Rajula is a city and municipality in

Amreli district Amreli district is one of the 33 administrative districts of the state of Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which ...

in the Indian state of

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, 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 List of states and union territories ...

.The city was founded by Darbar Daha Bapu Dhakhada nearly 1759 AD, on the bank of river Dhatarvadi and among the hills called Piliyo and Rajuliyo; the Dhakhdas and other Babariya Kathis captured the surrounding region, which was known as Babariyawad.

Etymology

Sources claims that Rajula name derives from Princess Rajulakumari, also known as Rajamati, wife of lord Neminath famous tirthkara in Jainism.

Demographics

As of the 2001 Indian census, Rajula had a population of approximately 80,393. Females constituted 49% of the population. Rajula has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, with male literacy at 72% and female, 55%. In Rajula, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Temples and tourist attractions

Kumbhnath Sukhnath temple is situated near Rajula. It is an old temple of

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

. The shivlinga of Shiva was made by the brothers

Bhima Bhima (, ), also known as Bhimasena (, ), is a hero and one of the most prominent characters in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. As the second of the five Pandava brothers, Bhima was born to Kunti—the wife of King Pandu—fathered by Vayu, the ...

and

Yudhishthira Yudhishthira (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, ud̪ʱiʂʈʰiɾᵊ IAST: ''Yudhiṣṭhira''), also known as Dharmaputra, is the eldest among the five Pandavas, and is also one of the central characters of the ancient Indian epic ''Ma ...

. Fairs are generally organised on the festivals of

Raksha Bandhan Raksha Bandhan Quote: m Hindi ''rakśābandhan'' held on the full moon of the month of Savan, when sisters tie a talisman (rakhi q.v.) on the arm of their brothers and receive small gifts of money from them. is a popular and traditionally Hin ...

and

Krishna Janmashtami Krishna Janmashtami (), also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In certain Hindu texts, such as the '' Gita Govinda ...

. The temple is situated at the bank of Ghano river, a tributary of Dhatarwadi river. Night view rajula

Other temples include Bhidbhanjan, Ram Mandir, Goverdhannathji Ni Haveli, Samudrimataji Mandir, Sanyas Ashram, Gayatrijinu Mandir, Holia Hanumanji Nu Mandir, Ambama Nu Mandir, and Sankheshwarimataji Mandir. Dhatarwadi riverside, opposite to the Kumbhnath Temple, is a tourist attraction. Chachudeshwar Mahadev Temple, about 10 km from the city, is in a coastal area at which the river Dhatarwadi meets the Arabian sea.

Education

The Saraswati group of schools includes Saraswati Vidyalaya, Saraswati Day School, and Saraswati Science School. Swa. Khodabapa Education Trust and Rajula Sanchalit Sanskruti Vidhyalay and Sanskruti English medium schools are located at Jafrabad Road and have provided education since 2003. St. Thomas High School is managed by a Christian Catholic group. It is located at Chataddiya Road. Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul is a well-known school and the first private school in the city located at Chataddiya Road, providing education services since 1996. The city hosts primary schools and bal mandirs. Gandhi mandir is managed by Shri Rajula Seva Mandal. The high school is Shree Jivanlal Anandaji Sanghavi & Shree T.J.B.S. Girls' School is located here. Rajula Education Trust's Smt. Hiralaxmi Bhaidas Sanghavi Mahila Arts & Commerce College is also one of the colleges here. Separate schools, colleges and hostels for girls are available along with coeducational schools. Calorx Public School is managed by Calorx Education and Research Foundation. It is located at Chataddiya Road. Mohantower

In the year of 2016, Education Department (Government of Gujarat) and Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) have established GMB Polytechnic, Rajula at Chhatdiya Village (approx. 3 km from Rajula bus stand) to impart technical education of diploma level for the surrounding 100 km.

Transport

The city is well connected with rest of the country by railways, bus transport and sea transport to other major cities of Gujarat such as Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar. In 2023 airport authority of India had announced green field airport at Rajula in list of 11 new airports of gujrat. Night sleeper coach private buses running from Una or Diu to major cities like Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat and Mumbai pass through Rajula providing a pleasure journey from Rajula to these cities. Rajula is situated on national highway No. 51. This highway connects Bhavnagar with Veraval.

Economy

The city has substantial rock quarries that export around the country. Its economy mainly depends on industries and agriculture. Crops such as groundnut, cotton, and onion are popular. Port Pipavav is a busy and growing seaport, with both major cargo operations and a shipyard operated by one of the India's largest shipbuilding and heavy industry companies. Kovaya village, known for limestone mine reserves, has some of the largest cement manufacturing plants.

Towns and villages in Rajula Taluka of Amreli district (as per Census 2011)

References

{{Reflist * http://www.elections.in/gujarat/assembly-constituencies/rajula.html Cities and towns in Amreli district