Valsad (Pronunciation: [ʋalsɑɖ]) (Gujarati: વલસાડ), historically known as Bulsar, is a city and a municipality in Valsad district of the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the district headquarters of Valsad district.[2] The city of Valsad is located in the south of Navsari and Surat.
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Valsad
Bulsar | |
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City | |
![]() Valsad City View from Parnera Hill | |
Nickname: City of Peace | |
![]() ![]() Valsad ![]() ![]() Valsad ![]() ![]() Valsad | |
Coordinates: 20.610°N 72.926°E / 20.610; 72.926 | |
Country | ![]() |
State | Gujarat |
District | Valsad |
Area | |
• Total | 24.10 km2 (9.31 sq mi) |
Elevation | 13 m (43 ft) |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 170,060 |
• Density | 7,100/km2 (18,000/sq mi) |
Demonym(s) | Valsadians, Valsadis |
Languages | |
• Official | Gujarati |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 396001 |
Telephone code | 912632 |
Vehicle registration | GJ-15 |
Sex ratio | 926/1000 ♂/♀ |
Literacy | 80.94 % |
The name "Valsad" derives from vad-saal, a Gujarati language compound meaning "covered (saal) by banyan trees (vad)" (the area was naturally rich in banyan trees). During British Raj, it was historically known as "Bulsar".
Valsad is located at 20.63°N 72.93°E / 20.63; 72.93.[3] It has an average elevation of 13 metres (42 feet). The old city is about 4 km inland from the Arabian sea.
Geography of Valsad City:[4] | |
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Average rainfall | 2300 mm |
Average temperature | 26.9 °C |
Seismic Zone | Zone III |
Major rivers | Auranga, Wanki |
Beaches | Tithal Beach |
Valsad has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) with little to no rainfall from October to May and very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from June to September when it is under the direct influence of the Arabian Sea branch of the South-west monsoon.
Climate data for Valsad, India (1981-2010, extremes 1974–2012) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 36.9 (98.4) |
38.8 (101.8) |
42.3 (108.1) |
43.1 (109.6) |
41.9 (107.4) |
38.1 (100.6) |
36.8 (98.2) |
33.4 (92.1) |
36.4 (97.5) |
38.9 (102.0) |
38.1 (100.6) |
36.7 (98.1) |
43.1 (109.6) |
Average high °C (°F) | 29.6 (85.3) |
29.7 (85.5) |
32.4 (90.3) |
33.8 (92.8) |
33.8 (92.8) |
32.5 (90.5) |
30.1 (86.2) |
29.3 (84.7) |
30.4 (86.7) |
32.9 (91.2) |
32.4 (90.3) |
31.4 (88.5) |
31.5 (88.7) |
Average low °C (°F) | 14.6 (58.3) |
15.8 (60.4) |
19.1 (66.4) |
22.8 (73.0) |
26.0 (78.8) |
26.2 (79.2) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.5 (76.1) |
23.9 (75.0) |
22.2 (72.0) |
18.7 (65.7) |
15.6 (60.1) |
21.2 (70.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | 7.1 (44.8) |
5.6 (42.1) |
10.6 (51.1) |
17.1 (62.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
17.0 (62.6) |
16.8 (62.2) |
15.6 (60.1) |
16.8 (62.2) |
12.6 (54.7) |
10.4 (50.7) |
7.0 (44.6) |
5.6 (42.1) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.3 (0.01) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.00) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.0 (0.12) |
274.6 (10.81) |
576.0 (22.68) |
381.4 (15.02) |
218.4 (8.60) |
32.6 (1.28) |
13.3 (0.52) |
0.6 (0.02) |
1,500.3 (59.07) |
Average rainy days | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 7.9 | 15.5 | 15.5 | 9.0 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 50.3 |
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) | 54 | 53 | 50 | 58 | 66 | 75 | 82 | 84 | 79 | 67 | 56 | 55 | 65 |
Source: India Meteorological Department[5][6] |
Religions in Valsad city | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | Percent | |||
Hindus | 85.04% | |||
Muslims | 10.31% | |||
Jains | 2.55% | |||
Christians | 1.24% | |||
Others† | 0.8% | |||
Distribution of religions †Includes Sikhs (0.2%), Buddhists (0.11%). |
As of the 2011 India census,[7] Valsad (metropolitan area) has a population of 170,060. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Valsad has an average literacy rate of 91.66%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 94.62%, and female literacy is 88.58%.
The major language spoken is Gujarati. Other languages spoken are Hindi, Marathi and English.
The major religion followed in Valsad is Hinduism. Other religions followed are Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Buddhism.
Valsad lies on NH 48. Valsad is connected to many cities in Gujarat by the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation bus service. Valsad is one of the 16 divisions of GSRTC referred as Daman Ganga.
Valsad railway station is managed by the Mumbai WR railway division of the Western Railway and it is a Sub-Division under Western Railway. It lies on the New Delhi–Mumbai main line. The present railway station building was established in 1925. Adjacent to the railway station is the Valsad Electric Loco Shed which houses over 100 electric locomotives.
Valsad is close to Surat International Airport, which is 99 km north of the city, located in Surat. The other airport closer to Valsad is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which is 188.3 km south from the city.
Valsad is an industrial base for sectors such as chemicals, textiles, and paper & pulp industries. Since the 1980s, textile and chemicals have been the major sectors of investments and employment in the district. Valsad is emerging as a horticulture hub of the state, witnessing significant production in food grains and crops.
Valsad has 7 industrial estates located in Dungra, Pardi, Dharampur, Bhilad, Valsad, Umbergaon, Sarigam, Vapi (the chemical hub of Gujarat) and 1 Industrial park in Kalgam.[8] With over 300 medium and large scale industries, Vapi is a major industrial center in Valsad. One of Asia's largest Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is present in Vapi, owned by Vapi Waste & Effluent Management Company and promoted by Vapi Industrial Association.[9]
Tithal Beach is located near Tithal town. The sand of the beach is black sand. Tithal Beach Festival and International Kite Festival are also organized on the shore of the beach.
Shree Shirdi Saibaba Sansthapan is located on the shore of the beach in Tithal town of Valsad district. The temple was established in 1982.
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is located on the shore of the beach in Tithal town of Valsad district. This is a temple of Lord Swami Narayan.
Shantidham Aradhana Kendra in Tithal is a meditation centre.[10]
Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple is a temple of Lord Shiva located in Abrama. This temple is more than 800 years old.
Morarji Desai Museum is built to dedicate former 5th Prime Minister of India, Morarji Desai in Valsad. The museum was developed by Valsad municipality at a cost of Rs. 4 crore. The museum was inaugurated by former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel.[11]
Callian Baug is an urban park in Valsad. In 1929, Mr. Motilal Callianji presented a donation for park to Valsad Municipality in memory of his father. In 1931, Callian Baug was opened by J.H.Garrett.[12]
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