Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar princely state was located in Saurashtra which became a part of Union of India on 15th February 1948. Gohil Rajput of Suryavanshi clan moved down to coastal areas of Gujarat where they established three capitals– Shejakpur, Umrala and Sihor.
Maharaja Bhavsinhjo Gohil established his empire in Sihor. When Khanthaji Kadani and Pilaji Gaekwad attempted to conquer Sihor, Maharaja Bhavsinhji Gohil and his army repelled them back. Sihor wasinvaded many times by different rulers. Bhavsinhji realized that the reason for foreign invasion was the location of Sihor. So, he established a new capital, twenty kilometers away from Sihor and near Vadva village which was named Bhavnagar after his name. Bhavnagar was chosen as a strategic location for maritime activities. Eventually, Bhavnagar town became the capital of Bhavnagar state.
Bhavnagar signed subsidiary alliance system with the
British and became a protectorate of the British in
1807. Bhavnagar was a fortified town and its gates
were placed in such a way that it opened to the way
of other important towns. Bhavnagar was a chief
port for almost two centuries. It traded with Mozambique,
Zanzibar, Singapore and the Persian Gulf. It
benefitted a lot from maritime revenue. Trade was
monopolized at Surat and Cambay. Surat castle was
under the control of Sidis of Janjira. So Bhavsinhji
made an agreement with them and promised them
to pay 1.25% of the revenue as commission. Due to
prosperity in revenue, Bhavnagar turned from a tiny
chieftainship to an important state.
Gradually, he
added new territories to the state. His successor too
encouraged maritime trade and therefore Bhavnagar
port remained an important port for a long time.
Wakhatsinhji Gohil, grand-son of Bhavsinhji, confiscated
land of kolis, kathis and obtained Rajula from
the Nawab Saheb Ahmad Khan. Ghogha Taluka was
also merged with the state. He conquered various
forts such as Chital, Talaja, Mahuva, Kundla, Trapaj,
Umrala and Botad. Later, Mahuva and Ghogha rose
to be an important port. The Bhavnagar was the first
state to construct ‘Bhavnagar State Railway’ on its
own expense, without any aid from the British which
was also recorded in Imperial Gazetteer.