The Bhal region is an area of

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

, India. It is spread across the political boundaries of the districts of Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, and Anand. The Bhal region is situated on the deltas of the Sabarmati, Bhogawo, Bhadar, Lilka and other rivers that flow east and southeast off the Kathiawar peninsula into the Gulf of Cambay. The word Bhaal () () seems to have been derived from the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

word भाल which means forehead. Such a name is given to this region probably because it is mostly as flat as a forehead with almost entire region's soil without any stones, pebbles or gravel. Bhalia Wheat is a major farm cultivation in the region.

Flowing through Bhal region

;Bhada (Bhaadar) ;Gautami ;Ghelo The Ghelo River starts near Babra in Amreli district and meets the Gulf of Cambay in the Bhal Region. ;Kalubhar The Kalubhar River starts near Babra in Amreli District and meets the Gulf of Cambay in the Bhal Region. The Rangholi River is a major tributary. ;Lilka ;Limdi no Bhogavo ;Meshvo ;Ootavali ;Sabarmati The Sabarmati River is at the northeastern end of the Bhal. The Vatrak River and the Bhogawo Rivers are major tributaries of the Sabarmati. ;Surendranagar no Bhogavo

Wildlife and birds

* Velavadar Blackbuck National Park * Pipli Wetland * Saltpans & wetlands between Naari & Bawaliyali villages

Archaeological and historical sites

* Lothal * Gamph Gamph was a small state of India, ruled by chudasama Rajputs. There are 52 Estates of Chudasama Rajputs in the Dhandhuka area which all are the Bhayads of former Gamph state. These Rajputs are descended from the old Rah Dynasty of Junagadh. Navaghana (late 11th century king), The King of

Junagadh Junagadh () is the city and headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Located at the foot of the Girnar hills, southwest of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar (the state capital), it is the seventh largest city in the state. It i ...

have 5 sons, Whom elder son Bhimji given the Jagir of Bhadli. Second son Satrasalji given the jagir of Sarva, later known as Sarvaiya rajputs on the name of village Sarva. Third and fourth son Devghanji and Savghanji given Osham Chorasi. Fifth son Raa Khengar succeeded him, his descendant Raa Bhupatsinhji of

was called as "Raizada" Mahommed Begda, Sultan of Ahemdabad so they are later known as Raizada Rajputs. Bhimjis descendants continued the main branch of chudasama. Later they moved to Bhal region. Raisalji established new capital Gorasu in 1572. His Grandson Amarsinhji abandoned Gorasu and established Gamph in 1633, it remained Capital of Chudasama Rajputs. In 1947, Vikramsinhji Manharsinhji Chudasama, The Thakore Saheb of Gamph merged his State into

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

Pilgrimage sites

* Gorasu - Chudasama Rajput's Sahayak Devi Khodiyar Mataji Temple * Bhadiyad - Chudasama Rajputs Kuldevi Bhavani Mataji Temple * Arnej - Bootbhawani Mataji temple *Kauka - Bootbhawani mataji temple+ Bapasitaram temple * Bawaliyali - Radha-Krishna temple * Dholka - Kalikund tirth Jain Temple * Ganpatipura - Swayambhu Ganpati Idol & temple + Swaminarayan Mandir * Nani Boru - Lord Shiva Temple built by Prashnora Nagar Brahmin community * Bhadiyad - Pir Mehmudshah Bukhari Dargah Sharif and Mosque * Varna-lord hanumanji temple *Gorad ohil Mitali State BhayatRajput's Shahayak Devi Ma Kodiyar Temple * Swaminarayan Temple "Dholera- Madanmohanji Maharaj","Budhej" and "Gorad" * Akru-Madhavanand Aashram

Fairs

* Urash Mubarak of Bhadiyad pir

Notable Rulers

Chudasama Rajput was notable rulers of Bhal, they came here from Junagadh. The Chudasama Rajputs moved their capital to Gamph. Gamph was a small princely state with 52 Estates, who are former Bhayads of the ruler of Gamph State. Virbhadrasinhji Vikramsinhji Chudasama. 16th ruler of Gamph State and head of Chudasama Rajputs.

New projects coming in Bhal region

* Dholera International Airport * Ahmedabad - Dholera - Bhavnagar six-lane expressway * Gandhinagar - Ahmedabad - Dholera metro rail

Notes and references

External links

Website about information on Bhaal region
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhal Region Regions of Gujarat