HISTORY OF BHAVNAGAR

History

The Gohil Rajput of the Suryavanshi clan faced severe competition in Marwar. Around 1260 AD, they moved down to the Gujarat coast and established three capitals; Sejakpur, Umrala and Sihor.

In 1822–1823, forces led by Khanthaji Kadani and Pilaji Gaekwad attempted to raid Sihor but were repealed by Maharaja Bhavsinhji Gohil. After suffering defeat, he realised the reason was the location of Sihor (old Bhavnagar). In 1823, he established a new capital nearVadva village, 20 km away from Sihor, and named it Bhavnagar. It was a carefully chosen strategic location because of the potential of maritime trade. Naturally, Bhavnagar City became the capital of Bhavnagar State.^[3]

The old town of Bhavnagar was a fortified town with gates leading to other important regional towns. It remained a major port for almost two centuries, trading commodities with Africa Mozambique, Zanzibar, Singapore, and the Persian Gulf. The current Royal Family of Bhavnagar comprises Maharaja Vijayraj Singh Gohil and Maharani Samyukta Kumari, Prince Yuvraj Jaiveerraj Singh Gohil and Princess Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil.

Country	India
State	Gujarat
Region	Saurashtra (region)
District	Bhavnagar
Founded	1723
Founder	Bhavsinhji Gohil
Government
Mayor	Suresh Dhandhalia
City
Area	110.1 km2 (42.5 sq mi)
Elevation	24 m (79 ft)
Population (2011)
City	593,768
Density	5,400/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
Metro	606,282
Languages	Gujarati, Hindi, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	364001/2/----
Telephone code	0278
Vehicle registration	GJ 04
Literacy	78.08[1]%
Website	www.bhavnagar.gujarat.gov.in

Name	Reign	Title
Ratanji (d. 1703) II	1660–1703	Thakur Sahib
Bhavsinhji I Ratanji (1683–1764)	1703–1764	Thakur Sahib
Akherajji II Bhavsinhji (1714–1772)	1764–1772	Thakur Sahib
Wakhatsinhji Akherajji (1748–1816)	1772–1816	Thakur Sahib
Wajesinhji Wakhatsinhji (1780–1852)	1816–1852	Thakur Sahib
Akherajji III Bhavsinhji (1817–1854)	1852–1854	Thakur Sahib
Jashwantsinhji Bhavsinhji (1827–1870)	1854 – 11 Apr 1870	Thakur Sahib
Takhatsinhji Jashwantsinhji (1858–1896)	11 Apr 1870 – 29 Jan 1896	Thakur Sahib
Bhavsinhji II Takhatsinhji (1875–1919)	29 Jan 1896 – 1 Jan 1918	Thakur Sahib
	1 Jan 1918 – 17 Jul 1919	Maharaja Rao
Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji (1912–1965)	17 Jul 1919 – 15 Aug 1947	Maharaja Rao
Virbhadrasinhji Krishnakumarsinhji Gohil (1932–1994) ^	1 Apr 1965 -26 Jul 1994	Maharaja Rao
Vijayrajsinhji Virbhadrasinhji Gohil (1968) ^	26 Jul 1994 -	Maharaja Rao

Leading Freedom Fighters of Bhavnagar State

• Blavanatrai Maheta (બળવંતરાય મહેતા)
• Jadavajibhai Modi (જાદવજીભાઈ મોદી)
• Jagubhai Parikh (જગુભાઈ પરીખ)
• Nanabhai Bhatt (નાનાભાઈ ભટ્ટ)
• Akhileshvribahen Mehta (અખીલેશ્વરીબેન મહેતા)
• Ganjanan Purohit (ગજાનન પુરોહિત)
• Gunvantbhai Purohit (ગુણવંતભાઇ પુરોહિત)
• Atmaram Bhatt (આત્મારામ ભટ્ટ)
• Rajabali Lakhani (રાજાભાઈ લખાણી)
• Pruthvisinh Azad (પૃથ્વીરાજસિંહ આઝાદ)
• Tarabahen Modak (તારાબહેન મોદક)
• Gijubhai Badheka (ગીજુભાઈ બધેકા)

  Royal family members of Gohil Rajputs

  • Gohil Gulabsinh
  • Gohil Gagubha Gulabsinh
  • Gohil Nanbha Gagubha
  • Gohil Raghuveersinh Nanbha
  • Gohil Bhagirathsinh Nanbha
  • Gohil Rajendrasinh Nanbha
  • Gohil Dashrathsinh Nanbha
  • Gohil Hitkarsinh Raghuveersin