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Jamnagar () is a city and the headquarters of Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city lies just to the south of the Gulf of Kutch, some west of the state capital, Gandhinagar. The city was the capital of Nawanagar State during British Raj.
India's largest private company, Reliance Industries, has established the world's largest oil refining and petrochemicals complex in Jamnagar district.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India signed an agreement to establish the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar. This global knowledge centre for traditional medicine, supported by an investment of USD 250 million from the Government of India, aims to harness the potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern science and technology to improve the health of people and the planet.
India's largest private company, Reliance Industries is developing the world's largest zoo at a location of 28 kms from Jamnagar city.
The luxury hotel chain Lemon Tree Hotels will open its new luxury hotel in Jamnagar in FY25. Jamnagar Municipal Corporation is planning to develop the riverfront on Rangmati River – Nagmati River river at an approximate cost of around Rs. 500 crores.
According to historical records, Bahadur Shah, Sultan of Gujarat bestowed upon Jam Lakhaji twelve villages in recognition of his role in the siege of Pawagadh. Shortly after he took possession of the villages, Jam Lakhaji was killed by his cousins, Tamachi Deda and Jam Hamir Jadeja. His son, Jam Rawal, murdered his father's killers and became ruler of Kutch State. The Kutch State was semi-independent from the Gujarat Sultanate.
Hamirji's sons, Khengarji and Sahibji, served the Sultan of Gujarat. During a hunt, the brothers saved the Sultan from being killed by a Asiatic lion. As a reward for their valour, the Sultan sent an army with them to regain their kingdom. Jam Rawal prepared for battle after hearing that the two princes were returning to Kutch with the imperial army.
Goddess Ashapuraji, the supreme deity of the Jadeja Clan of Rajputs, appeared to Jam Rawal in a dream. She told him that although he had broken an oath taken in her name not to kill Hamirji, she had refrained from punishing him because he had previously honoured her. She said that Jam Rawal was no longer to dwell in Kutch.
As Jam Rawal and his entourage marched out of Kutch, they attacked and killed Tamachi Deda, the main conspirator in the murder of Jam Lakhaji. Jam Rawal also conquered the town of Amran and its dependencies, bestowing the rule of Dhrol province on his younger brother Hardholji. Hardholji died in battle at Mithoi near Khambhalia, passing the throne to his eldest son Jasoji. Jam Rawal conquered parts of Saurashtra and formed his kingdom with 999 villages named Halar.
While on a hunting trip in present-day Jamnagar, Jam Rawal's hunting dogs were scared by a hare brave enough to turn on them. Jam Rawal thought that if this land could breed such hares, the men born here would be superior to other men. As a result, he made this place his capital. On the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Shrawan, Vikram Samvat1956 (August 1540) on the banks of the Rangmati River and Nagmati River rivers, Jam Rawal laid the foundation of his new capital and named it Nawanagar (new town). After a few centuries, its name changed to Jamnagar or the Town of the JAMs.
During the 18th century, Nawanagar was ruled by the Jadeja Rajputs, who were known for their bravery and military prowess. They fought many battles with the neighbouring states and played a significant role in defending the region against foreign invasions.
In 1807, Nawanagar became a princely state under the British Raj. The first ruler of the state was Maharaja Ranjit Singhji, who was known for his progressive policies and efforts to modernize the state. He built many schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, and introduced a number of reforms to improve the lives of his subjects.
Jamsaib was instrumental in creating the city's modern infrastructure during his reign in the 1920s. Jam Saheb Shri Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji expanded the city's development in the 1940s when it was part of the Princely state of Nawanagar State.
There are two important ports close to Jamnagar. Rozi Port is on the shore of the Gulf of Kutch; Bedi Port is two nautical miles () inland on the Rangmati River. Bedi Port is an all-weather intermediate seaport that exports various commodities, including bauxite, soya meal extracts, and ground nut extracts. The port's imports include coal, fertilizer, and other items.
The coral reef island of Pirotan is one of the 42 islands which compose the Marine National Park. Pirotan lies in the Arabian Sea, 12 nautical miles off the coast, and stretches up to .
Khijadia Bird Sanctuary, located northeast of Jamnagar, was established 6 November 1982. It features a seasonal freshwater shallow lake, inter-tidal mudflats, creeks, saltpans, saline land, and mangrove scrub. The place is a known breeding ground of the Great Crested Grebe, the little grebe, purple moorhen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt, and Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Raptors, including Harriers, , , and also live here. The sanctuary also shelters migratory birds such as , Martins, , and Waterfowl.
Jamnagar has huge reserves of bauxite, with its mines contributing 95% of the total production in the state.
The highest recorded temperature in Jamnagar was on 5 May 1990, while the lowest recorded temperature was on 5 February 1984.
Most residents of Jamnagar are Gujarati and speak the Gujarati language. A small portion of the population speaks the Kutchi language, which is written in the Gujarati script but not mutually intelligible with Gujarati. The Kathiawadi language, a colloquial dialect of Gujarati, is widely used for day-to-day communication.
| + Historical religious demographics in Nawanagar Municipality !Religion !Population (1901) !Percentage (1901) | ||
| Hinduism | 32,005 | |
| Islam | 17,027 | |
| Jainism | 4031 | |
| Zoroastrianism | 111 | |
| Christianity | 79 | |
| Judaism | 1 | |
Jamnagar was formerly known as the Brass City because it houses more than 5,000 large-scale and 10,000 small-scale workshops that manufacture brass items. Most workshops are in and around the industrial estates of Shankar Tekri, GIDC Phase-III, M P Shah Udhyognagar, and Dared GIDC-II Industrial estate. The workshops make brass parts and extruded rods for export. Jamnagar is the largest producer of brass items in India.
Jamnagar is known as the World's Oil City because it is home to the world's biggest oil refinery. The Jamnagar Refinery is a private-sector crude oil refinery owned by Reliance Industries Limited. The refinery was commissioned on 14 July 1999 and is the largest refinery in the world. Nayara Energy owns Vadinar refinery. India's second-largest single-site refinery is at Vadinar, Gujarat.
Jamnagar has base stations for the Indian Air Force, the Indian Army, and the Indian Navy. The city has a strategic location close to Pakistan. It also has sizable reserves of bauxite, with its mines contributing 95% of the total production in the state.
The Bala Hanuman Temple on the southeastern side of Ranmal Lake is known for the continuous chanting of the mantra "Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram". Starting on 1 August 1964, this chant continues for 24 hours a day, earning the temple a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Thousands of devotees visit the temple every year. Bholeshwar Mahadev Temple holds a fair every year on Shravani Amavas (New-moon day). During the holy month of Shravana, there are Hindu fairs on the dried river banks near Bohra Hajira.
Pratap Vilas Palace, built during the rule of His Royal Highness Ranjitsinhji, features European architectural style with Indian carvings. It is an imitation of the Victoria Memorial Building in Calcutta, but its domes are in the tradition of Indian architecture. Three of the domes are glass. The palace's columns feature carvings of creepers, flowers, leaves, birds, and animals. The 2001 earthquake caused some damage to its parapets and the separation of some upper walls at the roof level in some corners. Willingdon Crescent (known Darbargarh Market now) was constructed by Ranjit Singh to replace a slum area. Inspired by Singh's European travels, it is an arcade of cusped arches, bigger on the ground floor and smaller on the upper storey. It has pilasters on the curving walls and balusters on the parapet. There is a statue of Jam Saheb in the center of the crescent. The 2001 Gujarat earthquake caused slight damage to this shopping area.
The municipal corporation built the sports complex with a swimming pool, badminton court, and other facilities. There is also an 80-year-old sports club, Summair Sports Club, built by the erstwhile rulers of Jamnagar. It has a swimming pool, tennis, squash, and badminton courts, a billiard hall, a table tennis facility, and a hotel.
The Marine National Park on the Gulf of Kutch is India's first marine sanctuary. Located about from the city centre, the park includes an archipelago of 42 islands noted for their coral reefs and mangroves. The area attracts birds, dolphins, finless porpoises, sea turtles, and tropical fish.
Jamnagar also has dental and health colleges, including M. P. Shah Medical College and Gujarat Ayurved University There are several colleges for arts, commerce, and science.
Daily local and national newspapers are available in Jamnagar in multiple languages, including The Times of India, Economic Times, Indian Express, and Business Standard. Local newspapers published in Gujarati include Aajkaal, Bhoomi, Jamnagar Bhaskar, Khabar Gujarat, Lokmat, and Nobat. The Princely State is the local English language newspaper.
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