Valsad
Encyclopedia
Valsad formerly known as Bulsar, is a city and a municipality
in the Valsad district
of the Indian state
of Gujarat. The city has a collectorate, a district court, and a police headquarters with a historic prison. The municipality is governed by the city mayor.But, however it is smaller than district's largest city Vapi
.
compound meaning "hampered (saal) by banyan trees (vad)" (the area was naturally rich in banyan trees).
The city center is about 4 km inland from the Arabian sea
.
is a tourist attraction in the coastal region of Valsad, overlooking the Arabian sea
. It has many tourist attractions including some grand temples like, Shri Sai Baba & Shri Swami Narayan. The Indian government has funded in the development of the area, due to its popularity with local and foreign tourists alike. There are plenty of stalls and shops selling various kinds like Bajiya, Dabeli
, Bhel Chat Coconut water and of souvenirs. You will also find places to eat both indoors and outdoors with plenty of choice from a full meal to traditionally prepared snacks. There is also a play area for children, public toilets and hotels. The road from Valsad city to Tithal branches into two around a kilometer after crossing the Wanki river. The road to the left goes to the Sai Baba temple located along the coast of Arabian Sea and the road to the right goes to Tithal beach and further continues along the seashore up to Swaminarayan temple located 1.6 km ahead along the sea coast. The temple is built in stone with exquisite hand carvings. Adjacent to the temple, there is a food outlet serving a variety of vegetarian snacks.
(known locally as Haafus), for which the city and environs was once famous, is still important to the local economy. Villages in the Valsad district have numerous mango orchards, the only source of income for many villagers.
(the Chemical Hub of Gujarat), Umbergaon & Sarigam (The Industrial Estates). The union territories of Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, which are important tourist destinations, are located near Valsad. This city's longitude and latitude are 72.98 and 20.54 respectively.
Morarji Desai
, the former Prime Minister of India
and famous Marathi
playwright Ram Ganesh Gadkari
were from Valsad, as was also the Indian independence activist Bhulabhai Desai
The ancestors of British rocker Freddie Mercury
(born Farrokh Bulsara) were from Valsad, as well as those of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
. Some famous actors were also born in Valsad like Nirupa Roy
, Bindu
, Prachi Desai
, Manhar Desai, Mahesh Desai and producer Manmohan Desai
The first X-Factor Reality show in India saw a huge audience as well as participants. One of which was from the city of Valsad - The Sajda Sisters. Three ladies of the Pandit family are highly renowned faces in Musical groups in Valsad and all over Gujarat. Performing almost round the year to places around the globe they have a reign of family members making their contributions in music and singing. Belonging to a regular family the trio went on to top three in the finale of X-Factor the biggest music reality show.
Moreover, according to the writer of the book, the people are real sweet and caring. After the lead character (Vasukhi) Kumayl's Internet-sister Mehsaz, is one of the top names when it comes to his list of sweet-people of Valsad. Mehsaz is even one of the main character of the book.
are the main languages of Valsad.
Govt. Polytechnic offers the following programmes:
1. Mechanical Engg.
2. Chemical Engg.
3. Electrical Engg.
4. Plastic Dept.
5. Civil Engg.
Government Engineering College helds following Programmes.
1.Chemical Engineering
2.Mechanical Engineering
3.Electrical Engineering
4.Environment Engineering
5.Civil
List of Schools
State Board
1. Bai Ava Bai High School
2. G.V.D. Sarvjanik High School
3. R.J.J.
4. D.M.D.G.
5. Jamnabai
6. SumantRai
7. ManiBa
8. RM & VM
9. S.J.C.
10. Swaminarayana High School
11. Gaytri High School
12. Khimchand High School
13. Kusum Vidhyalaya
14. Shivang high school
15. Kalyani School
16. Sunrise English Medium School, Shethia Nagar, Valsad. 08128879879
Affiliated to CBSE
Affiliated to ICSE
Atul Vidyalay
-Ahmedabad
line and Mumbai
-Delhi
line of the Western Railway
. Connected by the National Highway no. 8
(NH 8), Valsad is about 210 km north of Mumbai
and about 68 km south of the city of Surat
.
-Vadodara
mainline of Western Railways (WR) and is well connected by rail to all major cities in India. The present railway station building was established in 1925. Most trains on the route including the August Kranti Rajdhani Express
have a scheduled halt at Valsad. Adjacent to the railway station is the Valsad Electric Loco Shed which houses over 100 electric locomotives. It is the only loco shed on WR which houses the AC/DC locomotives like WCAM-1 and WCAM-2, WCAM-2P and one of the only two in India (the other being Kalyan on Central Railways) to house AC/DC dual powered electric locomotives. Recently many WAG-5/5As have been homed at Valsad who are pure AC locomotives. Valsad has three platforms no 1,2,3 and there are almost 4-5 freight sidings.
Several long distance express trains and short distance intercity trains originate and terminate at Valsad. Some of the trains starting from Valsad are-
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 the Valsad district
Valsad district
Valsad district is one of the 26 districts in the Western Indian state of Gujarat. It is bound by Navsari district to the north, Dang district to the east and the State of Maharashtra to the south. The Arabian Sea lies west of the district...
of the Indian state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Gujarat. The city has a collectorate, a district court, and a police headquarters with a historic prison. The municipality is governed by the city mayor.But, however it is smaller than district's largest city Vapi
Vapi
Vapi Vapi Vapi (IAST: vāpī, Gujarati: , is a city and a municipality in Valsad district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is situated on the banks of Damanganga River in southern Gujarat, India. Vapi falls under the taluka administration of Pardi...
.
Origin of name
The name 'Valsad' derives from vad-saal, a Gujarati languageGujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
compound meaning "hampered (saal) by banyan trees (vad)" (the area was naturally rich in banyan trees).
Geography
Valsad is located at 20.63°N 72.93°E. It has an average elevation of 13 metres (42 feet).The city center is about 4 km inland from the Arabian sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
.
Tithal beach
Tithal BeachTithal Beach
Tithal Beach is a beach along the Arabian Sea located 5 km west of Valsad town in Indian state of Gujarat. This beach is famous for its black sand. It is a popular tourist destination in south Gujarat...
is a tourist attraction in the coastal region of Valsad, overlooking the Arabian sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
. It has many tourist attractions including some grand temples like, Shri Sai Baba & Shri Swami Narayan. The Indian government has funded in the development of the area, due to its popularity with local and foreign tourists alike. There are plenty of stalls and shops selling various kinds like Bajiya, Dabeli
Dabeli
Dabeli or Kutchi Dabeli or Kachchhi Dabeli is a snack of India, originating in the Kutch or Kachchh region of Gujarat. It is a spicy snack made by mixing boiled potatoes with a Dabeli Masala, and putting the mixture between Ladi-Pav and served with chutnies made from tamarind, date, garlic,...
, Bhel Chat Coconut water and of souvenirs. You will also find places to eat both indoors and outdoors with plenty of choice from a full meal to traditionally prepared snacks. There is also a play area for children, public toilets and hotels. The road from Valsad city to Tithal branches into two around a kilometer after crossing the Wanki river. The road to the left goes to the Sai Baba temple located along the coast of Arabian Sea and the road to the right goes to Tithal beach and further continues along the seashore up to Swaminarayan temple located 1.6 km ahead along the sea coast. The temple is built in stone with exquisite hand carvings. Adjacent to the temple, there is a food outlet serving a variety of vegetarian snacks.
Economy
The Alphonso mangoAlphonso (mango)
Alphonso is a mango cultivar that is considered by many to be one of the best in terms of sweetness, richness and flavor. It has considerable shelf life of a week after it is ripe making it exportable. It is also one of the most expensive kinds of mango and is grown mainly in Kokan region of...
(known locally as Haafus), for which the city and environs was once famous, is still important to the local economy. Villages in the Valsad district have numerous mango orchards, the only source of income for many villagers.
Overview
Valsad has a population count of about 68,825 according to latest census. Valsad district is home to some popular names such as VapiVapi
Vapi Vapi Vapi (IAST: vāpī, Gujarati: , is a city and a municipality in Valsad district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is situated on the banks of Damanganga River in southern Gujarat, India. Vapi falls under the taluka administration of Pardi...
(the Chemical Hub of Gujarat), Umbergaon & Sarigam (The Industrial Estates). The union territories of Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, which are important tourist destinations, are located near Valsad. This city's longitude and latitude are 72.98 and 20.54 respectively.
Morarji Desai
Morarji Desai
Morarji Ranchhodji Desai was an Indian independence activist and the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977–79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the Indian National Congress...
, the former Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
and famous Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
playwright Ram Ganesh Gadkari
Ram Ganesh Gadkari
Ram Ganesh Gadkari was a Marathi poet, playwright, and humorist from Maharashtra, India.Ram Ganesh Gadkari was one of the writers in new age transformation in Marathi Literature. He wrote poetry under the pen name Govindagraj and humorous articles under the pen name Balakram...
were from Valsad, as was also the Indian independence activist Bhulabhai Desai
Bhulabhai Desai
Bhulabhai Desai was an Indian freedom fighter and acclaimed lawyer. He is well-remembered for his defense of the three Indian National Army soldiers accused of treason during World War II, and for attempting to negotiate a secret power-sharing agreement with Liaquat Ali Khan of the Muslim League.-...
The ancestors of British rocker Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
(born Farrokh Bulsara) were from Valsad, as well as those of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
Sam Manekshaw
Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, MC "Sam Bahadur" was a Field Marshal of the Indian Army. His distinguished military career spanned four decades and five wars...
. Some famous actors were also born in Valsad like Nirupa Roy
Nirupa Roy
-Filmography:* Lal Baadshah * Mard * Mawali * Betab * Khoon aur Pani * Aatish * Kartavya .... Vijay's mother* Khandaan .... Savitri G. Srivastav...
, Bindu
Bindu
Bindu is a Sanskrit term meaning "point" or "dot". The feminine case ending is bindi which denotes a small ornamental, devotional and/or mystical dot that is cosmetically applied or affixed to the forehead in Hinduism....
, Prachi Desai
Prachi Desai
Prachi Desai is an Indian film and television actress. She is best known for her role as Bani Walia in the Hindi television drama Kasamh Se which aired on Zee TV. Prachi is the endorser, spokesperson, brand ambassador and the face of Neutrogena products in India...
, Manhar Desai, Mahesh Desai and producer Manmohan Desai
Manmohan Desai
Manmohan Desai was a producer and director of Indian movies.- Background :His father, Kikubhai Desai, was an Indian film producer and owner of Paramount Studios from 1931 to 1941. His productions, mainly stunt films, included Circus Queen, Golden Gang, and Sheikh Challi...
The first X-Factor Reality show in India saw a huge audience as well as participants. One of which was from the city of Valsad - The Sajda Sisters. Three ladies of the Pandit family are highly renowned faces in Musical groups in Valsad and all over Gujarat. Performing almost round the year to places around the globe they have a reign of family members making their contributions in music and singing. Belonging to a regular family the trio went on to top three in the finale of X-Factor the biggest music reality show.
Valsad in literature
Valsad has always been a long lost city when it comes to literature. This is the city which has been described as heaven in Kumayl Hasan Rizvi's debut novel named Fairytale. This is supposed to be the home-town of Vasukhi, the lead female character of Fairytale. Vasukhi, has been described as a living princess in the book. Fairytale is India's first teenage love-story based on a real tale. This is India's first love story written on valsad. Fairytale is the only book which is a role model for every young lover that every little love-story is a fairytale. More than a love story it is a world of love that exists, within the book. As per the book, the people of Valsad are really helpful and kind and this is India's first place which brought fairytale and reality together into love in the form of this book.Moreover, according to the writer of the book, the people are real sweet and caring. After the lead character (Vasukhi) Kumayl's Internet-sister Mehsaz, is one of the top names when it comes to his list of sweet-people of Valsad. Mehsaz is even one of the main character of the book.
Demographics
As of the 2001 India census, Valsad had a population of 68,825. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Valsad has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 77%. Gujarati and MarathiMarathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
are the main languages of Valsad.
Colleges
City has two technical colleges, Govt. Polytechnic (Estd. 1965) and Govt. Engg. College (Estd. 2004 Dhr).Govt. Polytechnic offers the following programmes:
1. Mechanical Engg.
2. Chemical Engg.
3. Electrical Engg.
4. Plastic Dept.
5. Civil Engg.
Government Engineering College helds following Programmes.
1.Chemical Engineering
2.Mechanical Engineering
3.Electrical Engineering
4.Environment Engineering
5.Civil
Schools
Though the size of valsad city is very small, it has very decent educational facilities. Vallabh Ashram, shri madhav dev shastri English teaching school and Convent School provide excellent English education. Host of Gujrati medium government schools do exist.List of Schools
State Board
1. Bai Ava Bai High School
2. G.V.D. Sarvjanik High School
3. R.J.J.
4. D.M.D.G.
5. Jamnabai
6. SumantRai
7. ManiBa
8. RM & VM
9. S.J.C.
10. Swaminarayana High School
11. Gaytri High School
12. Khimchand High School
13. Kusum Vidhyalaya
14. Shivang high school
15. Kalyani School
16. Sunrise English Medium School, Shethia Nagar, Valsad. 08128879879
Affiliated to CBSE
Affiliated to ICSE
Atul Vidyalay
Transport
The city has a rail terminus for the MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
-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...
line and Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
-Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
line of the Western Railway
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 -...
. Connected by the National Highway no. 8
Indian National Highway 8
National Highway 8 , is a National Highway in India that connects the Indian capital city of New Delhi with the Indian Financial capital city of Mumbai. The highway passes through the State capitals of Gandhinagar and Jaipur, as well as important cities like Gurgaon, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara....
(NH 8), Valsad is about 210 km north of Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and about 68 km south of the city of Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
.
Railways
Valsad is a major railway station on the MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
-Vadodara
Vadodara
Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
mainline of Western Railways (WR) and is well connected by rail to all major cities in India. The present railway station building was established in 1925. Most trains on the route including the August Kranti Rajdhani Express
Rajdhani Express
Rajdhani Express is a passenger train service in India connecting New Delhi with other important destinations, especially state capitals. Rajdhani means "The Capital" in Hindi.- History :...
have a scheduled halt at Valsad. Adjacent to the railway station is the Valsad Electric Loco Shed which houses over 100 electric locomotives. It is the only loco shed on WR which houses the AC/DC locomotives like WCAM-1 and WCAM-2, WCAM-2P and one of the only two in India (the other being Kalyan on Central Railways) to house AC/DC dual powered electric locomotives. Recently many WAG-5/5As have been homed at Valsad who are pure AC locomotives. Valsad has three platforms no 1,2,3 and there are almost 4-5 freight sidings.
Several long distance express trains and short distance intercity trains originate and terminate at Valsad. Some of the trains starting from Valsad are-
- 0123/0124 Valsad Fast Passenger to Mumbai CentralMumbai CentralMumbai Central , previously known as Bombay Central, is a major intercity railway station and a commuter station in Mumbai. It was designed by the british architect Claude Batley. It serves as the terminal for several long distance trains operated by Western Railway. The station is located in south...
- 9109/9110 Gujarat Queen to AhmedabadAhmedabadAhmedabad 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...
- 2929/2930 Intercity Express to VadodaraVadodaraVadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
- 9051/9052 Shramik Express to Sonpur
- 2943/2944 Udyogkarmi Express to Kanpur
- 245WR/246WR Passenger to Bandra TerminusBandra TerminusBandra Terminus is a newly built terminus in Bandra from where trains bound for northern and western India are scheduled regularly. It is one of the Five Railway Terminus within Mumbai City. The other four Terminus are- Mumbai CST, Mumbai Central, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Dadar...
(MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
) - 249WR/250WR Passenger to ViramgamViramgamViramgam 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...
- 2911/2912 valsad Haridwar express
External links
- Official Website of the Valsad Collectorate (in GujaratiGujarati languageGujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
). - Official Website of the Valsad Nagarpalika.