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FACTS
& FIGURES
Population : 6,14,000
Languages : Gujarati, Hindi, & English
Best time to visit : October to March
STD Code : 0288
LOCATION
Jamnagar is situated in the Saurashtra region
of the Indian state of Gujarat. It is around 302 km
from Ahmedabad and extends from latitude 22°27’
in the North to longitude 70°07’ in the East.
The city is well connected to other parts of Gujarat
and western India through rail, road, and air.
CLIMATE
The climate of Jamnagar district is
generally pleasant. The summer season extends from March
to June with daytime temperature reaching 42°C.
The monsoons are from July to September. Winter season
sets in during October and extends till February. In
association with cyclonic storms or depressions in the
Arabian Sea in the post monsoon months and to a lesser
extent in May and June, the district experiences strong
winds and torrential rain. Thunderstorms occur in June
and July. In the cold season, occasional fog occurs.
The summer temperature ranges from 24°C to 42°C
and winter temperature ranges from 10°C to 24°C.
PAST
The Jamnagar district, originally constituted
as Halar district, is not only of recent origin. However,
the region comprised therein is of great antiquity.
According to Pauranik literature, Lord Krishna established
his kingdom at Dwarka, now in Jamnagar district, after
his migration from Mathura and it is to this great Yadava
race that the Jams of Nawanagar trace their descent.
The Jadeja Rajputs, known as Jams, built the 450-year-old
city of Jamnagar. This is the same lineage that gave
the world cricket players like Ranji, Dilip Singh, and
Ajay Jadeja. The city remained the capital of the Jadejas
for around 400 years. Those were the years when all
the monuments and temples in the city were built. The
city was built around Rammol Lake. In center of the
lake is a small palace reached by a causeway. The city
is still famous for its pearl fisheries, tie-and-dye
fabrics, and bandhini work.
SITES TO VISIT
In the center of old Jamnagar, on an
island in the middle of the lake, are two magnificent
old structures—the Lakhota Fort and the Kotha
Bastion. Lakhota Fort is Jamnagar’s museum and
its terraces display a fine collection of sculpture
that spans a period from the 9th to 18th century. The
Kotha Bastion is Jamnagar’s arsenal. One of its
most interesting sights is an old well, the water of
which can be drawn by blowing into a small hole in the
floor.
The most remarkable of Ranjit Singh's construction
is Wellington Crescent. The swooping arches of its curved
façade overlooks the wide streets of Chelmsford
Market.
Solarium, known as the Ranjit Institute of Poly-radio
Therapy, is open to visitors after working hours. Its
revolving tower provides daylong sunlight.
Jansahed's Palace and Bedi Ports are attractive seaside
picnic spots offering good fishing facilities.
Durbar Gadh, the center of the old town, was once an
important place where the Maharaja of Nawanagar held
public audiences.
SITES NEARBY
Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma
Gandhi, is situated around 129 km off Jamnagar. Regular
bus services are available from Jamnagar to Porbandar.
Rajkot (86 km) is a pleasant coastal city famous for
its association with Mahatma Gandhi.
Marine National Park is situated around 30 km from
Jamnagar. The ever-depleting mangrove population of
this park gives rise to some of the richest marine life
off mainland India. The park is spread over an area
of 458 sq km. Here one can find plants that look like
animals and animals that look like plants. Turtles,
shrimp, sponge, eels, and sea urchin lurk among corals.
FAIRS & FESTIVALS
Navratri is the festival of nine nights
in honor of Goddess Ambaji. Both men and women congregate
in public to perform the dance called Garba Ras.
Janmashtami is celebrated in a big way in Jamnagar
on the twenty-third day of Shravan of the Hindu calendar
(August/September). The day marks the birth of Lord
Krishna.
SHOPPING
Jamnagar is known for its tie-and-dye
work on fabrics, silken and gold embroidery. Many shops
in the prime areas of Jamnagar sell artifacts made using
these local crafts.
WHERE TO STAY
Jamnagar is a business city and getting
accommodation without prior reservation can be difficult.
There are many hotels in the city that offer cheap but
quality services. Accommodation options in the higher
segments are also available.
HOW TO REACH
There is no airport at Jamnagar. The
nearest airport is Ahmedabad at a distance of 302 km.
The international airport is at Mumbai located 847 km
from Jamnagar. Indian Airlines operates five flights
a week to Mumbai. From Mumbai one can take flights to
other cities of India and most of the important destinations
abroad.
Jamnagar is a part of Western Railway and well connected
with Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Calcutta, and other important
cities of India through regular trains.
Jamnagar has a well-established road link to various
cities of Gujarat like Junagadh, Dwarka, Bhuj, Rajkot,
Porbandar, and Ahmedabad.
Taxis and auto-rickshaws are the ideal transport mediums
to move around in the city.
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