Unjha
| Unjha Unjha(umapur) | |
|---|---|
| city | |
  Unjha Location in Gujarat, India | |
| Coordinates: 23°48′N 72°24′E / 23.8°N 72.4°ECoordinates: 23°48′N 72°24′E / 23.8°N 72.4°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Mehsana |
| Elevation | 111 m (364 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 57,108 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
Unjha is a town and a municipality in Mehsana district in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Geography
Unjha is located at 23°48′N 72°24′E / 23.8°N 72.4°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 111 metres (364 feet).
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[3] Unjha had a population of 53,868. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Unjha has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 65%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 73%. In Unjha, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. Unjha is known for its world famous cumin-seed and ispaghula market. The main temple of goddess Shree Umiya Mata is situated in Unjha. Old beliefs that Umiyama is the One of the Avatar (incarnation) of Goddess Parvati. This temple is very important for the Kadva Patel community as Umiyama is their community's goddess (kul devi).
The average income of population living here is very high compared to the national average because of trading business of Jeera located here. Jain community also has a good impact on the very famous ganj bazaar.
Places
Temples
Unjha is famous for Umiya Maata Temple that is located in the center of the city where thousands of visitors visit every day. It is about 1200 years old but it was rebuilt around a century ago with the aid of the people living there. It has continued to shower blessings to the devotees till date, and it is firmly believed that Unjha is prosperous because of the blessings of Goddess Umiya. There are also two other big temples in Unjha: the one is temple of Maa Baloj in the western side of the Unjha on the road of bus station, and the other one is on the road of Unjha-Patan 3 km from Unjha.
There are various other smaller temples too. On the outskirts there is a Kabir Aashram where the devotees of Saint Kabir worship and sing religious songs (bhajans, sakhis and dohas). Other places are various wadis or places where marriages and other occasions are held. It has many wadis and a particular sub caste of Patel has a particular wadi. For e.g. - Rangpur Samaaj wadi, Raman wadi, Unava Desh ni Wadi, Bhraman ni wadi, umiya desh ni wadi, sanskarbhavan wadi, Achleshawar Ni Wadi.
There is also Dwarkadhishji Temple located in Nava Mahad, Nr Bramhan Chora. Seva ( Pooja ) is being done as per Vaishanva Sampradaya ( Pushti Marg ). There are lot of Devotees of Dwarkadhishji in Unjha.
Unjha Marketyard
The Unjha Marketyard is the top in the Indian Market yards and the several spice export into the world through this market yards and so the unja also known as the spice city of the India. This Marketyard is the hub of the cumin and Isabgol and the exports both in the India and the world.
Education
Unjha has many schools including a B.B.A. College. Law College, a Teachers Training College, a Women's Residential College, and a commerce and arts college also.
Recreation
Almost near the center of the town is a pond. There are very few places of public recreation in Unjha.
Facts
Unjha is dominated by mainly Kadva Patidars along with mostly all communities. Within Patidar community, vast majority are "Anta" and smaller groups of "Rusat" and "Mollot".
Although a small town, Unjha has many people with the zest for social service. Many international social service groups have active members who live in Unjha like the Rotary, Rotaract, Lions, JCI club.
Economy
Unjha is known as biggest spices and oil seed market of Asia. The APMC market of Unjha is the place where all farmers and traders from states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Saurashtra come to trade and sell spices and oil seeds like cumin seeds, fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, dill seeds, ajwain seeds, Mustard Seeds, Sesame seeds, Coriander Seeds etc.
The annual volume of total trade is US$353,203,384 for the financial year 2012–13. Sourced from Unjha APMC data
The nearest Seaport is Mundra, which gives location advantage to exporters of spices in Unjha by exporting best-quality spices at competitive rates.
There are many direct manufacturer exporters of Indian spices and oil seeds in Unjha having their own manufacturing plant of highest quality standards for serving worldwide requirement.
Major importing countries are US, Germany, Central America, New Zealand, Portugal, Poland.
Notable persons from Unjha
- Dev Patel, who is the actor in very popular Hollywood movie Slumdog Millionaire (which is directed by foreigner director), has family roots from Unjha although he was born and brought up in The United Kingdom.
- World-famous musician and sarod player Vasant Rai's family is from Unjha. There is a music school commemorating his memory in Unjha.
- The famous APMC (Agriculture Product Market Committee) market was founded by Mr. Mohanbhai Haribhai Patel in the early 1950s, which is renovated and modernized by Mr. Narayanbhai L. Patel around 2004. He is also MLA for 5 terms.
- Small to large all bank's are available in unjha. so easy to transaction.
- In India, especially in Maharashtra, famous "Cumin" pakage AB brand is also from Unjha
- Jashodaben Modi, estranged wife of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is from Unjha taluka, born in village named Brahmanwada, 7 km away from Unjha.
References
- ↑ http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=534730
- ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Unjha
- ↑ "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. Retrieved 2008-11-01.