Botad

Botad
city
File:Botad
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Botad district
Government
• BJP	Thakarshi Devji Maniya
Elevation	70 m (230 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	130,302
Languages
• Official	Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	364710

Botad (બોટાદ)is a city and a municipality in Botad district in the state of Gujarat, Republic of India.

About

Botad is one of the fastest growing cities in India with a population of 1,30,302, according to the 2011 census . It boasts adequate amenities and lies in close proximity to district centers such as Ahmedabad-170 km, Bhavnagar-90, Rajkot-120, Surendranagar-90 and Amreli-93. Botad is surrounded by many small villages. People from those villages often settle in Botad, seeking better opportunities. Botad's population is said to double every couple of years . The city is ideal for middle income people. The city has new roads, over 100,000 mobile users, every household has potable tap water and it is also covered under JyotiGram project of Gujarat Government (Electricity Board) . It is the fastest growing diamond business hub.

Botad is a vibrant business-oriented town surrounded by small beautiful hills on the east and west, forming a valley. The Utavali river (small creek) flows in the middle of the town while another creek Madhu joined Utavali near Dash Nala.

Botad is a gateway to Kathiyawad (toward Gadhada, Lathi and Amreli) and a junction point for Gohilwad (towards Bhavnagar), Zalawad (Limbdi, Surendranagar) and Panchal (towards Paliyad, Vinchiya, Jasadan).

Botad is the birthplace people such as Javerchand Meghani (Gujarati Litterateur and Freedom Fighter whom Mahatma Gandhi spontaneously gave the title of "Raashtreeya Shaayar" or National Poet), Kavi Shri Damodardas Botadkar (Poet), Mohammad Makad (Litterateur and Teacher), Kavi Pal (Poet), and Bhanushankar Joshi (Freedom Fighter).

Mahatma Gandhi visited Botad during one of his tours to Kathiyavad.

Botad district

Botad city is the administrative headquarters of a Botad district newly formed on 26 January 2013. The district has a population of 7,93,834 according to a 2011 census. The area is 4,330 km² and density of 183 per km². District consists of six talukas.

1. Botad
2. Gadhada
3. Barvala
4. Ranpur
5. Dhandhuka
6. Dholera (curved out from Dhandhuka)

Demographics

As per provisional reports of Census-2011 India, the population of Botad in 2011 is 130,302; of which male are 67,778 and 62,524 are female. Although Botad city has population of 130,302; its urban / metropolitan population is 0 of which 0 are males and 0 are females. In the education section, total literates in Botad city are 94,563 of which 53,275 are males while 41,288 are females. Average literacy rate of Botad city is 83.21 percent of which male and female literacy was 90.47

The sex ratio of Botad city is 922 per 1000 males. Child sex ratio of girls is 874 per 1000 boys.

Total children (0-6) in Botad city are 16,654 as per figure from Census India report on 2011. There were 8,889 boys while 7,765 are girls. The child forms 12.78% of the total population of Botad City.

Climate

Botad has a tropical wet and dry climate, with hot, dry summers from mid-March to mid-June, the wet monsoon season from mid-June to October, when the city receives 620 mm of rain on average. The months from November to February are mild, the average temperature being around 20°C, with low humidity. May and June experience lesser amount of rainfall and winds than the post-monsoon time. Thunderstorms are another important part of the Botad weather in the months of June and July. Fog is one of the major phenomena of Botad climate during winter. During summer time, the temperature ranges between 24°C and 42°C. In the months of winter, Botad temperature varies between 10°C and 22°C.

Economy and Industry

Before couple of years the economy of Botad used to be heavily dependent on agriculture but now things are changing very fast. The town is currently thriving on industries like diamond cutting/processing, real estate, cotton processing and packing, healthcare, etc. Among all of them the diamond market is growing very fast because of cheap laboring.

Botad is famous for Diamond Industry. Big diamond cutters in the town are promoting more and more commercial complexes on Deendayal Road, where more and more diamond-polishing businesses are coming up. The biggest complex, Neelam, houses 250 polishing units. All of them work salvage-grade diamonds. nowadays more hospital are growing in Botad.

Culture

The people in Botad are predominantly vegetarians and are vehemently against any form of hunting. This could be the main reason for the survival of rich fauna in this city. The attire changes with the season and approaching festivals. The ladies normally wear the Gujarati flavor of the Sari and men can be seen in flowing Kurtas and Pant—shirts.

Places and Buildings of Historic Interests

Clock Tower Botad saw its first phase of rapid development during rule of Maharaja Krushna Kumar Singhaji and Takht Singhji (Bhavnagar State). Shri Damodardas Jagjivandas Shah built the Clock Tower. Today, Tower Chalk is the central business district on the city. There is a library in the building on his name.

Town Gate In those days (1800 until almost time of Independence), every town/villages used to have a wall protecting town from invaders and looters. Gate of town (Gam Darawaja) used to be at what is known as Din Dayal Chalk right now.

Lake that supplies water to most of the areas of the town even today was built by Maharaja Krishna Kumar Singhji (Bhavnagar State). This is one of the beautiful place to visit and is a place for the Satam Mela (Get together place for celebration of one of the festival during holy month of Shravan).

Tajiyo This building was constructed with aim of building Clock Tower by a civil engineer/entrepreneur named Tulsi Mistri. He was not allowed to put a clock by the prince of the Bhavnagar state. This building later become famous as Tajiyo.

Haran Kui Haran Kui (Spring or Well for Deers) was a fresh water spring on northern part of the town where thousands of deers and other semi-wildlife used to thrive. Story goes that a Nawab had camped near Haran Kui and had killed many deers. This incidence and other factors like growing human population has almost wiped out wild life in nearby areas of the town. garden garden is situated near road for paliyad and famous for the speally children who are enjoying a lot.

Sports

Cricket is the passion for people of Botad. Mostly is it played by Tennis ball nowadays. During '70-'80, Botad used to host cricket tournaments using real leather ball in which teams from all nearby cities/towns like Jasadan, Lathi, Bhavanagar (small princely states) used to participate. Those were the real glory days of cricket in Botad.

There are no sport facilities (stadiums, sport complexes etc.) in Botad and sports remains in its preliminary form.

There are quite a few other popular seasonal sports/games mainly for children under 10 that are famous in Botad like Moy-Dandiya (a.k.a. Gili-Danda), Marbles, Kabbaddi (Hu-tu tu) etc.

Shopping Centers and Complexes

Near Bhambhan Road

1. Mangaldeep Shopping Center
2. Shivam Complex
3. Satyam Complex
4. Shreeji Complex etc.

Near Paliyad Road

1. Parshvanath Complex
2. Bhagyoday Complex etc.

Education and Colleges

The public school system in the city is operated by state government. Medium of study is Gujarati in all public schools and most of the private schools. Very few elementary education schools provide education in English medium.

Botad high school is the first higher education school started in the town immediately after Indian independence from British rule. Its building and school ground still stand tall as compare to many new schools started after '70s.

The city has number of colleges,

Kavi Shri Damodardas Botadkar College is the first college started around year 1965. This college has one of the finest building architecture and campus.

Second college in town is Mahila (Women) College started in year 1995-96. This is a girls only college.Both of these colleges provide higher education in subjects like languages, economics, accounting, business administration and commerce.

Shree Aradhana educational and Charitable Trust offers various programmes like B.E, DIPLOMA, B.Ed., M.Ed., PTC etc.in

Shree Samanvay Trust offers MBA, B.Pharm. etc.

Shree Swaminarayan GURUKUL start Dharmabhakti Intitute of BCA college.

Shree Swaminarayan GURUKUL also Start PG-CENTER of M.Sc(IT) college.

Takshashila Educational And Charitable Trust offers programmes like PTC, B.Ed. etc.

Takshashila Educational And Charitable Trust, chuda is starting new Prim-School 1 to 8, this School is a very IT School and very great education

Transport, Roads/Highways and Railway

Botad is well connected to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Surat, Vadodara, Bhavangar, Rajkot, Surendranagar etc. by Railway and Road. Even you will find direct train to Pune, Hyderabad, Kakinada and Kochuveli (situated on east coast of India).