Gohil Legacy

Bhavnagar owes its existence and much of its character to the Gohil Rajputs, the dynasty that founded and ruled the princely state of Bhavnagar. The Gohils established Bhavnagar in 1724 under Bhavsinhji Gohil, who shrewdly founded a new, planned port city to capture maritime trade — its name (Bhav-nagar) honours him. Over the following two centuries, the Gohil rulers earned a reputation as among the more progressive and enlightened of India’s princely houses: Bhavnagar State was an early adopter of railways, modern administration, education and public institutions, and its later Maharajas were noted patrons of learning and reform. The city is graced with their legacy — palaces (such as Nilambag, now a heritage hotel), the Barton Library and museum, Gaurishankar Lake, Victoria Park, and a well-planned old city. The Gohil legacy reflects a tradition of capable, forward-looking governance, and it gives Bhavnagar a distinguished historical character. For the visitor, exploring the Gohil heritage is a way into Bhavnagar’s identity — best appreciated through the city’s palaces, institutions and planned old town. (The princely heritage of the Gohil Rajputs of Bhavnagar; palaces and institutions; a historical-cultural attraction.)