Sayla was a Royal province in India and is now part of the Indian State of Gujarat.[1] Sayla was a 575 km² state ruled by the Jhala Rajputs, a clan that came to Saurashtra from Sindh and established their reign at Patdi in the 12th century. After the Islamic invasions, the Jhalas moved their capital to Halwad. Over the centuries, the Jhalas established Dhrangadhra near Halwad, Wankaner, Limbdi, Wadhwan, Sayla, Chuda and other princely states.
Sayla was founded in 1751 by Seshmalji, who is said to have fought many battles, he captured Sayla from the Kathi Darbars and made it the capital of his state. He is also credited with building the fortified wall around Sayla and founding the Darbargadh or Rajmahal (palace). It is still the residence of the Jhala family. The palace has halls for audiences, administrative and judicial meetings of the rulers; there are also many life-size portraits of successive rulers and attractive carvings.
Among the progressive rulers of Sayla was Thakur Saheb Vakhat Sinhji who set up rural industries and a thermal power house in the 19th century.
The Royal family of Sayla, having its nine different bhayats (brothers) to whom the sayla thakorsab shri Raj Rana Seshmalji has given forts in its province, namely Ranipat, Kanpur, Aiya, Hadala and Liya; among which Ranipat and Kanpur are separated from the princely state of Sayla.
Thakorsab shri Vakhat Sinhji constructed the forts of Ranipat Kanpur, Aiya and Hadala. His sons, Devi and Bhav Sinhji were given the royal forts at Ranipat and Khakharathal.
Darbarsab Shri and RajRana Devi Sinhji, the royal Prince of Sayla have four sons, Natvarsinhji, Gajjsinhji, Joravarsinhji and Chandrasinhji.
RajRana Gajjsinhji has three sons, 1)RajRana Mahipatsinhji and his son RajRana AjitSinhji, RajRana Ajitsinhji has one son RajRana Siddharthsinhji, 2)RajRana Daulatsinhji and his two sons RajRana DigpalSinhji and Bhupendrasinhji, 3)RajRana Narendrasinhji and his son RajRana Raghvandrasinhji of the Royal Family of Ranipat.
RajRana Joravarsinhji has three sons, 1)RajRana Indravijaysinhji and his two sons RajRana Rajvirsinhji, RajRana Raghvandrasinhji, 2)RajRana Bharatsinhji and his son RajRana Hardeepsinhji, 3)RajRana Champaksinhji of the Royal Family of Ranipat.
Thakor-Saheb Vakhatsinhji's two sons RajRana Vijaysinhji (Vajubhasaheb) and RajRana Kalyansinhji (Kalubhasaheb) were given Kanpur and Dharadungri in which the fort built was mentioned above.
RajRana Vijaysinhji (Vajubhasaheb) had three sons, RajRana Prabhatsinhji, RajRana Fatehsinhji and RajRana Takhatsinhji
RajRana Prabhatsinhji had one son, RajRana Mahendrasinhji.
RajRana Fatehsinhji had one son, RajRana Pratapsinhji.
RajRana Takhatsinhji had one son, RajRana Mulrajsinhji.
RajRana Mahendrasinhji had three sons, RajRana Hasendrasinhji, RajRana Dilawarsinhji and RajRana Shivrajsinhji.
RajRana Pratapsinhji has four sons, RajRana Digvijaysinhji, RajRana Ghanshyamsinhji, RajRana Girishchandrasinhji and RajRana Pradhyumansinhji.
RajRana Mulrajsinhji had three sons, RajRana Narendrasinhji, RajRana Indravijaysinhji and RajRana Indrajitsinhji.
RajRana Hasendrasinhji has one son, RajRana Ranvijaysinhji.
RajRana Dilawarsinhji has one son, RajRana Virbhadrasinhji.
RajRana Shivrajsinhji has one son, RajRana Rajveersinhji.
RajRana Narendrasinhji has one son, RajRana Kuldipsinhji. RajRana Indravijaysinhji has one son, RajRana Manvendrasinhji and RajRana Indrajitsinhji has one son, RajRana Ajayrajsinhji.