Valsad

The name "Valsad" derives from vad-saal, a Gujarati language compound meaning "covered (sal) by banyan trees (vad)" or "where vad (banyan trees) and sal (sal tree) are" (the area was naturally rich in banyan trees). During British Era, it was historically known as "Bulsar".{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} DISTRICT COURT VALSAD - GUJARAT {{!}} India |url=https://valsad.dcourts.gov.in/about-department/history/#:~:text=Valsad,%20historically%20was%20known%20as,three%20districts%20of%20Gujarat%20State. |access-date=2025-03-07 |language=en-US}}

Valsad is located at {{Coord|20.63|N|72.93|E|}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/09/Valsad.html|title=redirect to /world/IN/09/Valsad.html|website=www.fallingrain.com}} It has an average elevation of 13 metres (42 feet). The old city is about 4 km inland from the Arabian Sea.

Valsad has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) with little to no rainfall from October to May and very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from June to September when it is under the direct influence of the Arabian Sea branch of the South-west monsoon.

{{Weather box

| location = Valsad, India (1991-2020, extremes 1974–2020)

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| collapsed =

| Jan record high C = 36.9

| Feb record high C = 38.8

| Mar record high C = 42.3

| Apr record high C = 43.1

| May record high C = 41.9

| Jun record high C = 38.1

| Jul record high C = 36.8

| Aug record high C = 33.4

| Sep record high C = 36.4

| Oct record high C = 38.9

| Nov record high C = 38.1

| Dec record high C = 36.7

|year record high C = 43.1

| Jan high C = 30.5

| Feb high C = 30.8

| Mar high C = 34.2

| Apr high C = 35.2

| May high C = 34.5

| Jun high C = 33.0

| Jul high C = 30.4

| Aug high C = 29.9

| Sep high C = 30.9

| Oct high C = 33.8

| Nov high C = 33.2

| Dec high C = 32.2

| year high C = 32.4

| Jan low C = 13.7

| Feb low C = 15.4

| Mar low C = 18.6

| Apr low C = 22.3

| May low C = 25.3

| Jun low C = 25.2

| Jul low C = 24.1

| Aug low C = 23.7

| Sep low C = 23.1

| Oct low C = 21.8

| Nov low C = 18.4

| Dec low C = 15.0

| year low C = 20.6

| Jan record low C = 7.1

| Feb record low C = 5.6

| Mar record low C = 10.1

| Apr record low C = 16.1

| May record low C = 19.8

| Jun record low C = 17.0

| Jul record low C = 16.8

| Aug record low C = 15.6

| Sep record low C = 16.8

| Oct record low C = 12.6

| Nov record low C = 10.4

| Dec record low C = 7.0

|year record low C = 5.6

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 0.4

| Feb rain mm = 0.0

| Mar rain mm = 0.7

| Apr rain mm = 0.0

| May rain mm = 0.7

| Jun rain mm = 322.8

| Jul rain mm = 665.0

| Aug rain mm = 442.8

| Sep rain mm = 279.9

| Oct rain mm = 26.9

| Nov rain mm = 6.3

| Dec rain mm = 5.9

| year rain mm = 1751.4

| Jan rain days = 0.1

| Feb rain days = 0.0

| Mar rain days = 0.0

| Apr rain days = 0.0

| May rain days = 0.2

| Jun rain days = 8.6

| Jul rain days = 17.4

| Aug rain days = 16.7

| Sep rain days = 10.1

| Oct rain days = 1.2

| Nov rain days = 0.2

| Dec rain days = 0.2

|year rain days = 54.7

|time day = 17:30 IST

| Jan humidity = 51

| Feb humidity = 50

| Mar humidity = 48

| Apr humidity = 58

| May humidity = 66

| Jun humidity = 74

| Jul humidity = 82

| Aug humidity = 83

| Sep humidity = 79

| Oct humidity = 65

| Nov humidity = 54

| Dec humidity = 54

|year humidity = 64

|source 1 = India Meteorological Department{{cite web

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf

| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| access-date = April 8, 2024

}}

{{cite web

| 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

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf

| title = Climatological Normals 1981–2010

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = July 2020

| pages = 75–76

| access-date = 28 September 2020}}

{{cite web

| 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

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf

| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = December 2016

| page = M51

| access-date = 28 September 2020}}

}}

{{bar box

|title=Religions in Valsad city

|titlebar=#Fcd116

|left1=Religion

|right1=Percent

|float=right

|bars=

{{bar percent|Hindus|orange|85.04}}

{{bar percent|Muslims|green|10.31}}

{{bar percent|Jains|pink|2.55}}

{{bar percent|Christians|blue|1.24}}

{{bar percent|Others†|black|0.8}}

|caption=Distribution of religions

†Includes Sikhs (0.2%), Buddhists (0.11%).

}}

As of the 2011 India census,{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=16 June 2004|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=1 November 2008|publisher= Census Commission of India}} Valsad (metropolitan area) has a population of 170,060. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Valsad has an average literacy rate of 91.66%, higher than the national average of 74.04%. Male literacy is 94.62%, and female literacy is 88.58%.

The major language spoken is Gujarati. Other languages spoken are Hindi, Marathi and English.

The major religion followed in Valsad is Hinduism. Other religions followed are Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Buddhism.

File:Valsad Railway Building.jpg]]

Valsad lies on NH 48 and is connected to many cities in Gujarat and neighbouring states by the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation bus service.

Valsad railway station is managed by the Mumbai WR railway division of the Western Railway and it is a Sub-Division under Western Railway. It lies on the New Delhi–Mumbai main line. The present railway station building was established in 1925.{{Cite web |date=2019-06-22 |title=Indian Railways completely redevelops Valsad station of Gujarat! See stunning before-and-after revamp pictures |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/railways-indian-railways-completely-redevelops-valsad-station-of-mumbai-see-stunning-before-and-after-revamp-pictures-1614793/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}} Adjacent to the railway station is the Valsad Electric Loco Shed which houses over 100 electric locomotives.

Valsad is close to Surat International Airport, which is 99 km north of the city and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai which is 188.3 km south of the city.

Valsad is an industrial base for sectors such as chemicals, textiles, and paper & pulp industries. Since the 1980s, textile and chemicals have been the major sectors of investments and employment in the district. Valsad is emerging as a horticulture hub of the state, witnessing significant production in food grains and crops.{{Cite web |title=Valsad Economy |url=https://valsad.nic.in/economy/}}

Valsad has 7 industrial estates located in Dungra, Pardi, Dharampur, Bhilad, Valsad, Umbergaon, Sarigam, Vapi (the chemical hub of Gujarat) and 1 Industrial park in Kalgam.{{cite web| url=http://www.globalgujarat.com/images/valsad-district-profile.pdf| title=District Profile: Valsad| website=Global Gujarat}} With over 300 medium and large scale industries, Vapi is a major industrial center in Valsad. One of Asia's largest Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is present in Vapi, owned by Vapi Waste & Effluent Management Company and promoted by Vapi Industrial Association.{{cite web| url=https://dcmsme.gov.in/old/dips/2016-17/30.%20Valsad%202016-17.pdf| title={{as written|DIST|IRCT [sic]}} INDUSTRIAL POTENTIALITY SURVEY REPORT| website=Dcmsme}}

• GMERS Medical College, est 2014
• Government Engineering College (affiliated to Gujarat Technological University) , est 2004
• Government Polytechnic (affiliated to Gujarat Technological University) , est 1965
• Smt. J.P. Shroff Arts College
• Shah N.H. Commerce College
• Dhiru-Sarla Institute of Management and Commerce
• B.K.M. Science College
• Dolat-Usha Institute of Applied Sciences
• Shree N. K. M. Nursing Instuite
• Shah K.M. Law College

;Affiliated with ICSE

• Atul Vidyalaya School

;Affiliated with the CBSE

• Saraswati International School
• Shree Vallabh Ashram's MGM Amin & V N Savani International School
• Shree Vallabh Sanskar Dham's Smt. Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel Day Boarding School{{Cite web|url=http://www.vadb.edu.in/|title=Vallabh Ashram - Smt. Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel Day Boarding School|website=www.vadb.edu.in}}
• Shree Vallabh Ashram's MCM Kothari Girl's Residential School{{Cite web|url=http://www.vamcm.edu.in/|title=Vallabh Ashram - MCM Kothari International Girls' Residential School|website=www.vamcm.edu.in}}
• Western Railway English Medium Secondary School

;Affiliated with the GSHSEB

• D.M.D.G. Municipal High School
• Jamnabai Sarvajanik Kanya Vidyalaya
• Maniba Sarvajanik Vidyalaya
• Shah Khimchand Mulji Sarvajanik High School
• St. Joseph's English Teaching High School
• Mother Mary Public High school.
• Bai Ava Bai High School
• BAPS Swaminarayan Vidhyamandir
• G.V.D. Sarvajanik High School
• Sett Rustomjee Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy or Sett R.J.J High School
• R.M. & V.M. Desai Vidyalaya
• Swaminarayan High School
• Gayatri High School
• Kusum Vidyalaya
• C.B High school
• Shree Saraswati Vidyamandir School

File:Udvada Fire Temple 1905.JPG

• Udvada, Valsad is the Primary, and Oldest Parsi Agiyari in India.

File:Tithal_Beach_Sun_Set.JPG

• Tithal Beach is located near Tithal town. The sand of the beach is black. Tithal Beach Festival and the International Kite Festival are also organised on the shore of the beach.

• Shree Shirdi Saibaba Sansthapan is located on the shore of the beach in Tithal town of Valsad district. The temple was established in 1982.

File:Swaminarayan Temple.Tithal,Valsad.JPG

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is located on the shore of the beach in Tithal town of Valsad district. This is a temple of Lord Swami Narayan.

• Shantidham Aradhana Kendra in Tithal is a meditation centre.{{cite web| url=http://www.jinjimaharaj.com/home/| title=Shantidham Aradhana Kendra| website=Jinjimaharaj}}

File:Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Valsad.jpg

• Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple is the only Sleeping Shiv-ling in the World, located in Abrama and is believed to be more than 800 years old. It also has an open roof-top, which is intact since inauguration of the Mandir.

File:Morarji Desai portrait.jpg

• Morarji Desai Museum dedicated to the 5th Prime Minister of India, Morarji Desai is in Valsad. The museum was inaugurated by the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel.{{cite web| url=http://deshgujarat.com/2014/12/29/museum-on-morarji-desai-likely-to-open-in-february-2015-in-gujarat/| title=Museum on Morarji Desai likely to open in February 2015 in Gujarat| website=DeshGujarat| date=29 December 2014}}

• Callian(Kalyan) Baug is an urban park in Valsad. In 1929, Mr. Motilal Callianji presented a donation for park to Valsad Municipality in memory of his father. In 1931, Callian Baug was opened by J.H.Garrett.{{cite web|url=http://valsadtourism.weebly.com/|title=Valsad Tourism|website=Valsad Tourism}}

File:Valsad City View from Parnera Hill in Gujarat,India.jpg

• Parnera Hill, also called Parnera Dungar, is one of the pilgrimages within the city that offers great view of the city. It's located 6.5 kilometers away from the city center. This is a Temple of 3 Goddesses and a "Bhairav Temple" 900 steps from base level. Chhatrapati Shivaji jumped from this hilltop on his Horse when he was in Valsad.

• Valsad Ganpati Mandir's Murti (idol) was given by Peshwa Bajirao himself.
• Dharampur Science Planetaurium, and Science City.
• Dharampur Palace.

File:Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur Spiritual Activity.jpg

• [https://srmd.org/ Srimad Rajchandra Mission], Mohangadh, Dharampur, Valsad.

• Morarji Desai - former Prime Minister of India. Time Active Around 1930–1980
• Bhulabhai Desai - Indian freedom fighter and acclaimed lawyer. Time Active Around 1910–1946
• Sam Manekshaw - First Field Marshal of India and former chief of army staff, India. His family hailed from Valsad, later moved to Bombay and then Amritsar. Time Active Around 1932–1973
• Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) - singer and songwriter for the British rock band Queen, whose family originated from Valsad. Time Active Around 1964–1991
• Nirupa Roy - Hindi film actress. Time Active Around 1946–1990s
• Pratap Save - a social activist.

• Kanubhai Desai, MLA - Pardi Constituency and Cabinet Minister at Government of Gujarat.
• [https://www.sci.gov.in/judge/justice-j-b-pardiwala/#:~:text=Father%20Shri%20Burjor%20CawasjiPardiwala%20joined,at%20Valsad%20from%20January%2C%201989. Burjor Cawasji Pardiwala]: Lawyer and Politician. Father of Justice J. B. Pardiwala.
• J. B. Pardiwala: Senior Judge at Supreme Court of India.
• Ranchhoddas Thakkar: Notable Lawyer, M.A.(Sanskrit), M.A.(English) from Wilson College, Mumbai, 1911.
• Dr. Moghabhai Desai: Established College Campus in Valsad.
• Shri Siddharthbhai Lalbhai: Established College Campus in Valsad, and First Chemical Factory of Gujarat(Atul).
• Dadabhoy Havewala - first-class cricketer, who played for Bombay cricket team and Parsees cricket team.
• Hemin Desai - Indian-born cricketer, who has represented Oman at the List A cricket.
• Makarand Dave (Nandigram) - Gujarati poet.
• Manilal Desai - Gujarati poet.
• Nagindas Parekh - literary critic, editor and translator.
• Nanubhai Vakil - a Hindi and Gujarati film director.
• Narayan Desai - Gujarati author.
• Naresh Bhatt- Author, and Professor of Sanskrit.{{Cite news |title=વલસાડના સંસ્કૃત વિદ્વાનને વેદ એવોર્ડ એનાયત થયો {{!}} Valsad |url=https://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/news/GUJ-VAP-MAT-latest-valsad-news-035652-3175500-NOR.html |work=દિવ્ય ભાસ્કર}}
• Pramodkumar Patel - literary critic.
• Ravindra Parekh - a writer, novelist, poet, critic and translator.
• Ushnas - Gujarati poet.
• Bindu Desai - Hindi film actress.

• Pooja Jhaveri - Telugu, Tamil and Kannada film actress.
• Sangeita Chauhan - Indian film and television actress.
• Sheela Sharma - Hindi and Gujarati film actress.
• Rex Sellers - a former Indian-Australian cricketer.
• Sam Balsara - Indian advertising executive.

• Bulsara
• Balsara
• Gulf of Khambhat
• Tithal Beach
• Vapi
• Navsari
• Khambhat
• Bharuch
• Morarji Desai
• Sam Manekshaw

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Valsad}}

• [http://valsadnagarpalika.org/ Official website] of the Valsad Nagarpalika.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080513174557/http://collectorvalsad.gujarat.gov.in/ Official website] of the Valsad Collectorate (in Gujarati).

{{Gujarat}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities and towns in Valsad district