Kathiawar

Kathiawar or Kathiawad (Gujarati: કાઠીયાવાડ ; IPA2|kaʈʰijaʋaɽ) is a peninsula in western India. It is part of Gujarat state, bounded on the north by the great wetland of the Rann of Kutch, on the northwest by the Gulf of Kutch, on the west and south by the Arabian Sea, and on the southeast and east by the Gulf of Cambay.

Etymology

The area derives its name from Kathi clan of Rajput rulers.

Major Cities

The major cities of Kathiawar are Rajkot in the center of the peninsula, Jamnagar on the Gulf of Kutch, Bhavnagar on the Gulf of Cambay, Porbandar on the west coast, historic city of Junagadh on the South. Diu, an island town formerly part of Portuguese India and now part of the Indian union territory of Daman and Diu, lies off the south coast of Kathiawar. The city of Somnath and its famous temple are also located on the south coast.. Alang is one of the world's largest shipbreaking yard while the Reliance Oil Refinery at Jamnagar also boasts the same global status. Somnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlings in India. The other equally famous & important town to Hindus is Dwarka, where Lord Krishna is worshipped. Palitana is sacred to the Jains & is one of a kind in India, with hundreds of temples atop a hill. Sasan located in the Gir Forest is a staging post for Lion Safaris, being the only habitat of the Asiatic Lion in Asia.

Geography and ecosystem

The natural vegetation on most of the peninsula is xeric scrub, part of the Northwestern thorn scrub forests ecoregion. A range of low hills, known as the Gir Hills, occupies the south-central portion of the peninsula. The highest of these is Girnar. The hills are home to an enclave of tropical dry broadleaf forest, part of the Kathiawad-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion. Gir National Park, which includes the forested hills around Girnar, is home to the last remaining Asiatic lions left in the wild. Other national parks on Kathiawar are Blackbuck National Park (Velavadar) on the Gulf of Cambay and Marine National Park, on the Gulf of Kutch near Jamnagar.

Political history

Before Indian independence in 1947, most of Kathiawar was divided into numerous princely states, ruled by local potentates who acknowledged British sovereignty in return for local autonomy. These states comprised the Kathiawar Agency. The rest of the peninsula, chiefly in the east along the Gulf of Cambay, were districts ruled directly by the British. The entire peninsula was part of British India's Bombay Presidency.

in 1962.

Cultural history

Kathiawar, also (Kattywar), gets its name from the prominence of the Kathi community which is widespread in the region. Although the Kathis are supposed to have migrated to the area in the 16th century, they have played an important part in the documented history of the region. Major Rajput clans that held a sway over this region include the Walas, Jethwas, Raijadas, Chudasamas, Gohils, Parmars, Jhalas, Jadajes, Solankis and Sarvaiyas. Most of the princely states of Kathiawar were brought under the British protectorate by 1820.

People

A person from Kathiawar is called a "Kathiawadi". For more information on the Kathis (Rajputs of Gujarat), read Colonel James Tod's "Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan," [James Tod, "Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han or the Central and Western Rajpoot States of India," v. 1, p. 17. 2 vols. London, Smith, Elder (1829, 1832); New Delhi, Munshiram Publishers, (2001) ISBN 8170691281] especially the chapter on the 36 Royal Races of India.

People of Note

* Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
* Muhammad Ali Jinnah
* Dhirubhai Ambani
* Harilal Upadhyay [ [http://www.harilalupadhyay.org "A Few Words about Shri Harilal Upadhyay"] ]
* Dipchandbhai Gardi, philanthropist [ [http://saurashtrauniversity.edu/administrative_dept/the_great_philinthropist.htm "The Great Philanthropist", Saurashtra University] ]
* Revashankarbhai Trivedi, astrologer [ [http://www.articlesbase.com/astrology-articles/shashtri-shri-revashankarbhai-trivedi-322177.html Revashankarbhai Trivedi] ]
* Zaverchand Meghani - Author
* Morari Bapu - Living Saint + Preacher
* H H Ranjitsinhji Jamnagar - World class cricketer
* Parvin Babi - Bollywood actress 1st to appear on TIME mag cover

ee also

* Saurashtra (region)

References

External links

*http://www.wildsaurashtra.blogspot.com (History of the Rajputs of Kathiawar and Saurashtra)
*http://www.wildsaurashtra.com (Birds and wildlife of the Kathiawar region of India)