Rajkot

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

Location

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

History

Founded in 1612 by Thakur Saheb Vibhaji Ajoji Jadeja of Jadeja clan. 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 known 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.

Industry

Rajkot is famous for its Bandhani Sarees, mirror-work, patch work, bead work, jewellery market, silk embroidery and Watch Parts. 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 Knives and other cutting appliances
* Watch Parts : Watch Cases & Bracelets
* Auto Parts
* Forging industry
* Casting industry
* Machine tools

Transportation

It is connected to Mumbai by air and railway. Daily flights are operated by Jet Airways, Air Deccan and Indian Airlines. The city is well connected to other major cities of Gujarat such as Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Surat etc. by Bus services operated by private and state-owned transport corporations. It is main railway junction of saurashtra, train for the all the major cities is available from here.

Interesting Places

* Race Course
* Aji Dam
* Swaminarayan Temple
* Bal Vatika
* Balaji Temple
* Jubilee Garden
* Fun World
* Watson Museum
* Ramakrishna Aashram
* Lalpari lake
* Mukti Dhama
* Love Tample
* Christ College
* T. N. Rao College
* Vraj Vatika