Kothara | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Main Gate of Kothara | |
  Kothara Location in Gujarat, India  Kothara Kothara (India) | |
| Coordinates: 23°08′02″N68°56′10″E / 23.134°N 68.936°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Kachchh |
| Founded by | Godaji |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | GJ |
| Nearest Big Village | Naliya |
| Website | gujaratindia |
Kothara is a village and a Jain pilgrimage center located in Abdasa Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Kothara was an estate ( jagir ) founded during the reign of Godaji (1715-1718), when Godaji, the ruler of Cutch State, gave the Mundra estate to his brethren Haloji. Haloji founded towns of Kothara, Kotri and Nagrachi. [1]
In the past, the village had a sizeable community of traders who lived in Zanzibar and Mumbai. The village has several houses with rich architecture, which belonged to these traders. [2]
Kothara lies in hot, arid and dry region of Kutch. The Arabian Sea is on its west and Rann of Kutch on north.
Bhuj, the nearest railway station and airport at a distance of 80 kilometers, Suthari, the nearest sacred place is at a distance of 12 kilometers and Mandvi is at a distance of 58 kilometers. Buses and taxis are available.
The Jain temple dedicated to Shantinath, the sixteenth Tirthankara, was completed in 1861 (1918 V.S.) which was considered the richest temple of Kutch then. The temple cost £40,000, one-half was given by Shah Velji Malu and the other in equal shares by Shah Keshavji Nayak and Shivji Nensi; Osval Vanias of Kothara. [2] The Shantinath statue was formally installed by Acharya Ratnasagarsuri of Achal Gacchha. This temple is also named ‘Kalyan Tunk’. This chief temple is compared to the Meruprabha temple. Also, this temple is a pilgrimage for the Jain community. It has a rich heritage, Jain community performs the pooja at this temple. People from the different parts of the country visit this temple. [3] [4]
Through a very rich two-storied entrance gate, an outer yard surrounded by buildings set apart for the use of priests, opens into a walled quadrangle with a shrine in each wall. The domed hall, mandap rises in two stories, and over the shrine is a spire with richly carved figure niches and moldings. [2] Inside, the hall, mandap, surrounded by aisles or verandahs, with a richly designed pavement of different coloured marbles, has twenty-two pilasters, and sixteen pillars, and a dome supported on eight pillars with foiled arches and struts. Inside of a wall, chiefly formed of twenty pillars richly carved with flowers, leaves and creepers, is the shrine; where, supported on either side by seven small figures, is a large image of Shantinath crowned with a golden crown, and seated cross-legged on a richly carved marble throne. The upper story of the hall, reached by stone steps from the south-west porches, has a corridor with rich shrines each containing a large marble sitting image. [5] Below the hall there is an underground shrine, with about twenty-five large white marble figures with precious stones let into the eyes, chests, and arms. [2]
The Dilwara Temples or Delvada Temples are a group of Śvētāmbara Jain temples located about 2+1⁄2 kilometres from the Mount Abu settlement in Sirohi District, Rajasthan's only hill station. The earliest were built by Bhima-1 and supposedly designed or at least financed by Vastupala, Jain minister of Dholka. They date between the 11th and 16th centuries, forming some of the most famous monuments in the style of Māru-Gurjara architecture, famous for their use of a very pure white marble and intricate marble carvings. They are managed by Seth Shri Kalyanji Anandji Pedhi, Sirohi and are a pilgrimage place for Jains, and a significant general tourist attraction. Although Jains built many temples at other places in Rajasthan, the Dilwara temples are believed to be the most impressive.
Kutch district, officially spelled Kachchh, is a district of Gujarat state in western India, with its headquarters (capital) at Bhuj. Covering an area of 45,674 km2, it is the largest district of India. The area of Kutch District is larger than the entire area of states like Haryana (44,212 km2) and Kerala (38,863 km2). The population of Kutch is about 2,092,371. It has 10 talukas, 939 villages and 6 municipalities. The Kutch district is home to the Kutchi people who speak the Kutchi language.
Chandravati, popularly known as Chandroti, is a village situated near Abu Road on the bank of the West Banas River in the Indian state of Rajasthan. In ancient times it was an extensive town, and present villages such as Dattani, Kiverli, Kharadi and Santpura were its suburbs. The old ruins, such as temples, torans and images scattered over the large area, bear testimony to its past glory.
Mundra is a census town and a headquarter of Mundra Taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Founded in about the 1640s, the town was an important mercantile centre and port throughout its history. Mundra Port is the largest private port in India.
Bhadresar or Bhadreshwar is a village in Mundra Taluka, Kutch district of Gujarat, India. It is about 27 km from Taluka headquarters Mundra and barely a kilometer away from the seashore.
Koteshwar is a small village and the location of an ancient Shiva temple. It located near the mouth of Kori Creek, in the west of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Narayan Sarovar or Narayansar is a village and place of pilgrimage for Hindus on the Kori Creek. It is located in Lakhpat taluka of Kutch district, Gujarat, India. The ancient Koteshwar temple lies only 4 km away towards the north-west.
Naliya is a town, which is also the taluka headquarters of Abdasa Taluka of Kutch District, Gujarat, India. It is located on the western end of Kutch 19 km by road from ancient port of Jakhau.
Tera is a historic village in the Kutch District of the Indian state of Gujarat. It is in Abdasa Taluka, located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from the taluka headquarters, Naliya, and 84 kilometres (52 mi) from the district headquarters, Bhuj.
Kanthkot fort is located near Kanthkot village, Bhachau Taluka of Kutch, Gujarat.
Bhuvad is a village of Ahir [Zaru] And Rathod or rathore Rajput Kshatriya in Anjar Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Bhadreshwar Jain Temple, also known as Vasai Jain Temple, is a historical importance located in Bhadreshwar village of Mundra Taluka, Kutch, Gujarat, India.
Gedi is a village near Rapar of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Katariya is a village in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India. The villages is now divided into two parts; Juna (old) and Nava (new) Katariya.
Kotai is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India. It lies on the shore of Greater Rann of Kutch. village near the sun temple
Rav is a village of three hamlets; Rav Moti, Rav Nani and Temple; in an open plain, located nineteen miles from Chobari, in Rapar Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Sikra is a village in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Rao Godji I was the Rao of Cutch belonging to the Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ruled Princely State of Cutch from 1715 to 1718.
Rao Pragmalji I was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ruled Princely State of Cutch as from 1698 to 1715. He established current lineage of rulers of the state in 1698.
The Shantinath Jain temple is located in Kothara of Kutch district, Gujarat, India. The temple is dedicated to Shantinatha and is an important place of pilgrimage for the followers of Jainism.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
