Lakhpat | |
---|---|
Town | |
Coordinates: 23°49′N68°46′E / 23.82°N 68.77°E | |
Country | India |
State | Gujarat |
District | Kachchh |
Elevation | 89 m (292 ft) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 807 |
Languages | |
• Official | Kutchi, Gujarati, Hindi |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Telephone code | 02839 |
Vehicle registration | GJ-12 |
Coastline | 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) |
Nearest Town | Nakhatrana |
Lok Sabha constituency | Bhuj |
Climate | Dry (Köppen) |
Avg. summer temperature | 42 °C (108 °F) |
Avg. winter temperature | 20 °C (68 °F) |
Website | gujaratindia |
Lakhpat is a town in Kachchh district in the Indian state of Gujarat located at the mouth of the Kori Creek. The town is enclosed by 7km-long, 18th century fort walls.
The town is named after Rao Lakha who ruled in Sindh about the middle of the thirteenth century. [1]
Historically Lakhpat has been a very important trading post connecting Gujarat to Sindh. The waters of the Sindhu River used to flow into Lakhpat and further on to Desalpar Gunthli. In historic times, Lakhpat had only one very short period of prosperity. Rice used to be cultivated there, which was the source of 800,000 Koris in annual revenue. It is also said that Lakhpat used to generate an income of 100,000 Koris everyday from maritime activities. Fateh Muhammad, about the close of the eighteenth century (1801), enlarged and rebuilt its wall, and for a time it was a center of trade in Sindh. Though he thought it one of the chief supports of his power, Lakhpat declared against Fateh Muhammad when he opposed the Rao of Cutch State in 1804. A few years later (1809), the commandant of the fort, Mohim Miyan, drove out the agents of Hansraj and governed the town on his own accounts. In 1818, Lakhpat had 15,000 people and yielded a yearly revenue of £6000 (₹ 60,000). After the earthquake of 1819 a natural dam known as the Allahbund was formed, and the Indus River changed its course of flow and started flowing into the Arabian Sea further north. [2] Thus Lakhpat lost its importance as a port. By 1820, the population reduced to 6000 inhabitants, consisting chiefly of mercantile speculators from other countries and families of Hindus that migrated from the Sindh province. The walls were in good repair, but the houses were ruined and did not fill one-third of the area. By 1851, all trade had left the town, and it has since remained poverty-stricken and half deserted. The population reduced to 2500 by 1880. [3]
Today it is a sparsely populated ghost town, a city of ruins of buildings and a magnificent fort surrounding them. The population was 463 in 87 households 2001 [4] which increased to 566 in 108 households in 2011.
During the period of Muslim rule, some Hindus who had not converted to Islam under the Ghaznavids moved to Vighokot and Lakhpat around 1028 AD from Sindh. They migrated to live peacefully under Jadeja Rajput Hindu rulers as the Samma Muslim rulers were oppressing them.
The fort, rebuilt and expanded in 1801 by Fateh Muhammad, is an irregular polygon, defended by round towers and built of hard brown stone. The 7km-long walls are of considerable height but not thick. [3]
Pir Ghaus Muhammad, a Sufi saint and Syyed of Lakhpat, half-Muslim and half-Hindu in his customs, who was believed to have supernatural power. Dying in 1855, his brother Bava Mia or Sa Saheb, from contributions made by Gosh Muhammad's followers, began to build a tomb locally known as Kubo. This tomb, of black stone, on a platform fifty-four feet square and seven high, rising in a conical dome 63 feet 3 inches high, is octagonal in shape, with four side doors arched and richly carved, and the walls decorated with patterns of flowers and leaves. Inside, the floor is paved with white and black marble, and the grave is covered with a white marble canopy. On the walls are passages from the Quran. It is still unfinished. The water tank opposite the tomb is believed to have healing characteristics for skin diseases. [3]
Sayyed Pir Shah Dargah has nine-domed with intricate carvings. Nani Mai Dargah, Hatkeshwar Temple amongst others in the old town are reminisces of the past.
The seaward side of the fort is guarded by Border Security Force (BSF) of India soldiers as it is not far away from international border between India and Pakistan marked in salt marsh land. There are BSF guards posted on the fort's fortifications and the nearby Border Outpost. [5] [6] [7] [8]
Radhanpur is a town and a municipality in Patan district in the Indian state of Gujarat.
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 in the Indian state of Gujarat. The ancient Koteshwar temple lies 4 km away, towards the north-west. The temple is classified among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.
Desalpar Gunthli is a village and site belonging to Indus Valley civilisation located at Nakhtrana Taluka, Kutch District, Gujarat, India. Desalpar is approx 25 km away from Bhuj. This site is of modest dimensions,(130 m by 100 m ) situated on the northern banks of once depredatory (erosive) stream, Bamu-Chela, an affluent of the Dhrud river.
Chobari is a village near Bhachau, in Bhachau Taluka in Kutch district of Gujarat state. Chobari is famous for art and crafts.
Fatehgadh also called Ramgadh by locals,is a town near Rapar of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Kera is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.this historical town was ruled by the jadeja's before independence in 1947. This historical town has several places of interest; the most important part of the town's history the Darbar gadh, the ruins of an old fort and Shiva temple, and the shrine of a Muslim saint Ghulam Ali.
Pipar is a village in Lakhpat Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Kanoj, formerly known as Ra Kanoj, was a town destroyed whose ruins are stretched for a mile. They are located in Lakhpat Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Sandhan is a village on the coast of Gulf of Kutch about thirty miles west of Mandvi, in Abdasa Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Bharmalji II was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Rajput dynasty, who ascended the throne of Princely State of Cutch one month after the death of his father Rayadhan III.
Rao Rayadhan III was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ascended the throne of Princely State of Cutch in 1778 and ruled until 1786 when he was deposed. He again ruled as titular head under council of Bar Bhayat ni Jamat from 1801 to 1813.
Rao Prithviraj ji, also known as Bhaiji Bava, was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ascended the throne of Princely State of Cutch as a titular head in 1786 and ruled until 1801 when he died at the early age of twenty seven. He ruled as titular head under council of Bar Bhayat ni Jamat.
Bar Bhayat ni Jamat was a council of twelve members which managed Cutch State under titular kings Prithvirajji from 1786 to 1801 and under Rayadhan III from 1801 to 1813. The council was chiefly led by Fateh Muhammad during both period. The council is also known as Bar Bhayyat or Bar Bhaya.
Fateh Muhammad was a regent who administered Cutch State as a leader of Bar Bhayat ni Jamat under titular kings, Prithvirajji and Rayadhan III.
Rao Godji II, was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ascended the throne of Princely State of Cutch in 1760 and ruled until 1778 when he died. During his rein, the state was invaded by Kalhoras and Talpuras of Sindh several times.
Rao Lakhpatji, also known as Lakhaji, was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ruled Princely State of Cutch as a regent from 1741 to 1752. Later succeeded his father Deshalji I in 1752 and ruled until his death in 1760.
The history of Kutch, (kachchh) a region in the extreme west of the western Indian state of Gujarat, can be traced back to prehistorical times. There are several sites related to Indus valley civilization in region and is mentioned in Hindu mythology. In historical times, Kutch is mentioned in Greek writings during Alexander. It was ruled by Menander I of Greco-Bactrian Kingdom which was overthrown by Indo-Scythians followed by Maurya Empire and Sakas. in the first century, it was under Western Satraps followed by Gupta Empire. By fifth century, Maitraka of Valabhi took over from which its close association with ruling clans of Gujarat started. Chavdas ruled the eastern and central parts by seventh century but then came under Chaulukyas by tenth century. After fall of Chaulukya, Vaghelas ruled the state. Following conquest of Sindh by Muslim rulers, Rajput Samma started moving southwards to Kutch and ruled western regions initially. By tenth century, they controlled significant area of Kutch and by thirteenth century they controlled whole of Kutch and adopted a new dynastic identity, Jadeja.
Radhanpur is a town and a municipality in Patan district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Radhanpur belonged to the Vaghelas in early years and later it was held as a fief under the Gujarat Sultanate by Fateh Khan Baloch. During Mughal period, the descendants of Babi dynasty were appointed as the governor of Radhanpur and other villages of North Gujarat. After decline of Mughal, they became free and established themselves as independent rulers. In 1743, Babi descendant Jawan Mard Khan II took over viceroyalty of Ahmedabad and controlled several villages in North Gujarat. He was defeated by Maratha Gaekwads in 1753 at Ahmedabad and Gaekwads agreed to his demand of control of villages in North Gujarat headquartered at Radhanpur State. His descendants lost some of these villages to Gaekwads subsequently. In 1813, Sher Khan made a treaty with the Gaekwar and British and became British protectorate. His descendants ruled the state until independence of India in 1947.
Tervada is a village in Kankrej Taluka of Banaskantha district in Gujarat, India.