Veraval
Encyclopedia
Veraval is a city and a municipality
in Junagadh district
in the India
n state
of Gujarat. It is located 6 km from Somnath
.
The Nawabi Palace with gothic features which is one of the main attractions. It is popularly known as Somnath College (the palace was converted into a college after it was abandoned by the nawab).At present it is the building of a Sanskrit university. The town is often known as the gateway to the magnificent temple of Somnath
and the pilgrimage centres of Prabhas Patan
and Bhalkha. Veraval is also the nearest town to the Gir National Park (42 km away).
Before the rise of Surat, Veraval was the major seaport for pilgrims to Mecca
. Its importance now is as a fishing port which is one of largest in India. Sea going dhows and fishing boats are still being built by the sea without the use of any instruments other than a tape-measure. Traditional skills are passed down from father to son.
About 25 km from the veraval a historical place is located at Savani village known as Pandav gufa. According to mahabharta during the vanvas pandvas stayed here.
Veraval is located at 20.9°N 70.37°E. It has an average elevation of 0 metres (0 feet).
, Veraval had a population of 141,250. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Veraval has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 53%. In Veraval, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
population. Amongst Gujaratis, the Kharwa
s and the Kolis form a sizable part of the local population. In addition there are also significant populations of Turks, Rajwadi bhoi's, Lohanas, Maleks, Memons, Patnis and Raykas. There is also a sizable population of Malayalees and Sindhi
s.
Gujarati
and Hindi
are the most popular languages in the town.
Veraval also is home to Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd (Formerly:Indian-Rayon Industries Ltd) which is one of India's largest rayon manufacturing companies.
There are various chemical , thread and cement companies around veraval which provide employment to the local youth. The major ones being Indian Rayon NUVO Ltd. ,Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd, Gujarat Siddhee Cement Ltd, Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd.
Veraval also enjoyes a long coastline, lined with beaches. Beaches extend uninterrupted almost throughout the veraval coast. Only a small portion of the beach has been commercialised and majority of the beach is still virgin.
, Ujjain
, Vadodara
, Pune
, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Mumbai
, Trivandrum, Mumbai
etc.
The nearest airports are Diu
and Rajkot
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 Junagadh district
Junagadh district
Junagadh District is a district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Junagadh.-Geography:The district is located on the Kathiawar peninsula in western Gujarat. It is surrounded by Rajkot District , Porbandar District , Amreli District...
in the 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...
n 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. It is located 6 km from 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...
.
History
Veraval was founded in 13th or 14th by Rao Veravalji Vadher, a Rajput .Veraval was once a fortified port town of the royal family of Junagadh. It used to be a part of the Kingdom of Junagadh till 1953 when Junagadh was merged with India. The city still bears some remains of the old Nawabi heritage, the beautiful Nawabi summer palace being one of them. There are ruins of the old Nawabi fort and Nawabi Gates in and around the place. The old walls of the port are now ruined, but the impressive Junagadh gate and the Patan gate are still seen, but are in a very bad state.The Nawabi Palace with gothic features which is one of the main attractions. It is popularly known as Somnath College (the palace was converted into a college after it was abandoned by the nawab).At present it is the building of a Sanskrit university. The town is often known as the gateway to the magnificent temple of 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...
and the pilgrimage centres of Prabhas Patan
Prabhas Patan
Prabhas Patan, known popularly as Somnath Patan, is situated in Gujarat , 7 km. from Veraval. This is a place of pilgrimage, or Tirtha, of the most popular Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva, i.e., Somanath....
and Bhalkha. Veraval is also the nearest town to the Gir National Park (42 km away).
Before the rise of Surat, Veraval was the major seaport for pilgrims to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. Its importance now is as a fishing port which is one of largest in India. Sea going dhows and fishing boats are still being built by the sea without the use of any instruments other than a tape-measure. Traditional skills are passed down from father to son.
About 25 km from the veraval a historical place is located at Savani village known as Pandav gufa. According to mahabharta during the vanvas pandvas stayed here.
Geography
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...
, Veraval had a population of 141,250. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Veraval has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 53%. In Veraval, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
People
Veraval has a predominant GujaratiGujarati people
Gujarati people , or Gujaratis are an ethnic group that is traditionally Gujarati-speaking and can trace their ancestry to the state of Gujarat in western India...
population. Amongst Gujaratis, the Kharwa
Kharwa
Kharwa is a village in Ratlam District, Madhya Pradesh , India. It is about 85 Kilometers fro Ujjain and about 80 Kilometers from Ratlam. It is located on the road connecting Ujjain to Neemach. It was formerly the capital of Panth Piploda Province of British India. Nearest Railway station, Mehidpur...
s and the Kolis form a sizable part of the local population. In addition there are also significant populations of Turks, Rajwadi bhoi's, Lohanas, Maleks, Memons, Patnis and Raykas. There is also a sizable population of Malayalees and Sindhi
Sindhi people
Sindhis are a Sindhi speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province Formerly of British India, now in Pakistan. Today Sindhis that live in Pakistan belong to various religious denominations including Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity...
s.
Gujarati
Gujarati 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...
and Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
are the most popular languages in the town.
Industry
Fisheries has always been the main industry in the town and is dominanted by the Kharwas(fisherfolk). The fishing is done mostly on traditional boats and trawlers. Veraval also has a large boat making industry. Veraval is home to a large number of fish processing factories in G.I.D.C which export prime quality seafood to USA, Japan, SE Asian, Gulf and EU Countries. The seafood-industry which was started through government initiative now is in its prime and many importers are attracted towards Veraval from around the globe. Regional research centers of CIFT and CMFRI situated at Veraval have done Yeoman service in development of fisheries sector in Gujarat.Veraval also is home to Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd (Formerly:Indian-Rayon Industries Ltd) which is one of India's largest rayon manufacturing companies.
There are various chemical , thread and cement companies around veraval which provide employment to the local youth. The major ones being Indian Rayon NUVO Ltd. ,Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd, Gujarat Siddhee Cement Ltd, Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd.
Coastline
Transport
Veraval is an important railway station of Western Railways. The trains connect it to major cities like Ahemedabad, Rajkot, RatlamRatlam
Ratlam , known historically as Ratnapuri, is a city in the Malwa region in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. The town of Ratlam lies 480 m above sea level. It is the administrative headquarters of Ratlam District....
, Ujjain
Ujjain
Ujjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini...
, 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...
, Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Bhopal, Jabalpur, 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...
, Trivandrum, 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...
etc.
The nearest airports are Diu
Diu Airport
Diu Airport is located at Diu in the Union Territory of Daman and Diu, India. Besides Diu, it also serves the neighbouring areas of Gujarat, including Veraval and Jafrabad.-History:Diu airport was built in the 1954 when Diu was part of Portuguese India....
and Rajkot
Rajkot Airport
-Modernisation Plans:Rajkot Urban Development Authority and Rajkot Municipal Corporation have proposed a plan to extend Rajkot airport runway from current to to accommodate larger aircraft and to provide connectivity to major cities than Mumbai to cater to a large demand from the Manufacturing...
Points of interests
- SomnathSomnathThe 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...
- Prabhas PatanPrabhas PatanPrabhas Patan, known popularly as Somnath Patan, is situated in Gujarat , 7 km. from Veraval. This is a place of pilgrimage, or Tirtha, of the most popular Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva, i.e., Somanath....
- Bhalka
- LORAN-C transmitter Veraval