Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Tourist Attractions

Lakhota Palace and Kotha Bastion:
The Lakhota Palace is a small palace that once belonged to the Maharaja of Nawanagar. Today it houses a small museum with displays from archaeological sites in the area. Located in the center of Old Jamnagar on an island in the middle of a lake, two old structures namely Lakhota Fort and Kotha Bastion are sure to captivate you. The terrace of Lakhota Fort displays a fine collection of sculptures that date back to the time of yore. The Kotha Bastion is Jamnagar's arsenal. It has a fine collection of sculptures, coins, inscriptions and copper plates and the skeleton of a whale. Its major attraction is an old well, the water of which can be drawn by blowing into a small hole in the floor.

Marine National Park:
Marine National Park, the only marine sanctuary of India is near Jamnagar. It is situated on the coral reef island of Pirotan. The park is spread over an area of 458 sq kms. Here you will find plants that look like animals and animals that look like plants. Turtles, shrimp, sponge, eels, sea urchin lurk among corals. The Marine National Park is 30 kms from Jamnagar.

Bhujio Kotho:
Bhujio Kotho enjoys a distinct place among the tourists due to its height and circumference. It is believed that the monument was constructed for protection during the invasions. It has five floors and on the first floor there are guns placed in each directions. On the upper floor a tank is constructed to store water and on it's peak a dancing peacock is placed.

Jain Temples:
Jamnagar is well-known for its four marble Jain temples: Vardhman Shah's Temple, Raisi Shah's Temple, Sheth's Temple, and Vasupujya Swami's Temple.All were built between 1574 and 1622. Shantinath and Adinath temples are known extraordinary for the quality and quantity of the murals on the walls, ceilings and pillars of the temples. Shantinath Mandir, is a maze of brightly coloured columns, each section of roof between them highlighted with individual designs. The marble floor beneath is emblazoned with distinctive Jain patterns in yellow, black, white and red. Above the main sanctuary, an enormous dome rises in a series of concentric circles glinting with gold. The outer side of the large dome over Adinath Mandir is inlaid with gold and coloured mosaic, and both Temples have cupolas enriched with design of mirrors above the entrance porch.

Bala Hanuman temple:
Bala Hanuman temple is highly venerated among the devotees of Rama. The Bala Hanuman Temple is noted for the continuous chanting of the mantra "Jai Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram". Started on August 1, 1964, the chant continues for 24 hours a day, in shifts, and is still continuing. This has earned the temple a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Jamnagar contains several ancient and archeologially important temples, such as the Navlakha Temple in Ghumli, Kileshwar Temple in Barda Hills, The Ancient Sun Temple at Gop and The Ancient Bhid Bhanjan Temple built by the Jams.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Geographical Location

Jamnagar district lies between 21º 47' and 22º 57' north latitude and 68º 57' and 70º 37' west longitude in the peninsular region in the north west, in the state of Gujarat India , known as Kathiawar or Saurashtra.Jamnagar district measures about 128.75 km. from North to South and about 167.37 km. from East to West. The area of the district is 10,921 sq. km.This district is bounded on the North by the Rann and Gulf of Kutch, on the East by Rajkot district, on the South by Junagadh district and on the West by the Arabian Sea.

History of JAMNAGAR

Jamnagar is a coastal town of Gujarat in India. The Jamnagar district, originally constituted as Halar district, is not only recent in its origin but also in its modern set up. But the region comprised therein is of great antiquity and dates back to ancient periods of Jamnagar. According to Pauranik literature, Lord Krishna established his kingdom at Dwarka, now in Jamnagar district, after his migration from Mathura and it is to this great Yadava race that the Jams of Nawanagar trace their descent.Jamnagar was founded by "Jam Raval" in 1540 A.D. as the capital of the princely state of Nawanagar. It was so named after the ruler who called themselves "Jamshree".
The Halar district which was constituted for the first time in the year 1949 after the merger of princely states into the state of Saurashtra, constituted of the former Indian states of Nawanagar and Dhrol, Dhrafa Thana and part of Jalia Dewani. After re-organization several territorial changes were effected in practically all the districts of Saurashtra. On June 19th 1959, the boundaries of the district got enlarged by the inclusion of the adjoining Okhamandal, when Halar district was renamed Jamnagar. This district became part of the newly born State of Gujarat on the bifurcation of the composite State of Bombay on May 1st 1960.In the year 1961 the district consisted of 720 villages and 15 towns.