| Botad | |||
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| Coordinates | |||
| Country | India | ||
| State | Gujarat | ||
| District(s) | Bhavnagar | ||
| BJP | Saurabhbhai Patel | ||
| Population | 100,059 (2001[update]) | ||
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) | ||
| Area |
• 70 metres (230 ft) |
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Botad is a city and a municipality in Bhavnagar district in the state of Gujarat, Republic of India.
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Botad is one of the fastest growing in Gujarat with a modest voter population of more than 2 lakh. However, the amenities that this city boasts of and its location (Ahmedabad-170 km / Bhavnagar-90 / Rajkot-120 / Surendranagar-90 - all district centers) can make many cities feel envy. Botad is surrounded by many small villages and lots of people from those villages are settled in Botad and lots of people are still coming for better opportunities and that's why population of Botad is doubling every few couple of years. One can say, the city is best for living for average income people. The city has new roads, about over 2,00,000 mobile users, every household has provision for tap water and it is also covered under JyotiGram project of Gujarat Government (Electricity Board). It is the fastest growing diamond business hub.
Botad is a vibrant business oriented town surrounded by small beautiful hills on east and west forming a valley. River (small creek) Utavali flows right in the middle of the town while another creek Madhu joining Utavali near Nava Nala.
Botad is a gateway of Kathiyawad (toward Gadhada, Lathi and Amreli) and junction point of Gohilwad (towards Bhavnagar), Zalawad (Limbdi, Surendranagar) and Panchal (towards Paliyad, Vinchiya, Jasadan).
Botad is a Karma Bhumi of many great people like Javerchand Meghani (Gujarati Litterateur and Freedom Fighter whom Mahatma Gandhi spontaneously gave the title of. Raashtreeya Shaayar (National Poet)), Kavi Shri Damodardas Botadkar (Poet), Mohammad Makad (Litterateur and Teacher), and Bhanushankar Joshi (Freedom Fighter).
Mahatma Gandhi visited Botad during one of his tour to Kathiyavad.
As of 2001 India census, Botad had a population of 400,059. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Botad has an average literacy rate of 89%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 71% and female literacy of 55%. 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Botad has a tropical wet and dry climate, with hot, dry summers from mid-March to mid-June, the wet monsoon season from mid-June to October, when the city receives 620 mm of rain on average. The months from November to February are mild, the average temperature being around 20°C, with low humidity. May and June experience lesser amount of rainfall and winds than the post-monsoon time. Thunderstorms are another important part of the Botad weather in the months of June and July. Fog is one of the major phenomena of Botad climate during winter. During summer time, the temperature ranges between 24°C and 42°C. In the months of winter, Botad temperature varies between 10°C and 22°C.
The people in Botad are predominantly vegetarians and are vehemently against any form of hunting. This could be the main reason for the survival of rich fauna in this city. The attire changes with the season and approaching festivals. The ladies normally wear the Gujarati flavour of the Sari and men can be seen in flowing Kurtas and Pant—shirts.
Cricket is the passion for people of Botad. Mostly is it played by Tennis ball nowadays. During '70-'80, Botad used to host cricket tournaments using real leather ball in which teams from all nearby cities/towns like Jasadan, Lathi, Bhavanagar (small princely states) used to participate. Those were the real glory days of cricket in Botad.
There are no sport facilities (stadiums, sport complexes etc.) in Botad and sports remains in its preliminary form.
There are quite a few other popular seasonal sports/games mainly for children under 10 that are famous in Botad like Moy-Dandiya (a.k.a Gili-Danda), Marbles, Kabbaddi etc.
Before couple of years the economy of Botad used to be heavily dependent on agriculture but now things are changing very fast. The town is currently thriving on industries like diamond cutting/processing, real estate, cotton processing and packing, healthcare, etc. Among all of them the diamond market is growing very fast because of cheap laboring.
Botad is famous for Diamond Industry. Big diamond cutters in the town are promoting more and more commercial complexes on Deendayal Road, where more and more diamond-polishing businesses are coming up. The biggest complex, Neelam, houses 250 polishing units. All of them work salvage-grade diamonds.
The public school system in the city is operated by state government. Medium of study is Gujarati in all public schools and most of the private schools. Very few elementary education schools provide education in English medium.
Botad high school is the first higher education school started in the town immediately after Indian independence from British rule. Its building and school ground still stand tall as compare to many new schools started after '70s.
The city has number of colleges,
Kavi Shri Damodardas Botadkar College is the first college started around year 1965. This college has one of the finest building architecture and campus. Second college in town is Mahila (Women) College started in year 1995-96. This is a girls only college.Both of these colleges provide higher education in subjects like languages, economics, accounting, business administration and commerce.
Shree Aradhana educational and Charitable Trust offers various programmes like B.Ed., M.Ed., PTC etc.in
Shree Samanvay Trust offers MBA, B.Pharm. etc.
Takshashila Educational And Charitable Trust offers programmes like PTC, B.Ed. etc.
Takshashila Educational And Charitable Trust, chuda is starting new Prim-School 1 to 8, this School is a very IT School and very great education
Nowadays, this academic year starts two new bca college and pgdca college.
Botad is well connected to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Surat, Vadodara, Bhavangar, Rajkot, Surendranagar etc. by Railway and Road. Even you will find direct train to Pune, Hyderabad, Kakinada and Kochuveli (situated on east coast of India).
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) runs regular buses to and from Bhavangar, Rajkot and other cities of Gujarat. Botad is very well connected with Gujarat State Highways. Raghuvir travels is providing city bus service within Botad. m
Clock Tower Botad saw its first phase of rapid development during rule of Maharaja Krushna Kumar Singhaji and Takht Singhji (Bhavnagar State). SHRI DAMODARDAR~JAGJIVAN (SHAH) built the Clock Tower. Today, Tower Chalk is the central business district on the city. There is a library in the building on his name.
Town Gate In those days (1800 until almost time of Independence), every town/villages used to have a wall protecting town from invaders and looters. Gate of town (Gam Darawaja) used to be at what is known as Din Dayal Chalk right now.
Lake Lake that supplies water to most of the areas of the town even today was built by Maharaja Krishna Kumar Singhji (Bhavnagar State). This is one of the beautiful place to visit and is a place for the Satam Mela (Get together place for celebration of one of the festival during holy month of Shravan).
Tajiyo This building was constructed with aim of building Clock Tower by a civil engineer/entrepreneur named Tulsi Mistri. He was not allowed to put a clock by the prince of the Bhavnagar state. This building later become famous as Tajiyo.
Haran Kui Haran Kui (Spring or Well for Deers) was a fresh water spring on northern part of the town where thousands of deers and other semi-wildlife used to thrive. Story goes that a Nawab had camped near Haran Kui and had killed many deers. This incidence and other factors like growing human population has almost wiped out wild life in nearby areas of the town.
garden garden is situated near road for paliyad and famous for the speally children who are enjoying a lot.
Botad saw its new phase of development under BJP leadership. New Bus Depot, new roads, City Bus Service, Regular water supply , Broad gauge train track with direct trains to Mumbai and other cities. Earlier, small towns like Barawala and Paliyad used to have State Transport Bus Depot but not Botad because of poor political leadership.In 2008, the new Multiplex Theater has been opened showing mostly Bollywood films and occasionally Gujarati films.
For Botad to become a model city in Gujarat and probably all over India, following things need to happen:
All surrounding hills should be protected and hundreds of trees should be planted on them so that natural beauty of city can be preserved. Natural resources like Rivers, Creeks and Lakes should be broadened, preserved and kept clean. History shows that No city in world without beautiful and LIVE natural resources has thrived ever. Civic amenities such as sport complex, Clubs, Halls, Convention Centers should be developed.Botad should be connected to Ahmedabad with Fast Trains.
(01)Babarkot (16) Khakhol (31) Rajpara (46) Tajpar (02)Bhadla (17) Kumbhara (32) Rangpar (47) Targhara (03)Bhadravadi (18) Lakheni (33) Ratanpar (48) Turkha (04)Bhambhan (19) Lathidad (34) Ratanvav (49) Vajeli (05)Bodi (20) Limboda (35) Rohishala (50) Zariya (06)Chakampar (21) Mota Chhaida (36) Sajeli (51) Zamrala (07)Dhankaniya (22) Moti Virva (37) Salaiya (52) Botad (08)Dhinkwali (23) Nagalpar| (38) Samadhiyala No.1 (09)Gadhadiya (24) Nana Chaida (39) Samadhiyala No.2 (10)Hadadad (25) Nana Paliyad (40) Sangavadar (11)Jotingada (26) Nani Virva (41) Sankardi (12)Kaniyad (27) Paliyad(Bapu) (42) Sarva (13)Kariyani (28) Pati (43) Sarvai (14)Keriya No.-1 (29) Pipaliya Rajpara (44) Sherthali (15)Keriya No.-2 (30) Piparadi Rangpar (45) Shirvaniya