Godhra
| Godhra | |
| — town — | |
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| Coordinates | 22°46′38″N 73°37′13″E / 22.777266°N 73.620253°ECoordinates: 22°46′38″N 73°37′13″E / 22.777266°N 73.620253°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District(s) | Panchmahal |
| Population | 121,852 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 73 metres (240 ft) |
Godhra is a town and originally the name came from gou which means "cow" and dhara which has two meanings: one in Sanskrit which means "hold" or "land" and the other in Hindi which means "flow". So, identically it means The Land of the Cow, a municipality in Panchmahal district in Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Panchmahal district.
Godhra is also one of the religious places in the India which has four bethaks (temples) for Vaishnav Sampraday (Vaisnal Community). Two bethaks are of Lord Gokulnathji, and one each for Lord Gusaiji and Lord Mahaprabhuji. Godhra is the only city in India that has all three bhaitaks of the mahaprabhuji ,gusianji,and and gokulnathji. Godhra also has three beautiful Jain temples. The main idol ('Mul Nayak') in the main Jain Temple is that of Tirthankar Bhagawan Shantinath.
Godhra is widely infamous in India and internationally for being the starting point of the 2002 Gujarat violence. Statewide communal riots between Hindus and Muslims began after the Godhra train burning incident near the Godhra railway station on 27 February 2002, when local Muslim mobs attacked a train burning alive Hindu pilgrims in a planned conspiracy, as ruled in a subsequent verdict of the Gujarat High Court.[1]
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[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Godhra had a population of 121,852. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Godhra has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 66%.
[edit] Education
| Medium | Type | School/College Name |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarati | KG, Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary | Anaj Mahajan Sarvajanik Shikshan Mandal |
| Gujarati | KG, Primary, Secondary | Sharda Mandir |
| English |
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| Gujarati/English | Nursery, Kindergarten, Primary | Kangaroo Pa Pa Pagli School (CBSE BASED) |
| Gujarati | Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary | M & M Mehta High School |
| Gujarati | Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary | The Iqbal Union High School |
| English | Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary | The Saifee Jamali English High School |
There is a technical school and also various colleges in Godhra for Homeopathy studies, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts, Diploma in Engineering, ITI, and a Law College.
[edit] Entertainment
Godhra had only one major cinema halls Moonlight Talkies, Moonlight Talkies, being on the Dahod road, has larger audiences coverage and is still in business. Two new mini cinemas were opened more recently. One of them is located next to Moonlight Talkies, and the other is on the route towards Ahmedabad.
[edit] Geography
Kanelav Talav, a nice pond set in a scenic setting, has offered refuge to generations of Godhra residents. It has beautiful scenery and a check-dam. Rotary Club Godhra have developed, with the help of local institutes and organizations, beautiful infrastructure at Kanelav, popularly known as Kanelav Picnic Point.
- A modern sports complex near Kanelav lake was inaugurated by Shri Narendra Modi, on 26 January 2009 and the days around this date are memorable for the Godhra civilians due to a return visit of Shri Narendra Modi and a reincarnation of Godhra city.
- Ram Sagar Talav, another pond in the center of the town offers an additional focal point that serves as a place to relax and socialize. Ram Sagar Talav has been divided into two parts, and only a small drainage links them. At its center is landscaping where a statue of Sri Swami Vivekananda has been erected.
- A few miles from Godhra lie the Pavagadh hills. On the peak of the hills is famous temple of the Goddess Kali. It is one of the oldest places of Kali worship. In the foothills of Pavagadh is the ancient fort of Champaner which was the medieval capital of Gujarat and seat of the Chavda Kingdom.
- Famous food of the people of Godhra is Maize Bread, 'Makai No Rotlo'
- Most people in Godhra speak the Gujarati language.
- Godhra is an important junction on the Indian Railways line from Mumbai (Bombay) to New Delhi. Another important railway line passing through Godhra is the Ahmedabad to Bhopal line.
- The major nearby railway stations are: Dahod to the east, Vadodara (Baroda) to the southwest, and Anand and Ahmedabad to the west.
- Godhra is surrounded by these towns and villages of Panchmahal District (in alphabetical order): Dahod, Halol, Kalol, Limkheda, Lunavada, Shahera, Vejalpur
[edit] Panchamrut Dairy
Godhra is very famous for its Panchamrut dairy near Bhuravav.
[edit] References
- ^ It was not a random attack on S-6 but kar sevaks were targeted, says judge The Hindu — March 6, 2011
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
