Rajput History Archive > State
Porbandar
An ancient Rajput kingdom in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, ruled by the Jethwa dynasty, known for its maritime history and being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi.
Detailed Historical Chronicle
The Sovereign Chronicle of the Kingdom of Porbandar: Maritime Bastion of the Barda Coast
The Kingdom of Porbandar was a paramount 13-gun salute maritime state commanding the south-western coast of peninsular Saurashtra. Regarded as the senior seat of the ancient Jethwa Rajput dynasty (descendants of Makardhwaja), Porbandar seamlessly fused millennium-old mountain fortress traditions from Ghumli with ocean-going commercial hegemony across the Arabian Sea.
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1. Moving from Mountain Citadels to the Ocean (1785 CE) Following the destruction of their medieval inland capital at Ghumli in 1313 CE and an interim period at Chhaya Fort, Rana Sartanji II took the strategic decision in 1785 CE to make the ancient holy port of Porbandar (ancient Sudamapuri) the permanent dynastic capital.
Rana Sartanji enclosed the city within colossal limestone sea ramparts studded with round bastions and gun batteries, capable of repelling pirate corsairs from the Persian Gulf and European merchantmen. Inside the walls, he constructed the monumental Darbargadh Palace, the sea pavilion Sartanji Chhatri, and extensive caravan-sarais.
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2. Global Maritime Commerce Porbandar’s natural deep-water anchorage enabled its famous shipwrights to craft legendary seaworthy vessels (Dhows, Kotiyas, and Pattemars). Porbandar merchants established commercial colonies in Zanzibar, Mombasa, Muscat, and Karachi, trading ivory, cloves, timber, textiles, and building stones.
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3. Modern Era: Maharana Sir Natwarsinhji (1918 – 1948 CE) Under the enlightened reign of Maharana Sir Natwarsinhji Jethwa, Porbandar entered the modern age: - First Test Captain of India (1932): Captained the inaugural Indian Test Cricket team to England in 1932. - Architectural Splendor: Constructed the grand waterfront Huzoor Palace in neoclassical style facing the Arabian Sea. - Port Modernization: Upgraded the deep-water harbor, created the Willingdon Marina, and founded state textile and cement mills. - Accession: Concluded the Instrument of Accession in 1948, merging Porbandar into the Indian Union.
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