Rajkot: Encyclopedia - Rajkot

Rajkot

Rajkot (2005 pop. 1,252,400) is a city of Gujarat state in India and administrative headquarters of the Rajkot District.

Rajkot - Location

It is located at Latitude: 22.3N; Longitude: 70.8E; Elevation: 134 meters Rajkot Geography/Weather

Rajkot - History

Founded in 1612 by Thakur Saheb Vibhaji Ajoji Jadeja of Jadeja clan and Raju Sandhi. Vibhaji was grandson of Jam Sataji of Nawanagar, presentday Jamnagar. During British Rule, it was a regional headquarter (Residency).

It has been seat of Jadeja Clan (Rajkot Branch) since then.

Mahatma Gandhi spent his early years in Rajkot while his father was a Diwan to one of the Saurashtran Nawab, and the house where Gandhi lived is now a museum named Kaba Gandhi No Delo. He went to school in here (Alfred High School, now called as Mahatma Gandhi High School).

After Independence, it became the capital of Saurashtra State. It hosted the State Assembly for the state. Uchhrangrai N. Dhebar(known poprularly as Dhebarbhai) was The First Chief Minister of Saurashtra State. Later, he was named as President of All India Congress Committee. Balwantbhai Mehta was The Second Chief Minister for the states.

When states were created based on Spoken Languages, the city along with Saurashtra State was merged into newly formed Gujarat State.

Rajkot - Industry

Rajkot is famous for its Bandhani Sarees, mirror-work, patch work, bead work, jewellery market and silk embroidery. The city hosts several of small scale manufacturing industries. Some of the industrial products that Rajkot is popular for includes:

• Bearings
• Diesel Engines (Largely exported to Africa and Middle East)
• Kitchen Knifes and other cutting appliances

Rajkot - Places to Visit

• Jubilee Park
• Watson Museum
• Aaji Dam
• Ishwariya
• Panch Nath Mahadev
• Bhomeshvar Temple
• Rajkumar College - founded in 1870 aimed at educating the princes of Kathiawad, RKC is one of the finest and elite K-12 institutions in the country. Rajkumar College was founded by the Great King Takhtasinghji of Bhavnagar State
• Race Course
• Dolls Museum
• Mahatma Gandhi Related Places
  • Kaba Gandhi No Delo (Mahatma Gandhi's Home)
  • Mahatma Gandhi High School, Rajkot (Alfred High School) (Mahatma Gandhi's School)
  • Rashtriya Shala, Rajkot (He founded this institution)

Rajkot - External link

• The Grand Regency Hotel in Rajkot
• Rajkot info at tourism-of-india.com
• History of Pricely State of Rajkot
• Portal About Rajkot.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Rajkot", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki