Table of Contents

Abstract

1. Overview & Location

1.1. Statistical Data

2. History

2.1. Architecture

3. Industry

4. Education

5. How to reach Morbi

Abstract

To prepare a report on the Home-town is always full of respect

and of course, fun! Here I have tried my best to collect information

regarding my Morbi. Attempts are made to respect all historical

places by finding the best pictures as well. ’79 flood and earthquake

had to be mentioned. Industry is also taken into consideration and

provided the latest facts. Education can never be forgotten from a

report on a town. Statistical data from Census 2011 are also

mentioned. Finally, all the ways to reach my hometown are

provided.

Overview & Location

Morvi or Morbi is a city and a municipality in Rajkot district in

the Indian state of Gujarat. It was a Princely State ruled by Jadeja

clan of Rajputs until Indian independence in 1947. It is situated on

the Kathiawar peninsula. Its chief products are cotton and grain. The

town is a railroad junction. The town of Morvi is situated on the river

Machhu, 22 miles (35 kilometres) from the sea and 60 kilometres

from Rajkot.

Co-ordinates of Morbi are 22.82°N 70.83°E. Gujarati and Hindi

are official languages in Morbi. Pin code of Morbi is 363641 and

telephone code is 02822. Since Morbi is a town of Rajkot district,

vehicles of Morbi are registered under GJ-3.

Statistical Data

As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Morvi

in 2011 is 188,278; of which male and female are 97,860 and 90,418

respectively. The sex ratio of Morvi city is 924 per 1000 males.

In education section, total literates in Morvi city are 140,779 of

which 77,826 are males while 62,953 are females. Average literacy

rate of Morvi city is 84.59 percent of which male and female literacy

was 90.37 and 78.40 percent.

Total children (0-6) in Morvi city are 21,854 as per figure from

Census India report on 2011. There are 11,736 boys while 10,118 are

girls. Child sex ratio of girls is 862 per 1000 boys.

Morvi city is governed by Municipal Corporation which comes

under Morvi Urban Agglomeration. Although Morvi city has

population of 188,278; its urban / metropolitan population is

246,008 of which 128,290 are males and 117,718 are females.

Data (in 2011) Total Male Female

Population 1,88,278 97,360 90,418

Literates 1,40,779 77,826 62,953

Children 21,854 11,736 10,118

Av. Literacy (%) 84.59 90.37 78.40

Sex Ratio 924

Child Sex Ratio 862

History

It’s called once in Morbi, There were rivers of Milk and

Ghee(Butter). This mean Morbi was too prosperous. On that time

Morbi was among the Strongest states of India. Morbi Was ruled by

many Kingdom. From Mughal Empire to Rajputs and Britishers. From

Qutb-ud-din Aybak to Lakhdhirji Thakor.

But Morbi got it’s true shine in the era of Sir Waghjee Thakor

and Lakhdhirji Thakor. After the death of Ravajiraj, In 1870, his son

Waghjee Thakor became the King of Morbi. On that time Waghjee

Thakor was just only 13. So due to his young age, Britishers took the

Control of Morbi. In 1879, After becoming eligible, He was

announced the King of Morbi. From the very next day he started to

increase the prosperity of Morbi Kingdom.The prosperous city-state

of Morbi and much of the building heritage and town planning is

attributed to the efficient administration of Sir Lakhdhiraji Waghji,

who ruled from 1922 until 1948. Sir Waghji acted as a ruler,

manager, patron and policeman of the state with great authority,

always keeping the interests of citizens in mind. Sir Waghji, like other

contemporary rulers of Saurashtra, built roads and a railway network

of seventy miles, connecting Wadhwan and Morbi and the two small

ports of Navlakhi and Vavania, for exporting the state's production of

salt and cloth.

After the death of Waghjee Thakor, Prince Lakhdhirji Thakor

was announced as the King of Morbi. He also did remarkable job in

the History of Morbi. In his time, Electric powerhouse and Telephone

exchange were built. He also built Temples, Technical High School

and Engineering college. This college is now known as the name of

‘L.E.College’.

In 1947, India became independent and Morbi had been

associated with the India. After that Modern Morbi come into

existence and Morbi started to grow in all sides.

There are always some disasters associated with any city or

place. Morbi was getting success over success. But suddenly it got

two breaks over it. Yes! Morbi has been survived from 2 biggest

disasters. Even world has noticed these disasters. In 1979, Burst of

Macchu – 2 Dam and in 2000, Biggest earthquake of Indian history.

Morbi Flood

Morbi is situated on the bank of Machchu River. Machchu Dam

was built over the Machchu River for the convenience of Morbi

people.

It was the day of 11 August, 1979. It was raining heavily since

last 2 days. All work had been stopped due to heavy rain. People

were enjoying the rain. Suddenly at 3:30 in the noon, one of the

walls of Machchu Dam fall down and Game of the Death begun.

Within 2 hours whole Morbi had been controlled by the water of

Machchu River.

People with multi-storey building climbed up on the Top floor.

But there were not so many buildings exist that time. Some unlucky

people had been shielded in their house and couldn’t come out alive.

There were near about 12000 people died in this flood. Not

only people but also animals lost lives…. Lots of hands of help came

from around the world to survive the Morbi after this disaster. It

took near about 3 years for Morbi to wake up form this disaster. And

again started to work…

Earthquake

On 26th January 2001, India was celebrating her 52nd Republic

Day. Suddenly a quake of 7.9 ruined some part of Gujarat. The center

point of this earthquake was just 80 kms away from Morbi. This time;

old Morbi, inside area of Nehru Gate, had been affected more. Near

about 250 died in this disaster. Most of Historical places dilapidated

after this disaster.

This time also lots of help came from around the World. Even

Rich citizens helped a lot this time. And now what…. a whole New

Modern Morbi exist! But this help couldn’t save the old Historical

places.

After flood After earthquake

Architecture

In pages of history, Morbi is carved as "Paris of India". So, one

can imagine the prosperous architecure of Morbi. The most

important historical buildings in Morbi are: Darbargadh, Mani

Mandir, Green Tower, Suspension Bridge, Art Deco Palace and

Lukhdhirji Engineering College.

Mani Mandir

Mani Mandir is also well known as Willingdon Secretariat or

Wagh Mahel. In Gujarati ‘Hindu Temple’ is called as ‘Mandir’. The

images of Laxmi Narayan, Mahakali, Ramchandraji, Radha-Krishna

and Shiva are worshiped in this temple. Mani Mandir is made out of

Jaipur stone with excellent workmanship and exquisitely carved

elements: arches, brackets, jalis, chhatris and shikhara. Thus, Mani

Mandir is one of the Great example of the Temple Architecture in

India. It was constructed with expenses of 3 million (30 lakh) in that

time. Mani Mandir was also one of the Hidden place for King. To this

date no one could count total cellars in this Building!

Before the Earthquake, some part of Willingdon Secretariat was

also used by the Morbi Administration. But unfortunately most of

part was fallen down after the deadly earthquake!!

Nehru Gate

Green Chowk is a town square approached by a series of three

gates. European town planning principles inspired the creation of

these gates as landmarks in the town. The Nehru Gate is made out of

stone using elements of Rajput architecture with a central clock

tower, while another one uses elements of western architecture and

is capped by a three-storey cast iron frame structure with a dome.

In 1925, the gate was inaugurated by Sir Lloyd , British

Governor of Bombay, and was named ‘Llyod Gate’. After

Independence, it was renamed as ‘Nehru Gate’. In past, Nehru gate

was the main gate of Morbi Kingdom. So it’s also famous as ‘Nagar

Darwaza’.

After the earthquake, most of it’s part was damaged badly. But

in 2007, It was rebuilt by Morbi Municipality under the supervision of

Hemen Sanghavi and his intern Arpan Raval.

Green Tower

Inspired from the ‘Eiffel Tower’ of Paris, Maharaja Lakhdhirji

planned for Green Tower. It’s totally green. Therefore the tower is

known as ‘Green Tower’. It was inaugurated by Mayer Wood in 1888.

Suspension Bridge

Actually suspension bridge is well known as Julta Pul . This

bridge was constructed with aim for Maharaja to cross river and

reach to his fort from “Darbar Grah”. The principle factor of this

bridge is that it swings in air same as ‘Brooklyn Bridge’. There are

only two bridges of this kind in Bharat. The bridge was built at the

turn of the century. It is 1.25 metres wide and spans 233 metres on

the Machchhu River, connecting Darbargadh Palace and Lukhdhirji

Engineering College.

DarbarGadh

Darbargadh, on the banks of the Machhu, is an original

residence of Morbi rulers. It can be reached by crossing an imposing

gate arcaded facade. Now it is the only heritage hotel at Morbi.

Art Deco Palace

The Art Deco Palace (1931–1944) is a marvelous example of the

influence of the last phase of the European art deco movement. It is

poetry in granite, a low two-storey structure with banded horizontal

fenestration, curves and bays, which resembles the London

underground stations of Charles Holden.

The palace has six drawing rooms, six dining rooms, and

fourteen bedrooms. The decorated subterranean bedroom, with

many erotic murals and a bathroom made from seashells is also

noteworthy.

Railway Station

The Morbi railway station is a beautiful example of railway

architecture, combining Indian and European architectural elements.

According to some sources, the State of Morvi owned an

airport when there were only six airports across India !

Industry

The main industry of Morbi is ceramic manufacturing, with six

hundred plus manufacturing units flanking the 8/A National highway.

The main products of Morbi are ceramic tile, vitrified tiles, floor tiles,

glazed wall tiles, Luster wall tiles, sanitary wares, porcelain tiles,

spartek tiles, glaze tile, roofing tiles and mosaic tiles. Morbi's ceramic

factories belong to small and medium scale units but together they

have the largest ceramic production in India.

Another major industry of Morbi is clock manufacturing. Many

Companies of Morbi are the world's largest clock manufacturers and

lead the clock manufacturing industry. The majority of these

companies' workforce consists of females from neighbouring villages.

Goods are manufactured and exported nationally and

internationally, with major international shipments to Middle-East,

and East Asia.

Today Morbi alone produces 80% of the country's gross

ceramic production and around 80% of compact fluorescent lamp

(CFL) production. There are around 600 ceramic manufacturing unit

alone in Morbi which is considered to be an industry worth 40,000

million rupees (4,000 crore) annually. Morbi ceramic production has

total installed capacity of 1.8 million Square Meter tiles per day.

Ceramic industry of Morbi gives direct and indirect employment to

over 6,00,000 people across India.

Education

Morbi has many schools and colleges that provide good

education in different streams like commerce, arts, science, home

science and different branches of engineering. The Mahila college is

one of the major colleges of Morbi. It is situated behind the new bus-

stand, Shanala road that offers variety of courses including Computer

Applications. Among no. of schools came into picture of Morbi with

time, Sardar Patel Kanya Vidhyalay has been providing very good

opportunity to hundreds of poor village girls to be literate.

Many private educational institutes have been functional in

recent times in and around the city. Maharaja Mahendrasinhji

College and Smt.G.J.Sheth College are well known and old colleges in

the Saurashtra University.

Lukhdhirji Engineering College

Lukhdhirji Engineering College, popularly known as L.E. College,

is one of Gujarat's oldest technical institutions, located in Morbi of

Rajkot District. It was started as a Polytechnic institute in 1931,

known as Morbi Technical Institute. The MTI was upgraded to a full

fledged engineering college in 1951 when The Late Honorable His

Highness Lukhdhirji donated his palace with 40 acres (160,000 m2) of

land on the bank of river Machhu.

How to reach Morbi

By road

One can reach Morbi by road from Ahmedabad in roughly 3

hours. There are buses available, run by the Gujarat State Road

Transport Corporation, and also by private travel companies. Morbi

can also be reached from Rajkot within 1 hour.

By rail

All major trains are connected to Morbi via Wankaner from

which one can get trains to many major cities of Gujarat, a few other

states.

By air

To reach Morbi by air, the nearest airports are about 67 km

away in Rajkot and 247 km away in Ahmedabad. Indian Airlines runs

regular flights from Mumbai to Rajkot and Mumbai to Ahmedabad.