Gujarat has a busy, competitive newspaper market. Three Ahmedabad-based dailies publish editions across the state and in Mumbai, while older regional papers remain the first read in Saurashtra, Kutch and South Gujarat. Gujarati papers also travel with the diaspora, from Mumbai to the United States.
This list ranks the leading Gujarati-language dailies. The first five follow the most recent full Indian Readership Survey (IRS 2019 Q4, MRUC), which orders Gujarat's dailies by average issue readership. The other five have no comparable audited figure, so we have ordered them by footprint and heritage. For each paper you will find the basics, what it is known for, and how it fits a PR plan. If you are planning coverage, our Gujarati press release distribution page explains how we write for and distribute to these desks.
Key takeaways
- Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh and Divya Bhaskar dominate: the three are close on total readership, with Gujarat Samachar ahead on average issue readership (IRS 2019 Q4, Gujarat).
- Regional papers carry their own regions: Saurashtra Samachar in Bhavnagar, Kutchmitra in Kutch, Phulchhab in Rajkot, Gujaratmitra in Surat.
- Mumbai Samachar, published since 1822, is India's oldest running newspaper and the main Gujarati daily outside Gujarat.
- A story written in Gujarati, placed in the right regional edition, travels much further than an English release translated at the last minute.
The list at a glance
| Newspaper | Founded | Publisher | Based in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gujarat Samachar | 1932 | Lok Prakashan Ltd | Ahmedabad |
| 2. Sandesh | 1923 | The Sandesh Ltd | Ahmedabad |
| 3. Divya Bhaskar | 2003 | DB Corp (Dainik Bhaskar Group) | Ahmedabad |
| 4. Saurashtra Samachar | Not verified | DB Corp (since 2004) | Bhavnagar |
| 5. Kutchmitra | 1947 | Saurashtra Trust | Bhuj |
| 6. Mumbai Samachar | 1822 | Bombay Samachar Pvt Ltd | Mumbai |
| 7. Gujaratmitra | 1863 | Gujaratmitra Pvt Ltd | Surat |
| 8. Phulchhab | 1921 (as Saurashtra) | Saurashtra Trust | Rajkot |
| 9. NavGujarat Samay | 2014 | The Times Group | Ahmedabad |
| 10. Akila | Not verified | Akila group | Rajkot |
1. Gujarat Samacharગુજરાત સમાચાર
- Founded
- 16 January 1932
- Publisher
- Lok Prakashan Ltd
- Based in
- Ahmedabad
- Website
- gujaratsamachar.com
Gujarat Samachar first appeared in 1932 and has been controlled by the Shah family since the 1950s. Published by Lok Prakashan from Ahmedabad, it runs editions across Gujarat and in Mumbai, and is known for strong political and civic coverage.
In IRS 2019 Q4 it led Gujarat with an average issue readership of about 3.3 million and total readership of about 8.4 million.
2. Sandeshસંદેશ
- Founded
- 1923
- Publisher
- The Sandesh Ltd
- Based in
- Ahmedabad
- Website
- sandesh.com
Sandesh dates from 1923 and is published by The Sandesh Ltd, a listed company controlled by the Patel family. It has seven editions, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Bhuj and Mumbai, and the group also runs a news channel.
IRS 2019 Q4 placed it second, with an average issue readership of about 2.9 million and total readership of about 8.3 million, almost level with Gujarat Samachar.
3. Divya Bhaskarદિવ્ય ભાસ્કર
- Founded
- 2003
- Publisher
- DB Corp (Dainik Bhaskar Group)
- Based in
- Ahmedabad
- Website
- divyabhaskar.co.in
Divya Bhaskar was launched in Ahmedabad in 2003 by DB Corp, publisher of Dainik Bhaskar, and quickly became one of the big three. It prints from nine centres including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Mehsana, Vapi and Junagadh.
In IRS 2019 Q4 its average issue readership was about 2.7 million, third in Gujarat, with total readership of about 8 million.
4. Saurashtra Samacharસૌરાષ્ટ્ર સમાચાર
- Founded
- Not verified
- Publisher
- DB Corp (since 2004)
- Based in
- Bhavnagar
- Website
- Not listed
Saurashtra Samachar is the leading paper of Bhavnagar and the Saurashtra region. The Bhaskar Group took it over in 2004, and it now sits alongside Divya Bhaskar in DB Corp's Gujarat portfolio.
IRS 2019 Q4 recorded an average issue readership of about 0.25 million, fourth in Gujarat.
5. Kutchmitraકચ્છમિત્ર
- Founded
- 1947
- Publisher
- Saurashtra Trust
- Based in
- Bhuj
- Website
- kutchmitradaily.com
Kutchmitra is Kutch's own daily, published from Bhuj by the Saurashtra Trust, which also publishes Janmabhoomi and Phulchhab. Kutch has a distinctive economy, from ports and salt to industry and handicrafts, and Kutchmitra covers it closely.
In IRS 2019 Q4 its average issue readership was about 0.2 million, fifth in Gujarat.
6. Mumbai Samacharમુંબઈ સમાચાર
- Founded
- 1 July 1822
- Publisher
- Bombay Samachar Pvt Ltd
- Based in
- Mumbai
- Website
- bombaysamachar.com
Mumbai Samachar was founded in 1822 and is the oldest continuously published newspaper in India. Owned by the Cama family since 1933 and published from Mumbai's Fort area, it serves Gujarati readers in Mumbai and Maharashtra, and is widely read in the city's trading and business communities.
There is no IRS 2019 Q4 figure for Mumbai Samachar, so it is placed here on heritage and reach outside Gujarat.
7. Gujaratmitraગુજરાતમિત્ર
- Founded
- 1863
- Publisher
- Gujaratmitra Pvt Ltd
- Based in
- Surat
- Website
- gujaratmitra.in
Gujaratmitra, published from Surat since 1863, is one of the oldest Gujarati dailies and the leading paper of South Gujarat. It covers Surat's diamond, textile and trading economy in depth.
No IRS figure is available for Gujaratmitra.
8. Phulchhabફૂલછાબ
- Founded
- 1921 (as Saurashtra)
- Publisher
- Saurashtra Trust
- Based in
- Rajkot
- Website
- phulchhab.com
Phulchhab traces its roots to the Saurashtra weekly of 1921 and took its present name in the 1930s, when the poet and journalist Jhaverchand Meghani was on its staff. Published from Rajkot by the Saurashtra Trust, it remains a heritage paper of the Saurashtra region.
No IRS figure is available for Phulchhab.
9. NavGujarat Samayનવગુજરાત સમય
- Founded
- 16 January 2014
- Publisher
- The Times Group
- Based in
- Ahmedabad
- Website
- navgujaratsamay.com
NavGujarat Samay was launched in Ahmedabad in 2014 by The Times Group as a Gujarati daily for young working readers, with a brisker design and a focus on city, business and lifestyle news.
No IRS figure is available for NavGujarat Samay.
10. Akilaઅકિલા
- Founded
- Not verified
- Publisher
- Akila group
- Based in
- Rajkot
- Website
- akilanews.com
Akila is a Rajkot-based Gujarati paper, published in the evening, with a well-known news portal. Its slogan, roughly "tea in the morning, Akila in the evening", reflects its place in Saurashtra's daily reading habit.
No IRS figure is available for Akila.
How we ranked these newspapers
The Indian Readership Survey is the industry standard for readership. The last full round, IRS 2019 Q4 (published by MRUC in 2020), lists five Gujarati dailies for Gujarat, ordered by average issue readership: Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh, Divya Bhaskar, Saurashtra Samachar and Kutchmitra. Those are our first five.
Mumbai Samachar, Gujaratmitra, Phulchhab, NavGujarat Samay and Akila have no comparable audited figure, so we have ordered them by footprint and heritage. Other Gujarati dailies worth knowing include Jai Hind in Rajkot, Sambhaav Metro in Ahmedabad and Western Times. We have not used circulation figures, because published numbers are not consistently audited.
How to get coverage in Gujarati newspapers
Three things decide whether a Gujarati desk runs a story. The first is local relevance: a city, a business community or a region that benefits. The second is language: a release written in Gujarati by a native writer reads as news, while a translation reads as an advertisement. The third is geography: Ahmedabad, Saurashtra, Kutch, South Gujarat and Mumbai each have a paper their readers turn to first.
For fixed-date announcements, Gujarati press release distribution and clearly labelled sponsored formats are dependable. Editorial coverage cannot be bought or guaranteed; we pursue it only. For campaigns across several states, see our regional PR distribution options.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most-read Gujarati newspaper?
Gujarat Samachar. In IRS 2019 Q4 it recorded an average issue readership of about 3.3 million in Gujarat, ahead of Sandesh at about 2.9 million and Divya Bhaskar at about 2.7 million.
Which is the oldest Gujarati newspaper?
Mumbai Samachar, founded in 1822, is the oldest continuously published newspaper in India. Gujaratmitra, published from Surat since 1863, is among the oldest in Gujarat.
Which Gujarati newspaper is best for Saurashtra and Kutch?
Saurashtra Samachar in Bhavnagar, Phulchhab and Akila in Rajkot, and Kutchmitra in Bhuj. The big three, Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh and Divya Bhaskar, also publish Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Bhuj editions.
Is there a Gujarati newspaper in Mumbai?
Yes. Mumbai Samachar is published from Mumbai, and Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh and Divya Bhaskar also publish Mumbai editions.
Can I get my press release published in Gujarat Samachar?
Editorial coverage is decided by the paper's journalists and cannot be guaranteed. Press release distribution and sponsored formats are available for fixed-date announcements. For editorial coverage, media relations builds the story and takes it to the right desk.
Should a press release for Gujarati media be written in Gujarati?
Yes. A release written in Gujarati by a native writer is far more likely to be used than an English release or a machine translation.
