Porbandar

Onshore explorations in and around Porbandar brought to light the remains of a late Harappan settlement dating back to the 16th-14th centuries BCE. There is evidence to suggest that the Harappan legacy of maritime activity continued till the late Harappan period on the Saurashtra coast. The discovery of ancient jetties along the Porbandar creek signifies the importance of Porbandar as an active center of maritime activities in the past.[2]

Indian theology views Porbandar as the birthplace of Sudama, a friend of Krishna. For this reason, it is also referred to as Sudaamapuri or Sudamapuri.[2]

Kirti Mandir

Porbandar was the seat of the eponymous princely state in British India. Later the state belonged to the Jethwa clan of Rajputs and had been established in the area since at least the mid-16th century. The state was subordinate to the Mughal governor of Gujarat until being overrun by the Marathas in the latter half of the 18th century. After, they came under the authority of the Gaekwad court at Baroda and eventually of the Peshwa.

In common with the other states of Kathiawar, the state first came into the ambit of British influence in 1807, when the HEIC guaranteed security in the area in lieu of a fixed annual tribute to be paid to the Peshwa and the Gaekwad. In 1817, the Peshwa ceded his share to the HEIC; in 1820, the Gaekwad agreed to have the HIEC collect his due tributes in Kathiawar and remit the same to his treasury.

Huzoor Palace built by last ruler of Princely State of Porbandar, Rana Natwarsinhji, in the early 20th century, stands near seashore at Marine Drive in city.

During the British Raj, the state covered an area of 1,663 square kilometres (642 sq mi), encompassing 106 villages and a population, in 1921, of over 100,000 people. It enjoyed a revenue of Rs. 21,00,000/-. By 1947, the rulers held the style of "Highness" and the title of "Maharaj Rana Sahib". They were entitled to a salute of 13 guns as a hereditary distinction.

Upon the Independence of India in 1947, the state acceded to the dominion of India. It was merged with the 'United State of Kathiawar', effective 15 February 1948 and eventually came to form part of the present-day state of Gujarat. The last King of Porbandar was Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Maharaj.

Like most of Gujarat, Porbandar has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) with three distinct seasons: the “cool” from October to March, the “hot” in April, May and early June, and the monsoonal “wet” from mid-June to September.[4]

Almost no rain falls outside the monsoon season, except for a very few late-season tropical cyclones. The most powerful one occurred on 22 October 1975 and produced a storm surge of 4 metres or 13 feet. During the monsoon season, rainfall is exceedingly erratic: Annual rainfall has been as low as 32.2 millimetres or 1.27 inches in 1918 and 34.3 millimetres or 1.35 inches in 1939, but as high as 1,850.6 millimetres or 72.86 inches in 1983—when a cyclone caused over 1,100 millimetres (43.3 in) to fall over four days[5]—and 1,251.7 millimetres or 49.28 inches in 1878.

With a coefficient of variation exceeding fifty percent and an expectation of only 41 percent of mean annual rainfall in the driest year in ten, the Porbandar region is among the most variable in the world[6]—comparable to northern Australia, the Brazilian sertão and the Kiribatese Line Islands.[7]

An illustration of Porbandar’s extremely variable rainfall can be seen from 1899 to 1905 when seven successive years produced annual falls of:

• 83.4 millimetres (3.28 in) in 1899
• 1,185.1 millimetres (46.66 in) in 1900
• 99.8 millimetres (3.93 in) in 1901
• 756.9 millimetres (29.80 in) in 1902
• 575.2 millimetres (22.65 in) in 1903
• 124.5 millimetres (4.90 in) in 1904 and
• 134.4 millimetres (5.29 in) in 1905

Porbandar, owing to its coastal location, is the least hot of all major cities in Gujarat: Average high temperatures do not reach 32 °C or 90 °F in any month.

Porbandar has historical importance in context of one of the earliest Western Indian diaspora across the globe. Thousands of Gujarati people in United Kingdom have origin in porbandar. Fiji, Australia and UK has significant " Girnara Soni" community who have roots in Porbandar. Some people in Tanzania and Uganda have roots in Porbandar .Maher community popularly known as Mer has spread from porbandar to UK and USA before Decades. Some Lohana and Khoja Muslims have immigrated to South Africa and a few to Madagascar.

Birthplace of Gandhi

Courtship of Lesser Flamingos at Chhaya rann

The best time to visit is October to March.

• Kirti Mandir, a memorial of MK Gandhi (birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi) , built originally by Maharaja Sayaji Rao III in 1936 AD. It is located at the Main bazaar, Manek Chowk.
• Rana Bapu’s Mahal is located nearby Chowpati
• Bharat Mandir (A permanent exhibition of culture, history and geometry about India. It was established by Shri Nanjibhai Kalidas Mehta)
• Tara Mandir (one of the oldest planetariums of India)
• Ram Krishna Mission (Swami Vivekananda stayed here for four months)
• Shree Sudama ji Mandir: One of the few temples built in India in his name
• Shree Hari Mandir or Sandipani temple (handled by Ramesh Oza): a massive temple complex
• The Huzoor Palace, Daria Raj Mahal Palace, Darbargadh and the Sartanji Choro
• Chowpati beach: one of the cleanest in coastal Gujarat
• Porbandar Bird Sanctuary (birds like teals, fowls, flamingos, ibis, curlews can be seen)
• Barda Hills Wildlife Sanctuary (about 15 km from Porbandar, ideal for trekking)
• Bileshwara Shiva temple (built in the 7th century)
• Khimeshwar Mahadev Temple (Kuchchdi) (1600-year-old temple as per the Archaeological Survey of India)
• Jamvant cave (15 km away at Ranavav town) (historical place from the time of Ramayan)[16]
• Ghumli (37 km from the city, Capital of Jethwa kingdom till 1313, listed by Archaeological Survey of India)
• Porbandar has many wetlands ideal for birdwatching.[17]
• Janmashtami Mela (5 days), celebrated in the month of Shraavana as per Hindu calendar. There are rides, foods, and other attractions.

Porbandar is an ancient port city. At present it has an all-weather port, with direct berthing facilities up to 50,000 DWT ships.[18][19]

"NH8b" Highway

(Porbander - Kochuveli) Express Route map

The city is connected through National Highway 27, connecting to Rajkot and Ahmedabad. National Highway 8E Ext (also known as State Highway 6) connects to Jamnagar, Dwarka in the north and Veraval, Bhavnagar in the south.

Major public transport is covered by the private and government buses.

Many private coaches are available daily to Rajkot, Dwarka, Veraval, Junagadh, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Vadodra, Surat, and Mumbai.

Large number of S.T. buses (State Transport Corporation operated by government) are available to multiple destinations including major cities of the state, small villages and towns.

From Narsang Tekri, you can catch luxurious air-conditioned private buses for Rajkot and Ahmedabad. The booking is available on the internet.

Porbandar railway station connects Porbandar with major cities of state and the country. There are daily trains to Rajkot (via Jamnagar, Bhanwad and Upleta, Dhoraji, Gondal as well), Somnath (via Junagadh) and Mumbai (via Ahmedabad, Vadodra and Surat). There are also trains to Delhi, Muzaffarpur and Howrah connecting to major cities of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha and West Bengal. A weekly train service connects Kochuveli, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) and Secunderabad (Hyderabad) with Porbandar via Mangalore, Calicut, Kochi and Quilon(Kollam).

Porbandar Airport Mumbai-Porbandar to and fro flight by SpiceJet is currently operational.

Ahmedabad-Porbandar to and fro flight by TruJet is currently operational as well.