Naliya

History

Naliya was a prosperous trading town in past who had trading ties with Zanzibar and Bombay. It had a population of 5238 in 1880.

Climate

| Jan record high C = 36.2 | Feb record high C = 38.6 | Mar record high C = 43.4 | Apr record high C = 43.5 | May record high C = 46.1 | Jun record high C = 43.4 | Jul record high C = 41.4 | Aug record high C = 37.9 | Sep record high C = 40.7 | Oct record high C = 42.0 | Nov record high C = 39.7 | Dec record high C = 36.9 |year record high C = 46.1 | Jan record low C = 1.2 | Feb record low C = 0.4 | Mar record low C = 6.4 | Apr record low C = 11.7 | May record low C = 16.4 | Jun record low C = 20.0 | Jul record low C = 22.1 | Aug record low C = 21.2 | Sep record low C = 17.4 | Oct record low C = 11.2 | Nov record low C = 5.0 | Dec record low C = 0.6 |year record low C = 0.4 | access-date = April 8, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf | archive-date = 5 February 2020 | access-date = 28 December 2020}} | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf | archive-date = 5 February 2020 | access-date = 28 December 2020}}

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the village of Naliya had 11,415 inhabitants for a gender ratio of 939 females per thousand males.

Indian Air Force Station

Naliya is home to the Naliya Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force, which was built here in view of the town's proximity to Pakistan.

Transport

National Highway 41 connects Naliya to Bhuj.

A metre gauge railway line was laid in 1980 to connect the town with Bhuj. Passenger and freight trains ran on it from Naliya railway station to Bhuj. The track was abandoned later after Gandhidham-Bhuj section was converted to broad-gauge and this 101.52 km railway line became isolated. Gauge conversion to broad gauge was approved by the government in 2008. The gauge conversion of 28 km was completed up between Bhuj and Desalpur in 2018. The work in remaining 74 km is in progress.

The Naliya Cantonment Station will be the rail station for Naliya town after the gauge conversion is completed. Due to security reason the 6.12 km railway line stretch between Naliya Cantonment and Naliya Town will not be made since Naliya is situated just 25.98 km from India-Pakistan border of Sir Creek marsh lands.

Tourism

Naliya Jain Derasar

Naliya is a century old town, which has Jain temples and mosques built several centuries ago. It is a famous Jain pilgrimage center and one of the five famous Jain temples of Abdasa ni Panchtirthi (meaning five-temples of Abdasa) is in the town. This temple belongs to the Śvetāmbara sect of Jainism. Other Jain temples are in nearby places in Abdasa Taluka. The main architects of these centuries old Jain temples were Mistris of Kutch. Moolnayak Bhagwaan is Chandraprabha. The main idol of Shri Chandraprabhu Bhagwan is Swet varn(white coloured) of about 72 cm in padmasanastha position.

Bustard Sanctuary

Naliya is also famous for Great Indian Bustard sanctuary also known as Lala–Parjan Sanctuary, which is located nearby the town. With an area of about only 2 square kilometers, it is the smallest sanctuary in the country. There are approximately 30 great Indian bustards here, second only to Desert National Park, Rajasthan.

References

References

1. "Assembly Constituencies-Post delimitation, State: Gujarat, District: Ahmadabad". National Information Centre, Government of India.
2. (1880). "Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha". Printed at the Government Central Press.
3. "Census 2001 Population Finder: Gujarat: Kachchh: Abdasa: Naliya". Office of The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
4. "Air Force Station, Naliya (kutch), Kutch-370 655".
5. (16 October 2008). "Bhuj-Naliya Broad Gauge rail line sanctioned".
6. [http://www.yatratojaintemples.com/english/par150_details.asp?tempid=823 Shri Naliya Tirth]
7. [http://www.jinalaya.com/gujarat/naliya.htm Naliya]
8. Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas : A brief History & Glory: by Raja Pawan Jethwa. (2007) Calcutta.pp:28-29
9. Nanji Bapa ni Nondh-pothi published in Gujarati in year 1999 from Vadodara.
10. [http://www.mbendi.com/facility/107/f425.htm Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Naliya, Kachchh]
11. [http://www.indianaturewatch.net/view_cat.php?tag=Naliya%20-%20Kutch%20-%20Gujarat Naliya Birds]