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Dhoraji City Guide

Dhoraji is a large and flourishing town on the banks of small river Safura, a brnach of the river Bhadar. Th efortification of Dhoraji was completed in 1755 AD. The massive fort wall has several bastions, 4 main gates and 3 baris (small gates). The four main gates are Kathiawadi Darwaja in east, Porbandar Gate in west, Halar Gate in north and Junagadh Gate in south. The smaller gates are- Darbari Bari, Bhimji Bari ane Sati Bari. Darbargadh of a Dhoraji is located at the highest point in the town and is approached by Darbari Bari; a beautiful gate adorned with jharokha, resting on brackets of 4 elephant statues indifferent poses. A finely carved entrance gate leads to the Darbargadh in the middle of a courtyard. Darbargadh is a three storeyed structure on a high plinth. The facade is ornamented with sculptures of musicians, complex geometric pattern, images of sitting lions in different postures on long caves, profusely carved pillars, horizontal freizes, decorative kanguras and windows framing skyline. It is designed like a jewel box - in the same architectural style of Navlakha Places at Gondal.

The temple of Goddess Ashapura is located on the left of Darbargadh. At present, the royal campus badly needs conservation. Not very far from the Darbargadh, one can walk into the streets having some of the most beautiful houses of wealthy Memon merchants.

Sir Bhagwatsinhiji the noble ruler of Gondal State was born at Dhoraji Darbargadh. He was a fellow of Mumbai University and received honours from Edinburough University. During his extensive travels to Europe and England, he was greatly impressed by Paris and got interested in the principles of European town planning. On his return to Gondal, he established a town planning. On his return to Gondal, he established a town planning department and in the late 19th century, introduced town planning principals to regularize and monitor the growth of the fortified town of Gondal, Dhoraji and Upleta.

With the arrival of railways, a new part of Dhoraji town, between railway station and old town, was designed using axial planning, having broad avenues, road junctions, parks, bazaars and public buildings. It is a good example of urban planning of an Indian town during British Raj.

Upleta:(19 km from Dhoraji)
Upleta is a fortified town on the banks of river Moj. The high fortwall with huge bastions, gates and small ghats and the skyline of the buildings, creates a picturesque composition. The Darbargadh (now a police station), is enclosed within a fortified campus. It is a three storeyed structure(partly ruined), integreting a huge fort bastion as a part of the building. It has a high plinth and a carved arcade of 5 foliated arches and a sloping wooden roof. The windows and jharokhas overlook the river and provide beautiful vistas. Next to it, an exceptional building, named `Pani no Kotho', is situated. From a distance, the beautiful carved balconies on all the four sides with columns and arches, give an impression of a palace building, but in reality it houses a water tank and pumping station. It is a perfect example, showing blending of functions and asthetics to create a wonderful architecture. A mosque and Jain temple in the town the beautiful specimens of architecture.

Kutiyana: (53 km from Dhoraji)
Kutiyana is located on the banks of river Bhadar. Before independence. The houses of Kutiyana reflects the high aesthetic taste of Memon Muslims. Kutiyana was under the rule of Junagadh Nawabs. The town was populated by rich traders of the Memon community, before independence. The houses of Kutiyana reflects the high aesthetic taste of Memon Muslims.Kutiyana is a well planned town with a central bazar street leading to a magnificent mosque with high minarets a impressive facade. The shops at lower level of arcade forms an urban edge. The countryards within, the water tank for vazu and the profusely plaster-decorated architectural elements, painted in yellows, greens and blues make it a perfect representative example of mosque architectre of the late 19th century.

Travel Information:
Air: Nearest airports are Porbandar (99km), Rajkot (88km), Keshod (70km)
Rail:Dhoraji and Upleta on Ahmedabad- Probandar line
Road:Rajkot (*8km),Ahmedabad(313 km)
Local transport:Non-Metered Autorickshaws
Accomodation: Local Guest Houses
Food:Local eating Joints



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