Valsad
Valsad | |
---|---|
City | |
Coordinates: 20°36′36″N 72°55′34″E / 20.610°N 72.926°E | |
Land | ![]() |
District | Valsad |
Elevation | 13 m (43 ft) |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 170,060 |
Languages | |
• Official | Gujarati |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 396001 |
Telephone code | 912632 |
Vehicle registration | GJ-15 |
Sex ratio | 926/1000 ♂/♀ |
Literacy | 80.94 % |
Valsad, also known as Bulsar, is a municipality in the Valsad district of the Indian state of Gujarat. This city has a collectorate, a district court, and a police headquarters with a historic prison.
Historically, Valsad was a small town covered with forest, with teak production as a major regional industry. It was a part of regional kingdom before colonial era. It was made a district during the Bombay Presidency era, and was governed under Bombay State during the colonial era, following independence (prior to the creation of the state of Gujarat). Today, Valsad is a town inhabited by Gujarati people. Gujarati is the primary language in and around the town.
The main religion followed in the region is Hinduism. Other minority religions include Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Zoroastrian, and Sikhism.
A tourist destination, the best time to visit Bulsar is in May-June, pre-monsoon, when the roads in and around town are at their best.
Morarji Desai, former Prime Minister of India was from Valsad. Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury had family origins in Valsad, and his original family name (Bulsara) is derived from the former name of the city. Former Bollywood actresses Nirupa Roy and Bindu are also from Valsad.
Valsad is famous for its beach and temples and the mountains .
Etymology
The name 'Valsad' derives from vad-saal, a Gujarati language compound meaning "hampered (saal) by banyan trees (vad)" (the area was naturally rich in banyan trees). It was known as Bulsar during the British Raj.
Geography
Valsad is located at 20°38′N 72°56′E / 20.63°N 72.93°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 13 metres (42 feet).
The city center is about 4 km inland from the Arabian sea.[3]
Geography of Valsad City[4]: | |
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Average rainfall | 1500 mm to 2200 mm |
Average temperature | 26.9 °C |
Seismic Zone | Zone III |
Major rivers | Auranga, Wanki |
Beaches | Tithal Beach |
Demographics
As of the 2011 India census,[5] Valsad had a population of 170,060. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Valsad has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 77%.
Economy
The Alphonso mango (known locally as Haafus), for which the city and environs were once famous, is still important to the local economy. Villages in the Valsad district have numerous mango orchards, the only source of income for many villagers. The Haafus mango is very much well known for its sweet taste among mango lovers all over the world. The Haafus mango is exported to various countries of the world such as the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and also to cities throughout India. The city also has a Mango Market containing more than 300 Mango Shops which stay fully crowded at the time of Mango Season which is Indian summer — specifically April to June. Atul is a major chemical company that employs a majority of people from the town of Valsad.
Tourism
- Shree Shirdi Saibaba Sansthapan, Tithal
Shree Shirdi Saibaba Sansthapan is located on the shore of the beach in Tithal town of Valsad district. The temple was established in 1982.
- Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Tithal
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is located on the shore of the beach in Tithal town of Valsad district. This is a temple of Lord Swami Narayan.
- Shantidham Aradhana Kendra, Tithal
Shantidham Aradhana Kendra is famous to achieve mental peace and spiritual experience among monks of the world.[6]
- Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Valsad
Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple is located near Abrama town of Valsad district. This temple is more than 800 years old. This is a temple of Lord Shiva.
- Tithal Beach
Tithal Beach is located near Tithal town of Valsad district. The sand of beach is Black sand. Tithal beach is one of the popular tourist attraction of Valsad district and Gujarat. Tithal Beach Festival and International Kite Festival are also organized on the shore of the beach.
- Morarji Desai Museum
Morarji Desai Museum is built to dedicate former 5th Prime Minister of India, Morarji Desai in Valsad. The museum was developed by Valsad municipality at a cost of Rs. 4 crore. The museum was inaugurated by former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel.[7]
- Callian Baug
Callian Baug is one of the ancient place of Valsad city. In 1929, Mr. Motilal Callianji presented donation for park to Bulsar Municipality in memory of his father. In 1931, Callian Baug was opened by J.H.Garrett.[8]
Bildung
Colleges
The city has two technical colleges, Government Polytechnic, which was established in 1965, and Government Engineering College, established in 2004. The city also has commerce, arts, science, law and medical college.
- Government Engineering College
- Government Polytechnic
- Shah N.H. Commerce College
- Smt. J.P. Shroff Arts College
- B.K.M. Science College
- Shah K.M. Law College
- GMERS Medical College
- Dolat-Usha Institute of Applied Sciences
- Dhiru-Sarla Institute of Management and Commerce
Schools
In Valsad city, many English and Gujarati medium Schools are there as well as a Hindi medium school. Gujarati schools are predominantly affiliated with the Gujarat Board, whilst English medium schools are affiliated with either the Gujarat or CBSE or ICSE boards.
List of Schools
Affiliated with ICSE
Affiliated with the State Board
- St. Joseph's English Teaching High School
- Bai Ava Bai High School
- G.V.D. Sarvajanik High School
- Sett Rustomjee Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy or Sett R.J.J High School
- D.M.D.G. Municipal High School
- Jamnabai Sarvajanik Kanya Vidyalaya
- Maniba Sarvajanik Vidyalaya
- R.M. & V.M. Desai Vidyalaya
- Jai Ambe School
- Swaminarayan High School
- Gaytri High School
- Shah Khimchand Mulji Sarvajanik High School
- Kusum Vidyalaya
- C.B High school
- St Mary's High school.
Affiliated with the CBSE
- Saraswati International School
- Western Railway English Medium Secondary School
- Shree Vallabh Ashram's MGM Amin & V N Savani International School
Transport
The city has a rail terminus for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad line and Mumbai-Delhi line of the Western Railway. Connected by the National Highway no. 48 (NH 48), Valsad is about 150 km north of Mumbai and about 100 km south of the city of Surat.
Railways
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Valsad_Railway_Station.jpg/220px-Valsad_Railway_Station.jpg)
Valsad is a major railway station on the Mumbai-Vadodara mainline of Western Railways (WR) and is well connected by rail to all major cities in India. The present railway station building was established in 1925. Most trains on the route including the August Kranti Rajdhani Express have a scheduled halt at Valsad. Adjacent to the railway station is the Valsad Electric Loco Shed which houses over 100 electric locomotives. It is the only loco shed on WR which houses the AC/DC locomotives like WCAM-1 and WCAM-2, WCAM-2P and one of the only two in India (the other being Kalyan on Central Railways) to house AC/DC dual powered electric locomotives. Recently many WAG-5/5As have been homed at Valsad who are pure AC locomotives. Valsad has five platforms no 1,2,3,4,5 and there are almost 3-4 freight sidings.
The nearest domestic airport is Surat Airport which is very well connected to Non Stop daily flights to Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Goa, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Patna, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Kandla. Airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, SpiceJet and Ventura Air connect operate daily Non Stop flights from Surat Airport.
Bus
Valsad is one of the 16 divisions of GSRTC referred as Daman Ganga. Following bus depots come under Valsad division :
- Valsad
- Vapi
- Navsari
- Bilimora
- Dharampur
- Ahwa
Valsad | ||||
Next 'Small' station towards Mumbai: Atul |
Western Railway Zone | Next 'Small' station towards Surat: Dungri |
||
Distance from Mumbai = 180 km | ||||
Next 'Main' station towards Mumbai: Vapi |
Western Railway Zone | Next 'Main' station towards Surat: Bilimora Junction |
Cities and towns in Valsad district
References
- ^ http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=555577
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Valsad
- ^ https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bulsar,+India&hl=en&ll=20.604266,72.921066&spn=0.066602,0.132093&sll=37.274322,-79.957542&sspn=0.22648,0.528374&hnear=Valsad,+Gujarat,+India&t=m&z=14
- ^ "Geography of Valsad". Valsadonline.
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- ^ "Shantidham Aradhana Kendra". Jinjimaharaj.
- ^ "Museum on Morarji Desai likely to open in February 2015 in Gujarat". DeshGujarat.
- ^ Valsad Tourism
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official Website of the Valsad Collectorate (in Gujarati).
- Official Website of the Valsad Nagarpalika.