Porbandar

Porbandar

Information on Porbandar
Porbandar, the coastal heritage town of Gujarat is located on the Saurashtra peninsula, on the Arabian Sea. This city is described in Skanda Purana as Sudamapuri and Ashmavati and had a flourishing trade with Africa and Arabia. According to the legends, this city was the main link of the great friendship between Lord Krishna and Sudama. Porbandar was established as a capital by Rana Sartanji in 1785 AD. Porbandar was the former capital of the Jethwa Rajput petty princely state. Porbandar, originally a fortified town, with high rampart walls, bastions and five gates, lost its fortification by the order of Colonel Lally in 1888 AD. Even today, a ritual to circumambulate the fortification is performed by Hindus. The most impressive feature of Porbandar is the city planning and the stone buildings with ashlar masonry and rich carving, the facades of the houses on either side of the streets, with windows and carved gateways. Porbandar is also associated with Mahatma Gandhi, the father of nation as he was born here. Today, fine quality silk and cotton are manufactured here. There are also chemical factories and cement works.

History of Porbandar
Porbandar was the last capital of the Jethwa Rajputs, who ruled this area for about 1200 years. Porbandar was a prosperous town due to the maritime trade and was a thriving port in the Mughal period. It was attacked by the Portuguese in the wake of achieving supremacy over sea trade in 1531 AD. The Walker Treaty of 1807 AD between the ruling clans of Saurashtra and the British put an end to the feuds and it resulted in a favorable environment for the civic development of the Porbandar State. Porbandar is also associated with the Mahatma Gandhi as at this place Mahatama Gandhi was born in 1869 AD.

Tourist attractions in Porbandar
Kirti Mandir, Darbargadh, Sudama temple and the Huzoor Palace are the various tourist attractions in Porbandar. Kirti Mandir was the house of the Mahatma Gandhi and his wife. This place has a Gandhian library and a prayer hall. Sudama temple is a beautiful temple which is built in the middle of the Porbandar town. This temple is the only temple in India which is dedicated to Sudama. Darbargadh is the fortified palace built by Rana Sartanji and has a huge carved stone entrance gate flanked by high turrets and massive wooden doors. Huzoor Palace is the sprawling palace, built in the European style with sloping roofs, several wings and big windows.

How to reach Porbandar