Heritage Bytes
Cheetahs were brought from Africa to the
grasslands.
In the early 1940s, cheetahs were brought from Africa to the grasslands of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, for about $400 each. Maharaj Kumar Dharmakumar Sinhji, an Indian ornithologist, was thrilled by their arrival. These cheetahs , often traveling on bullock carts, were trained to hunt blackbucks. Known for their gentle nature, trainers spent hours bonding with them. Sadly, cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952. Now, with the launch of Project Cheetah, eight cheetahs from Namibia have been introduced to Kuno National Park, marking a significant effort to revive India’s wildlife.
Philately is the study and collection of stamps. A niche market in India but rather popular in the West, philately includes researching historic provinces and princely states of India as well as the manner in which the postal service grew exponentially in the 19th century.
These stamps of Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji were created in Bhavnagar, prior to his coronation and used for legal proceedings.
Stamps of Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji were created in Bhavnagar.
HAPPY HOUR
DAILY
Maharaja Raol Shri Sir Bhavsinhji ll of Bhavnagar was known for founding a bank to support farmers and aiding the British in WWI. Few know he also had a passion for music, writing parts of *Sangeet Mala*, translating Homer’s *Iliad*, and composing *Horatius* by Macaulay. He introduced the Tonic Sol-fa system of notation into Indian music, a technique for teaching sight-singing.
Maharaja Raol Shri Sir Bhavsinhji (the second) of Bhavnagar was known for founding a bank to support farmers.
‘How Bhavnagar’s Maharani Nandkuvarba started a Gujarati war weekly, won awards & accolades’. In recognition of her significant contributions to the Empire during World War 1, including the publication of British Ane Hindi Vikram, Maharani Nandkuvarba was awarded the prestigious Kaiser-i-Hind gold medal in 1917. She was subsequently also appointed as a vice president of the Society of Women Journalists, London, writes Urvish Kothari
To read the entire article: https://theprint.in/opinion/how-bhavnagars-maharani-nandkuvarba-started-a-gujarati-war-weekly-won-awards-accolades/1881958/?amp
The International Playing-Card Society, founded in 1972, promotes interest in all aspects of playing cards. Bhavnagar, a princely state on the Saurashtra peninsula, was notably advanced in the 19th century. It became the first and only Indian state to print its own playing cards: the Bhavnagar State Historical picture series. These cards, featuring 38 numbered cards, two unnumbered cards, and one depicting the old Darbar Gadh of Sihor, were never sold and gradually disappeared. The designs were adapted from Kamangari-style wall paintings in Sihor Darbargadh, created between 1793-95 to commemorate Maharaja Vakhatsinhji's victories.
The International Playing-Card Society, founded in 1972.
How Bhavnagar’s Maharani Nandkuvarba started a Gujarati war weekly, won awards & accolades’
In recognition of her significant contributions to the Empire during World War 1, including the publication of British Ane Hindi Vikram, Maharani Nandkuvarba was awarded the prestigious Kaiser-i-Hind gold medal in 1917. She was subsequently also appointed as a vice president of the Society of Women Journalists, London, writes Urvish Kothari
To read the entire article: https://theprint.in/opinion/how-bhavnagars-maharani-nandkuvarba-started-a-gujarati-war-weekly-won-awards-accolades/1881958/?amp
Sihor, once known as 'Saraswatpur' during the Mahabharata era and later referred to as 'Sinhpur' or 'Sinhalpur,' is often called 'Chhote Kashi' in Gujarat. This nickname stems from its abundance of temples, Shivalayas, and vibrant religious activities. The town’s architecture, with its ancient temples and structures, bears a striking resemblance to the holy city of Kashi (Varanasi), giving Sihor a unique spiritual and architectural identity.
Sihor, once known as 'Saraswatpur' during the Mahabharata era.
Have you heard the soulful melody celebrating Bhavnagar ?
Some more History facts to read...
Palitana Jain Temples About the Place: The bustling town of Palitana, located 51 km southwest of Bhavnagar, has rapidly grown to accommodate the influx of pilgrims visiting the sacred Shatrunjaya Hill. This revered site is home to hundreds of temples, which were sanctified when Rishabha, the first Tirthankara of Jainism, delivered his first sermon atop the hill. While the climb to the temples is challenging, it offers a breathtaking view of the intricately carved shrines. During the Kartik Purnima festival, the town becomes flooded with pilgrims, so it is advisable to book accommodations in advance. Shatrunjaya is one of Jainism’s most important pilgrimage destinations. The hill, which has been adorned with temples for over 900 years, is believed to be the place where Adinath (also known as Rishabha), the founder of Jainism, meditated beneath a rayan tree at the summit. The temples are organized into tunks (enclosures), each featuring a central temple surrounded by smaller ones. The summit is situated at an elevation of 7,288 feet (2,221 meters), and reaching it requires climbing over 3,750 stone steps, making the experience even more extraordinary. On most days, hundreds of pilgrims make the ascent, but during Kartik Purnima, which marks the end of Chaturmas (a four-month period of spiritual retreat and self-denial during the monsoon season), the crowds swell into the thousands. White-robed monks can be seen walking alongside visitors. As you approach the top, the path splits. The main entrance, Ram Pole, is to the left, though the best views are to the right, where, on clear days, one can see the Gulf of Cambay. At the Nav Tonk Gate, one path leads left to the shrine of Angar Pir, a Muslim saint who protected the temples from a Mughal attack. To the right, you will find the Chaumukhji Tunk, home to the Chaumukh (Four-Faced Shrine), built in 1618 by a Jain merchant. The shrine features images of Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara, who is believed to have attained enlightenment here, facing the four cardinal directions. You can easily spend hours exploring the hundreds of temples spread across the hill. The largest and most magnificent temple is the Adinath Temple, located at the highest point on the southern side. This temple boasts a wealth of intricate carvings and is one of the most significant shrines on the hill. For those descending the hill, vendors selling curd offer a refreshing energy boost after the long climb.
Piram Island (Piram Bet) Piram Island, also known as Piram Bet, is an island located in the Gulf of Cambay in the Arabian Sea, within the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, India. Except for the lighthouse campus, the island is privately owned. The island is situated 7.2 nautical miles from Ghogha, a town and former seaport in Bhavnagar district. It spans 186 acres, although half of the land is barren wasteland. Historically, the island has had strong ties with Ghogha. In the early 14th century, it was under the control of Muslim soldiers of the Delhi Sultanate. In 1325, Mokhadaji Gohil, the Gohil chief of Umrala and an ancestor of the Bhavnagar State family, captured the island. He established it as his headquarters, built a fort, and imposed tolls on ships passing through the Gulf of Cambay, making him a notable pirate. However, his actions attracted the attention of the Delhi Sultanate emperor, Muhammad bin Tughluq, who was dealing with a revolt in Gujarat. In 1347, Tughluq attacked Ghogha, killed Mokhadaji, and destroyed the fort on Piram Island. Afterward, the island and Ghogha were given to Dungarji, Mokhadaji's son. Following the destruction of the fort, the island fell into obscurity. In the mid-18th century (around 1729), a Surat merchant named Mulla Muhammad Ali constructed a fort on the island, intending to establish himself as an independent chief. The island eventually came under the control of the Bhavnagar royal family, who built a bastion on the southwest corner to monitor maritime activities. In 1864-65, the British constructed a 24-meter-high circular masonry lighthouse tower on this bastion using the remnants of Mulla’s fort. The lighthouse and its quarters were later managed by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, Government of India, and were the only settlement on the island, which was closed in 2010. Today, the island is owned by Siddhrajsinh Raol, a descendant of the Bhavnagar royal family. It is one of the few privately owned virgin islands in India. He had intended to sell the island in 2012. The island features Late Miocene sediment deposits, similar to those found in the Siwalik Hills. Fossil discoveries on the island include species like the sivatheriine giraffe, Bramatherium, and Hipparion, a prehistoric equid. The island is also home to Piramys, a side-necked turtle from the Podocnemididae family, a group now only found in South America and Madagascar. Additionally, several shipwrecks from the 14th century have been discovered around the island. The island supports mangrove vegetation and serves as a nesting site for two endangered species of sea turtles: the Olive Ridley and Green sea turtles. Approximately fifty species of seabirds also inhabit the island. The sea turtles arrive for nesting around August and September.
The Caves of the Pond (Talaja Caves) The Talaja Caves are located in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, and are renowned for their stone-carved architecture. The caves consist of three main structures, each with a water tank. These caves feature a unique architectural style known as the Abel Mandap. The design incorporates Chaitya windows and a Vedika beneath them, both common elements in ancient Indian architecture. These caves were created during the Buddhist influence in the 3rd century BC, particularly during the reign of the Kshatrapas. Over time, Jain symbols were carved into the caves and the main structures, reflecting the coexistence of Buddhist and Jain traditions. The caves contain statues of Bodhisattvas, and they were built before the stone structures found in Maharashtra. Talaja Caves (N-GJ-75) have been declared a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Department of India. **Abel Mandap:** The Abel Mandap is one of the 30 caves situated on the western side of the 97.53-meter-high hill, located near the village of Talaja, on the banks of the Shritunji River. The cave sits at an elevation of approximately 30.48 meters and has dimensions of 23 meters in length, 21 meters in width, and a height of 6 meters. Inside, there are no curtains separating the small rooms or verandah from the main room. The entrance features a large Chaitya-Gavaksha, a semicircular opening that is characteristic of the cave's architecture. The Bawa-Para Caves' Chaitya-Gavaks holds the upper half of the cave, while the wide bar of the Vedika lies beneath it. Four octagonal pillars once adorned the entrance, but they have been destroyed over time. The cave also contains a small Chaitya-Gufa, where the top of a stupa touches the roof. This design is similar to those found in the caves of Karad, Kuda, Mahad, and Junner in Maharashtra. Based on the style of the Chaitya-Vedika and Chaitya, it is estimated that these caves were created in the early centuries of the Common Era, during a time traditionally associated with Buddhist sects. Historically, the caves have been identified as part of a Buddhist sect. Chinese traveler Yuan Shwang, during his visit to a Sangharam near Valabhi, mentioned two Bodhisattvas named "stagnant" and "virtue." He also referred to Arhanta as the name of Akal in the Sangharam. According to Buddhist texts, such as the *Aryamanjushrimul Kalpa*, the famous monk Pindacharik guided practices at this location. This Sangharam, known as the "Talaja Caves," is thought to have been named after King Abel, who may have used the area as a palace or retreat. The Talaja Caves remain an important historical and cultural site, reflecting the rich traditions of Buddhism and Jainism in the region.
Timeless Treasures in Focus
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |