Gondal
Encyclopedia
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 state
s of Kathiawar Agency
during Bombay Presidency
. The current population of town is around 200,000.
(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. With his fourth descendant Kumbhoji IV, the State raised itself, by acquiring pargana
s of Doraji, Upleta, Sarai etc.
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.
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.
, antique wooden furniture and sofas; where as the "Indian room" decorated with beadwork
, brassware and painting
s, it has now become a heritage hotel.
The Naulakha Palace is the oldest extant palace in Gondal, dating back to the 17th century. It has legendary stone carving
s with exquisite "jharokha
s" (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 orchard
s, lawns and gardens. The Room of miniatures is a splendid sitting room with a collection of miniature painting
s, 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 car
s, for which it has been famous all over the world.
, 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.
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.
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.
Gondal Palaces - http://gondalpalaces.com/
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 Rajkot district
Rajkot district
Rajkot district is one of the 26 districts of the Indian state of Gujarat. Rajkot city is the administrative headquarters of the district. It is the third-most advanced district in Gujarat....
in the Indian state Gujarat. Gondal state was 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 of 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...
during 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...
. The current population of town is around 200,000.
History
Gondal finds mention in texts like Ain-i-AkbariAin-i-Akbari
The Ain-i-Akbari or the "Institutes of Akbar", is a 16th century, detailed document recording the administration of emperor Akbar's empire, written by his vizier, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak...
(written in the reign of Akbar) and Mirat-i-Ahmadi as Vaghela state in Sorath (Saurashtra). The Gondal state in 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...
was founded in 1634 AD by Thakore Shri Kumbhoji I Meramanji from Jadeja
Jadeja
Jadeja belong to the Yaduvanshi rajputs or Chandravanshi rajputs. They are one of the 36 royal dynasties of old tracing their origins to Lord Krishna...
dynasty, who received Ardoi and other villages from his father Meramanji. With his fourth descendant Kumbhoji IV, the State raised itself, by acquiring pargana
Pargana
A pargana is a former administrative unit of the Indian subcontinent, used primarily, but not exclusively, by the Muslim kingdoms.Parganas were introduced by the Delhi Sultanate, and the word is of Persian origin. As a revenue unit, a pargana consists of several mouzas, which are the smallest...
s of Doraji, Upleta, Sarai etc.
Later Sir Bhagwant Singhji
Bhagvatsingh of Gondal
Maharaja Bhagvatsingh Sahib was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Gondal from 1869 till his death in 1944, in whose reign the state was raised to 11-gun salute state...
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
Purdah
Purdah or pardeh is the practice of concealing women from men. According to one definition:This takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes, and the requirement for women to cover their bodies and conceal their form....
tradition for women at a time when the royal households of India were known for this tradition.
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
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...
–Viramgam
Viramgam
Viramgam is a city and a municipality in Ahmedabad district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Viramgam is located at . It has an average elevation of 32 metres...
–Wankaner
Wankaner
Wankaner is a city and a municipality in Rajkot district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Wankaner has thorny plantation in the area !-Geography:Wankaner is located at . It has an average elevation of 81 metres ....
–Rajkot–Veraval
Veraval
Veraval is a city and a municipality in Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located 6 km from Somnath.- History :...
–Somnath
Somnath
The Somnath Temple located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of the God Shiva. Somnath means "The Protector of Moon God". The Somnath Temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal", having been destroyed...
Line.
Historical places 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 chandelierChandelier
A chandelier is a branched decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more arms bearing lights. Chandeliers are often ornate, containing dozens of lamps and complex arrays of glass or crystal prisms to illuminate a room with refracted light...
, antique wooden furniture and sofas; where as the "Indian room" decorated with beadwork
Beadwork
Beadwork is the art or craft of attaching beads to one another or to cloth, usually by the use of a needle and thread or soft, flexible wire. Most beadwork takes the form of jewelry or other personal adornment, but beads are also used in wall hangings and sculpture.Beadwork techniques are broadly...
, brassware and painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s, it has now become a heritage hotel.
Stone carving
Stone carving is an ancient activity where pieces of rough natural stone are shaped by the controlled removal of stone. Owing to the permanence of the material, evidence can be found that even the earliest societies indulged in some form of stone work....
s with exquisite "jharokha
Jharokha
A jharokha is a type of overhanging enclosed balcony used in Indian architecture, typically Mughal architecture and Rajasthani architecture. Jharokhas jutting forward from the wall plane could be used both for adding to the architectural beauty of the building itself or for a specific purpose...
s" (balconies), a fabulous pillared courtyard, delicately carved arches, and a unique spiral staircase. The large chandelier-lit "durbar" hall (court house) witnesses stuffed panthers
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
, 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
Bhagvatsingh of Gondal
Maharaja Bhagvatsingh Sahib was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Gondal from 1869 till his death in 1944, in whose reign the state was raised to 11-gun salute state...
on his silver jubilee
Silver Jubilee
A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
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 orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s, lawns and gardens. The Room of miniatures is a splendid sitting room with a collection of miniature painting
Miniature painting
Miniature painting may refer to:* Miniature * Persian miniature* Ottoman miniature* Portrait miniature* Painting miniature figures used in wargaming or role-playing games...
s, 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
Vintage car
A vintage car is commonly defined as a car built between the start of 1919 and the end of 1930 known as the "Vintage era". There is little debate about the start date of the vintage period—the end of World War I is a nicely defined marker there—but the end date is a matter of a little...
and classic car
Classic car
A classic car is an older car; the exact meaning is variable. The Classic Car Club of America maintains that a car must be between 20 and 40 years old to be a classic, while cars over 45 years fall into the Antique Class.- Classic Car Club of America :...
s, for which it has been famous all over the world.
Geography
Gondal is located at 21.97°N 70.8°E. It has an average elevation of 132 metres (433 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...
, 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
Bazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
(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
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
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 GondalBhagvatsingh of GondalMaharaja Bhagvatsingh Sahib was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Gondal from 1869 till his death in 1944, in whose reign the state was raised to 11-gun salute state...
- Sage Kambu SwayambhuvaSage Kambu SwayambhuvaKambu Swayambhuva was a Hindu sage prince of Kamboja lineage who finds mention along with sage Agastya, Kaundinya Swayambhuva, king Rajendra Chola, king Ashoka Maurya and king Pushyamitra Shunga in Shloka-22 in Ekamata Stotra. The legend holds that Kambu Swayambhuva was a learned prince who had...
- Sage KambhojaSage KambhojaSage Kambhoja or Kumbhoja is a character in the Sanskrit epic Ramayana, presented as a close friend of sage Agasti.Sage Agasti was brother of sage Vasishtha and was living as a hermit in Dakshinapatha...
- KambojaKambojasThe Kambojas were a kshatriya tribe of Iron Age India, frequently mentioned in Sanskrit and Pali literature.They were an Indo-Iranian tribe situated at the boundary of the Indo-Aryans and the Iranians, and appear to have moved from the Iranian into the Indo-Aryan sphere over time.The Kambojas...
- CambodiaCambodiaCambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
- KumbhojKumbhojKumbhoj is the name of an ancient town located in Kolhapur district in Maharashtra. The town is about six kilometers from Hatkanangale, about twenty seven kilometers from Kolhapur and currently, also is the Taluka or Tehsil Headquarters. The famous Jain Tirtha known as Bahubali, is just two...
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.
External links
Gondal Palaces - http://gondalpalaces.com/