My Birth Place - Porbandar

NAMASTE!!!

Kem Chho???

Here I am to take you all to the voyage of the beautiful city Porbandar (Gujarat, India) through my words.

First of all, I feel really lucky that I share my birthplace with Mahatma Gandhi, Nanji Kalidas Mehta (Great Industrialist and Philanthropist), Narottam Palan (Porbandar Historian who wrote the book 'PORBANDAR ITIHAS'), Pranlal Devkaran Nanji (Founder of Dena Bank) and many more.

Kirti Mandir - Birth Place of Mahatma Gandhi

HISTORY:

- Earlier, during the 10th century, it was known as 'Pauravelakul', and later on it was very well known as 'Sudamapuri'.

- Porbandar was founded in 1193. Shravan Sud Poonam or Naryeli Purnima is believed to be the foundation day of Porbandar.

- The Rulers belonged to the Jethwa clan of Rajput. 

- Rana Saghji was the Jethwa Ruler and 1st Rana.

- As per the mythological reference in Sudama Charitra of Skand Puran of Shrimad Bhagavad, the Porbandar city was named after Goddess Porav and was located along the river banks of Asmavati.

TOURISM:

There are many places to visit in Porbandar i.e. Kirti Mandir (Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace), Raj Mahal-Huzoor Palace, Chowpati Beach, Jadeshwar Mahadev Temple, Sudama Temple, Bird Sanctuary,

Shree Hari Mandir, Tara Mandir, Bharat Mandir, etc. 

One must visit the above places once if they visit Porbandar.

Shree Hari Mandir

- My Maa says that they experienced the sea view from the corridor of the Birla school. It is serene but scary too especially during rainy days. They used to visit the beach anytime they wanted to. So lucky!!!

- If you want to feel peace and serenity, just go and visit Chowpati. People residing there or those who visit Porbandar Chowpati once in their lifetime, I am sure, they just can't get over that place. It is

really fun visiting there.

- Recently, Riverfront is being constructed too.

Porbandar is a city, where you can have all types of fun from watching movies to spend time with your family at the beach. It is indeed a peaceful place.

Porbandar Chowpati

FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS:

- Celebrating festivals like Janmashtami and Diwali in Porbandar is a lot more fun. I used to visit Porbandar almost after every 6 months to spend my summer holidays and Diwali festival. But this time I couldn't due to the pandemic :(.

- During Diwali, Sudama Chowk is filled with so many people that you don't need to walk. You will walk with the help of the mob itself. I don't like crowd but sometimes I enjoy that crowd too observing little things around.

CULTURE:

- Porbandar has a special lifestyle and folk culture which is famous on the global map due to its unique dance MANIYARA RAS AND SWORD/DANDIYA RAS which reflects the warrior nature of people.

- Another thing due to which Porbandar is famous is for its fishing and Sea Voyage. It has been renowned for its 'All-Weather Port' from several centuries due to which large revenue was collected because of import and export to African & Europian countries.

There is an old popular saying that Porbandar is bitterly known for RANA, PANA, and BHANA. Rana- the ruler Rana Natwar Sinh, PANA - limestone reserves, BHANA - Bhanji Lavji - the famous firm for GHEE export.

 At last, I would like to say, one must visit Porbandar to experience a joyous and peaceful life.

P.S. I really miss the presence of my Nanabapu (grandpa) - Bhimjibhai Premjibhai Thanki as he could have given me more content to write about Porbandar.

~ Kalrav