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Dhoraji | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Three Gates (Tran Darwaja), Dhoraji | |
  Dhoraji Location in Gujarat, India | |
| Coordinates:21°44′01″N70°27′00″E / 21.73367°N 70.449915°E /21.73367; 70.449915 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Rajkot |
| Elevation | 73 m (240 ft) |
| Population (2014) | |
• Total | 84,545 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati,Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 360410 |
| Telephone code | +912824 |
| Vehicle registration | GJ 03 |
Dhoraji(pronunciationⓘ) is a town situated on the banks of the River Safura, a tributary of theRiver Bhadar. It is amunicipality in theRajkot district in the state ofGujarat,India.
Dhoraji was acquired by Kumbhaji II ofGondal State fromJunagadh State about the middle of the eighteenth century.[1]Bhagwatsinhji, the noble ruler of Gondal State, was born at Dhoraji Darbargadh. In the late 19th century, he introduced town planning principles to regularize and monitor the growth of the town and established a town planning department.[2][3]
The new neighbourhoods between the railway station and the old town are an example ofurban planning during theBritish India. After the arrival of railway in the town, the new town was designed with axial planning, road circles, parks, public amenities, markets and broad avenues.[2]
Dhoraji Fort was completed in 1755 AD. The massive fort wall has several bastions, 4 main gates and 3 smaller gates, known as baris. The four main gates areKathiawadi Darwaja in the East,Porbandar Gate in the West,Halar Gate in the North andJunagadh Gate in the South.
Next to the temples of Shri Panchnath Mahadev, Rushiwadi Bileshwar Mahadev and Shri Chetaniya Hanuman, the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir is also a popular spiritual centre in the old town. Murli Manohar Temple is older than 350 years, bearing various architectural styles like Gujarati ornamental, Rajasthani and Indo-mughal styles.
As of 2001[update] Indiacensus,[4] Dhoraji had a population of 80,807. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Dhoraji has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78% and, female literacy is 65%. In Dhoraji, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Major pollution is caused by Jetpur cotton industries.[5]
The area's economy was long centered around sugar and tile production. Today, it relies on agriculture, specifically cotton, groundnuts, peanut, sugar cane, corn, vegetables, as well as edible oil production. However, Dhoraji is also developing into a hub for theplastics industry.
Dhoraji also famous for its own food items (like garlic potatoes, bread pakoda, and besan gathiya, king ice gola, pau bhaji)
Rajkot andPorbandar are the nearestairports.Keshod andJamnagar are also nearby airports.
Dhoraji is onNational Highway 27. NH27 connects Dhoraji withUpleta,Rajkot,Porbandar,Gondal andJetpur.National Highway 927D connects Dhoraji toJamnagar viaKalavad.
Dhoraji railway station lies on the Wansjaliya-Jetalsar railway line that connects withRajkot, the nearest large city. Wansjaliya railway junction is west of Dhoraji and connects withPorbandar,Jamnagar. Dhoraji railway station andJetalsar railway junction are east of Dhoraji and connect withRajkot.