Valsad (Pronunciation: �alsɑɖ (Gujarati: વલસાડ), historically known as Bulsar, is a city and a municipality in Valsad district of the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the district headquarters of Valsad district. The city of Valsad is located in the south of Navsari and

Surat Surat is a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The word Surat literally means ''face'' in Gujarati and Hindi. Located on the banks of the river Tapti near its confluence with the Arabian Sea, it used to be a large seaport. It is now ...

Etymology

The name "Valsad" derives from ''vad-saal'', a Gujarati language compound meaning "covered (''saal'') by

banyan tree A banyan, also spelled "banian", is a fig that develops accessory trunks from adventitious prop roots, allowing the tree to spread outwards indefinitely. This distinguishes banyans from other trees with a strangler habit that begin life as a ...

s (''vad'')" (the area was naturally rich in banyan trees). During British Raj, it was historically known as "Bulsar".

Geography

Valsad is located at . It has an average elevation of 13 metres (42 feet). The old city is about 4 km inland from the Arabian sea.

Climate

Valsad has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) with little to no rainfall from October to May and very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from June to September when it is under the direct influence of the Arabian Sea branch of the South-west monsoon.

Demographics

As of the 2011 India census, Valsad (metropolitan area) has a population of 170,060. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Valsad has an average literacy rate of 91.66%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 94.62%, and female literacy is 88.58%. The major language spoken is Gujarati. Other languages spoken are Hindi,

Marathi Marathi may refer to: *Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India *Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people *Palaiosouda, also known as Marathi, a small island in Greece See also * * ...

and English. The major religion followed in Valsad is Hinduism. Other religions followed are

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...

, Christianity, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Buddhism.

Transport

Valsad railway station Valsad lies on NH 48. Valsad is connected to many cities in Gujarat by the

Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation, abbreviated GSRTC, is a Government State Transport Undertaking of Gujarat for passengers facilitating with road public transport in moffusil / city services. GSRTC operates within the state of Gujarat, I ...

bus service. Valsad is one of the 16 divisions of GSRTC referred as Daman Ganga. Valsad railway station is managed by the

Mumbai WR railway division Mumbai WR railway division is one of the six railway divisions under Western Railway zone of Indian Railways. This railway division was formed on 5 November 1951 and its headquarter is located at Mumbai Central in the state of Maharashtra of Ind ...

of the

Western Railway Western Railway may refer to: * Western Railway (Austria) * Hanoverian Western Railway, Germany * Western Railway zone, on Indian Railways * Württemberg Western Railway, Germany See also * Westbahn (disambiguation) * Western Railroad (disambigua ...

and it is a Sub-Division under Western Railway. It lies on the New Delhi–Mumbai main line. The present railway station building was established in 1925. Adjacent to the railway station is the Valsad Electric Loco Shed which houses over 100 electric locomotives. Valsad is close to Surat International Airport, which is 99 km north of the city, located in

. The other airport closer to Valsad is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which is 188.3 km south from the city.

Economy

Valsad is an industrial base for sectors such as chemicals, textiles, and paper & pulp industries. Since the 1980s, textile and chemicals have been the major sectors of investments and employment in the district. Valsad is emerging as a horticulture hub of the state, witnessing significant production in food grains and crops. Valsad has 7 industrial estates located in Dungra, Pardi, Dharampur, Bhilad, Valsad, Umbergaon, Sarigam, Vapi (the chemical hub of Gujarat) and 1 Industrial park in Kalgam. With over 300 medium and large scale industries, Vapi is a major industrial center in Valsad. One of Asia's largest Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is present in Vapi, owned by Vapi Waste & Effluent Management Company and promoted by Vapi Industrial Association.

Education

Colleges

*GMERS Medical College, est 2014 *Government Engineering College, est 2004 *Government Polytechnic, est 1965 *Smt. J.P. Shroff Arts College *Shah N.H. Commerce College *Dhiru-Sarla Institute of Management and Commerce *B.K.M. Science College *Dolat-Usha Institute of Applied Sciences *Shree N. K. M. Nursing Instuite *Shah K.M. Law College

Schools

;Affiliated with ICSE *

Atul Vidyalaya School Atul is an industrial village developed by the chemical conglomerate Atul Ltd, located in the Valsad district of Gujarat, India. Although a small village, it has good educational, recreational facilities, banks, temples, post office, police sta ...

;Affiliated with the CBSE *

Saraswati International School Saraswati International School, Valsad is an independent school in Valsad in south Gujarat, India that enrolls students from kindergarten through year 12. It is named after Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of learning and knowledge. The school is m ...

* Shree Vallabh Ashram's MGM Amin & V N Savani International School
Shree Vallabh Sanskar Dham's Smt. Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel Day Boarding School

Shree Vallabh Ashram's MCM Kothari Girl's Residential School
* Western Railway English Medium Secondary School ;Affiliated with the GSHSEB * D.M.D.G. Municipal High School * Jamnabai Sarvajanik Kanya Vidyalaya * Maniba Sarvajanik Vidyalaya * Shah Khimchand Mulji Sarvajanik High School * St. Joseph's English Teaching High School * Mother Mary Public High school. * Bai Ava Bai High School * BAPS Swaminarayan Vidhyamandir * G.V.D. Sarvajanik High School * Sett Rustomjee Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy or Sett R.J.J High School * R.M. & V.M. Desai Vidyalaya * Swaminarayan High School * Gayatri High School * Kusum Vidyalaya * C.B High school

Tourist Attraction

Tithal Beach is located near Tithal town. The sand of the beach is black sand. Tithal Beach Festival and International Kite Festival are also organized on the shore of the beach. Shree Shirdi Saibaba Sansthapan is located on the shore of the beach in Tithal town of Valsad district. The temple was established in 1982. Swaminarayan Temple

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is located on the shore of the beach in Tithal town of Valsad district. This is a temple of Lord Swami Narayan. Shantidham Aradhana Kendra in Tithal is a meditation centre.

Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple Tadkeshwar Mahadev temple is a Hindu temple. It is located near Abrama town in Valsad district of the Indian state of Gujarat. The temple is on the bank of the Wanki river. The temple is more than 800 years old, one of the oldest in Valsad D ...

is a temple of Lord Shiva located in

Abrama Abrama is a census town in navsari district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Demographics India census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This ...

. This temple is more than 800 years old. Morarji Desai Museum is built to dedicate former 5th Prime Minister of India, Morarji Desai in Valsad. The museum was developed by Valsad municipality at a cost of Rs. 4 crore. The museum was inaugurated by former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel. Callian Baug is an urban park in Valsad. In 1929, Mr. Motilal Callianji presented a donation for park to Valsad Municipality in memory of his father. In 1931, Callian Baug was opened by J.H.Garrett.

Notable people

* Bhulabhai Desai - freedom fighter and acclaimed lawyer. * Bindu Desai - Hindi film actress. * Dadabhoy Havewala - first-class cricketer, who played for

Bombay cricket team The Mumbai cricket team is a cricket team representing the city of Mumbai in Indian domestic cricket. The team's primary home ground is the Wankhede Stadium in South Mumbai. Secondary home venues include the MCA ground in Bandra Kurla Compl ...

and Parsees cricket team. *

Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British singer and songwriter, who achieved worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. Regarded as one of the greatest singers in the ...

(born ''Farrokh Bulsara'') - singer and songwriter for the British rock band '' Queen'', whose family originated from Valsad. *

Hemin Desai Hemin Pratap Desai (born September 10, 1977) is an Indian-born cricketer who played for the Oman national cricket team at the List A level. His highest score in List A cricket was achieved on November 27, 2007, against Namibia in the 2007 ICC ...

- Indian-born cricketer, who has represented Oman at the List A cricket. *

Makarand Dave Makarand Dave, also referred as Sai Makarand Dave, was a Gujarati poet and author from Gujarat, India. Biography Dave was born in Gondal (now in Rajkot district, Gujarat) on 13 November 1922 to Vajeshankar Dave. After completing his school educ ...

- Gujarati poet. *

Manilal Desai Manilal Bhagwanji Desai ( gu, મણિલાલ ભગવાનજી દેસાઈ, 1939-1966) was a Gujarati poet from India. Life He was born in Gorgam (now in Valsad district, Gujarat) on 19 July 1939. He completed his BA with Gujarati and ...

- Gujarati poet. * Morarji Desai - former

Prime Minister of India The prime minister of India (IAST: ) is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and their chosen Council of Ministers, despite the president of India being the nominal head of the ...

. *

Nagindas Parekh Nagindas Narandas Parekh (8 August 1903 – 19 January 1993) was a Gujarati language critic, editor and translator from India. He is also known by his pen name, Granthkeet (literally, bookworm). Life Nagindas Parekh was born on 8 August 1903 in ...

- literary critic, editor and translator. * Nanubhai Vakil - a Hindi and Gujarati film director. * Narayan Desai - Gujarati author. * Nirupa Roy - Hindi film actress. * Pooja Jhaveri - Telugu, Tamil and Kannada film actress. *

Pramodkumar Patel Pramodkumar Bhagubhai Patel ( gu, પ્રમોદકુમાર ભગુભાઈ પટેલ; 1933–1996) was Gujarati language critic from Gujarat, India. Life Patel was born on 20 September 1933 at Khara-Abrahma village (now in Valsad ...

- literary critic. * Pratap Save - a social activist. *

Ravindra Parekh Ravindra Parekh ( gu, રવીન્દ્ર પારેખ) is a Gujarati short story writer, novelist, playwright, poet, critic and translator from Gujarat, India. Life Ravindra Parekh was born on 21 November 1946 in Kalwada village (now in ...

- a writer, novelist, poet, critic and translator. *

Rex Sellers Rex Samuel Sellers (born 11 November 1950) is a yachtman from New Zealand. He won a gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and a silver medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, both in the Tornado class with Chris Timms. He ...

- a former Indian-Australian cricketer. * Sam Manekshaw - First Field Marshal of India and former chief of army staff, India. His family hailed from Valsad, later moved to Bombay and then Amritsar. *

Sam Balsara Sam Balsara is the founder, chairman and managing director of Madison World and Madison Communications.- - Early years Balsara was born in Balsar, now called Valsad, Gujarat. His father was a forest contractor, and due to his work the family l ...

- Indian advertising executive. * Sangeita Chauhan - Indian film and television actress. *

Sheela Sharma Sheela Sharma ( Sheela David) is an Indian film and television actress in Hindi and Gujarati cinema, best known for the films '' Nadiya Ke Paar'' (1982), '' Hum Saath Saath Hain'' and ''Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai''. Born in Valsad district, Gujar ...

- Hindi and Gujarati film actress. * Ushnas - Gujarati poet.

References

External links

Official website
of the Valsad Nagarpalika.
Official website
of the Valsad Collectorate (in Gujarati). {{Authority control Cities and towns in Valsad district