 DHORAJI
- A fusion of European and Indian town planning.
Dhoraji is a large and flourishing town on
the bank of the river Safura, a branch of the river Bhadar. The massive
fort wall has several bastions, 4 main gates and 3 Baris (small
gates).The four main gates are - Kathiawadi Darwaza in east, Porbandar
Gate in west, Halar Gate in north and Junagadh Gate in south. The
smaller gates are- Darbari Bari, Bhimji Bari and Sati Bari. Darbargadh
is located at the highest point in the town and is approached by Darbari
bari; a beautiful gate adorned with a jharokha, resting on rackets of 4
elephant statues in different poses. A finely carved entrance gate leads
to the Darbargadh in the middle of a courtyard. Darbargadh is three
complex geometric patterns, images of sitting lions in different
postures on long eaves, profusely carved pillars, horizontal friezes,
decorative kanguras and windows framing skyline. It is designed like a
jewel box-in the same architectural style of Navalakha Palace at Gondal.
The temple of goddess Ashapura is
located on the left of Darbargadh. At present, the royal campus badly
needs conservations. Not very far fro the Darbargadh, one can walk into
the streets having some of the most beautiful houses of wealthy Memon
merchants.
Sir Bhagwatsinhji, the noble ruler of
Gondal State was born at Dhoraji Darbargadh. He was a fellow of Bombay
University and received honors from Edinburgh university. During his
extensive travels to Europe and England, he was greatly impressed by
Paris and got interested in the principles of European town planning. On
his return to Gondal, he established a town planning department and in
the late 19 th century, introduced town planning principles to
regularize and monitor the growth of the fortified towns of Gondal,
Dhoraji and Upleta. |
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