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.