History Of Gondal City (Gondal State)

Name Off Gondal (Gondal State)

 It is found from various literature that people of ‘Gond’ tribe lived here for several years, so the name is affiliated as Gondal . It is also believed that the town’s name was ‘Godal’ but as the people had difficulty in pronouncing it, it becomes Gondal. Certain other predictions tell us that 'Gaumandal' that is Cows place represents Gondal. All the views prescribed in nature as no resembling fact is available.

Gondal is a city and a municipality in the Rajkot district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Gondal State was one of the eight first-class princely states of Kathiawar Agency, Bombay Presidency in British India. Ruled by a Hindu Rajput dynasty of the Jadeja clan, the capital of the state was Gondal town, 

A small city in the district of Rajkot, Gujarat, Gondal was at one time, one of the princely states that made up the Bombay Presidency during British rule in India. It’s one of the few places in India where the presence of the royal family is still felt strongly. But there’s good reason for that. Maharaja Bhagwat Sinhji, who reigned from the late 19th century to the 20th century, was among the few who paid great attention to the well-being of his subjects, investing in hospitals, schools, electricity and infrastructure, among others. It was also probably the only state at the time to make education for women compulsory. The deeds of the benevolent dynasty had enormous impact and it’s evident in the modern city today. When it’s safe to travel again, plan a trip to this offbeat destination for a glimpse at an illustrious chapter in Indian history.

Among the Maharaja’s most celebrated innovations was that he abolished all taxes, customs, and export duties, making Gondal the only state in India to be tax-free. He reformed the state administration, erecting hospitals, colleges, and schools – including a replica of Eton that is still used for schooling today. He brought modern animal husbandry techniques to rural farmers and built irrigation networks. Starting in the 1920s, he introduced sewage, plumbing, rail lines, telegraphs, telephone cables, and electricity to Gondal, making it the first city in India to adopt such modern technology.  The sewage and electricity lines were installed underground, a forward-thinking move that has been replicated only in the largest of Indian cities today. Every village in Gondal had a phone, post office, and police station. He was concerned about the environment as well, planting thousands of trees and forbidding hunting.

Gondal City Map

    The pattern of life in Gondal seemed to have been unremarkable from that of other such states. Until the latter part of the 19th century. The first signs of modernity began to creep in during the reign of Sagramji II (reign 1851-69), who set up schools and established a greater sense of law and order with courts and a police force. But it was during the reign of his son that the state of Gondal took a quantum leap into the future.

Naulakha Palace

Built in 1748, this is the oldest palace in Gondal. It gets its name from the fact that it cost nine lakh rupees to construct at the time. Its stone carvings, jharokhas (balconies), a pillared courtyard, carved arches, a rather unique spiral staircase and a durbar hall with stuffed wild animals and antique furniture, present an in-depth look at the history of the royal family.

Gondal Population

           2020/2021 is between 168,152 and 214,958. Literate people are 123,876 out of 68,370 are male and 55,506 are female. Total workers are 74,553 depends on multi skills out of which 53,914 are men and 20,639 are women. Total 32,247 Cultivators are depended on agriculture farming out of 25,749 are cultivated by men and 6,498 are women. 17,971 people works in agricultural land as a labour in Gondal, men are 12,235 and 5,736 are women

Gondal Population Facts

Number of Households	57893
Population	285550
Male Population	147508 (51.66%)
Female Population	138042 (48.34%)
Children Population	29576
Area	1145.38 km2
Population density/km2	249
Sex-ratio	936
Literacy	72.94%
Male Literacy	77.44%
Female Literacy	68.13%
Scheduled Tribes (ST) %	0.42%
Scheduled Caste (SC) %	8.01%

Veri Lake

      Although you’ll spot a number of birds in the fort complex itself, given the many trees on the premises, you’re much more likely to spot some rare species at Lake Veri. Swallows, snipes, robins, bee-eaters, yellow wagtails, egrets and painted warblers, among others are just some names you can spot there. Aside from endemic species, there are also some migratory birds you can spot in winter.