Bhavnagar
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| Bhavnagar | |
  Bhavnagar
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| State - District(s) |
Gujarat - Bhavnagar |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
53.30 km² - 24 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
510974 - 9586/km² |
| Mayor | Mehul Vadodaria |
| Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle |
- 364001 - +0278 - GJ 04 |
Bhavnagar (Gujarati: ભાવનગર, Hindi: भावनगर, Bhāvnagar ) is a city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was founded in 1723 AD by Bhavsinhji Gohil and was named after its founder and ruler. It was capital of Bhavnagar State which was the first princely state to merge with democratic Indian Union in 1948.
Now it is administrative headquarters of Bhavnagar District. It is the fifth-largest city of Gujarat, and the second-largest city of Saurashtra region. A city with rich history, Bhavnagar is also known as the cultural capital of Saurashtra.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early History
The Gohil Rajputs of the Surya Vanshi clan, facing severe competition in Marwar, moved down to the Gujarat coast around 1260 AD and established 3 capitals - Sejakpur, Umrala and Sihor. In 1723, then ruler of Sihor, Bhavsinhji Gohil (1703-64 AD) finally established the new capital near Vadva village, 20 km away from Sihor, and named it Bhavnagar. It was a carefully chosen strategic location having potential of maritime trade. Naturally, Bhavnagar became the capital of Bhavnagar State.
The region of Bhavnagar State was also known as Gohilwad.
The old town of Bhavnagar was a fortified town with gates leading to other important towns of the region. Bhavnagar remained a major port, for almost two centuries, trading commodities with Africa, Mozambique, Zanzibar, Singapore and the Persian Gulf.
[edit] Independence of India and Bhavnagar
Till independence of India, Bhavnagar State was ruled by the Gohil Rajput clan.
In 1948, Deputy Prime Minister of democratic Indian Union Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel undertook the ambitious and complex process of political integration of India to unify 565 princely states with India. The last princely ruler of Bhavnagar Late Sir Krishnakumar Sinhji handed over the administration of his State to the people's representative in 1948, and Bhavnagar became the first state to unify with the democratic Indian Union.
Bhavnagar is still an important trading post for the cotton goods manufactured in Gujarat.
[edit] Geography
Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at [1]. It has an average elevation of 24 metres (78 feet). It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Cambay. Small non-perennial river named Kansara Nala passes through outer area of the city.
[edit] Culture and Arts
Bhavnagar is considered a city of education and culture, and is known as the cultural capital of Saurashtra. People of Bhavnagar are considered to be easy-going, and art-loving.
Gujarati is the language of normal life, although Hindi is commonly understood. English language knowledge is limited to the more educated population of the city.
It is said that the Gujarati language spoken in Bhavnagar is grammatically correct and pure relative to other parts of Gujarat.
Bhavnagar has produced many poets and writers of Gujarati literature. Jhaverchand Meghani, Kavi Kant, Prajaram Raval, Dula Kag, Subodh Mehta are among them. Narsinh Mehta, who wrote the famous Bhajan 'Vaishnava Jan To..', was born in the village of Talaja in Bhavnagar district.
Jhaverchand Meghani, who contributed much to Saurashtra literature and is remembered for his unique style of writing, came from this part of Gujarat. According to Mahatma Gandhi, Jhaverchand Meghani is unparalleled among all the national poets of India.
Kalaguru Ravishankar Raval, a painter, art teacher, art critic, journalist and essayist was born in Bhavnagar.
[edit] City Planning and Architecture
The town planning schemes were designed and implemented under the guidance of progressive rulers of Bhavnagar. During the reign of Sir Takhtsinhji, the British State Engineer Proctor Sims supervised the construction of Barton Library, High Court, Alfred High School and Sir Takhtsinhji Hospital. [1]
Takhteshwar Temple (1893 AD) is located on a hill, on a high plinth, offering a commanding view of Bhavnagar. The high shikhara rising above the pillared rectangular mandapa makes it an important landmark.
Barton Library (1895 AD) is a beautiful two storeyed building, appropriately designed for a road junction. It has two wings and a central tower, constructed in ashlar stone masonry, with Gothic arch windows and a sloping roof with Mangalore tiles. It is one of the oldest libraries of Gujarat and also houses a museum.
Gangajalia (1893 AD) is a temple dedicated to Gangadevi, with a chhatri, pavilion and bridge all in white marble. It is located in the middle of a former tank. It was designed by Sir John Griffith, principal of Sir J J School of Arts, Bombay.
Nilambag Palace, now a heritage hotel, is a magnificent building set amidst a huge estate of 10 acres. It was designed by a German architect, as a royal residence in 1859 AD. It combines elements of Indian architecture with a modern outlook.
Town Hall (1932 AD) was formerly a Darbar Hall, where the coronation of Sir Krishnakumarsinhji took place. It is an imposing structure in the colonial style, set in a well laid out garden. Victoria Park covers an area of about 500 acres with diverse flora and fauna. This park is a paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers.
Gandhi Smriti is a memorial, with a library of Gandhian books and photographs about the life of Mahatma Gandhi. It also has a fine collection of art objects representing the culture of the Saurashtra region.
Bhavnagar was the first city in India to have underground drainage.[citation needed]
Modern Bhavnagar comprising Takhteshvar Plots, Krishnanagar and surrounding area was planned by Sir Prabhashankar Pattani.
Bhavnagar was considered most beautiful city and largest city in Saurashtra till fifties of 20th century.[citation needed]
[edit] Education
Nanabhai Bhatt, Gijubhai Badheka and Harbhai Trivedi were the trinity who experimented and sew new trends in rural and liberal child education. Nanbhai's Gram Dakshinamutri and Lokbharati have prepared three generations of brilliant workers and leaders engaged in reshaping village India. Gijubhai's Dakshinamurti became the cradle of new liberal children's education and charted a new direction in the field. Harbhai Trivedi pioneered a similarly new trend in secondary education and his Home School Became a model for contemporary educators in western India.
Liberal women's education was born in Bhavnagar through the efforts of another illustrious educator-social reformer Amrutlal Dani. What has become a vibrant cluster of women's schools and colleges today is due to his devoted and pioneer work.
Bhavnagar's Samaldas College is the oldest institution of higher education in the region. Mahatma Gandhi studied here in 1884 AD. Bhavnagar University is well known in the region having nearly 23,000 students, number of graduate colleges, 17 post graduate departments including MBA, MCA, MSc, engineering, and medical college.
Some of the famous educational institutes are:
- R. K. Home school (Ghar shala)
- Shree Dakshinamurti Vinay Mandir
- Shamaldas Arts & Mehta Commerce College
- Shantilal Shah High School (Alfred High School)
[edit] Economy
Bhavnagar is an important center for diamond cutting and polishing industry in Gujarat as well as India. Thousands of skilled diamond-polishing workers are employed in diamond-cutting and polishing. Bhavnagar’s commercial importance is enhanced by its proximity with the Gulf of Cambay and the Arabian Sea. Alang ship breaking yard is the biggest in the world, recycling about 50% of the salvaged ships of the world. This has also helped developing supporting industries, such as Oxygent bottling plants, re-rolling mills and induction furnaces.
The city is a prominent trading post for cotton products.
[edit] Agriculture
Main Crops:
[edit] Commerce
- Exports of cotton, ship machinery and dehydrated onions.
- Diamond cutting, polishing, marketing, Diamond jewellery manufacturing.
- Re-rolling mills due to ship-breaking yard at Alang.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Bhavnagar had a population of 510,958. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Bhavnagar has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 77% and female literacy of 66%. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Tourism
The city offers vibrant shades of traditional Gujarati culture to the traveler. Bhavnagar is also a suitable stopover for tourists who are venturing to the Jain temples at Palitana on the Shatrunjaya Hills, Sihor and the Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar - the home of the famous Indian Blackbuck.
[edit] Transportation
It is connected to Mumbai by air and railway. Daily flights are operated by Jet Airways and Air Deccan. It was one of the first cities in Gujarat to have an airport.
The city is well connected to other major cities of Gujarat such as Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surat and more by road, with bus services operated by private and state-owned transport corporations.
The city is also connected to Ahmedabad and some major cities of Saurashtra by rail road.
Intercity bus service is operated by VITCOS. Private auto-rikhsaw is other mode of transport.
[edit] Points of interest
- Takhteshwar Temple
- Nilambag Palace
- Seashore at Ghogha
- Victoria Park
- Nava Bandar (New Port)
- Garden Circles
- Barton Library
- Darbargadh
- Ganga Deri
- Gaurishankar Lake/Bor Talav
- Alang Ship Breaking Yard
- Gandhi Smriti Library
[edit] Other details
The Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute [2] is located in Bhavnagar. It is a well-known laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Bhavnagar state is the first state that established major rail road network and trains in Saurashtra in 2nd half of the nineteenth century by the Great King Sir Takhtasinhji Gohil. [citation needed]
[edit] References
- Bhavnagar - History from www.bhavnagar.com
- Bhavnagar - History from BMC portal
[edit] External links
- Government/Administration: Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation, Collectorate
- History: Gohil Dynasty, Historical Vignettes
- Photos: Bird's Eye View of the city, Some old pictures/paintings of the city
- Other Information: Information
- Educational Institues:
- Bhavnagar University
- R. K. Home school (Ghar shala)
- Shree Dakshinamurti
- Shantilal Shah Engineering College, Sidsar
- Shree Swaminarayan College of Computer Science
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• History • Notable people • Cities and Towns • Education institutes • National parks & Sanctuaries |
