Morbi

Morbi
city
Nickname(s): Paris of Saurashtra
Morbi Location in Gujarat, India
Coordinates: 22°49′N 70°50′E / 22.82°N 70.83°E / 22.82; 70.83Coordinates: 22°49′N 70°50′E / 22.82°N 70.83°E / 22.82; 70.83
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Morbi
Population (2006)
• Total	250,000
Languages
• Official	Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	363641/42
Area code(s)	02822
Vehicle registration	GJ-36

Morbi or Morvi is a city and a municipality in Morbi district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was a Princely State ruled by the Jadeja clan of Rajputs until Indian independence in 1947. It is situated on the Kathiawar peninsula. In 1981, the city's population was determined to be 73,327. Its chief products are cotton and grain. The town of Morbi is situated on the river Machhu, 22 miles (35 kilometers) from the sea and 60 kilometers from Rajkot.

The city-state of Morbi and much of the building heritage and town planning is attributed to the administration of Sir Lakhdhiraji Waghji,^[1] who ruled from 1922 to 1948. Sir Waghji acted as a ruler, manager, patron and policeman of the state with great authority. Sir Waghji, like other contemporary rulers of Saurashtra, built roads and a railway network (of seventy miles), connecting Wadhwan with Morbi and the two small ports of Navlakhi and Vavania, for exporting the state's production of salt and cloth. The Morbi railway station combines Indian and European architectural elements. Today, Sir Waghji Thakor's grandson Shivam Thakor is still the Prince of the state and resides in the royal palace.

History

Thakore Waghji Bawa (2)

During the British Raj era, Morvi State was one of several princely states governed by the Jadeja dynasty of Rajputs. It was classified as an 11-gun salute state.^[2]

Education

Morbi has many schools and colleges of commerce, arts, science, home science and different branches of engineering, e.g., Mahila College, St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, V. C. High School, New Era Public School, Om Shanti School, O. M. V. V. I. M. College, M. P. Sheth Girls' High School, and more.

Lukhdhirji Engineering College (L.E. College) is one of the oldest colleges in Gujarat, hosts over 3,000 engineering students and is a major source of local income. Maharaja Mahendrasinhji College and Smt. G. J. Sheth College are part of Saurashtra University.

Nirmal Vidhyalay
Nirmal Science School
The V. C. Technical High School
Shree Rasiklal Sheth Boys' High School
O. M. V. V. I. M. College of I. T. & Management
L. E. College of Engineering
St. Mary's Higher Secondary School
M. P. Sheth Girls' School
Shree Saraswati Shishu Mandir
Shree U. N. Mehta Arts College
G. J. Sheth Commerce College
Doshi High School
Navyug Vidhyalaya
Navyug Science School

Industry

Morbi produces 70% of India's gross ceramic production and 5% of the world's needs, ^[3] around 80% of the country's Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) production and is the largest producer of wall clocks in India.

There are around 600 ceramic factories with production worth Rs. 40 billion (Rs. 4,000 crores) annually. The main products are ceramic tiles, together with some sanitaryware production. Morbi's ceramic factories are mainly small and medium scale units which together comprise the largest ceramic production in India.V^[4]

Another major industry in Morbi is clock manufacturing: Ajanta Clocks, Samay Clocks, Sonera Industries and Sonam Quartz are some of the manufacturers. The majority of these companies' workforce are females from neighbouring villages. Clocks are manufactured and sold both nationally and internationally, with major international shipments to the Middle-East and East Asia.

A paper mill produces a wide range of paper products and some paper craft.

Transportation

Morbi can be reached by road from Ahmedabad in approximately 4.5 hours via: 1. National Highway 8A via Limbadi and Chotila - approximately 232 km 2. State Highway 7 via Viramgam and Dhrangadhra - approximately 200 km Buses are run by the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation and private travel companies.

The nearest railway station is in Wankaner Taluka of Morbi district, from which one can get trains to many major cities of Gujarat and other states. To reach Morbi by air, the nearest airports are about 62 km away in Rajkot and 247 km away in Ahmedabad. Air India and other airlines run regular flights from Mumbai to Rajkot and Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

There are various connecting flights to Ahmedabad from all Indian cities and frequent buses are available from Ahmedabad.

References

External links

Princely states of the Western India States Agency during the British Raj

Eastern Kathiawar Agency	Bhavnagar Palitana Jasdan Vala Lathi Bhadli Itaria Kotra Pitha Yankia Kariana Akadia Alampur Babra Bhandaria Bhojavadar Bildi Bodanones Chamardi Chiroda Chitravav Chok Datha Dedarda Derdi-Janbai Dhola Gadhali Gadhoola Gandhol Iavej Jalia Amaraji Jalia Manaji Juna Padar Kamadhia Kanjarda Katodia Khijadia Khijadia Dosaji Limbda Morchopna Nilvala Pachhegam Pah Panchavada Rajpara Ramanka Randhia Ranigam Ratanpur Dhamanka Rohisala Samadhiala Samadhiala (Chabharia) Samadhiala (Charan) Sanala Satanones Shevdivadar Songadh Toda Todi Vadal Vadod Vangadhra Vavdi Dharvala Vavdi Vachhani Vijanones Dhrangadhra Limbdi Wadhwan Chuda Lakhtar Sayla Bajana Muli Patdi Vanod Anandpur Bhoika Chotila Dasada Rai-Sankli Rajpur Sanosra Vadod Ankevalia Bamanbore Bhadvana Bhalala Bhalgamda Bharejda Bhathan Bhimora Chachana Chhalala Chobari Darod Devlia Dudhrej Gedi Gundiali Jakhan Jamar Jhampodad Jhinjhuvada Kamalpur Kantharia Karmad Karol Kesria Khambhlav Khandia Kherali Laliyad Matra Timba Mevasa Munjpur Palali Paliyad Ramparda Sahuka Samla Sejakpur Sudamda-Dhandalpur Talsana Tavi Untdi Vana Vanala Vithalgadh

Western Kathiawar Agency	Gondal Morvi Nawanagar Dhrol Rajkot Wankaner Kotda Sangan Malia Virpur-Kherdi Gadhka Gavridad Jalia Devani Kotharia Mengni Pal Bhadva Rajpara Shahpur Khirasra Lodhika Vadali Amrapur Bhalgam Baldhoi Drafa Kanksiali Kanpar Ishwaria Kotda Nayani Mowa Mulila Deri Satodad Vavdi Sisang Chandli Virvao Junagadh Porbandar Jafarabad Bantva Manavadar Jetpur Dedan Vasavad Bagasra Kuba Vinchhavad Charkha Dahida Dholarva Gadhia Garmali Moti Garmali Nani Gigasaran Halaria Jamka Kaner Kathrota Khijadia Najani Lakhapadar Manavav Monvel Silana Vaghvadi Vekaria

Banas Kantha Agency	Cutch Palanpur Radhanpur Tharad Vav Suigam Diyodar Bhabhar Tervada Varahi Santalpur Morvada Chadchat Kankrej

List of princely states of India (alphabetical) Kathiawar Agency Mahi Kantha Agency Palanpur Agency Cutch Agency Surat Agency

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