Vagad

Historical Region of Western India
Vagad
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Location southern Rajastan
19th-century flag
State established: ???
Language Vagdi(dialect), Hindi
Dynasties Sisodias
Historical capitals Dungarpur
Separated states Banswara, Kushalgarh

Vagad (also known as Vagar) is a region in southeastern Rajasthan state of western India. The major cities of the region are Dungarpur and Banswara, both princely states in the 19th century.

It includes the districts of Banswara and Dungarpur, and is bounded on the north by Mewar region of Rajasthan, on the southeast and eastby Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, and on the west and southwest by Gujarat state.

There is also a region in Kutch (Kachchh) district of Gujarat which is known as Vagad (Wagad / Vagar). Many of the people originally from this region are prominent business personalities in Mumbai (Bombay). A few of the towns in this region are Lakadiya, Bhachau, Samakhiyali, Kharoi, Adhoi, Manafra among others.

Geography

The region mostly lies in the upper watershed of the Mahi River and its tributaries, which is said to be the lifeline of Vagad. The Mahi flows north through the district from its origin in the Vindhya Range of Madhya Pradesh, entering the district from the southeast and flowing north towards the northern end of the district, where it turns southwest to form the boundary between Banswara and Dungarpur districts before entering Gujarat and emptying into the Gulf of Cambay.

Vagad has rich flora and fauna. The forests include mainly teak. The wildlife includes a large variety of wild animals such as the leopard and the chinkara. Common birds in the region include fowl, partridge, black drongo, grey shrike, green bee-eater, bulbul and parrot. Some of the towns in this region are Aspur, Bhiluda, Simalwada, Sagwara, Partapur, Bagidra and Garhi.

History

Vagad region consists of Dungarpur and Banswara districts.

Vagad as a different region separated from Mewar, and a branch of Sisodia Rajput ruled here The states of Banswara and Kishangarh separated, and the state of Sisodias continued existence as Dungarpur.

All princely states were merged into Rajasthan prior to 1947.

Beneshwar, situated on the confluence of rivers Mahi, Som and Jakham, is a major pilgrimage centre in Vagad, which hosts one of Asia's largest annual congregation of tribals known as the Beneshwar Fair.

External links