Halvad
| Halvad | |
|---|---|
| city | |
 Halvad
Halvad
|
|
| Coordinates: 23°01′N 71°11′E / 23.02°N 71.18°ECoordinates: 23°01′N 71°11′E / 23.02°N 71.18°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Morbi |
| Elevation | 46 m (151 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 24,323 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Vehicle registration | GJ |
| Website | gujaratindia |
Halvad is a town and a municipality in Morbi district in the Gujarat state of India.
Halvad is located at 23°01′N 71°11′E / 23.02°N 71.18°E. It has an average elevation of 46 metres (150 feet). Halvad sits on the banks of the Samatsar Pond. Halvad is protected by a temple of Shiva in all the directions. Halvad is called the Chota (small) Kashi of India.
Names of temples around Halvad:
Halvad was a former capital of the Dhrangadhra State and was ruled by the Jhala Rajputs. It is an ancient fortified town at the southern edge of the Little Rann of Kutch. The yellow earth of this semi arid area and the buildings of local yellow sandstone make the whole town glow vibrant golden yellow during sunrise.
Halvad is a village of Brahmins. Halvad is famous for gourmet Brahmins and heroic warriors, who fought against past invaders to protect their hometown. Today, one can see several cenotaphs and hero-stones built of sandstone at the edge of town. Paliyas (memorial stones) remind visitors of the bloody battles fought at the gates of Halvad. They evoke memories of women who committed sati to protect their honor and men who died fighting against enemies. Newly weds come here to perform the ritual of the untying of nuptial knots and pay homage to their ancestors. Even today, once a year, an unusual competition of Laddu eating is organised by the Brahmins of Halvad.
Modern day development of Halvad is because of the Patel community. They brought a lot of changes in local farming methods.
Chatris (15th-century structures) resemble the architecture of the smaller temple structures of Gujarat, with carved columns, high plinths and cobbled roofs in pyramidal shape. The vast arid landscape, dotted with chatris, makes a picturesque setting. At the edge of town, on the banks of the Samatsar lake, stands the finest example of the wooden architecture of the Royal Palaces of Gujarat. Other similar examples of palaces on the lake-shore in India are the palaces of Udaipur, Alwar, Datia and Mandu. The Halvad Palace Campus has all the elements of Rajput palaces - a zenana, a hall for public audience, a temple to the family goddess, a pleasure garden and administrative offices.
...
Wikipedia