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Bhavnagar

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Bhavnagar is a busy coastal city in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Nilambagh Palace, Bhavnagar
Nilambagh Palace, Bhavnagar

It sits on the eastern coast of the Saurashtra region. The city is located near the Gulf of Khambhat. This spot is a great place for maritime trade. The city is also a gateway to the Velavadar Blackbuck National Park. This park is the only tropical grassland in India that is a National Park.

Jet Airways at Bhavnagar
Jet Airways at Bhavnagar

For a long time, Bhavnagar was the capital of a princely state. This state was also known as Gohilwad, which means the Land of the Gohils. The city was founded in 1723 by Bhavsinhji Gohil. He chose this location because it was good for trading by sea. The city grew from a small area into a very important state. In 1807, the state became a British protectorate. Later, the state became part of the Indian Union in early 1948.

CoA Bhaunagar 1893
CoA Bhaunagar 1893

Bhavnagar has a history of being a leader in many ways. It was the first state to build its own railway system without help from the central government. The city was also one of the first in Gujarat to have underground drains. It was also among the first to have a water filtration plant. In the late 1800s, many important buildings were built here. These include the Takhteshwar Temple and the Nilambagh Palace.

Nilambagh Palace, Bhavnagar
Nilambagh Palace, Bhavnagar

The palace was designed by a British architect named William Emerson.

Learning is a big part of life in Bhavnagar. The city is a major center for education in Gujarat. One very famous school is Shamaldas Arts College. This college was founded in 1885 by Maharaja Takhtsinhji. A famous leader named Mahatma Gandhi studied here in 1888. This was one of the first big steps in his journey to study law. Today, the city has many more colleges and a large university.

Ganga deri, Bhavnagar
Ganga deri, Bhavnagar

Life in the city can be very warm. The climate is hot and semi-arid. Summers are dry and sweltering from March to June. The monsoon rains arrive from mid-June until October. The city is also known for its tasty snacks. People love to eat Ganthiya and Jalebi here. Nearby, there is also the Alang ship breaking yard. This is the largest yard of its kind in the world.

Ghogha Circle
Ghogha Circle
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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:CoA Bhaunagar 1893.jpeg
CoA Bhaunagar 1893.jpeg
File:Thakur of Bhavnagar in the 1870s.jpg
Thakur of Bhavnagar in the 1870s.jpg
File:Ghogha Circle.JPG
Ghogha Circle.JPG
File:Nilambagh Palace, Bhavnagar.jpg
Nilambagh Palace, Bhavnagar.jpg
File:Ganga deri, Bhavnagar.jpg
Ganga deri, Bhavnagar.jpg
File:Jet Airways at Bhavnagar.jpg
Jet Airways at Bhavnagar.jpg
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