Shapur Sorath

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
type = Village
locator_position = right
native_name = Shapur Sorath
state_name = Gujarat
latd = 21.468066
longd = 70.370994
district = Junagadh
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 107
population_as_of = 2007
population_total = 20000
population_density =
area_magnitude= square km
area_total = 20
area_telephone = 02872
postal_code = 362 205
vehicle_code_range = GJ-11
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website = www.junagadhmunicipal.org
footnotes =

Shapur the biggest village of Junagadh district and a Gram Panchayat, falls under Vanthali taluka Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is located at 8 km from Junagadh, on Junagadh – Veraval highway – NH: 8D. This region is known as "Sorath", the name of the earlier Muslim-ruled Princely State of Junagadh.

History

Shapur is as old as the Muslim-ruled Junagadh state. Before India’s Independence the village was main military-base and Janana (Muslim Queens) residence of Muslim-ruled Junagadh state. The Navabs of Junagadh State used to come almost every day to meet his Queens residing at Shapur. Later on Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Inidra Gandhi visited this villages for various reasons. After Indian independence Shapur remain important in regional and State politics, business, education and social advancement. Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji visited the first and the only public utility Thermal Power Station in that State, at that time located in Shahpur.As this power station was using crushed coal as fuel for boilers and chlorination for the cooling water system, which normally polluted the local atmosphere. He wanted to see personally the working conditions and the amenities provided for the villagers housing and the recreation facilities.

The village's economy was distroid after flooding of June 22, 1983. Indian prime minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi was rushed to Shapur and was very socked after seeing villagers' loss of home, crops and local economy. Later on the brave villagers and leaders took over the situation, rebuild the ecomony and made village in such a way that it is being awarded as a model and modern village of the district and state for so many years.

The Model Village

Construction and areas of Shapur

Because of its connection with Navabs, Shapur was planned and well developed village. No village of its time in India was as organized as Shapur was. The village is protected by strong fort with 4 main gates around. These gates are known as Station, Ozat, Khan and Ashram gates. Perhaps today, Shapur is the only village in India having 15 feet tall, 3.5 feet wide fort with a narrow walkway and guard-rail on its top. You can go on the top of the fort from wide stair ways located at each gate of the fort. Each gate has big room on its top where Navab’s security people used to stay and guard and monitor village’s outside activity. The roads and streets of the village are perpendicular and parallel from one end to other end of the village.

The main road (Bazaar) divides village from the center. It connects Station and Ozat gates. It’s about 3 km long 30 feet wide, which is wider than other older village’s roads. It has pedestrian pavements on both sides. The main road has more than 500 retail soaps/businesses of Banks, Post Offices, Village Administration office (Gram Panchayat Office) Temples, Mosques, Vegetable Market, Fruit Sellers, Grocery soaps, Pan Masala, Books stores, Hotels, Snack bars and cafes, Repair shops, Tailors, Gold Smiths, Black Smiths, Shoe makers, Barber shops, Cloth soaps, STD/PCO soaps, Medical Stores, Electric Stores, Lumber and Hardware Stores, Agricultural supplies stores, Sweet stores and etc.

Other main roads are Ashram road, Kharakuva road, Khan Darvaja road, Patel Samaj road, Civil hospital road, Society road and Navdurga road.

The various areas of the village are known as Patel Chock, Bank of Baroda Chock, Panchayat Chock, Navdurga Chock, Azad Chock, Banglapat, Jalaram Chock, Navafari, Rabari pa, Koli pa, Soni pa, Kandarvaja, Kharakuva, Raval ni papal and etc.

Along with main road, there are several retail soaps inside of the village. Other than that the village is made of all residence places of Hindus and Muslims. The Hindu community includes Patel, Rabari, Koli, Kadia/Kumbhar, Lohana, Mochi, Dargi, Soni, Bramhins, Bavagis, Satvara, and Harijans. The Muslim community made of Khoja, Gameti, Naghori and Sayads.

Shapur is famous for lignite based power generation plant owned by Gujarat Electricity Board. This is one of the biggest power generation facilities in Saurastra region and employs more than 2000 people live locally.

Shapur has the last rail road junction on Junagadh-Veraval and Junagadh-Saradiya rail road. Even the Rail station is farther than Bus Station this place is always full of travelers because availability of longer distance trains.

Education

Shapur was educational and cultural hub for neighbor villagers. The villagers take pride to had one of the best educational systems, Schools, Teaching staffs in district. Students had came all nearby villages including some from Vanthali (Taluka place) and Junagadh too! The village has following schools

*1. Sarvoday Ashram’s Bal Mandir.
*2. Government primary school for boys.
*3. Government primary school for girls
*4. Government primary school for boys and girls at power house.
*5. Javahar Vinay Mandir’s high school for boys and girls.
*6. Sarvoday Ashram primary school.
*7 Sarvoday Ashram high school.
*8. Sarvoday Ashram Adhyapan Mandir - PTC College
*9. Vivekananda education trust’s primary school for boys and girls
*10. Vivekananda education trust’s higher school for boys and girls
*11. Vivekananda education trust’s higher secondary school for boys and girls
*12. Faladu’s primary school for boys and girls.

Shapur’s had finest education system comes from best teachers and management system (mainly from Javahar Vinay Mandir). The students rank average higher than other schools around area. Shapur has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%:

Economy and Industries

Almost 50% of village business and shoppers come from smaller villages around Shapur. Shapur provide better employment / business / earning opportunities to local workers in farms, industries, retail businesses, Ferries, Vegetable and Beauty stall –Laris etc. Shapur is also famous for Oil, Engineering, Cement products and Dairy industries around the region. They provide good deal in internal and external employment and business and economy. Some of them are well known industries are…

*1. Thermal Power Station
*2. Nova Precision Industry.
*3. Patel Oil mill (Mavji Hari oil cake industry)
*4. Press Oil and Cotton mill (Nanji Kalidas and group)
*5. Jalaram Oil mill (Former Gordhan Jetha oil mill)
*6. Vipul Oil mill.
*7. Hari Oil and seeds sampling
*8. Girnar Dairy
*9. Akash Ambry,
*10. Patel Caol
*11. Arun Industries of Cement products.
*12. Shri Momai Cement factory
*13. Shri Momai Oil mill
*14. Hari Oum Sweet.
*15. Kismat Sweet and etc…

After Junagadh became Municipal Corporation, Shapur is one of the best places to do business in real estate and farming land transfer. Farmers having farms on Junagadh road get lot of money for their farms. People, who work in Junagadh but cannot afford living in Junagadh city, live in Shapur as commute to Junagadh is only 15 minutes. They save lots of money in taxes, grocery, and education and get city-like facilities in this modern village. By looking at the growth of region, it looks like Shapur has been partially merged with Junagadh and will be under corporation's control within next few years. That’s why investors around Junagadh have been rushing towards Shapur for land and real estate opportunities.

Agriculture and farming

Shapur is only 1.5 km away from the Ozat River. Ozat is the 3rd largest river of Saurastra (128 km) with its most watersheds used for drinking water to Junagadh, Vanthali, Shapur and neighbor villages. After construction of Ozat-Vear dam near to Shapur wells of the region became so live with full of water which made easy irrigation in farming. That is why the areas abound Ozat rive are the most greenest and best harvested in Junagadh district. These area produce world famous 'Kesar/saffron' mango -best in test and flavor.

The farmers of Shapur take 3 crops in a year that make farming land green and live around the year. Farmers produces fruits, vegetables and flowers like Chiku, Banana, Sitafal, Coconut, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Pupnus, and Grapes, egg-plants (bringers) peppers, cubage, cucumber, Zucchini, Turia, Tomato, Potato, Cilantro, Lemon, Wheat, Peanut (ground nut), Beans, Cotton, Castrol, and Spices common produces of this area. Because of very big production of fruits, vegetables and grains; the local farmers/vendors get opportunity to do business with city like Junagadh, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat and up to Mumbai. On the other hand these produces are very cheap in local market, making easy and wealthy life style for local people.

The Patel and Rabari community do farming, cartels business. They sell milk and milk products to inside and outside of the village. Shapur’s 'Hari Oum’ and 'Kismat' sweet makers are well reputed in and out sides of district, State and even in Country.

Local Commute

Frequent commuting facilities of Trains, Buses, and private taxi/cabs to Junagadh made Shapur as a part or Junagadh urban area.commuter can find buses and cabs/autos for Junagadh in every 5 minutes. That is why People feel so close to city life even living in village (Shapur). They feel pride living very close to Girnar, Somnath, and Porbandar.

How to reach Shapur

Air: The nearest airports from Shapur are Keshod -30 km and Rajkot -120 km.

Rail: The railway station of Shapur lies on Ahmadabad /Rajkot – Veraval, connects it the major cities of the country.

Road: State transport and Junagadh municipal corporation buses link Shapur with all the major cities of the state.

Best time to visit: August to March; during rainy season to visit Girnar and in winter for many events occurring in Shapur and Junagadh

ee also

* Asiatic Lion
* Gir Forest National Park
* Siddis
* Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Junagadh

References

External links

* [http://sarvodayadhyapan.org/ Sarvoday Ashram Adhyapan Mandir - PTC College]
* [http://www.jau.in/ Junagadh Agricultural University]
* [http://deshgujarat.com/ Gujarati]
* [http://sss.vn.ua/india/gujarat/junagarh/indexen.htm Photo galleries 1280x960 of Junagadh & trekkings to Girnar hill, on author's website]
* [http://www.holidayiq.com/destinations/Junagadh-Overview.html Junagadh Tourism Information]