Bhavnagar is a Beautiful Place in Gujarat

Bhavnagar

History of Bhavnagar

Gohil Rajputs of Suryavanshi dynasty faced stiff competition in Marwar. Around 1260 A.D. they moved to the coastal region of Gujarat and established three capitals namely Sejapur, Umrala and Sehore. Shejapur was founded in 1194. In 1722 to 1723 the armies led by Khanthaji Kadani and Maratha Peela ji Gaekwad tried to attack Sehore but were defeated by Maharaj Bhav Singh. After the war Bhav Singh realized that the reason for repeated attacks was the location of Sehore. In 1723 he established a new capital near Badwa village, 20 km from Sehore and named it Bhavnagar after himself. It was a carefully chosen and strategic location because of the potential for maritime trade. Bhavnagar eventually became the capital of Bhavnagar State. In 1807, Bhavnagar State became a British state. The old city of Bhavnagar was a fortified city with gates leading to other important areas. It was a major port for nearly two centuries, trading goods with Mozambique, Zanzibar, Singapore and the Gulf of Paras. Bhav Singh ensured that Bhavnagar benefited from the revenues from maritime trade, which was monopolised by Surat and Cambay. Since the Surat fort was under the control of Siddiquis of Janjira, he entered into an agreement with them under which Siddiquis were given 1.25% of the revenues from the Bhavnagar port. Bhav Singh entered into a similar agreement with the British after they captured Surat in 1856. When Bhav Singh was in power, Bhavnagar grew from a small chieftaincy to an important state, due to the addition of new territory as well as income from maritime trade. Bhav Singh's later officials highlighted its importance to the state. Recognizing the importance of the sea trade, Bhav Singh Ji continued to encourage maritime trade through the Bhavnagar port. Bhav Singh Ji's grandson Vakt Singh Ji further expanded the trade when he annexed the lands of the Kolis and Kathis, received Rajula from Nawab Saheb Ahmed Khan and annexed Goga taluka to the state. In 1793, Vakt Singh conquered the forts of Chintal and Talaja and later conquered Mahua Kundla, Tropez Umrala and Batod. Bhavnagar remained the main port of the state. Mahua and Goga also became important ports. Due to maritime trade, the state prospered compared to other states. In the 19th century, the Bhavnagar State Railway was constructed. This made Bhavnagar the first state which was able to build its own railway without any assistance from the central government. It was mentioned in the Imperial Gazetteer of India. The state moral agent Mr. Peel described the state as follows: The condition is good and many good works are in progress. I need not say anything about the affairs. You have no machinery and your treasury is full. Between 1870 and 1878, the state was placed under joint administration. This was because Prince Takht Singh was a minor. During this period, some notable improvements took place in the field of administration, revenue collection, judiciary, postal and telegraph service and economic policy. The port was also modernized. The reason for those reforms was that the port was also modernized. The two were A.H. Percival of the Bombay Civil Service and Gaurishankar Uday Shankar Ojha, Chief Minister of Bhavnagar State Bhavnagar Boraj. In 1911 Maharani Nundkanvarba of Bhavnagar was awarded the Order of the Crown of India, the highest royal award for a woman in the British Empire. The former princely state of Bhavnagar was also known as Gohilvad "Land of the Gohils".

Most Famous Place in Bhavnagar

Nilambag Palace Hotel
Gandhi Smruti
Barton Library
Ganga Deri
Victoria nature park
Trimandir, Bhavnagar
Khodiyar Mandir Rajpara

1. Nilambag Palace Hotel

The city of Bhavnagar is located in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. In the heart of this bustling big urban city lies the beautiful Neelam Bagh Palace Hotel. In the year 1879, Maharaja of Bhavnagar Sahib Gautam Singh commissioned German architect Kanoski along with State Engineer Protector Simons to design the Neelam Bagh Palace which has been the home of the erstwhile royal family of Bhavnagar since 1905. An imposing structure of Rajula stone, the palace was constructed with influences of colonial architecture. Neelam Bagh is a unique amalgamation of royal grandeur and functional magnificence. This magnificent relic of the glorious times of the Maharajas and Maharanis was the home of the Gohil dynasty. When India became independent in 1947, Maharaja Krishna Kumar Singh became the first Indian ruler to abdicate his kingdom and join India. In 1984, the palace was converted into a heritage hotel to maintain and share the historical monument.

2. Gandhi Smruti

Established in 1955 and located in the heart of Bhavnagar, Gandhi Smriti also known as Gandhi Memorial is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi who once studied at Bhavnagar University which displays books related to his life, rare photographs and memorabilia.

3. Barton Library

It was inaugurated on 30 December 1882 by Raja Takht Singh Gohil and he named the library after the English political agent Colonel Barton. This institution is very closely associated with the Chhagan Prasad Library and has a special place in the map of the great culture of Gujarat.

4. Ganga Deri

Ganga Deri with the Gangajal Lia pond situated on its bank is known as a memorial. It is a historical site in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, established in 1983 by Maharaja Takht Singh Ji in memory of his wife Maharani Rajab who died in 1875 while giving birth to heir Bhav Singh Ji.

5. Victoria nature park

Victoria Park in Bhavnagar, Gujarat was established in 1888 by Maharaja Takht Singh of Bhavnagar and named in honor of Queen Victoria. It is considered to be one of the oldest man-made parks in India. It is spread over 500 acres and serves as a green space in the heart of the city. The park is maintained by the Government of India.

6. Trimandir, Bhavnagar

7. Khodiyar Mandir Rajpara

The Khodiyar temple in Rajpara Bhavnagar is believed to have been established by Maharaj Vakt Singh Ji Gohil who was the ruler of Bhavnagar state who was a devotee of Khodiyar Mata. It is said that he built a small temple for the goddess in Rajpara and Khodiyar Mata agreed to stay in the area which marks the beginning of the temple. Later Maharaj Krishna Kumar Singh Ji expanded the temple and made it the temple it is today.

Famous University in Bhavnagar

1. Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University (MKBU)

Famous Museum in Bhavnagar

1.The Bhavnagar Railway Museum

2. Barton Museum