Dhandhuka

History

Dhandhuka is said to have been founded by, and to take its name from, Dhan or Dhand Mair, or rather Mehd, the second of the thirteen sons of the Koli chief Sonang Mehd who in early times came into Gujarat from Sind. No specific year is mentioned in Rasmala by Alexander Kinloch Forbes. Having no son, Dhan Mehd is said to have given the town as a Krishna, or lasting, gift to a party of 400 Brahman refugees from the wrath of Ebhal Walo, chief of Wala. According to another account, the town is said to be called after Shri Dhandhiu of the Chaulukya dynasty who married the daughter of Mularaja Chaulukya's predecessor. In the twelfth century Dhandhuka became famous as the birthplace of the great Jain teacher Hemchandra and in his honour Chaulukya king Kumarapala (1143-1174) raised a temple over his birthplace. Under the Muslims and Marathas, Dhandhuka kept its position as a country town, its fortune being almost always linked with the fortune of Dholka. Along with Dholka it was ceded to the British in 1802.

Geography

Dhandhuka is located at 22.37°N 71.98°E / 22.37; 71.98. It has an average elevation of 24 metres (78 feet).Dhandhuka is located at 22°22′N 71°59′E / 22.37°N 71.98°E / 22.37; 71.98[1]. It has an average elevation of 24 metres (78 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Dhandhuka had a population of 29,555. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Dhandhuka has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75% and, female literacy is 57%. In Dhandhuka, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. The city is 105 km from District center Ahmedabad, on state highway to Bhavnagar.

The great Jain saint Acharya Shri Hemchandracharya (famous as Kalikal Sarvagya)born in 1088 A .D. into the Modha Vanik (merchant) caste, in the town of Dhandhuka, sixty miles from the city Ahmedabad in Gujarat State., and he died in 1173 A. D.The Chudasama Rajput ( Raa' Dynasty )Was a Certain Ruler of Junagadh, They Comes Here From Junagadh & Ruled Here. Pujya Shree Punit Maharaj (19 May 1908 – 27 July 1962)is also from Dhandhuka. The city has a population of more than 50,000 and a literacy rate of 66% (compared to the Indian national average of 59.5%). One Shri Kikani Arts and Commerce College and Three High School are in the Town. The popular professions in the city include working for the automobile dealership, telecommunication dealership, insurance companies and agriculture. RMS Hospital, one of Gujarat's biggest hospitals, opened in 2007, receiving its funding in large part from some local donors and NRIs (Non-resident Indian). Common plants grown include cotton and wheat. There is a small industrial estate developed in the city known as G.I.D.C. Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, few entrepreneurs have established their small scale industries here.