Country India Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Website gujaratindia.com | State Gujarat Vehicle registration GJ 4 | |
 | ||
Colleges and Universities Bhavnagar University Points of interest Blackbuck National Park - Vel, Palitana temples, Gopnath temple, Takhteshwar Temple, Vishal Jain Museum Destinations Bhavnagar, Palitana, Mahuva - Bhavnagar, Velavadar, Ghogha | ||
Bhavnagar District is a district of southeastern Gujarat, India, on the Saurashtra peninsula. It is also known as Gohilwar as major portion of Bhavnagar district, in very old times, was ruled by Gohil Rajputs, after whom the entire Gohelwad prant was still named during the British Raj. The administrative headquarters is in the town of Bhavnagar.
Contents
- Map of Bhavnagar Gujarat
- Geography
- History
- Administrative divisions
- Demographics
- Historical places
- Natural heritage sites
- References
Map of Bhavnagar, Gujarat
Geography
Bhavnagar District covers an area of over 8334 km². The coastal area is mostly alluvium.
Bhavnagar borders with Ahmedabad District to the northeast, Botad District to the northwest, the Gulf of Cambay to the east and south and Amreli District to the west.
History
Bhavnagar State was a salute state during the Raj, ruled by the Gohil Rajputs, .
Bhavnagar lost two talukas, Botad and Gadhada, to the creation in August 2013 of the new district of Botad.
Administrative divisions
Bhavnagar District is divided into nine talukas : Bhavnagar, Sihor, Umarana, Gariyadhar, Palitana, Mahuva, Talaja, Ghogha and Vallbhipur. There are close to 800 villages in this district.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census Bhavnagar district has a population of 2,388,291, roughly equal to the nation of Jamaica or the US state of Kansas. This gives it a ranking of 133rd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 288 inhabitants per square kilometre (750/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 16.53%. Bhavnagar has a sex ratio of 931 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 76.84%.
Historical places
Among the many historical places in Bhavnagar District are:
Natural heritage sites
Velavadar Blackbuck National Park is the only tropical grassland in India recognised as a National park. It is spread over an area of 34.08 km2. The park contains mainly blackbuck, antelopes, nilgai, wolves, jackals, hyenas, jungle cats, fox, and wild boar. Endangered birds such as Houbara Bustard, Lesser Florican, Sarus White Storks, White Pelican, Montagu, and Pallid harrier also call the park home. Raptors including the Greater Spotted Eagle, Juvenile Imperial Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Short-toed Snake Eagle, and Long-legged Buzzard are also seen in the park. The climate in Velavdar National Park makes it one of the best places for the migrating birds to breed.
Piram Island is an island approximately 6 km offshore off Ghogha. It is said that this island was created about 3.5 million years ago. It is well known for its diversity of life, including many vulnerable or endangered species. There is a ruined fort which was built in 1325.The island has mangrove vegetation and also nesting site for two endangered species of sea turtle; Olive ridley sea turtle and Green sea turtle, and around fifty species of birds, mostly seabirds.