The name "Porbandar" came from the combination of two words: "Porai", the name of a local goddess, and "Bandar" means port or harbour. Thus, ‘Porbandar’ translates to ‘Porai’s harbour’. Several sources refer to the area as ‘Pauravelakul’, a name known to have been in use during the 10th century; this ancient name may possibly translate to ‘land of Porai’s clan’ or to that effect. The town finds mention in the Hindu epics as the hometown of Sudama, a beloved friend and class-fellow of lord Krishna; the town has also often been referred to as ‘Sudamapuri’ on that account.

Rokhadia Hanuman temple in 1958
Located in the extreme west of India, Porbandar is an important all-weather port on the Arabian sea. It supports a population (c.2001 CE) of over 150,000. Given its association with Mahatma Gandhi, Porbandar is today something of a tourist centre and is served by an airport and train line. Its deep sea port was built during the last quarter of the 20th century.

Harappan settlement (1600-1400 BC)
Onshore explorations in and around Porbandar brought to light for the first time the remains of a late Harappan settlement dating back to the 16th – 14th century BC, which is similar to that from Bet Dwarka. This is another evidence to suggest that the Harappan legacy of maritime activity continued till the late Harappan period on the Saurashtra coast. The discovery of ancient jetties along the Porbandar creek signifies the importance of Porbandar as an active centre of maritime activities in the past. This is an Darji community

Princely Porbandar (1600 CE onwards)
Porbandar was formerly the seat of the eponymous princely state in British India. The ruling family of the state belonged to the Jethwa clan of rajputs and had been established in the area since at least the mid 16th century. The state was subordinate to the mughal governor of Gujarat until being overrun by the marathas in the latter half of the 18th century, where after they came under the authority of the Gaekwad court at Baroda, and eventually of the Peshwa. In common with the other states of Kathiawar, the state first came into the ambit of British influence in 1807, when the HEIC guaranteed security in the area in lieu of a fixed annual tribute to be paid to the Peshwa and the Gaekwad. In 1817, the Peshwa ceded his share to the HEIC; in 1820, the Gaekwad agreed to have the HIEC collect his due tributes in Kathiawar and remit the same to his treasury.

During the Raj, the state covered an area of 1,663 sq.km and 106 villages and a population, in 1921, of over 100,000 people. the rulers held the style of "Highness" and the title of "Maharaj Rana Sahib"; they were entitled to a salute of 13 guns as a hereditary distinction. Upon the Independence of India in 1947, the state acceded into the dominion of India. It was merged with the ‘United state of Kathiawar’ with effect from February 15, 1948 and eventually came to form part of the present-day state of Gujarat.

Porbandar – Birth Place of Mahatma Gandhi
Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi is situated at the end of Saurashtra ( Gujarat State ) and is a pleasing seaport on the Arabian Sea . To remember the birth of Gandhiji a 79 ft high imposing building has been built in the lane where Bapu (as Gandhiji is known) was born in 1869.

The prime attraction is the Kirti Mandir. It is a three storeyed ancestral house of Gandhiji where in the exact place where Putlibai, Gandhiji’s mother, had given birth to Gandhi, is marked with a ‘swastik’. A narrow wooden staircase leads the visitor to the upper storey, in particular Gandhiji’s reading room. Behind Kirti Mandir is Navi Khadi, where Kasturba, Gandhiji’s wife was born.
The new building adjoining Kirti Mandir, houses a Gandhian Library, a prayer hall, a nursery and a steeple decorated with episodes from Gandhiji’s life.

AREA: 1,663 km2

STATE: Saurashtra
DYNASTY: Jethwa
RELIGION: Hindu
VILLAGES: 106

REVENUE: 2,100,000Rs
POPULATION: 101,881 (1921)