioning the Vansda National Park, which is home to over 250 species of flora and also various species of orchids. Different kinds of butterflies, snakes, spiders, birds and a vast quantity of other wild beasts are found here. The trees of this park possess a height of 120 feet. One can also visit Waghai Botanical Garden which consists of some unique plant species which are employed for manufacturing many kinds of food and medicine. Bird-watching is an interesting option if one pays a visit to Kilad Nature Education Campsite, which is present at Gand Forest Division, near Ambika River.

Leisure Tourism in Navsari District : Located about 16 km away from Navsari District, Dandi is a popular historical place which contains the Saifee Villa Museum that was erected during 1961 in the memory of the famous `Salt March` undertaken by Gandhi during 1930. Photographs, images and artefacts belonging to Mahatma Gandhi have been preserved in this museum. Dastur Meherji-Rana Library, created during 1872, which possesses manuscripts of Parsis, is also visited by tourists. Dudhia Talao, a market area and Gandhi Kutir Institution at Karadi are other well-known tourist destinations of this district. Umbharat is a spectacular picnic spot which is situated at a distance of nearly 20 km away from Navsari, which is also reputed for the celebration of Anant Chaudas festival and wonderful sandy beaches.

Other Tourism Spots in Navsari District : Gandhi Beach and Eating Sugar Cane and Padamdughari Eco Campsite are some of the other exciting tourism centres existent here. The campsite of Padamdungari is located about 30 km from the town of Vyara and 8 km from Unai village. Medicinal groves, wild beasts, observation towers and beautiful woodlands belonging to this ecological campsite are also popular.