The Bhal region is an area of

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

, India. It is spread across the political boundaries of the districts of

Bhavnagar Bhavnagar is a city in the Bhavnagar district of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, a States of India, state of India. It was founded in 1723 by Gohil Koli, Bhavsinhji Takhtasinhji Gohil (1703–1764). It was the capital of Bhavnagar State, whi ...

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per t ...

, and Anand. The Bhal region is situated on the deltas of the Sabarmati, Bhogawo, Bhadar, Lilka and other rivers that flow east and southeast off the

Kathiawar peninsula Kathiawar () is a peninsula, near the far north of India's west coast, of about bordering the Arabian Sea. It is bounded by the Gulf of Kutch in the northwest and by the Gulf of Khambhat (Gulf of Cambay) in the east. In the northeast, it is ...

into the

Gulf of Cambay The Gulf of Khambhat, historically known as the Gulf of Cambay, is a bay on the Arabian Sea coast of India, bordering the state of Gujarat just north of Mumbai and Diu Island. The Gulf of Khambhat is about long, about wide in the north and up ...

. The word Bhaal ( gu, ભાલ) ( hi, भाल) seems to have been derived from the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

word भाल which means forehead. Such a name is given to this region probably because it is mostly as flat as a forehead with almost entire region's soil without any stones, pebbles or gravel. Bhalia Wheat is a major farm cultivation in the region.

Flowing through Bhal region

;Bhada (Bhaadar) ;Gautami ;Ghelo The

Ghelo River The River Ghela, is a river that runs through the town of Gadhada in the Indian state of Gujarat.Ghelo river originates from Jasdan hills (Around Fulzar village, Jasdan Taluka) & meets in Arabian sea. Its length is 118 km. & 622 km2. catch ...

starts near Babra in

Amreli district Amreli district is one of the 33 administrative districts of the state of Gujarat in western India. The district headquarters are located at Amreli. The district occupies an area of 6,760 km2 and has a population of 1,514,190 of which 22.45 ...

and meets the Gulf of Cambay in the Bhal Region. ;Kalubhar The

Kalubhar River Kalubhar River is a river on the Kathiawar peninsula in the western India state of Gujarat. Kalubhar river originates near Chamardi Village near Babra and meets Gulf of Khambhat. Its length is 94 km. Kalubhar Dam is situated on this river ...

starts near Babra in

Amreli District Amreli district is one of the 33 administrative districts of the state of Gujarat in western India. The district headquarters are located at Amreli. The district occupies an area of 6,760 km2 and has a population of 1,514,190 of which 22.45 ...

and meets the Gulf of Cambay in the Bhal Region. The Rangholi River is a major tributary. ;Lilka ;Limdi no Bhogavo ;Meshvo ;Ootavali ;Sabarmati The Sabarmati River is at the northeastern end of the Bhal. The Vatrak River and the Bhogawo Rivers are major tributaries of the Sabarmati. ;Surendranagar no Bhogavo

Wildlife and birds

* Velavadar Blackbuck National Park * Pipli Wetland * Saltpans & wetlands between Naari & Bawaliyali villages

Archaeological and historical sites

Lothal Lothal () was one of the southernmost sites of the ancient Indus Valley civilisation, located in the Bhāl region of the modern state of Gujarāt. Construction of the city is believed to have begun around 2200 BCE. Archaeological Survey of ...

* Gamph Gamph was a small state of India, ruled by

chudasama The Chudasama are a Rajput clan found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are offshoot of the Samma tribe of Sind. The Chudasama dynasty of Junagadh once ruled Thatta of Sind and Chudachandra laid foundation in Gujarat with Junagadh ...

Rajputs. There are 52 Estates of

Chudasama The Chudasama are a Rajput clan found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are offshoot of the Samma tribe of Sind. The Chudasama dynasty of Junagadh once ruled Thatta of Sind and Chudachandra laid foundation in Gujarat with Junagadh ...

Rajputs in the Dhandhuka area which all are the Bhayads of former Gamph state. These Rajputs are descended from the old Rah Dynasty of Junagadh.

Navaghana (late 11th century king) Navaghana was a Abhira chief of Saurashtra region of western India who reigned in the late 11th century. His capital was at Junagadh. He was a contemporary of Jayasimha Siddharaja, the Chaulukya ruler of Anahilapataka. According to bardic legen ...

, The King of

Junagadh Junagadh () is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Located at the foot of the Girnar hills, southwest of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar (the state capital), it is the seventh largest city in the state. Literally t ...

have 5 sons, Whom elder son Bhimji given the Jagir of

Bhadli Bhadli is a village and former princely state on Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat, western India. Village Bhadli lies in Jasdan Taluka of Rajkot district. It is situated on a tributary of the Ghelo river. History Bhadli was a Sixth Class n ...

. Second son Satrasalji given the jagir of Sarva, later known as Sarvaiya rajputs on the name of village Sarva. Third and fourth son Devghanji and Savghanji given Osham Chorasi. Fifth son Raa Khengar succeeded him, his descendant Raa Bhupatsinhji of

was called as "Raizada" Mahommed Begda, Sultan of Ahemdabad so they are later known as Raizada Rajputs. Bhimjis descendants continued the main branch of chudasama. Later they moved to Bhal region. Raisalji established new capital Gorasu in 1572. His Grandson Amarsinhji abandoned Gorasu and established Gamph in 1633, it remained Capital of Chudasama Rajputs. In 1947, Vikramsinhji Manharsinhji Chudasama, The Thakore Saheb of Gamph merged his State into

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

Pilgrimage sites

* Gorasu -

Rajput's Sahayak Devi Khodiyar Mataji Temple * Bhadiyad -

Rajputs Kuldevi Bhavani Mataji Temple * Arnej - Bootbhawani Mataji temple *Kauka - Bootbhawani mataji temple+ Bapasitaram temple * Bawaliyali - Radha-Krishna temple *

Dholka Dholka is a city and municipality in the Ahmedabad District of the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the headquarters of Dholka Taluka, and is 48 km by road via National Highway 8A southwest of the city of Ahmedabad. Dholka has an average ...

- Kalikund tirth Jain Temple * Ganpatipura - Swayambhu Ganpati Idol & temple + Swaminarayan Mandir * Nani Boru - Lord Shiva Temple built by Prashnora Nagar Brahmin community * Bhadiyad - Pir Mehmudshah Bukhari Dargah sarifh and mosque * Varna-lord hanumanji temple *Gorad ohil Mitali State BhayatRajput's Shahayak Devi Ma Kodiyar Temple * Swaminarayan Temple "Dholera- Madanmohanji Maharaj","Budhej" and "Gorad" * Akru-Madhavanand Aashram

Fairs

* Urash Mubarak of Bhadiyad pir

Notable Rulers

Rajput was notable rulers of Bhal, they came here from Junagadh. The Chudasama Rajputs moved their capital to Gamph. Gamph was a small princely state with 52 Estates, who are former Bhayads of the ruler of Gamph State. Virbhadrasinhji Vikramsinhji Chudasama. 16th ruler of Gamph State and head of Chudasama Rajputs.

New projects coming in Bhal region

Dholera International Airport Dholera International Airport is a greenfield airport project in Gujarat, India. It will be built near Navagam in the Dholera taluka of Ahmedabad district. The project site is spread over 1,426 hectares about 80 kilometers from Ahmedabad and aroun ...

Dholera Dholera is a village in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat state in India. History Dholera was also an ancient port-city in Gulf of Khambhat, 30 km. from Dhandhuka village of Ahmedabad district. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Dholera is one of the ...

six-lane expressway *

Gandhinagar Gandhinagar (, ) is the capital of the state of Gujarat in India. Gandhinagar is located approximately 23 km north of Ahmedabad, on the west central point of the Industrial corridor between Delhi, the political capital of India, and Mu ...

metro rail

Notes and references

External links

Website about information on Bhaal region
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhal Region Regions of Gujarat