# Rajula

Rajula is a city and municipality in Amreli district in the Indian state of Gujarat.The city was founded by Darbar Daha Bapu Dhakhada nearly 1759 AD, on the bank of river Dhatarvadi and among the hills called Piliyo and Rajuliyo; the Dhakhdas and other Babariya Kathis captured the surrounding region, which was known as Babariyawad.

## Etymology

Etymologically Rajula is Sanskrit word meaning (राज means rule + उल ula means can't bear something). Another sources claims that Rajula name derives from Princess Rajulakumari, also known as Rajamati, wife of lord Neminath famous tirthkara in Jainism.

## Demographics

As of the 2001 Indian census, Rajula had a population of approximately 80,393. Females constituted 49% of the population. Rajula has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, with male literacy at 72% and female, 55%. In Rajula, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

## Temples and tourist attractions

Kumbhnath Sukhnath temple is situated near Rajula. It is an old temple of Shiva. The shivlinga of Shiva was made by the brothers Bhima and Yudhishthira. Fairs are generally organised on the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Krishna Janmashtami. The temple is situated at the bank of Ghano river, a tributary of Dhatarwadi river.
Other temples include Bhidbhanjan, Ram Mandir, Goverdhannathji Ni Haveli, Samudrimataji Mandir, Sanyas Ashram, Gayatrijinu Mandir, Holia Hanumanji Nu Mandir, Ambama Nu Mandir, and Sankheshwarimataji Mandir.
Dhatarwadi riverside, opposite to the Kumbhnath Temple, is a tourist attraction.
Chachudeshwar Mahadev Temple, about 10 km from the city, is in a coastal area at which the river Dhatarwadi meets the Arabian sea.

## Education

The Saraswati group of schools includes Saraswati Vidyalaya, Saraswati Day School, and Saraswati Science School.
Swa. Khodabapa Education Trust and Rajula Sanchalit Sanskruti Vidhyalay and Sanskruti English medium schools are located at Jafrabad Road and have provided education since 2003.
St. Thomas High School is managed by a Christian Catholic group. It is located at Chataddiya Road. Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul is a well-known school and the first private school in the city located at Chataddiya Road, providing education services since 1996.
The city hosts primary schools and bal mandirs. Gandhi mandir is managed by Shri Rajula Seva Mandal. The high school is Shree Jivanlal Anandaji Sanghavi & Shree T.J.B.S. Girls' School is located here. Rajula Education Trust's Smt. Hiralaxmi Bhaidas Sanghavi Mahila Arts & Commerce College is also one of the colleges here. Separate schools, colleges and hostels for girls are available along with coeducational schools.
Calorx Public School is managed by Calorx Education and Research Foundation. It is located at Chataddiya Road.
In the year of 2016, Education Department (Government of Gujarat) and Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) have established GMB Polytechnic, Rajula at Chhatdiya Village (approx. 3 km from Rajula bus stand) to impart technical education of diploma level for the surrounding 100 km.

## Transport

The city is well connected with rest of the country by railways, bus transport and sea transport to other major cities of Gujarat such as Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar.
In 2023 airport authority of India had announced green field airport at Rajula in list of 11 new airports of gujrat.
Night sleeper coach private buses running from Una or Diu to major cities like Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat and Mumbai pass through Rajula providing a pleasure journey from Rajula to these cities. Rajula is situated on national highway No. 51. This highway connects Bhavnagar with Veraval.

## Economy

The city has substantial rock quarries that export around the country. Its economy mainly depends on industries and agriculture. Crops such as groundnut, cotton, and onion are popular.
Port Pipavav is a busy and growing seaport, with both major cargo operations and a shipyard operated by one of the India's largest shipbuilding and heavy industry companies.
Kovaya village, known for limestone mine reserves, has some of the largest cement manufacturing plants.

## Legislative assembly

This assembly seat represents the following segments,
* Rajula Taluka–entire taluka except village–Rampara No-1
* Jafrabad Taluka
* Khambha Taluka (Part) Villages – Umariya, Dedan, Raningpara, Nava Malaknes, Borala, Babarpur, Kantala, Chakrava, Hanumanpur, Juna Malaknes, Nesdi No-2, Samadhiyala No-2, Jivapar, Munjiyasar, Trakuda, Vangadhara, Talda, Dadli, Dhundhavana, Pachapachiya, Salva, Pipariya, Rabarika, Ambaliyala, Jamka, Ningala No-2, Bhundani, Gorana, Katarpara, Barman Mota, Barman Nana

## Total number of voters

| Election | Polling Stations | Male Voters | Female Voters | Others | Total Voters |
| 2014 | 261 | 117459 | 105395 | 0 | 222854 |

## Member of legislative assembly

* 2007 - Heerabhai solanki, Bharatiya Janata Party
* 2012 - Heerabhai solanki, Gujarat Parivartan Party
* 2017 - Amrishbhai der, Congress

## Winners and runners-up in Rajula assembly elections

| Year | A C No. | Constituency Name | Category | Winner | Gender | Party | Votes | Runner Up | Gender | Party | Votes |
| 2022 | 98 | Rajula | GEN | Solanki Hirabhai Odhavjibhai | M | BJP | 78482 | Der Amarishbhai Jivabhai | M | INC | 68019 |
| 2017 | 98 | Rajula | GEN | Der Amarishbhai Jivabhai | M | INC | 83818 | Solanki Hirabhai Odhavjibhai | M | BJP | 71099 |
| 2012 | 98 | Rajula | GEN | Hirabhai Odhavjibhai Solanki | M | BJP | 75447 | Babubhai Rambhai Ram | M | INC | 56737 |
| 2007 | 48 | Rajula | GEN | Hirabhai Odhavjibhai Solanki | M | BJP | 59399 | Gujjar Nayabhai Ukabhai | M | INC | 27069 |
| 2002 | 48 | Rajula | GEN | Solanki Hirabhai Odhavjibhai | M | BJP | 61947 | Bhuva Madhubhai Harjibhai | M | INC | 24885 |
| 1998 | 48 | Rajula | GEN | Hirabhai Odhavajibhai Solanki | M | BJP | 30105 | Varu Pratapbhai Suragbhai | M | AIRJP | 18016 |
| 1995 | 48 | Rajula | GEN | Bhuva Madhubhai Harjibhai | M | INC | 33768 | Jalondhara Babubhai Ranchhodbhai | M | IND | 32480 |
| 1990 | 48 | Rajula | GEN | Bhuva Madhubhai Harjibhai | M | JD | 25859 | Pratapbhai Suragbhai Varu | M | INC | 13429 |
| 1985 | 48 | Rajula | GEN | Nakum Khodabhai Rajabhai | M | INC | 17616 | Bhuva Madhubhai Harjibhai | M | JNP | 13001 |
| 1980 | 48 | Rajula | GEN | Varu Partpbhai Suragbhai | M | INC(I) | 18174 | Patel Babubhai Popatbhai | M | IND | 17540 |
| 1975 | 48 | Rajula | GEN | Jashwant Mehta | M | INC | 19291 | Mehta Mathurdas Harjivandas | M | NCO | 13181 |
| 1972 | 43 | Rajula | GEN | Jashvant Mehta | M | INC | 30158 | Parshotam Kanji Patel | M | NCO | 5644 |
| 1967 | 43 | Rajula | GEN | J. Mehta | M | INC | 14222 | M. H. Mehta | M | SWA | 12064 |
| 1962 | 39 | Rajula | GEN | Chhotalal Tribhovandas Mehta | M | INC | 16963 | Pitambardas Durlabhdas Vora | M | PSP | 10135 |

## Election results

2012
Gujarat Assembly Election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | BJP | Hirabhai Solanki | 75447 | 50.65 |
| | INC | Babubhai Ram | 56737 | 38.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18710 | 12.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 148961 | |
| | BJP hold | BJP hold | Swing | |
2017
Gujarat Assembly Election, 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | INC | Ambarishbhai Der | 83818 | 50.85 |
| | BJP | Hirabhai Solanki | 71099 | 43.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12719 | 7.71 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 164803 | |
| | INC hold | INC hold | Swing | |
2022
Gujarat Assembly Election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | BJP | Hirabhai Solanki | 78482 | 37.87 |
| | INC | Ambarishbhai Der | 68019 | 43.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10463 | 5.82 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 179621 | |
| | BJP hold | BJP hold | Swing | |

## Towns and villages in Rajula Taluka of Amreli district (as per Census 2011)

| Sr .No | Villages | Population |
| 1 | Agariya Dhudiya | 2,528 |
| 2 | Agariya Mota | 1,818 |
| 3 | Agariya Nava | 1,508 |
| 4 | Amuli | 332 |
| 5 | Babariyadhar | 2,569 |
| 6 | Balapar | 851 |
| 7 | Barbatana | 2,506 |
| 8 | Barpatoli | 4,026 |
| 9 | Bhachadar | 840 |
| 10 | Bhakshi | 1,446 |
| 11 | Bherai | 4,185 |
| 12 | Chanch | 5,830 |
| 13 | Charodiya | 1,288 |
| 14 | Chhapri | 1,086 |
| 15 | Chhatadiya | 1,171 |
| 16 | Chotra | 1,655 |
| 17 | Dantardi | 2,393 |
| 18 | Devka | 1,788 |
| 19 | Dharano Nes | 363 |
| 20 | Dhareshvar | 2,940 |
| 21 | Dipadiya | 1,087 |
| 22 | Doliya | 2,328 |
| 23 | Dungar | 7,129 |
| 24 | Dungarparda | 680 |
| 25 | Ganjavadar | 215 |
| 26 | Hadmatiya | 601 |
| 27 | Hindorna | 3,117 |
| 28 | Jholapar | 1,036 |
| 29 | Kadiyali | 2,783 |
| 30 | Katar | 3,703 |
| 31 | Kathivadar | 1,623 |
| 32 | Khakhbai | 3,118 |
| 33 | Khambhaliya | 1,093 |
| 34 | Khari | 919 |
| 35 | khera | 4,191 |
| 36 | Kherali Moti | 1,480 |
| 37 | Kherali Nani | 1,040 |
| 38 | Kotdi | 4,923 |
| 39 | Kovaya | 4,061 |
| 40 | Kumbhariya | 1,217 |
| 41 | Kundaliyala | 2,333 |
| 42 | Majadar | 611 |
| 43 | Mandal | 3,684 |
| 44 | Mandardi Navi-Juni | 2,432 |
| 45 | Masundada Nana- Mota | 778 |
| 46 | Mobhiyana Mota | 279 |
| 47 | Mobhiyana Nana | 280 |
| 48 | Morangi | 3,496 |
| 49 | Navagam | 476 |
| 50 | Nesdi No -1 | 365 |
| 51 | Ningala No-1 | 1,000 |
| 52 | Patva | 2,013 |
| 53 | Pipavav | 1,858 |
| 54 | Rabhda | 1,266 |
| 55 | Rajparda | 1,179 |
| 56 | Rampara No-1 | 342 |
| 57 | Rampara No-2 | 3,559 |
| 58 | Ringaniyala Mota | 1,268 |
| 59 | Ringaniyala Nana | 59 |
| 60 | Sajanavav | 1,181 |
| 61 | Samadhiyala No-1 | 2,427 |
| 62 | Uchaiya | 914 |
| 63 | Untiya | 955 |
| 64 | Vad | 1,025 |
| 65 | Vadli | 2,405 |
| 66 | Vavdi | 1,672 |
| 67 | Vavera | 3,644 |
| 68 | Victar | 2,040 |
| 69 | Visaliya | 2,958 |
| 70 | Zampodar | 645 |
| 71 | Zanzarda | 1,215 |
| 72 | Zinzka | 1,378 |