Jamnagar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamnagar
City
Clockwise from top: Lakhota Lake, Lesser Flamingos, Darbar Garh Market, Swaminaryan Temple
Seal of the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation
Nickname(s):  Jewel of Kathiawar, Paris of Saurashtra, Oil City, Brass City, Chhota Kashi, Halar
Jamnagar Location in Gujarat
Country	India
State	Gujarat
Region	Saurashtra
District	Jamnagar
Established	1540
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
• Body	Jamnagar Municipal Corporation
Area
• Total	125 km2 (48 sq mi)
Area rank	5
Elevation	17 m (56 ft)
Population  (2023)
• Total	668,000 (City Area)
• Rank	India : 87th
• Density	5,780/km2 (15,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Jamnagari
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	361 001-09
Telephone code	0288
Vehicle registration	GJ-10

Jamnagar is a lively city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the main city of the Jamnagar district. You can find it just south of the Gulf of Kutch. It is about 337 kilometers (209 miles) west of Gandhinagar, the state capital.

Jamnagar is home to some amazing things. Reliance Industries, India's biggest private company, has the world's largest oil refining and petrochemicals complex here. This huge complex processes oil and makes chemicals.

Long ago, Jamnagar was the capital of a princely state called Nawanagar. This was during the time of the British Raj, when India was under British rule.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian government have teamed up in Jamnagar. They are building a global center for traditional medicine. This center will use modern science to study and improve traditional healing methods from all over the world. India is investing a lot of money in this project.

Reliance Industries is also building the world's largest zoo near Jamnagar. It will be about 28 kilometers (17 miles) from the city. A new luxury hotel is also planned to open in 2025. The city is even planning to build a riverfront along the Rangmati and Nagmati rivers.

History of Jamnagar

Maharaja Jamsaheb Shri of Nawanagar

Jamnagar was first called Nawanagar, meaning "the new town." It was founded in 1540 by a ruler named Jam Rawal. Nawanagar was a very important and large princely state in the Saurashtra region.

The story of Jamnagar's founding is interesting. Jam Rawal's father was killed by his cousins. Jam Rawal later got revenge and became the ruler of Kutch. However, a goddess told him he could no longer stay in Kutch.

As Jam Rawal left Kutch, he fought and won battles. He conquered new lands and created his own kingdom with 999 villages. He named this new kingdom Halar.

One day, while hunting, Jam Rawal saw something amazing. His hunting dogs were scared by a brave hare that turned and faced them! Jam Rawal thought, "If this land can produce such brave hares, then the people born here will be even braver." Because of this, he decided to make this special place his capital.

Flag of the Princely State of Nawanagar

So, in August 1540, Jam Rawal laid the foundation for his new capital. He built it on the banks of the Rangmati and Nagmati rivers. He named it Nawanagar. Many years later, its name changed to Jamnagar, which means "Town of the JAMs."

In the 18th century, the Jadeja Rajputs ruled Nawanagar. They were known for being brave warriors. They fought many battles to protect their region.

In 1807, Nawanagar became a princely state under the British. Maharaja Ranjit Singhji was an important ruler. He built schools, hospitals, and made many improvements to the state. Later, in the 1920s and 1940s, other rulers like Jamsaib and Jam Saheb Shri Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji continued to develop the city.

Geography and Nature

Jamnagar is home to many different communities. These include the Jadeja, Charan, Ahir, Patel, Jain, Lohana, and Brahmin people.

Important Ports

There are two important ports near Jamnagar. Rozi Port is right on the shore of the Gulf of Kutch. Bedi Port is a bit further inland on the Rangamati River. Bedi Port is busy all year round. It exports things like bauxite and groundnut extracts. It imports coal and fertilizer.

Pirotan Island and Marine Park

The coral reef island of Pirotan is one of 42 islands in the Marine National Park. This park is in the Arabian Sea, about 12 nautical miles (22 km) from the coast. It is a special place with coral reefs and mangroves.

Mangroves jungle along canal near Pirotan Island

Khijadia Bird Sanctuary

The Khijadia Bird Sanctuary is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northeast of Jamnagar. It was created in 1982. This sanctuary has a seasonal lake, mudflats, and mangrove areas. It is a great place for birds to breed. You can see birds like the great crested grebe and black-winged stilt here. Many migratory birds also visit, such as swallows and wagtails.

Bauxite Reserves

Jamnagar has large amounts of bauxite. This is a rock used to make aluminum. The mines in Jamnagar produce 95% of all the bauxite in Gujarat!

Jamnagar's Climate

Jamnagar has a hot, dry climate. There are three main seasons. From March to May, it is very hot and humid. Then comes the wet season with rain, but the amount of rain can change a lot each year. The cool season is from October to February. During this time, days are warm, but nights are cool and there is very little rain.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Jamnagar was 47°C (117°F) in May 1990. The lowest was 1°C (34°F) in February 1984.

People and Languages

In 2023, the population of Jamnagar's urban area was about 668,000 people. Most people in Jamnagar can read and write. The literacy rate is 82.14%, which is higher than India's average. More men can read and write than women. About 10% of the population is under six years old.

Most people in Jamnagar are Gujarati and speak the Gujarati language. Some people also speak Kutchi language, which is a different language but uses the Gujarati writing system. For everyday talks, many people use Kathiawadi, a local Gujarati dialect.

Historically, in 1901, the population of Nawanagar Municipality was about 53,844. Most people were Hindu (around 59%), followed by Muslim (around 32%), and Jain (around 7.5%).

Jamnagar's Economy

Bandhej cloth

Many people in Jamnagar now work in industries. About 10% of the city's people make and sell traditional Bandhani cloth. This is a special tie-dye fabric. Digjam, a company in Jamnagar, also makes high-quality wool fabrics.

Jamnagar used to be called the "Brass City." This is because it has thousands of workshops that make brass items. These workshops create brass parts and rods, many of which are sent to other countries. Jamnagar is the biggest producer of brass items in India.

Today, Jamnagar is also known as the "World's Oil City." This is because it has the world's largest oil refineries. The Jamnagar Refinery, owned by Reliance Industries, is the biggest refinery in the world. Another large refinery, Vadinar Refinery, is owned by Nayara Energy.

Jamnagar is also important for India's defense. It has bases for the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, and Indian Navy. This location is important because it is close to Pakistan.

Arts and Culture

Places of Worship

Jamnagar has many beautiful temples. Some famous Hindu temples include Sidhnath Mahadev Temple and Bhid Bhanjan Mahadev Temple. There are also more than 30 marble Jain Temples in Jamnagar. These temples were built between 1574 and 1622.

The Bala Hanuman Temple is very special. Since August 1, 1964, people have been continuously chanting the "Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram" prayer there, 24 hours a day! This amazing feat earned the temple a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Famous Buildings

Khambaliya Gate

The Bohra Hajira is a white marble tomb built in 1540. It is the resting place of a Muslim saint. This beautiful building is on the banks of the Nagmati and Rangmati rivers. The Jamnagar Trimandir is a two-story building with a large hall and a temple. The Khambhaliya Gate, built in the 17th century, is one of the city's old gates that still stands today.

Pratap Vilas Palace

Pratap Vilas Palace was built by Maharaja Ranjitsinhji. It looks like European buildings but has beautiful Indian carvings. Its domes are made of glass and follow Indian architectural styles. The palace's pillars have carvings of flowers, birds, and animals. The 2001 Gujarat earthquake caused some damage to the palace.

Willingdon Crescent is another interesting building. It was built by Ranjit Singh to replace an old slum area. It has an arcade with arches and a statue of Jam Saheb in the middle.

Sports in Jamnagar

Cricket is a very popular sport in Jamnagar. Many famous Indian Test cricketers come from this city. These include Vinoo Mankad, Ajay Jadeja, and Ravindra Jadeja.

The Ajitsinhji Pavilion cricket ground was built in 1908. Two important Indian cricket tournaments, the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, are named after princes from Jamnagar.

The city also has a sports complex with a swimming pool and badminton courts. The Summair Sports Club is an 80-year-old club built by the old rulers. It has facilities for swimming, tennis, squash, badminton, billiards, and table tennis.

Parks and Fun Places

The Kotha Bastion museum has old sculptures, coins, and even the skeleton of a whale. The Lakhota Museum, located in the old Lakhota Palace, displays sculptures from the 9th to 18th centuries, old weapons, and pottery.

The Marine National Park is India's first marine sanctuary. It is about 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the city. This park has 42 islands with coral reefs and mangroves. It is a great place to see birds, dolphins, sea turtles, and colorful tropical fish.

Education in Jamnagar

Jamnagar has many schools, both private and government-supported. Some well-known schools include Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Podar International School, and St. Xavier's High School, Jamnagar.

The city also has colleges for dental studies and health, like M. P. Shah Medical College and Gujarat Ayurved University. There are also several colleges where students can study arts, commerce, and science.

City Infrastructure

Getting Around Jamnagar

Amritsar–Jamnagar Expressway is a new, large highway being built. It will connect Amritsar to Jamnagar, making travel much faster. This expressway is important because it connects three big oil refineries, including the one in Jamnagar. It will pass through Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

Jamnagar Railway Station platform

Jamnagar has many private bus services that connect it to major cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The State Transport also offers bus services across Gujarat. The Jamnagar Municipal Corporation runs local buses within the city. You can also find Ola Cabs and auto-rickshaws.

The railway station connects the city to many places in India. There are daily trains to Mumbai and weekly trains to other major cities.

The city also has an airport with daily flights to Mumbai and flights a few times a week to Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The airport is part of an Indian Air Force base.

Utilities and Services

The Sikka Thermal Power Station near Jamnagar provides electricity to the area. For entertainment, there are various cable TV and DTH services available. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) provides internet services. All major mobile phone companies, like Vi, Airtel, and BSNL, operate in Jamnagar.

Media and News

You can listen to several radio stations in Jamnagar, including All India Radio, Top FM, and Radio Mirchi.

Many daily newspapers are available in Jamnagar in different languages. National newspapers like The Times of India and Indian Express are sold here. Local newspapers published in Gujarati include Aajkaal and Jamnagar Bhaskar. There is also a local English newspaper called The Princely State.

Famous People from Jamnagar

Ranjitsinhji, English cricketer, former King of Jamnagar princely state, British India.

Many notable people were born or have lived in Jamnagar:

• Ruskin Bond, a famous author
• Ranjitsinhji, a former King of Nawanagar and a famous international cricketer for England
• Vinoo Mankad, a former Indian cricketer
• Duleepsinhji, a former cricketer
• Salim Durani, a former Indian test cricketer
• Remo D'Souza, a dancer, choreographer, actor, and film director
• Indrajitsinhji, a former test cricketer
• Ajay Jadeja, a former ODI cricketer
• Rajendrasinhji Jadeja, the first Chief of Army Staff of India
• Ravindra Jadeja, a current Indian cricketer
• Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji, also known as The Good Maharaja, who helped Polish children during World War II.

Images for kids

• 

  Lakhota Lake at golden hour

• 

  Swaminarayan Temple

• 

  Lesser Flamingos near Jamnagar railway station

• 

  Darbar Garh Market

• 

  Seal of the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation

See also

In Spanish: Jamnagar para niños