Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar is a city and the headquarters of Bhavnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Bhavnagar was founded in 1723 by Bhavsinhji Gohil. It was the capital of Bhavnagar State, which was a princely state before it was merged into the Indian Union in February 1948.

Bhavnagar is situated away from the state capital Gandhinagar and to the west of the Gulf of Khambhat. It has always been an important city for trade with many large and small scale industries along with the world's largest ship breaking yard, Alang which is located away. Historically, Bhavnagar holds the distinction of being the first princely state to voluntarily merge into the Union of India in January 1948, a move led by Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Gohil. The city is a significant educational center in Gujarat; Shamaldas Arts College, founded by Maharaja Takhtsinhji in 1885, is historically prominent as the institution where Mahatma Gandhi studied in 1888. Gandhi's admission to the college is recorded as one of the earliest milestones in his academic journey before he left for London to study law.. The city serves as the gateway to Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, which is recognized as the only tropical grassland in India to be designated as a National Park. Bhavnagar is also famous for its version of the popular Gujarati snack 'Ganthiya' and 'Jalebi'.