>FrescoBot at 17:47, 5 July 2021

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Dhrangadhra
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = Gujarati
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| nickname = Pink City
| pushpin_map = India Gujarat#India3
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Gujarat, India
| coordinates = {{coord|22.98|N|71.47|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Gujarat]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Surendranagar district|Surendranagar]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 64
| population_total = 75133
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 363310
| registration_plate =GJ 13
| website = {{URL|https://gujaratindia.gov.in/}}
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[English language|English]] }}
'''Dhrangadhra''' ({{audio|Dhrangdhra1.ogg|<small>pronunciation</small>|help=yes}}) is a [[town]], [[taluka headquarters]] and a [[municipality]] in [[Surendranagar district]] in the state of [[Gujarat]], [[India]]. During the period of the [[British Raj]], the city was the capital of [[Dhrangadhra State]], one of the eight first-class [[princely state]]s ([[Salute state|13-gun salute]]) of the [[Kathiawar Agency]] in the [[Bombay Presidency]].{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

==Etymology==
In [[Sanskrit]] ''dhrang'' means a [[Rock (geology)|stone]], and ''dhara'' means the [[earth]]. It is believed that because of the strong and widespread yellow stone [[bedrock]] found immediately under the soil of the place, the town is thus named.

==History==
[[File:Dhrangadhra State CoA.jpg|thumb|left|Coat of Arms of Dhrangadhra state]]
[[File:H.H. Man Singh, Raja of Dhrangadhra.jpg|thumb|Portrait of H.H. Man Singh, Raja of Dhrangadhra (1837-1900)]]
Dhrangadhra has a long history starting from [[Lower Paleolithic]] Period. The River named Falku is passing from Dhrangadhra town. The evidence come from the river bed of the Bhadar river which flows along with the Dhragadhra taluka. Moreover, there are many [[Indus Valley Civilization|Harappan-period]] sites. Recent studies in the area suggests that the Dhragadhra and Halvad taluka was the frontier of the so-called sorat Harappans which bifurcates the Sidhi Harrapans of Kutch &andSindh. These are recent studies made by Arun Malik, a PhD scholar of The M.S. University of Baroda and now he is with Archaeological Survey of India.

===Modern history===
{{Main|Dhrangadhra State}}
Dhrangadhra grew from Jhalawad Princely State, which was founded about AD 1090. This state was ruled by the Jhala Rajputs. In 1735, Dhrangadhra was founded as its capital. The state was then renamed ''Dhrangadhra-Halvad state'' from the initial name of ''Kuwa, Halwad''.

In 1941 the princely state of Dhrangadhra had a population of 94,417 living in an area of 1,167 square miles.<ref>Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer. p. 511</ref>

In 1925, India's first [[soda ash]] factory was founded in Dhrangadhra. It was taken over by [[Shreyans Prasad Jain]], who established the Dhrangadhra Chemical Works (now known as DCW) in 1939. Now, DCW is the largest industry there, and is the main source of employment.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dcwmonitor.com/aboutdcw.asp |title=About DCW |access-date=3 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103063855/http://www.dcwmonitor.com/aboutdcw.asp |archive-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1948, the state of Dhrangadhra was made part of the Jhalawad district in [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]]. In 1956 it became part of [[Gujarat]]. Dhrangadhra also contains the Gobar gas plant, which is located at Navalgadh village.

==Geography==
Dhrangadhra is located at {{Coord|22.98|N|71.47|E|}}.<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/9/Dhrangadhra.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Dhrangadhra]</ref> It has an average elevation of 64 metres (209 feet).

==Demographics==
{{As of|2001}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archivedate=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|accessdate=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Dhrangadhra had a population of 75,133. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Dhrangadhra has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75% and, female literacy is 59%. In Dhrangadhra, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Juna Ghanshyamgadh is also located near Dhrangdhara.

With both sacred and secular architecture influenced by local medieval history, Dhangadhra today is a modern town with the population of about 100,000, which includes [[Hinduism|Hindus]], [[Islam|Muslims]], [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrians]], [[Jainism|Jains]] and [[Christainity|Christains]]. The affluent are traders in the local [[cotton]] and [[Edible salt|salt]] trade that has existed for over 300 years, while the majority are farmers and shopkeepers. It has industries such as DCW with chemical products, Mausam brand food products such as Spices, delicious pickles in various flavours, sauces, pastes, sherbets, and ketchup by K.P. Industries and many other industries in [[Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation|GIDC]] area. The provincial town boasts several hospitals, schools and a college. Along with regular telephone and portal services, mail and courier facilities are also available in the town.

The [[Rabari]] and ''Bharwad'' farming communities that raise cattle, sheep, goat and camels live in villages surrounding the town. Each summer, the outskirts of the town also hosts a camp of [[snake charmer]]s.

Dhangadhra is a railway junction on the [[Western Railway (India)]] and is connected to [[Ahmedabad]] and other regions of [[Kutch]] and [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] by road and rail links. There are [[auto rickshaw]]s (three-wheeler hooded taxis) and larger un-hooded three-wheelers called ''Chhakada'' which typically run on modified [[Royal Enfield]] engines, are available for travel within the town and surrounding areas.

Dhrangadhra is also the headquarters of the Deputy Conservator of Forests, which is responsible for the [[Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary]] on the [[Rann of Kutch|Little Rann of Kutch]], home to the last three species of [[Onager|Asiatic Wild Ass]].

==Culture and places of interest==
•The Radha Krishna Temple at Army Cantonment
• Mausam Pickle Factory (authorization needed)
• The Palace (authorization needed)
• Falku Dam
• Phuleshwar Mahadev Temple
• BAPS Swaminarayan Temple
• Rokadiya Hanuman Temple, it has a lot of tortoises that are very old.
• Khareswar Mahadev (narali)
• Dhrangadhra Chemical Works
• Jogasar Lake

==Culture==
Temples, step-wells, palaces and mosques from various historical periods exist in various states of preservation. There are more than 100 places of worship, and ancient art and craft traditions such as stone [[sculpture]], [[jewellery]] making, [[tie-dye|tie and dye]] fabrics and [[embroidery]] prosper.

B.A.P.S. Swaminaryan Temple Dhrangadhra, GJ SH 7, Panchavati Society [Pramuk Swami Mandir]

Bhagwatdham, Shri Swaminarayan Gurukul, Halvad road, Near Ahmedabad- Maliya Bye Pass, GJ SH 7, Bhagwatdham Society, Dhrangadhra

Shree Swaminarayan Sanskardham Gurukul, Halwad road, Dhrangadhra<ref>http://www.ssgd.org</ref>

One of the ancient ek-dantay Ganpati temple, famous as Jogasar is located in Dhrangadhra

Shitla Maa Temple, Dhrangadhra is located in the northern suburban area

There is even a Deshal Bhagat temple [Desal Bhagat of Rajput samaj] situated outside the city, believed that god himself took the form of Saint Deshal Bhagat one time.

Also there is ashram of Valbai Maa, Bhala Hanumaan Mandir, Fuleshwar Mahadev temple, Rokadiya Hanumanji temple, Bala Hanumanji temple, Dariyalal temple, Jalaram bapa temple, Shakti ma temple, etc.

There is a {{transl|gu|dargah}} of Shahid Muhammed Musa in the Raj Darabar (Man Mahelat)

Man Mehlat Palace [Raj mahel], Dholidhar, Dhrangadhra in the town centre is well preserved

Ajitnivas Palace complex, DCW Colony, Dhrangadhra is another palatial complex located southerly

Taranga Vihar Dham located far along highway near Chuli after Saladi railway station is a popular destination close to Dhanrgadhra.

Matrivav, Kankavati - a historic well preserved step-well is located 15 km far northwesterly

Dhrangadhra is famous for its Stone artwork. The Government of Gujarat (Department of Industries and Mines and Commissioner of Geology & Mining) has set up two prestigious Stone Artisan Park Training Institutes (SAPTIs) - one each at Dhrangadhra and Ambaji in the State.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://saptigujarat.org/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=7 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110130735/http://saptigujarat.org/ |archive-date=10 January 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Training centre in Dhrangadhra is located 3 km from the town on Halvad bypass road, near railway crossing. Traditionally, the 'Sompura' cast from Dhrangadhra have built and designed many Jain derasars - a type of temple of Jain people all over Gujarat and India. It is known that the temple of Somnath is built by the Sompura cast living in Dhrangadhra.

== See also ==
* [[Dhrangadhra (Vidhan Sabha constituency)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* http://www.naimisar.com/Dhrangadhra/
* [http://www.ssgd.org/ Shree Swaminarayan Sanskardham Gurukul, Dhrangadhra]

{{Princely states of India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Surendranagar district]]
[[Category:1735 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1735]]
[[Category:Saurashtra (region)]]
[[Category:Taluka of Surendranagar]]

Dhrangadhra - Revision history

>FrescoBot at 17:47, 5 July 2021