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Porbandar

Sudamapuri
Porbandar Sudamapuri
City
	Kirti Mandir, birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi
	Logo of Porbandar Chhaya Municipal Corporation
	Porbandar Porbandar (Gujarat) Porbandar Porbandar (India)
	Coordinates: 21°38′30.0″N 69°37′45.5″E / 21.641667°N 69.629306°E[1]
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Porbandar
Government
• Body	Porbandar - Chhaya Municipal Corporation
Area
• Total	38.43 km2 (14.84 sq mi)
Elevation	30.85 m (101.21 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	152,760
• Density	4,000/km2 (10,000/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Gujarati
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	360575
Vehicle registration	GJ-25

Porbandar is a city and the headquarters of Porbandar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama. It was the former capital of the Porbandar princely state. Porbandar and Chhaya are the twin cities of each other and both cities are jointly governed by Porbandar–Chhaya Municipal Corporation.

History

Late Harappan settlement (1600-1400 BCE)

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.^[1]

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.^[1]

Princely Porbandar (1600 CE onwards)

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 Subah 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.

After Independence

Upon the Independence of India in 1947, the state was annexed into 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.

Geography

Porbandar is located at 21°37′48″N 69°36′0″E / 21.63000°N 69.60000°E / 21.63000; 69.60000.^[2] It has an average elevation of 1 metre (3 ft).

Climate

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.^[3]

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^[4]—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^[5]—comparable to northern Australia, the Brazilian sertão and the Kiribatese Line Islands.^[6]

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 35 °C or 95 °F in any month.

Climate data for Porbandar Airport (1981–2010, extremes 1969–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	35.9 (96.6)	39.0 (102.2)	43.1 (109.6)	44.0 (111.2)	45.5 (113.9)	40.8 (105.4)	35.4 (95.7)	35.4 (95.7)	40.3 (104.5)	41.4 (106.5)	39.7 (103.5)	37.2 (99.0)	45.5 (113.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29.3 (84.7)	30.5 (86.9)	32.9 (91.2)	33.5 (92.3)	33.5 (92.3)	33.3 (91.9)	31.4 (88.5)	30.3 (86.5)	31.7 (89.1)	34.7 (94.5)	33.9 (93.0)	31.0 (87.8)	32.2 (90.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	14.2 (57.6)	15.8 (60.4)	19.5 (67.1)	22.6 (72.7)	26.2 (79.2)	27.9 (82.2)	26.8 (80.2)	25.9 (78.6)	25.0 (77.0)	22.6 (72.7)	19.1 (66.4)	15.8 (60.4)	21.8 (71.2)
Record low °C (°F)	2.0 (35.6)	5.9 (42.6)	8.7 (47.7)	15.0 (59.0)	19.2 (66.6)	20.7 (69.3)	18.7 (65.7)	22.2 (72.0)	19.2 (66.6)	15.3 (59.5)	11.0 (51.8)	6.4 (43.5)	2.0 (35.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	1.1 (0.04)	1.1 (0.04)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	2.5 (0.10)	98.3 (3.87)	249.5 (9.82)	155.4 (6.12)	77.6 (3.06)	7.6 (0.30)	13.1 (0.52)	0.7 (0.03)	606.8 (23.89)
Average rainy days	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.2	3.3	9.4	7.7	3.0	0.9	0.5	0.2	25.4
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST)	40	43	49	57	68	72	77	77	70	52	42	41	57
Source: India Meteorological Department^[7]^[8]

Demographics

As of 2011^[update] India census, Porbandar (City and urban outgrowth) had a population of 152,760.^[9] Males constituted 51.4% of the population and females 48.6%. Porbandar has an average literacy rate of 86.46%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 91.69%, and female literacy is 80.92%. In Porbandar, 9.11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

According to the Census in 2011, the population of Porbander contracted 3.85% in 2011. i.e. the growth rate was negative. The sex ration of the city was 943 in 2011.^{[clarification needed]}

Formation of Municipal Corporation

In January 2025, the Gujarat state government elevated Porbandar–Chhaya from a municipality to a municipal corporation, enhancing its administrative capabilities and enabling more comprehensive urban planning and development. This transition is expected to improve infrastructure, public services, and governance for residents. The Porbandar–Chhaya Municipal Corporation now joins the ranks of Gujarat's municipal corporations, reflecting the region's growth and urbanization.^[10]

Government and politics

Porbandar city is governed by a MunicipalCorporation.^[11] The Municipal Corporation is responsible for supply of water to the city using Narmada as the main source of water supply.^[12] The Municipal Corporation supplies around 14 MLD everyday to the city. As per records available from 2008, the city had a coverage of 39% in terms of water supply connections though the coverage of distribution system was reported as 80%.^[13] As per another assessment in the year 2016, Porbandar ranked the lowest in terms the volume of water supplied per capita at 59 lpcd (liters per capita per day) as compared to Gandhinagar which ranked the highest at 245 lpcd.^[14] Municipal Corporation is also responsible for waste management in the city and generates about 66 tonnes per day of waste.^[15]

The current member of Parliament is Mansukh Mandaviya.^[16]

Culture

Tourist attractions

The best time to visit is October to March.

Kirti Mandir, It is located at the Main bazaar, Manek Chowk. Timings 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM Everyday. Website : GandhiBapu - Home Page
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)
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 temple complex
The Huzoor Palace, Daria Raj Mahal Palace, Darbargadh and the Sartanji Choro
Porbandar Chowpati
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)
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, food, and other attractions.
It is also one of the last coasts remaining where the threatened marine mammal dugong can be found.^[18]

Notable people

Mahatma Gandhi - "The father of the Nation" was born here
Kasturba Gandhi - wife of Mahatma Gandhi
Nanji Kalidas Mehta - businessman and philanthropist
Dr. Savitaben Nanji Kalidas Mehta - Educationist and Manipuri dancer
Nanabhai Bhatt - film director and producer
Jaydev Unadkat - Indian cricket player
Sudama - (also known as Kuchela) friend of Krishna
Ajay Lalcheta - Oman cricket team Ex-captain & player
Dilip Joshi - famous for his role in the TV serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah as Jethalal Gada

Transport

Porbandar is well-connected by road, rail and air to cities across the country.

Port

Porbandar is an ancient port city. At present it has an all-weather port, with direct berthing facilities up to 50,000 DWT ships.^[19]^[20]

Road

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.

Rail

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).

Airport

From August 2022, no flights are operational.

Sports

Duleep School of Cricket Ground is one of two cricket grounds in Porbandar. The ground is also the home ground of Saurashtra cricket team. It hosted six cricket matches from 1968 to 1986 before falling of the record. The ground is named after great Indian cricketer and Prince of Nawanagar Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji.
Natwarsinhji Cricket Club Ground is one of two cricket grounds in Porbandar. It hosted a Ranji Trophy match in October 1960 between Saurashtra cricket team and Maharashtra cricket team. The Maharashtra team won by 10 wickets as the match had a low scores with Saurashtra scored 94 & 139 and Maharashtra scored 187 and 47/0. It was scheduled for three days but was completed in two. This was only cricket played on the ground.

References

^ ^a ^b A.S Gaur, Sundaresh, A.D. Odedra (2004). "New light on the maritime archaeology of Porbandar, Saurashtra Coast, Gujarat". Man and Environment. 29 (1): 103–107.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Porbandar, India". www.fallingrain.com.
^ "Porbandar - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
^ Francis P. A. and Sulochana Gadgil; ‘Intense Rainfall Events over the West Coast during the Summer Monsoon Season’ (CAOS REPORT 2002 AS 1); published by Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies; Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
^ Dewar, Robert E. and Wallis, James R; ‘Geographical patterning of interannual rainfall variability in the tropics and near tropics: An L-moments approach’; in Journal of Climate, 12; pp. 3457-3466
^ Van Etten, Eddie J.B.; ‘Inter-annual Rainfall Variability of Arid Australia: greater than elsewhere?’ Australian Geographer; 40 (2009), pp. 109-120
^ "Station: Porbandar (A) Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. pp. 617–618. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
^ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M59. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
^ "Census of India". Census of India. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
^ "Gujarat Cabinet Approves Formation of Nine New Municipal Corporations". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
^ "Local body polls Delimitation exercise held in Gujarat". The Indian Express. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^ "Hardlook: Thirsty Gujarat cities… fed by Narmada". The Indian Express. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
^ "Urban Water and Sanitation in Gujarat: A Report Prepared by Urban Management Centre" (PDF). PAS. September 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
^ "URBAN WATER & SANITATION IN GUJARAT Summary Report 2009-2016" (PDF). PAS. June 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
^ "GOVERNMENT OF INDIA URBAN DEVELOPMENT" (PDF). Eparlib. 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
^ "Porbandar Election Result 2024 Highlights: Lok Sabha Winner, Leading MP, Margin". News18. Network18. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ "Wetlands of Porbandar". Mokarsagar Committee. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
^ Kaushik, Himanshu (13 August 2013). "Task force on dugong soon". Times of India. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
^ "Porbandar Port | GMB Operated Ports | Ports in Gujarat | Ports | Home | GMB Ports". Archived from the original on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
^ "Port of Porbandar, India". Portfocus.com. Retrieved 11 April 2022.