Mahuva, Bhavnagar

Mahuva
—  city  —
Mahuva Location in Gujarat, India
Coordinates: 21.0833°N 71.8000°E / 21.0833; 71.8000
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Bhavnagar
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	364290
Telephone code	(02844)
Vehicle registration	GJ4
Website	www.mahuva.co.in

Mahuva is a small town on the outskirts of Bhavnagar District in the State of Gujarat, India. Mahuva is known for its mild weather and green, lush surroundings, including many coconut tree plantations. It is located in the Saurashtra region, which is generally semi-arid, and thus is sometimes called the Kashmir of Saurashtra.

Mahuva includes a seaside beach, located near the historical Bhavani Temple. It is the residence of the popular Hindu preacher Morari Bapu. Mahuva is also known for wooden toys, raw onions, groundnuts, and local Jamadar mango. Mahuva is home to a thriving agribusiness industry, with an emphasis on enterprises that dehydrate vegetables such as garlic and onions for use in processed foods.

Notable figures

• Shri N N Mehta : An educationist
• Shri Chhabildas Mehta : Ex-Chief Minister of Gujarat
• Asha Parekh: A famous Bollywood actress from 70's
• Morari Bapu: Known for his Ram Katha (religious storytelling based on the Ramayana)
• Virchand Gandhi Bharat Kesari and Swami Vivekanand sailed to participate at first World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 and drew worldwide attention. Virchand Gandhi was first known Gujarati Legend to visit the United States, and today there are statues of him in Chicago and Mahuva. He had many foreign fans, as well as being friends with Mahatma Gandhi, who requested his legal briefs. He was commemorated on an Indian national postal stamp released 8 November 2009.
• Mahuva is also an important place for the Jain community. Shashahsamrat Shree Vijay Nemisurishvarji Maharaj, and Vijay Dharmsurishvarhi Maharaj and JivitSwami (Mahavir Swami) were born in Mahuva
• Shree Praagji Bhagat Maharaj of the swaminaryan community was PRAGATYA Place(Born) & AKSHARWAS Place(Death) in Mahuva - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagatji_Maharaj
• Lord Swaminarayan, H.D.H Yogiji Maharaj, H.D.H Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited mahuva.
• Khimnath Temple visited by Lord Swaminarayn, H.D.H Pramukh Swami Maharaj also visited.

Attractions

• There are two public parks in Mahuva:
  • Gandhi Bagh: One of the most popular ones with Rope-Way and Train rides. Other attractions include a Ghost House, Toy Show and Fountains. Also a very well known place within the town for the fast food.
  • Kuber Bagh
• Bhavani beach
• Bhavani Mata Mandir a temple on seashore is also an ancient temple from all Gujarat Pilgrims come here. On wide beach and vast coast of sea this place is most favored from local as well as out side people who visit Mahuva.
• On the NH8E highway there is a large and well-equipped hospital, Hanumant, that was designed by Shri Morari Bapu.
• Also near Mahuva is a well known Hanumanji Temple called Timbi Hanuman, where people come on Saturdays for blessings.
• Bhutnath Mahadev temple of Lord Shiva many travel to this ancient temple at Vadli,near Mahuva during the Hindu month of Shraavana,

also Khimnath Mahdev

• Gaytri Mata Shaktipith a temple made under shape of lotus with Yagnashala.The Pranpratishta of Goddess Gayatridevi was made by Shree Pandit Ramsharma Acharyaji-Shantikunj,Haridwar on Jalaram Jayanti-1981.
• Three Shree Swaminarayan Temple (Brahmswarup Pragji Bhagat Birth Place & AKSHARWAS Place, Old Swaminarayan Temple)
• There is also Lord Dwarkadhish Temple, this Temple is also of Lord Shrinathji, people comes there for blessing every day. The Temple known as Haveli.

Neighboring villages

Pingleshwar, a small village near Mahuva, is known for a very old Shiv Ling under the sea. It is only visible in the morning when the tide is out, accessible by a stone-paved road. Near the seashore very old baniyan trees surround the area.

Talgajarda, the birthplace of Saint Moharibapu, is five kilometres from Mahuva. It is known for its temples, including a Ganesh temple on the NH8 highway.

Mota-khutavada is 19 kilometres from Mahuva, 60 kilometres from Palitana with its famous Jain temple. Mota-khuntavada lies between two hills, the 150-foot high Mava-dungar hill, which is 500 meters around and surrounded by Malan-dam lake, and the Chitradhar hill. In the summer there is swimming and boating in the lake, which is about a kilometre in radius. There is also a 100-year-old Hanuma temple in the lake, and nearby a 150-year old Mahakali Devi temple that is only open after four on Sunday afternoons.

Mota-khuntavada is famous for its 90-year-old Ganesha temple, Sidhhganesh Arshrm Mota Khuntavada. Mahant Nepali Bapu, saint of Akhada, is found inside the temple, and Prashad of the god Ganesha is given to visitors.

Other attractions in Mota-khuntavada include the Referral Hospital (a government hospital) and the Prathmik Shala school, built in 1932. Hindus and Muslims coexist peacefully here. Most people are farmers, and 15% of Mahuva's annual agricultural output comes from Mota-khuntavada. The town is famous for a nut-and-onion product that is exported to Punjab and other states.

Kotamoi is a small village of mahuva. Kotamoi is at the near rojki river

Uncha Kotda is 27 kilometers from Mahuva. This is a temple of Goddess Chamundadevi called mini Shaktipith.

Schools

• Shree J.P.Parekh High school
• Shree M.N.High School
• Shree K.G.Mehta High School for girls
• Shree Radheshyam Gujarati and English Medium School.
• swaminarayan gurukul
• Vidhya Vihar

Jafari and Fatema English School was developed by Al-Imaan Trust, Mumbai. It has a huge campus with number of sports and games facilities, as well as a mosque for Shia Muslims to offer Namaaz.

Saint Thomas School Mahuva is located on the outskirts of Mahuva city on the Mahuva Victor road. It is a Christian minority educational institution run by the fathers of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I), through Saint Thomas Trust, Mahuva. It is part of AINACS (All India National Association of Catholic Schools)

Hanumant School(RBK) is located at Bhavnagar bypass road,Near Talgajarda road affiliated with CBSE course and Cambridge School-U.K.

Parekh college is there is located at nr Kubernath mandir, it provide BCA,BBA,B.Com,B.A,B.Sc,M.sc(it),M.sc,M.A,M.Com and some more courses.

Surrounding area

• Bagdana, the village of the Saint Bajrangdas Bapa, is 35 kilometres from Mahuva. The temple is visited through the year, especially on Guru Purnima and Thithi (the death anniversary of the saint). Half a million people pay homage to the temple each year. The temple provides food and accommodation even for large parties.

• Near Bagdana there is another holy place, an Ashram of Shri Kamleshwarbapu, found in Karmadiya village.

• Uncha Kotda is 27 kilometers from Mahuva. This has a temple dedicated to the Goddess Chamundadevi called "mini Shaktipith."

Transport

Mahuva is in the coastal region of Saurashtra on Gulf of Khambhat. It is connected to all major cities of Gujarat and other Indian states by road and rail. The nearest airport is Bhavnagar, about 100 km away.

By sea Mahuva is only nine hours from Mumbai.

Agriculture

As of 2011 there are 55 onion dehydration plants in the city, making it India's number one town for dehydration. Mahuva also grows a large onion crop for export to other Indian states, and is the second-largest onion producer in India after Pune in Maharashtra. In addition to onions, there are many small and large poultry farms in Mahuva, and an emu farm.

The main agricultural products of Mahuva are onions, cotton, and ground nuts. The mango named Jamadar mango and fruit Ramfal is special variety of Mahuva. Mahuva is the only place in Gujarat where bandhara (irritation system) are needed to control salinity.

Wildlife

Mahuva is known for vulture. A large population of white ramped vultures can be found in Mahuva. There are also 234 species of birds, and it is the only part of the district where jungle babblers are found.

INDUSTRIES

Mahuva have many agriculture based industries,Like Cotton ginning,Dehydrated vegetable etc,in 1998,Asha cotton industries is 1st cotton ginning industries establish by Dr B T Valia. now 19 cotton ginning factory established Mahuva,and approximate 60 dehydration industries established Mahuva.MAHUVA IS INDIA`S first largest hub for Dehydrated onion & garlic.also