- Naliya
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Naliya is an town, which is also Taluka headquarter of Abdasa Tauka of Kutch District of Gujarat, India. It is located on Western end of Kutch at a distance of 17 km from ancient port of Jakhau.
Naliya is centuries old town, which boasts of Jain temples built several centuries ago.[1][2]It is a famous Jain pilgrimage center and one the famous five Jain temples of Abdasa ni Panchtirthi ( meaning five-temples of Abdasa ) is in the town. Other Jain temples are in nearby places in Abdasa Taluka. The main architects of these centuries old beautiful Jain temples were Mistris of Kutch.[3][4]
Naliya is also famous for Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary also known as Lala–Parjan Sanctuary, which is located nearby the town. With an area of about only 2 square kilometers, it is the smallest sanctuary in the country. There are approximately 30 Great Indian Bustards here, second only to Desert National Park, Rajasthan.[5][6]
Naliya also has a Indian Air Force station, which was built here in view of the town's proximity to Pakistan.[7] Nos 45 and 101 Squadrons IAF fly Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s from the base.[8]
Although, the town had a railway line laid by Cutch State Railway, during the time of regency, which connected town with Bhuj. The line was abandoned later converted to metre gauge in 1980 for military purpose. However, the line was till recently not used for public but only for military purpose and transportation of freight mainly minerals and cement. Recently gauge conversion to broad gauge has been approved by Government of India.[9][10]Now a Passenger train between Gandhidham and Naliya runs daily.
Coordinates: 23°16′12″N 68°49′48″W / 23.270°N 68.830°W
References
- ^ Shri Naliya Tirth
- ^ Naliya
- ^ Shree Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj : A brief History & Glory of our fore-fathers : by Raja Pawan Jethwa. (2007) Calcutta.
- ^ 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. This book was given Aank Sidhhi award by Kutch Shakti at Mumbai in year 2000.(They book has year wise details of Railway lines built by Mistris of Kutch. The book also has a section with photos on Historical Monuments & Architects built by Mistris of Kutch.
- ^ Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Naliya, Kachchh
- ^ Naliya Birds
- ^ Air Force Station,Naliya (kutch),Kutch-370 655
- ^ Scramble.nl, Indian Air Force Order of Battle, accessed October 2011
- ^ [1]
- ^ Bhuj-Naliya Broad Gauge rail line sanctioned
Categories:- Cities and towns in Kachchh district
- Jain temples in Gujarat
- Indian Air Force bases
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