FORT SONGADH
Fort Songadh is a city and a municipality in Tapi district in the Indian state of Gujarat and it was earlier known as "SONERI GADH".
English - Fort Songadh, Gujarati - ફોર્ટ સોનગઢ, Devanagari - फोर्ट सोनगढ, Bengali - ফোর্ট সোনগঢ, Gurmukhi - ਫੋਰ੍ਟ ਸੋਨਗਢ, Kannada - ಫೊರ್ಟ್ ಸೊನಗಢ, Malayalam - ഫൊര്ട് സൊനഗഢ, Oriya - ଫୋର୍ଟ ସୋନଗଢ, Tamil - ஃபொர்ட் ஸொனகட, Telugu - ఫొర్ట్ సొనగదఢ
: : Information : :
State: Gujarat
District: Tapi
Vehicle Code: GJ 26
Postal Code: 394670
STD Code: 02624
Railway Station Code: USD (Ukai-Songadh)
State Transport Code: SND (Songadh) (GSRTC)
Villages: 177
Gram Panchayat: 73
Population: 40,256 (2001)
Total Populations: 2,04,290 (Including Villages)
Time Zone: IST (UTC +05:30)
Area (Elevation): 112 metres (367 ft.)
District: Tapi
Vehicle Code: GJ 26
Postal Code: 394670
STD Code: 02624
Railway Station Code: USD (Ukai-Songadh)
State Transport Code: SND (Songadh) (GSRTC)
Villages: 177
Gram Panchayat: 73
Population: 40,256 (2001)
Total Populations: 2,04,290 (Including Villages)
Time Zone: IST (UTC +05:30)
Area (Elevation): 112 metres (367 ft.)
: : Geography : :
Songadh is located at 21°10′N 73°34′E / 21.17°N 73.57°E / 21.17; 73.57. It has an average elevation of 112 metres (367 feet).
The town is located at the foot of a solitary mountain which can be seen from miles round, particularly as the surrounding area has been almost completely flattened by almost 30 local stone quarries. Due to these stone quarries, Songadh has very good road links to the city of Surat to its west and the state of Maharastra to its east.
The main town of Songadh is split into two parts; Junagam (old town) and Navagam (new town). Due to rapid expansion of the town in recent times, Navagam has outgrown the original Junagam and is characterised by the hustle and bustle of the Main Road almost any time of the day. This is largely due to the Bus Terminal which acts as a hub for cross country buses which are en route to the city of Surat. This passing traffic has bought much trade into Songadh as it is the first town as you enter Gujarat from the East (or the last before you leave from the West).
To the west of Songadh is the district capital of Vyara which has a slightly smaller population but substantially more industry. Vyara has grown faster than Songadh due to the higher work ethic of the Vyara population in comparison to the younger population of Songadh, this is in part due to the practice of intermarrying of cousins in Songadh.
: : History of Fort : :
The Songadh Fort was built by the founder of the Gaekwad dynasty, Pillaji Rao Gaekwad between 1729-1766. Built deliberately on top of the high hill as a vantage point to keep an eye on enemies, the fort is also a brilliant example of Ancient architecture where influence of both Mughals and Marathas are evident.
There are not much Forts built in Gujarat State . Maharashtra is having lot of f orts because of its geographical position. Maharashtra is guarded by Sahyadri Mountains . So the Forts are in Maharashtra is very difficult to trek where as this Songadh fort does not have much height and its take hardly half an hour to reach at the top of the fort.
: : Famous Places in Fort Songadh : :
The Fort of Songadh literraly means 'Son' stands for Gold & 'Gadh' stands for fort which means that the 'Fort of Gold'
1. Rokadia Hanuman Mandir
2. Quarries located around Songadh
3. Kalyanraiji Mandir
4. Fort of Songadh
5. Gaumukh
6. Dosvada Dam
7. Hindustan Bridge
8. The Central Pulp Mills (CPM) (now part of JK Singhania Group),
9. The Tps & Hydro power station.( The working progress of Unit 6 in Tps),
10. Bhagwan Parsuramji Mandir and Agni Mandir at CPM,
11. Suryatapeshwar Mandir
12. Tapi Nadi
13. V.I.P., Ukai.
14. National Gate, Bhurival, Chamri gusthouse, Bhimpura.
15. Swarnim Tapi Van.
SWARNIM TAPI VAN
Vyara(Guj) - 18 Kms
Navapur(Mah) - 25 Kms
Ukai(Guj) - 8 Kms
: : Distance : :
Surat - 85 Kms(NH-6)
Baroda - 222 Kms(NH-6,NH-8)
Karnavati - 335 Kms(NH-6,NH-8)
Mumbai - 343 Kms(NH-6,NH-8)
Pune - 442 Kms(NH-6,NH-8,NH-9)
Delhi - 1250 Kms(NH-6,NH-8)
: : Demographics : :
As of 2001 India census, Songadh had a population of 22,426. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Songadh has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 58%. In Songadh, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Health Facilities in Songadh is predominantly provided by 1) Community Health Centre ( Referral Hospital), 2) Sarthak Hospital ( a Physician speciality advanced care hospital), 3) Dhiraj Hospital(a Surgical hospital), 4) Mamta Hospital, 5) Sanjeevani Hospital(paediatric), 6)Sai Krupa Hospital(Gynaec), 7) Kumar Hospital, and a number of General Practitioners.
: : References : :
^ "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.
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