Dhrangadhra
Encyclopedia
Dhrangadhra is a city
and a municipality
in Surendranagar district
in the state of Gujarat, India
. During the period of the British Raj
, the city was the capital of Dhrangadhra state, one of the eight first-class princely state
s (13-gun salute
) of the Kathiawar Agency
in the Bombay Presidency
.
In 1941 the princely state of Dhrangadhra had a population of 94,417 living in an area of 1,167 square miles.
In 1948 the state of Dhrangadhra was made part of the Zalawad district in Saurashtra. In 1956 it became part of Gujarat.
Dhrangadhra also contains the Gobar gas plant, which is located at Navalgadh village.
dhrang means a stone
, and dhara means the earth
. It is believed that because of the strong and widespread black stone bedrock
found immediately under the soil of the place, the town is thus named.
, Dhrangadhra had a population of 70,653. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Dhrangadhra has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75% and, female literacy is 59%. In Dhrangadhra, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
in the Gujarat. It has one of the largest soda ash plant in India, which is known as DCW Ltd. It has one army cantonment. There are also many ginning and pressing factories involved in the cotton
industry.
There is a famous temple and a place of worship to God Swaminarayan.
The name of this place is
'BHAGWATDHAM' Shri Swaminarayan Gurukul; which is situated at Halvad road. There is a residential school run by Shri Narnarayandev Education Trust. The name of the school is SHRI SWAMINARAYAN HIGH SCHOOL. There are 800 students residing in this campus.
There is a famous institute for the co-education in kinder garten, Primary, HighSchool, Higher Secondary.
known as "SHISHUKUNJ", working since 1949. Apart from this, now education is evolving with a good pace in Dhrangadhra with higher awareness among people of Dhrangadhra about education.
There is a very famous temple at pond shore it is known as "JOGASHAR". It is a temple of God Ganesh
There is only two "Ekdanta Ganesha" in India. One at Titval and other at Dhrangdhra.
With both sacred and secular architecture influenced by local medieval history, Dhangadhra today is a modern town with the population of about 100,000, which includes Hindus
, Muslims
, Zoroastrians
and Jains
. The affluent are traders in the local cotton
and salt
trade that has existed for over 300 years, while the majority are farmers and shopkeepers. It has industries such as DCW with chemical products, Mausam brand food products such as Spices, delecious pickles in various flavours, sauces, pastes, sherbats, ketchup etc. by K.P. Industries and many other industries in GIDC
area. The provincial town boasts several hospitals, schools and a college. Along with regular telephone and portal services, email facilities are also available in the town.
Temples, step-wells, palaces and mosques from various historical periods exist in various states of preservation. There are more than 100 places of worship, and ancient art and craft traditions such as stone sculpture
, jewellery
making, tie and dye
fabrics and embroidery
prosper.
Dhrangadhra is also famous for its Stone artwork. The 'Sompura' from Dhrangadhra have built and designed many Jain derasars - a type of temples of Jain people all over Gujarat and India.
Dhangadhra is a railway junction on the Western Railway (India)
and is connected to Ahmedabad
and other regions of Kutch and Saurashtra by road and rail links. There are auto rickshaw
s (three-wheeler hooded taxis) and larger un-hooded three-wheelers called Chhakada which typically run on modified Royal Enfield
engines, are available for travel within the town and surrounding areas.
The Rabari
and Bharwad farming communities that raise cattle, sheep, goat and camels live in villages surrounding the town. Each summer, the outskirts of the town also hosts a camp of snake charmer
s. Dhrangadhra is also the headquarters of the Deputy Conservator of Forests, which is responsible for the Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary
on the Little Rann of Kutch
, home to the last three species of Asiatic Wild Ass
.
Dhrangadhra has a long history starting from Lower Paleolithic
Period. The evidence come from the river bed of the Bhadar river which flows along with the Dhragadhra taluka. Moreover, there are lots of sites spreading over the vast land belonging to Harappan Period
. Recent studies in the area suggests that the Dhragadhra and Halvad taluka was the fronteer of the so called sorat Harappans which bifurcates the Sidhi Harrapans of Kutch & Sindh. These are recent studies made by Arun Malik, a PhD scholar of The M.S. University of Baroda and now he is with Archaeological Survey of India.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Surendranagar district
Surendranagar district
Surendranagar is an administrative district in the state of Gujarat in India. It has a population of approximately 1.7 million people. Surendranagar is also known as Zalawad, as the city of Surendranagar was ruled by Zala Rajputs...
in the state of Gujarat, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. During the period of the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, the city was the capital of Dhrangadhra state, one of the eight first-class princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
s (13-gun salute
Salute state
A Salute state was a princely state in India during the time of British rule which had been granted a gun salute by the British Crown ; i.e., the protocollary privilege for its ruler to be greeted - originally by Royal Navy ships, later also on land - with a number of gun shots, as recognition of...
) of the Kathiawar Agency
Kathiawar Agency
The Kathiawar Agency, on the Kathiawar peninsula in the western part of the Indian subcontinent, was a political unit of some 200 small princely states under the suzerainty of the Bombay Presidency of British India. Soon after India's independence in 1947, all but one of them acceded to the new...
in the Bombay Presidency
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
.
History
Dhrangadhra grew from the state of Jhalawad which was founded about AD 1090. This state was ruled by the Jhala Rajputs. In AD 1735, Dhrangadhra was founded as its capital. The state was then renamed Dhrangadhra-Halvad state from the initial name of Kuwa, Halwad.In 1941 the princely state of Dhrangadhra had a population of 94,417 living in an area of 1,167 square miles.
Rulers (title Raj Sahib)
- 1782 - 1801 Jashwantsinhji Gajsinhji
- 1801 - 1804 Raisinhji Jashwantsinhji
- 1804 - 1843 Amarsinhji Raisinhji
- 1843 - 28 Oct 1869 Ranmalsinhji Amarsinhji
- 1869 - 1900 Mansinhji Ranmalsinhji
- 2 Dec 1900 - 8 Feb 1911 Ajitsinhji Jashwantsinhji (b. ... - d. 1911)
- 1911 - 1914? Ganshyamsinhji Ajitsinhji (b. 1889 - d. 1942)
Rulers (title Maharaja Shri Raj Sahib)
- 1914 - 4 Feb 1942 Gabshyamsinhji Ajitsinhji (s.a.)
- 1942 - 15 Aug 1947 Mayurdhwajsinhji Ganshyamsinhji (b. 1923 - d. 2010)
In 1948 the state of Dhrangadhra was made part of the Zalawad district in Saurashtra. In 1956 it became part of Gujarat.
Dhrangadhra also contains the Gobar gas plant, which is located at Navalgadh village.
Etymology
In SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
dhrang means a stone
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
, and dhara means the earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. It is believed that because of the strong and widespread black stone bedrock
Bedrock
In stratigraphy, bedrock is the native consolidated rock underlying the surface of a terrestrial planet, usually the Earth. Above the bedrock is usually an area of broken and weathered unconsolidated rock in the basal subsoil...
found immediately under the soil of the place, the town is thus named.
Geography
Dhrangadhra is located at 22.98°N 71.47°E. It has an average elevation of 64 metres (209 feet).Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Dhrangadhra had a population of 70,653. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Dhrangadhra has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75% and, female literacy is 59%. In Dhrangadhra, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Current Conditions
Today Dhrangadhra is the No.1 developing TalukaTehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
in the Gujarat. It has one of the largest soda ash plant in India, which is known as DCW Ltd. It has one army cantonment. There are also many ginning and pressing factories involved in the cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
industry.
There is a famous temple and a place of worship to God Swaminarayan.
The name of this place is
'BHAGWATDHAM' Shri Swaminarayan Gurukul; which is situated at Halvad road. There is a residential school run by Shri Narnarayandev Education Trust. The name of the school is SHRI SWAMINARAYAN HIGH SCHOOL. There are 800 students residing in this campus.
There is a famous institute for the co-education in kinder garten, Primary, HighSchool, Higher Secondary.
known as "SHISHUKUNJ", working since 1949. Apart from this, now education is evolving with a good pace in Dhrangadhra with higher awareness among people of Dhrangadhra about education.
There is a very famous temple at pond shore it is known as "JOGASHAR". It is a temple of God Ganesh
There is only two "Ekdanta Ganesha" in India. One at Titval and other at Dhrangdhra.
Culture
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Muslims
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Zoroastrians
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
and Jains
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
. The affluent are traders in the local cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and salt
Edible salt
Salt, also known as table salt, or rock salt, is a mineral that is composed primarily of sodium chloride , a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of ionic salts. It is essential for animal life in small quantities, but is harmful to animals and plants in excess...
trade that has existed for over 300 years, while the majority are farmers and shopkeepers. It has industries such as DCW with chemical products, Mausam brand food products such as Spices, delecious pickles in various flavours, sauces, pastes, sherbats, ketchup etc. by K.P. Industries and many other industries in GIDC
Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation
The Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation was established under the Gujarat Industrial Development Act of 1962, with a goal of accelerating industrialization in the state of Gujarat, India...
area. The provincial town boasts several hospitals, schools and a college. Along with regular telephone and portal services, email facilities are also available in the town.
Temples, step-wells, palaces and mosques from various historical periods exist in various states of preservation. There are more than 100 places of worship, and ancient art and craft traditions such as stone sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
, jewellery
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
making, tie and dye
Tie-dye
Tie-dye is a process of resist dyeing textiles or clothing which is made from knit or woven fabric, usually cotton; typically using bright colors. It is a modern version of traditional dyeing methods used in many cultures throughout the world. "Tie-dye" can also describe the resulting pattern or an...
fabrics and embroidery
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
prosper.
Dhrangadhra is also famous for its Stone artwork. The 'Sompura' from Dhrangadhra have built and designed many Jain derasars - a type of temples of Jain people all over Gujarat and India.
Dhangadhra is a railway junction on the Western Railway (India)
Western Railway (India)
The Western Railway is one of the 16 zones of Indian Railways, and is among the busiest railway networks in India. The major railway routes of Indian Railways which come under Western Railways are: Ratlam - Mumbai Central, Surat - Mumbai, Surat - Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad - Vadodara and Palanpur -...
and is connected to Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
and other regions of Kutch and Saurashtra by road and rail links. There are auto rickshaw
Auto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw...
s (three-wheeler hooded taxis) and larger un-hooded three-wheelers called Chhakada which typically run on modified Royal Enfield
Royal Enfield
Royal Enfield was the name under which the Enfield Cycle Company made motorcycles, bicycles, lawnmowers and stationary engines. This legacy of weapons manufacture is reflected in the logo, a cannon, and their motto "Made like a gun, goes like a bullet". Use of the brand name Royal Enfield was...
engines, are available for travel within the town and surrounding areas.
The Rabari
Rabari
Members of the Rabari or Rewari live throughout the Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Harayana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states in India...
and Bharwad farming communities that raise cattle, sheep, goat and camels live in villages surrounding the town. Each summer, the outskirts of the town also hosts a camp of snake charmer
Snake Charmer
Snake charmer can mean:*Snake charming, the practice of "hypnotizing" snakes*Snake Charmer, a 1983 album by guitarist The Edge, bassist Jah Wobble, multi-instrumentalist Holger Czukay, drummer Jaki Liebezeit, and DJ/remixer François Kevorkian...
s. Dhrangadhra is also the headquarters of the Deputy Conservator of Forests, which is responsible for the Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary
Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary also known as the Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Little Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat state of India. Spread over 4954 km², it is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India....
on the Little Rann of Kutch
Rann of Kutch
The Great Rann of Kutch, also called Greater Rann of Kutch or just Rann of Kutch , is a seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India and the Sindh province of Pakistan....
, home to the last three species of Asiatic Wild Ass
Onager
The Onager is a large member of the genus Equus of the family Equidae native to the deserts of Syria, Iran, Pakistan, India, Israel and Tibet...
.
Dhrangadhra has a long history starting from Lower Paleolithic
Lower Paleolithic
The Lower Paleolithic is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. It spans the time from around 2.5 million years ago when the first evidence of craft and use of stone tools by hominids appears in the current archaeological record, until around 300,000 years ago, spanning the...
Period. The evidence come from the river bed of the Bhadar river which flows along with the Dhragadhra taluka. Moreover, there are lots of sites spreading over the vast land belonging to Harappan Period
Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that was located in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent, consisting of what is now mainly modern-day Pakistan and northwest India...
. Recent studies in the area suggests that the Dhragadhra and Halvad taluka was the fronteer of the so called sorat Harappans which bifurcates the Sidhi Harrapans of Kutch & Sindh. These are recent studies made by Arun Malik, a PhD scholar of The M.S. University of Baroda and now he is with Archaeological Survey of India.
External links
- http://www.naimisar.com/Dhrangadhra/ Develop by http://www.naimisar.com