Gondal, India

Gondal
—  city  —
Gondal Location of Gondal in Gujarat and India
Coordinates	21°58′N 70°48′E / 21.97°N 70.8°E / 21.97; 70.8Coordinates: 21°58′N 70°48′E / 21.97°N 70.8°E / 21.97; 70.8
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District(s)	Rajkot
Population	95,991 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 132 metres (433 ft)

Gondal is a city and a municipality in Rajkot district in the Indian state Gujarat. Gondal state was one of the eight first class princely states of Kathiawar Agency during Bombay Presidency. The current population of town is around 200,000.

History

Maharaja Bhagvat Singhji of Gondal, 1911

Gondal finds mention in texts like Ain-i-Akbari (written in the reign of Akbar) and Mirat-i-Ahmadi as Vaghela state in Sorath (Saurashtra). The Gondal state in Kathiawar Agency was founded in 1634 AD by Thakore Shri Kumbhoji I Meramanji from Jadeja dynasty, who received Ardoi and other villages from his father Meramanji.^[1][2] With his fourth descendant Kumbhoji IV, the State raised itself, by acquiring parganas of Doraji, Upleta, Sarai etc.^[1]

Later Sir Bhagwant Singhji who reigned from 1888 till his death in 1944, was its most noted ruler, known for his various tax reforms, compulsory education for women and also removing the purdah tradition for women at a time when the royal households of India were known for this tradition.^[3]

Moreover, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan ancestors belong to Paneli village in Gondal state.

The Gondal town lies on the banks of Gondali river and in 1901 it had a population of 19,592 and has a railway station on the branch line between Rajkot-Jetalsar on the Western Railway Line of Ahmedabad–Viramgam–Wankaner–Rajkot–Veraval–Somnath Line.^[4]

Historical places of Gondal

Naulakha Palace of Gondal

The Riverside Palace was built in 1875 AD by Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji for his son Yuvraj Bhojraji, which is groomed be lawns and gardens, and has marvelously appointed sitting arrangement — the "living room" is furnished in typical colonial style with chandelier, antique wooden furniture and sofas; where as the "Indian room" decorated with beadwork, brassware and paintings, it has now become a heritage hotel.^[5]

Gondal, 1909

The Naulakha Palace is the oldest extant palace in Gondal, dating back to the 17th century. It has legendary stone carvings with exquisite "jharokhas" (balconies), a fabulous pillared courtyard, delicately carved arches, and a unique spiral staircase. The large chandelier-lit "durbar" hall (court house) witnesses stuffed panthers, gilt wooden furniture, and antique mirrors. The Private palace museum displays an impressive display of silver caskets which were in the services of carrying messages and gifts for Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji on his silver jubilee as ruler of Gondal.

The Huzoor Palace is the current royal residence, whose one wing is opened for public. It is known as the Orchard Palace because of its huge surroundings of fruit orchards, lawns and gardens. The Room of miniatures is a splendid sitting room with a collection of miniature paintings, brass, and antique furniture.

There is one railway couch available for public view in this palace, which was one part of Gondal Royal Railway.

The Royal Garages have an extensive collection of vintage and classic cars, for which it has been famous all over the world.^[6]

Geography

Gondal is located at 21°58′N 70°48′E / 21.97°N 70.8°E / 21.97; 70.8.^[7] It has an average elevation of 132 metres (433 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[8] Gondal had a population of 95,991. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Gondal has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 68%. In Gondal, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Culture and economy

The people of the Gondal, like in most of the other parts of Saurashtra, are considered relatively spiritual. Some of the famous temples include Akshar Mandir (BAPS Swaminarayan), and Bhuvneshwari Mandir.Sureshwar Mahadev, Dhareshwar Mahadev. Akshar Deri is located in Akshar Mandir gondal. Akshar Deri is the Samadhi Sthan of Gunatitanand Swami. Yogiji Maharaj spent a lot of time of his time in Akshar mandir Gondal. Also, Pramukh Swami Maharaj always insists to be at Gondal on Diwali. Yogi nagar is the residential society located outside Akshar Mandir. Dasi Jeevan Mandir in Ghoghavadar (6 km from Gondal) is a place where renowned Saint Dasi Jeevan lived. Every Gujarati New Year day, people gather to celebrate the holy Saint's birth anniversary.

The first largest Gujarati dictionary was written in Gondal by the finance and support of Sir Bhagvatsighji Maharaj.

The main economic impetus is through Oil Mills and Marketing Yard and various small businesses including jewelry designers, timber trading, and various hardware enterprises. The market for most commodities is located mainly in two areas known as Nani Bazaar (literally, small market) and Moti Bazaar (literally, large market). Transportation to the from the city from other parts of the country is primarily by road and rail. Gondal is very well known for its 3-Gs Gunda (Thugs), Ganda (Retards), Gathiya (A Delicious Gujarati Snack). Gondal is Largest producer of Ground nut oil in Gujarat.it has nearly 300-500 oil mills. Gondal has two Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers exporting to various foreign countries. There is extensive farming in the outskirts of Gondal though availability of sufficient water can be a problem as is common in the rest of Gujarat.

Major educational schools includes Saint Mary's School. There are many noteworthy alumni across the world from this school. Many working in USA, Australia and UK. Some distinguished students from this school have made it to Indian Institute of Management - IIM (Jagdish Lalvani) and Indian Police Service - IPS (Gaurav Jasani).There are as many as 100 engineers including Mining Engineer - (Virdip Chudasama) currently in Australia, and others working across the world coming from this school. Excellent teachers like Verghese Sir, Vakachhan Sir, Rosmi ma'am, Linsa Sister, Anne ma'am and Joshi Sir have give a very solid foundation to students.

The main residential areas in Gondal include G.Parekh street, Chunara street, Khandheria street, Gundala street, Mahadevwadi, Bhojarajapara, Housing Board, Station Plot, Gundala Road,Yoginagar,Shajanand Nagar,Khodiyar Nagar and Gokul Dham .

The most posh residential area in Gondal are "Kailashbag"and "Radha-Krishna Nagar", which is near to bus station and also main market.

The main business areas in Gondal include Town Hall, Gundala Street, Nani Bazaar, Moti Bazaar " Kadiyalane " "Bus stand road","Kumbharwada".

Gardens and parks include Tulsi Baugh, Ashapura Gardens.

The marketing yard here is one of the biggest in the Kathiawar region and second largest in Gujarat after Unjha. Gondal is growing bigger in trading of cotton. Many Ginning and pressing industries are developing here.

See also

• Bhagvatsingh of Gondal
• Sage Kambu Swayambhuva
• Sage Kambhoja
• Kamboja
• Cambodia
• Kumbhoj

There are many well known doctors and engineer working in US and UK who were born and educated in Gondal. St. Mary's School and Vidhya mandir High School are two major schools who gave many bright students. Monghiba High school is one of the oldest girls-only schools in the region.

Center Theater, Roma Theater, Tulsi Baag, College chowk, Victory cinema, Nani Bazaar, Moto bazaar, Bus Stand road etc. are mjor landmarks in Gondal.

During 1947, many people who spoke Memoni (a language of a community) migrate to Pakistan. Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Javeri was the one of Doctor who also migrate to Karachi-Pakistan, his clinic was at ACHI QABAR, beside the Boulton Market.

The best known hospital in Gondal is Jogi Hospital. It has two doctors viz. Surgeon and MD.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Gondal state The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1908. v. 12, p. 319
2. ^ Princely Gondal RoyalArk
3. ^ Purdah Women TIME, Monday, Nov 24, 1930.
4. ^ Gondal Town The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1908, v. 12, p. 321
5. ^ Heritage Hotels in Gujarat
6. ^ Hot wheels: Vintage cars from Gondal to elegantly parade in Mumbai Indian Express, September 10, 2008.
7. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Gondal
8. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 

• Harikrishna Laishankar Dave (1867). A Short History of Gondal. Education Society's Press. pp. 202. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=yt8BAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Gondal&hl=en&ei=QKcWTrX9M8f5rAeJ2LXPAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false. 

External links

• Portal of Gondal
• Portal of Gondal Business www.gondalonline.com

Gondal Palaces - http://gondalpalaces.com/