Mahuva, Bhavnagar

Mahuva મહુવા Madhumati
city
Mahuva Mahuva, India
Coordinates: 21°05′00″N 71°48′00″E / 21.0833°N 71.8000°E / 21.0833; 71.8000Coordinates: 21°05′00″N 71°48′00″E / 21.0833°N 71.8000°E / 21.0833; 71.8000
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Bhavnagar
Government
• Type	state
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Languages
• Official	Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	364290
Telephone code	(02844)
Vehicle registration	GJ4

Mahuva (Gujarati: મહુવા) is a small town on the Arabian Sea coast in Bhavnagar District, in the State of Gujarat, India. Mahuva is known for its mild weather and green, lush surroundings, including many coconut tree plantations. Mahuva is also known as Kashmir of Saurashtra. It is a part of the Saurashtra region.

Mahuva has a seaside beach, located near the historical Bhavani Temple. Talgajarda, a village near Mahuva is the residence of the popular Hindu preacher Morari Bapu. Mahuva is also known for wooden toys, raw onions, groundnuts, and local Jamadar mango. Mahuva is home to a thriving agribusiness industry, with an emphasis on enterprises that dehydrate vegetables such as garlic and onions for use in processed foods.

In 2017, Mahuva became popular in India for a talk given by the journalist Ravish Kumar during the annual Sadbhavna Parv in Kailash Gurukul that soon went viral.^[1] The talk related to the freedom of the media and its repercussions on the freedom of Indians.^[2]

Geography

Mahuva is a taluka in Bhavnagar District, in the State of Gujarat and is located at 21°05′00″N 71°48′00″E / 21.0833°N 71.8000°E / 21.0833; 71.8000.

Climate

Demographics

According to 2011 census of India,^[3] Mahuva Subdistrict had a population of 452,011 and Mahuva Town had a population over 1.5 to 2 lacs in which males and females constituting 90,588 and 60,931 respectively, and total 27607 households in the stated the population. Residents of Mahuva are Hindus and Muslims. Other religions are Jain, Christians etc.

Economy

Agriculture

As of 2011 there are 55 onion dehydration plants in the city, making it India's number one town for dehydration. Mahuva also grows a large onion crop for export to other Indian states, and is the second-largest onion producer in India after Pune in Maharashtra. Onion and Garlic exports to Russia, Europe and USA originate from Mahuva. In addition to onions, there are many small and large poultry farms in Mahuva, and an emu farm.

The main agricultural products of Mahuva are onions, cotton, and ground nuts. The mango named Jamadar mango and fruit Ramfal is special variety of Mahuva. Mahuva is the only place in Gujarat where bandhara (irrigation system) are needed to control salinity.

Industry

Mahuva have many agriculture based industries like cotton ginning, dehydrated vegetable industry. In 1998, Asha cotton industries is the first cotton ginning industries established by Dr B T Valia. Now there are 19 cotton ginning factories and approximate 120 vegetable dehydration units in Mahuva. Mahuva is India's largest hub for dehydrated onion. Dr B T Valia also start Dehydration unit Name is ASHA FOODS.

Transport

Mahuva is in the coastal region of Saurashtra on Gulf of Khambhat. It is connected to all major cities of Gujarat and other Indian states by road and rail. The nearest airport is Bhavnagar, about 100 km away. Pipavav Port is near by Mahuva.

By sea Mahuva is only nine hours from Mumbai but no sea route transportation is in existence.

By Road, Mahuva is well connected with Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat. GSRTC buses ply regularly connecting Mahuva to these places. Some private transporters like Khodiyar Travels and Sitaram Travels also operate buses to Ahmedabad and Mumbai. These buses reach Vadodara from Mahuva in nearly 8 hours and to Ahmedabad in nearly 6.5 hours.

New trains have been introduced which connects Mahuva to Bandra Terminus(Mumbai).

Education

Shree Radheshyam English Medium School is a school Run Under Management of Shri Radheshyam Charitable Trust is active in Mahuva. Besides, the trust also run the B.Ed college, PTC College and Gujarati Medium school. The primary section of English Medium School is located in the city and Higher Section is located on Jadra Road. The gujarati primary school like shree sawminarayana gurukul(mota jadra rod) and shree swaminarayan gurukul neshvad(village) also licated in city. Jafari and Fatema English School was developed by Al-Imaan Trust, Mumbai. It has a huge campus with number of sports and games facilities, as well as a mosque for Shia Muslims to offer Namaaz. St. Thomas School Mahuva is located on the outskirts of Mahuva city on the Mahuva Victor road. It is a Christian minority educational institution run by the fathers of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.), through Saint Thomas Trust, Mahuva. It is part of AINACS (All India National Association of Catholic Schools). Hanumant High School(RBK) is located at Bhavnagar bypass road, Near Talgajarda road and Cambridge School-U.K, J.P. Parekh high school, Sheth M.N. High School,Smt. K.B. Parekh College Of Computer Science.

Attractions

There are two public parks in Mahuva namely Gandhi Bagh and Kuber Bagh.

A new BAPS Swaminarayan Temple located in the outskirts westerly, totally made up of pink stones, is a beautiful creation, inspired by Pramukh Swami.

Shree Swaminarayan Temple (Brahmswarup Pragji Bhagat, birthplace and Aksharwas place, old Swaminarayan Temple).

Gaytri Mata Shaktipith, a temple made under shape of lotus with Yagnashala. The Pranpratishta of Goddess Gayatridevi was made by Shree Pandit Ramsharma Acharyaji-Shantikunj, Haridwar on Jalaram Jayanti-1981.

There is also Lord Dwarkadhish Temple; this temple is dedicated to Lord Shrinathji; people visit for blessing every day. The temple is known as Haveli.

The Mahuva Jain Thirt- The ancient name of this place was Madhumati as stated in old scriptures. This is the birth place of Sheth Javad shah who in Vikram year 108 carried out renovations to the shrines of Mt. Shatrunjay at the 13th time. This is also the birth place of Sheth Jadadu Shah. This idol of the Lord Sri Mahavir is venerated as “Jivit Swami” about which a mention has been made in 14th Vikram century. This is the birth place as well as demise of Tithodharak (reviver of shrines) Acharya Sri Nemisurishvarji. This shrine is included in the Panch Tirthi of Sri Shatrunjay shrines.^[4][5]

Tatkaleshvar Mahadev temple located on the south westerly to Mahuva city, 8 km on Mahuva-Victor Road between the villages of Madhiya and Vangar, is a recent addition to the attractions of city that is visited by a large number of devotees especially in the month of Shravan. This temple is one of the sure stops for devotees visiting the Somnath temple. It is run independently by Sagar Parivar. This temple is sometimes called "Little Somnath".^[6]

Bhavani beach located south easterly to Mahuva is a nice picnic place.^[7] Bhavani Mata Mandir a temple on Bhavani beach is also an ancient temple.

Bhutnath Mahadev temple of Lord Shiva - many travel to this ancient temple at Vadli, located north easterly to Mahuva during the Hindu month of Shraavana, also Khimnath Mahdev.

Talgajarda, a village located northerly to Mahuva is the residence of the popular Hindu preacher Morari Bapu. Chitrakoot dham is a nice place here.^[8] The place also runs an Ashram school (Kailash Gurukul) and a Goushala.

Wildlife

Mahuva is known for vulture. A large population of white ramped vultures can be found in Mahuva. There are also 234 species of birds, and it is the only part of the district where jungle babblers are found.

Neighbouring villages

Pingleshwar, a small village near Mahuva, is known for a very old Shiv Ling under the sea. It is only visible in the morning when the tide is out. Talgajarda, the birthplace of Saint Moraribapu, is 5 km from Mahuva. It is known for its temples, including a Ganesh temple on the NH8 highway.

Mota-khuntavada is 19 kilometres from Mahuva, 60 kilometres from Palitana with its famous Jain temple. Mota-khuntavada lies between two hills, the 150-foot high Mava-dungar hill, which is 500 meters around and surrounded by Malan-dam lake, and the Chitradhar hill. There is also a 100-year-old Hanuman temple in the lake, and nearby a 150-year-old Mahakali Devi temple that is only open after 4 pm on Sunday afternoons.

Mota-khuntavada is famous for its 90-year-old Ganesha temple, Sidhhganesh Arshrm Mota Khuntavada. Mahant Nepali Bapu, saint of Akhada is found inside the temple. Kotamoi is a small village of Mahuva. Kotamoi is at the near Rojki river.

Uncha Kotda or Unchakotada is 27 kilometers easterly to Mahuva. This is a beach side temple of Goddess Chamundadevi revered as mini Shaktipith.^[9]

Otha is 14 kilometers from Mahuva. Here Shashtri Jivalal Mulshankar Pandya is Famous BhagvatKathakar.

Bagdana, the village of the Mystique Saint Bajrangdas Bapa, is 35 kilometres from Mahuva. The temple is visited through the year, especially on Guru Purnima and Tithi (the death anniversary of the saint). Half a million people pay homage to the temple each year.^[10][11]

Notable figures

• Chhabildas Mehta: Born in Mahuva, Chhabildas Mehta was an Indian politician and the former Chief Minister of Gujarat. He had played a pivotal role in the Maha Gujarat campaign for getting Gujarat the status of a separate state. In 1962, he was elected for the first time as an MLA of Mahuva constituency and had later become the member of the Legislative Council of Bombay State. Chhabildas Mehta had joined several parties during his political life. He was first aligned with the Praja Samajwadi Party, then joined Indian National Congress before he became part of the Janata Party. He then joined the Janata Dal and again joined the Congress. He became chief minister on 17 February 1994 following the death of Chimanbhai Patel. He headed the Congress government in Gujarat for 13 months, till 14 March 1995. He died on 29 November 2008 at Ahmedabad.^[12]
• Morari Bapu: He is well Known for his Ram Katha (religious storytelling based on the Ramayana) ^[13]
• Asha Parekh: A famous Bollywood actress from 70's who has played role as a lead actress in many Hindi movies.
• Virchand Gandhi Bharat Kesari and Swami Vivekanand sailed to participate at first World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 and drew worldwide attention. Virchand Gandhi was first known Gujarati Legend to visit the United States, and today there are statues of him in Chicago and Mahuva. He was commemorated on an Indian national postal stamp released 8 November 2009.
• Bhagatji Maharaj - Shree Praagji Bhagat Maharaj of the Swaminaryan community (born in Pragatya Place, died in Aksharwas Place) is in Mahuva.
• Dr. Kanubhai Kalsariya: A famous political person who fought to resist Cement plant getting established near Mahuva to avoid salt water intrusion in fertile land. The proposed cement plant approved by his own party government in the state during VIbrant Gujarat of 2008 was opposed by farmers led by Dr. Kalsariya. Gujarat State government had allocated a land, which has a reservoir and catchment area spread over 268 hectares. A rally of over 5,000 farmers protesting against the construction of the cement plant reached Ahmedabad. The rally, led by Dr. Kalsaria traveled a distance of 350 kilometer on foot after it started on 3 March from Mahuva in protest of the upcoming cement plant. At the end Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests placed a report before the Supreme Court recommending relocation of Nirma Ltd's cement plant.^[14][15]

References