State of Jamnagar | |||||||
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1540–1947 | |||||||
Official languages | Gujarati | ||||||
Religion | Hinduism (Official) Islam Jainism Christianity | ||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||
Establishment | |||||||
History | |||||||
• Battle of Mitoli | 1540 | ||||||
• Established | 1540 | ||||||
1947 | |||||||
Area | |||||||
• Total | 9,820 km2 (3,790 sq mi) | ||||||
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Nawanagar was an Indian princely state in the historical Halar region, located on the southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch. It was ruled by the Jadeja Rajput dynasty and became a part of newly formed India. Its capital city was Nawanagar city, now known as Jamnagar. It had an area of 3,791 square miles (9,820 km2) and a population estimated at 336,779 in 1901. Its rulers, who use the title of "Jam Saheb" are of the same clan as the Rao of Kutch.[1] They were entitled to a 13-gun salute. The state flag was a rectangular red flag with a white elephant, near and facing the hoist. During the British, the state was part of the Kathiawar Agency, within the Gujarat Division of Bombay Presidency.[1][2]
The state had a pearl fishery and much of its wealth came from this. Nawanagar is also famous for its late ruler Jam Saheb Ranjitsinhji (died 1933), who was a famous cricket player at Cambridge in England and represented England in Test cricket, before his accession to the throne.