Rajkot () is the fourth-largest city in the western Indian state of Gujarat, after Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara. It is in the centre of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Rajkot is the 35th-largest metropolitan area in India, with a population of more than 2 million as of 2021. Rajkot is the 6th cleanest city of India, and it is the 22nd fastest-growing city in the world as of March 2021. It is located on the banks of the Aji and Nyari rivers. Rajkot was the capital of the Saurashtra State from 15 April 1948 to 31 October 1956, before its merger with Bombay State on 1 November 1956. Rajkot was reincorporated into Gujarat State on 1 May 1960.
History
The name "Rajkot" is derived from two words: "Raj", meaning "king" or "royalty", and "Kot", meaning "fort"—thus, Rajkot translates to "King's Fort". The city was founded in 1612 by Thakur Sahib Vibhoji Ajoji Jadeja, a member of the Jadeja Rajput clan and grandson of Jam Sataji of Nawanagar State (present-day Jamnagar). Vibhoji received the territory as a jagir (land grant) and established Rajkot as the capital of his princely state. Over time, Rajkot developed into an important administrative and cultural center in the Saurashtra region.
Under British rule, Rajkot served as the headquarters of the Kathiawar Agency and later as the capital of the Western India States Agency (WISA). The princely Rajkot state acceded to the Indian Union in 1948, following India’s independence in 1947.
It has had a long history and had a significant influence in the Indian independence movement. Rajkot was home to many personalities like Mahatma Gandhi. Rajkot is in a transition period of growing cultural, industrial, and economical activities. Rajkot is the 26th largest city in India and the 22nd fastest-growing urban area in the world.
On 26 January 2001, the 7.7 Gujarat earthquake shook Western India with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), leaving 13,805–20,023 dead and about 166,800 injured. This earthquake mainly affected the Kutch region of western Gujarat.
Geography
thumb|left|An aerial image of the [[Aji River (Gujarat)|Aji River that flows through the city of Rajkot]]
Rajkot is located at . It has an average elevation of 128 metres (420 ft). The city is located on the bank of Aji River and Nyari River which remains dry except the monsoon months of July to September. The city is spread in the area of 170.00 km<sup>2</sup>.
Rajkot is situated in the region called Saurashtra in the Gujarat state of India. The significance of Rajkot's location is that it is one of the prime industrial centres of Gujarat. Rajkot has a central location in the area called the Kathiawar peninsula. The city is located within the Rajkot district in Gujarat. Rajkot city is the administrative headquarters of the district of Rajkot. The district is surrounded by Botad in the east, and Surendranagar in the north, Junagadh and Amreli in the south, Morbi in the northwest and Jamnagar in the west and Porbandar in the southwest.
Climate
Rajkot has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh), with hot, dry summers from mid-March to mid-June and the wet monsoon season from mid-June to October, when the city receives of rain on average. However, this rainfall varies greatly from year to year – for instance less than fell in 1911 and 1939 but more than in 1878 and over in the incomplete year of 1959. The months from November to February are mild, the average temperature being around , with low humidity.
One of the most important weather phenomena that is associated with the city of Rajkot is the cyclone. The cyclones generally occur in the Arabian Sea during the months after the rainy season. The region experiences a lot of rainfall and high-speed winds during the time of the year after the monsoon season as well as the months of May and June. However, June experiences lesser amount of rainfall and winds than the post-monsoon time. Thunderstorms are another important part of the Rajkot weather in the months of June and July. During summer time, the temperature ranges between . In the months of winter, Rajkot temperature varies between but on a whole winters are pleasant.
thumb|left|Rajkot's skyline in cloudy weather
Rajkot has been ranked 14th best “National Clean Air City” (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India according to 'Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 Results'
Demographics
As of the 2011 Census of India, Rajkot recorded a total population of 1,390,640. Rajkot city has an average literacy rate of 82.20%, higher than the national average. The population is 52.43% male and 47.47% female. Most of the population is Hindu with a Muslim and Jain minority.
Hinduism was the main religion, practiced by 89.90% of the population. Islam was the second-largest religion (7.68%). Jains were 1.90%.