Mandvi
| Mandvi | |
|---|---|
| city | |
 | |
  Mandvi | |
| Coordinates: 22°52′N 69°23′E / 22.86°N 69.39°ECoordinates: 22°52′N 69°23′E / 22.86°N 69.39°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Kachchh |
| Elevation | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 42,355 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 370465 |
| Telephone code | 2834 |
| Vehicle registration | GJ-12 |
| Sex ratio | 0.959 ♂/♀ |
| source:Census of India [1] | |
Mandvi is a city and a Municipality in Kachchh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao (king) of the Kachchh. The old city was enclosed in the fort wall and remains of the fort wall can still be seen. The city has a four hundred year old ship building industry that still builds small ships.
History
Mandvi was founded by the Rao of Cutch State, Khengarji I in 1580.[2]
Geography
Mandvi is a port city located at 22°49′N 69°22′E / 22.81°N 69.36°E where the Rukmavati River meets the Gulf of Kachchh. It is about 56 km south of the regional capital, Bhuj. It is approximately 446 km from the major Gujarati city of Ahmedabad. Because Mandvi has no rail transport, the nearest public airport and train station is Bhuj.
Prominent Personalities
- Shyamji Krishna Varma
- Sundarji Sodagar
- Parshottam Dhanji
- Khimji Ramdas
- Gokaldas Bambhadai
- Gokuldas Khimji
- Gokuldas Tejpal
- Gokuldas Hansraj
- Virji Narayandas Purecha
- Ratansinh Purshottam
- Purshottam Toprani
- Jay Krishna Inderjeet
- Freedom Fighter Gopaldas Mavji Purecha, Son of Mavji Virji Purecha.
History
- As per chronicles of Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas - many clans of their community, especially, Gohil, Bhatti, Jethwa, Solanki, Rathod clans & also Visavaria Brahmins shifted to Mandvi in between 15th to 16th Century AD, from Dhaneti.[3]
- The establishment of the town dates back to the late 16th century (1581 AD) and is attributed to the first Jadeja ruler of Kachchh, Rao Khengarji I.
- In 18th century, the Mandvi merchants collectively owned a fleet of 400 vessels trading with East Africa, Malabar coast and the Persian Gulf. In the early 19th century, it was a major port of entry for the inland trade with Malwa, Marwar and Sindh.
- Mandvi was at the junction of two famous trade routes the maritime spice trade-route and the desert camel caravan route, acting as an important trade center.
- Mandvi was originally a fortified town having a fort wall of about 8 m high and 1.2 m wide stone masonry. The fort had several gateways and 25 bastions; but at present, most of the wall has disappeared. The bastion on the southwest is largest and acts as a lighthouse.
- In the heyday of maritime trade, before the arrival of steamboats, Mandvi was a rich and prosperous town, earning four times more revenue from export than import. It was a profit-making center of the Kutch state, surpassing the capital city of Bhuj in terms of wealth. Dr.Manubhai Pandhi, a local social leader, recorded shipbuilding art and collected old documents which is treasured now in Prince of Wales Museum (www.bombaymuseum.org ) in Mumbai.
- As most of the top ports of India were controlled by Europeans, especially the Portuguese, even the Mughals held the Maharaos of Kachchh in high esteem, as they needed the port of Mandvi for exports, imports and also for pilgrimages to Mecca.
- In decade of 1960, the famous Dabeli is said to be have been invented here by Keshavji Gabha Chudasama (Malam).
Demographics
Mandvi houses a population of about 45,000 people, mainlyBrahmkshatriya, Bhatias, Lohanas, Kharvas, Dawoodi Bohra,Muslims(Memon, Khatri, Sumara, etc.) and Jains, Kandoi, Patidar, Mistris.
Mandvi is a unique town which captures the true Gujarat, Kutchi culture. Mandvi also incorporates the neighboring villages of Nagalpur and Moti Rayan. Mandvi is a town of merchants and seamen, both mutually benefiting from each other.
Mandvi has the famous Lal Bungalow / Arihant Bungalow Built by Khengarji III. It took 16 years to build this palace. with unique architecture and a lavishing of 55 Rooms and 5 Floors with all Teak Wood Ceilings. Lal Bungalow is now a Heritage Site and currently owned by Sanket Shah.
Mandvi was one of the towns deeply impacted by the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake.
Noted social worker Dr. Chhotalal J. Mehta (1911–1982), started first free TB hospital in 1950 in the district if Kutch, and school for deaf and mute children and 1000th Rotary club in the world. Mrs Hiraben C Mehta(1916–2011) started first Baal Mandir and Bhagini Mandal.
Industries
Most of the industries in Mandvi are small-scale in nature, mainly in the areas of Bentonite mining, edible oil production, fishing, traditional ship building, cotton products and household Bandhani, and food-products like, sweets & farshan production.
Points of interest
Mandvi has a very pleasant climate throughout the year and was a summer retreat of the Kutch maharajas (kings).
- Vijay Vilas Palace: The center of attractions at Mandvi is the Vijay Vilas Palace, a Royal abode set in the middle of well-laid gardens with water channels and marble fountains. The architect and craftsmen from Jaipur designed and constructed the palace in 1920 AD. The palace has all the elements of Rajput architecture and draws largely on the plan of palaces of Orchha and Datia. The central high dome on the pillars, the Bengal domes on the sides, the windows with coloured glass, carved stone 'jalis', domed bastions at the corners, extended porch and other exquisitely stone-carved elements, make the palace worth visiting. The Vijay Vilas Palace has its own private beach which offers air-conditioned tented accommodation. Being private with conditional access it is a must visit for all beach lovers who want to enjoy their solitude and admire its Eco-friendly pristine beauty.For these reasons, this palace has been used as the set in many Hindi films and has now become a popular tourist destination.
- Mazar-e-Noorani: Here is the resting place of the 37th Dai-al-Mutlaq (vicegerent) Syedna Noor Mohammad Nooruddin (R.A.) of the Dawoodi Bohra Community, a subsect of Shia Islam. People of Dawoodi Bohra Community come here in large numbers for Ziyarat (a kind of paying tribute).[4][5]
- Swaminarayan Temple at Mandvi: This scenic temple is on the main road of Mandvi - Naliya.
- The Wind Farms Beach and Wind-mills, which line the horizon of Mandvi, offer a spectacular view from the Mandvi sea-beach. The Wind mills projects running in this beach was Asia's 1st Wind-Mills Projects in 1983.
- Rukmavati bridge: The bridge on the Rukmavati River was built in 1883; it is the longest existing structure of its kind in India today. This bridge was built by Vishram Karman Chawda of Chandiya belonging to the Mestri community.[6][7]
- Topansar Lake: Sitting in the heart of the city, this lake forms and important landmark.
- Bandhni Bazaar: Mandvi is known for the production of its famous Bandhani (tie-dye) and other country crafts.
- Traditional ship building: Mandvi is also a 400 year old ship building centre. The ships built here used to sail up to England and return. Even today, master carpenters build fishing boats by traditional techniques.
- Shyamji Krishna Varma Smarak: The smarak(monument) is located near Lohana Mahajan Wadi. Shyamji Krishna Varma was a scholar and freedom fighter. He established India House in Britain to support Indian student going UK for studying, eventually India house become a foreign hub of nationalist activity for freedom of India. Shyamji Krishna Varma was born in Mandvi.
- Kranti Trith : The Smark of Shyamji Krishna Varma was newly built just 3 km away from Mandvi on Mandvi-Dharbudi Road. This is Gujarat's 2nd Kranti Trith.
- Kasi Vishvanath Beach, Salaya: This is another beach near Mandvi. It derives its name from a Shiv temple nearby.
- Public Bath System “KUYDI”, Talav Gate.
- Kharva na Mama Temple: situated near Hanuman Dairy, a famous temple for the caste of Kharva.
- Shitla Mata Temple: The famous Temple of Goddess Shitla. Its situated in Layja Road.
- Mandvi Port: Mandvi Port is a Port where loading & unloading of ships takes place.
- Ashapura Mata Temple: situated in Layja,Mandvi.
- Rukmavati River: The famous river in Mandvi, which does a partion between Mandvi City and Salaya.
- Light House : Newly contracted Light House for Country Craft Sea Transportation, these structure newly contracted after earthquake.
Other places nearby
- Ambedham, At : Godhara
- Prena Dham, At Godhara
- 72 Jinalay, At Koday 4 way
- Jain Ashram, At Nagalpur
- Dhrabudi, At Gundiyali Modhva Road
- Raval Pir, Maska Gundiyali Road
- Jyoteshwar Temple, At Village Don
- Ashar Mata Temple, At Village Nana Layja
- Nirbhay Pakshi Dham, At Village Godhara
- Kranti Trith, 3 km. from Mandvi City, via Haji-Hasan Hospital Road,
- Vijay Vilas Palace, Near Kathda village
- Beach - Windfarm
- Shitlamata Temple, Layja Road
- Navjeevan Nature Cure, At kojachora
- Bidada Sarvoday Hospital, At Bidada
- Bhojay Sarvoday Hospital, At Bhojay
- Vijay Sagar Dem, At kojachora
- Gangaji, At Nana Asambiya
- Vidyapith, At Nagalpur
- Shree Swaminarayan temple mandvi
See also
References
- ↑ "Census of India". Office of registrar general and census commissioner of India. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ↑ Cutch
- ↑ Kadia Kshatriya Itihas by Nutan Prakashan : 1897
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ Nanji Bapa ni Nondh-pothi published in Gujarati in year 1999 from Vadodara.It is a diary of Railway Contracts done by KGK community noted by Nanji Govindji Tank of Hajapar/Jamshedpur, complied by Dharsibhai Jethalal Tank of Nagalpar/Tatanagar. (This book was given Aank Sidhhi award by Kutch Shakti at Mumbai in year 2000) Vishram Karman Chawda of Chandiya : Railway Contracts in Cutch State Railway, MSM Rly, BNR, etc. Rukmavati Bridge and Mandvi Port Docks in 1883 are done by him: Page: 69
- ↑ Ratna Bhagat ni Chopdi: 1930 IInd Endition : Vishram Karman of Chandiya : Rukmavati Bridge and Docks of Mandvi Year of Construction 1883