Porbandar State

Kingdom of Ghumli (620–1313) Kingdom of Ranpur (1313–1574) Kingdom of Chhaya (1574–1685) Porbandar State (1685–1948)
620–1948
State flag Coat of arms
Porbandar in a map of the Bombay Presidency
Status	Sovereign monarchy (620-1808) Princely state of the British East India Company (1808-1858) and British India (1858-1948)
Capital	Ghumli (620-1218) Shrinagar (1218-1220) Ghumli (1220-1313) Ranpur (1313-1574) Chhaya (1547-1685) Porbandar (1685-1948)
Common languages	Gujarati Old Gujarati Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu) Prakrit English
Maharaja Rana
• 10 December 1908-15 February 1948	Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji (last)
Dewan
• 1847–1874	Karamchand Gandhi
History
• Established	620
•  Merged into India	1948
Preceded by Succeeded by Gurjara-Pratihara Dominion of India
Today part of	Porbandar district and Junagadh district, Gujarat, India

Maharaja Bhavsinhji Madhavsinhji.

Hizoor Palace was built by last ruler of Princely State of Probandar, Rana Natwarsinhji, in early 20th century, stands near sear the shore at the Marine Drive in the city.

Porbandar State was a princely state during the British Raj ruled by Jethwa dynasty. It was one of the few princely states with a coastline. ^{[1] [2]} It was a first class Princely State with 13 Gun Salute, standing fourth in rank among the Principalities in the Kathiawar Agency. ^[3]

The capital of state was the harbour town of Porbandar. ^[4] Some other important towns of this state were Bhanvad, Chhaya, Ranpar, and Shrinagar. ^[4] Earlier Shrinagar served as the capital of Jethwas, then Ghumli served as the capital, but was lost to the Jadejas, however, architectural heritage built by them still stands at Ghumli. ^[5]

History

On 5 December 1809 it became a British protectorate and between 1886 and 15 September 1900 the state was administered by the Bombay Presidency. It was later made part of the Kathiawar Agency ^[3]

In 1888, during the reign of Vikramatji Khimojiraj, the State started metre-gauge railway called Porbandar State Railway, which after independence was merged in to Saurashtra Railway. ^[6]

During reign of Maharaja Bhavsinhji Madhavsinhji (1900-1908) the state was restored its position as a First Class with full judicial and administrative powers. ^[3] Under his able successor and last ruler Maharaja Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji, KCSI (1908-1948) the State progressed further. ^[3]

Upon the Independence of India in 1947, the state acceded unto the dominion of India. It was merged with the 'United State of Kathiawar', effective from 15 February 1948 and eventually came to form part of the present-day state of Gujarat. ^[1]

The grandfather of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of Indian independence movement, Uttamchand Gandhi and later his father – Karamchand Gandhi and uncle – Tulsidas Gandhi, served as Dewan to Rana of Porbandar state. ^{[7] [8]}

References

1. Gujarat State Gazetteer. Director, Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State. 1989. p. 592. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
2. Indian Information Series. Bureau of the public information of the government of India. 1941. p. 87. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
3. Solomon, R. V.; Bond, J. W. (2006). Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. Asian Educational Services. pp. 470–472. ISBN   978-81-206-1965-4 . Retrieved 26 April 2025.
4. Handbook for Travellers in India, Burma and Ceylon Including AllBritish India, the Portuguese and French Possessions, and the Indian States. J. Murray. 1929. p. 249. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
5. Rodrigues, Mario (2003). Batting for the Empire: A Political Biography of Ranjitsinhji. Penguin Books. p. 56. ISBN   978-0-14-302951-9 . Retrieved 26 April 2025.
6. "Porbandar railway".
7. Encyclopaedia of Eminent Thinkers: The political thought of Mahatma Gandhi By K. S. Bharathi
8. "Porbandar". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 10 December 2012.

External links

• Media related to Porbandar State at Wikimedia Commons

21°37′48″N69°36′00″E / 21.63000°N 69.60000°E / 21.63000; 69.60000