Holidays Travel Guide

a travel guide for people by people...

history

E-mail Print PDF




Gondal
is a city and a municipality in Rajkot district in the Indian state Gujarat. It was one of the eight first class princely states of Kathiawar Agency during Bombay Presidency. The current population of town is around 200,000.



History

Gondal finds mention in texts like Ain-i-Akbari (written in the reign of Akbar) and Mirat-i-Ahmadi as Vaghela state in Sorath (Saurashtra). The Gondal state in Kathiawar Agency was founded in 1634 AD by Thakore Shri Kumbhoji I Meramanji from Jadeja dynasty, who received Ardoi and other villages from his father Meramanji [1][2]. With his fourth descendant Kumbhoji IV, the State raised itself, by acquiring parganas of Doraji, Upleta, Sarai etc.[1]

Later Sir Bhagwant Singhji who reigned from 1888 till his death in 1944, was its most noted ruler, known for his various tax reforms, compulsory education for women and also removing the purdah tradition for women at a time when the royal households of India were known for this tradition