Gondal Travel Guide

places of interest

 

 

places of interest



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 chandelier, antique wooden furniture and sofas; where as the "Indian room" decorated with beadwork, brassware and paintings, 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 carvings with exquisite "jharokhas" (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 orchards, lawns and gardens. The Room of miniatures is a splendid sitting room with a collection of miniature paintings, brass, and antique furniture.

The Royal Garages have an extensive collection of vintage and classic cars, for which it has been famous all over the world

Culture

 

 

Culture and economy

The people of the Gondal, like in most of the other parts of Saurashtra, are considered relatively religious. Some of the famous temples include Akshar Mandir (BAPS Swaminarayan), and Bhuvneshwari Mandir.Sureshwar Mahadev, Dhareshwar Mahadev

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 Red Chilly, Cotton, Ground nut. 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.

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, Khodiyar Nagar and Gokul Dham .

The Main Business areas in Gondal include Town Hall, Nani Bazaar, Moti Bazaar " Kadiyalane " "Bus stand road".

Gardens and Park 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.
More over,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 Line.


history




Gondal is a city and a municipality in Rajkot district in the Indian state Gujarat. It was one of the eight first class princely states of Kathiawar Agency during Bombay Presidency. The current population of town is around 200,000.



History

Gondal finds mention in texts like Ain-i-Akbari (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 [1][2]. With his fourth descendant Kumbhoji IV, the State raised itself, by acquiring parganas of Doraji, Upleta, Sarai etc.[1]

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