Geography
Unjha is located at
23.8°N 72.4°E. It has an average elevation of 111 metres (364 feet).
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,
Unjha had a population of 53,868. Males constitute 53% of the
population and females 47%. Unjha has an average literacy rate of 77%,
higher than the national average of 65%: male literacy is 80%, and
female literacy is 73%. In Unjha, 10% of the population is under 6 years
of age. Unjha is known for its world famous cumin-seed and ispaghula
market. The main temple of goddess Shree Umiya Mata is situated in
Unjha. Old beliefs that Umiyama is the One of the Avatar (incarnation)
of Goddess Parvati. This temple is very important for the
Kadva Patel community as Umiyama is their community's goddess (kul devi).
The average income of population living here is very high compare to
national average because of trading business of Jira located here. JAIN
Community also has a gud impact on the very famous ganj bazar.
Places
Temples
Unjha is famous for UMIYA MAATA TEMPLE that is located in the center
of the city where thousands of visitors visit everyday. It is about 1200
years old but it was rebuilt around a century ago with the aid of the
people living here. It has continued to shower blessings to the devotees
till date, and it is firmly believed that Unjha is prosperous because
of the blessings of Goddess Umiya.there are also two big temple in UNJHA
the one is temple of maa baloj at in the western side of the unjha on
the road of bus station. and other one is at on the road of unjha-patan
3 km far from unjha.
There are various other smaller temples too. On the outskirts there
is a Kabir Aashram where the devotees of Saint Kabir worship and sing
religious songs (bhajans, sakhis and dohas). Other places are various
wadis or places where marriages and other occasions are held. It has
many wadis and a particular sub caste of Patel has a particular wadi.
For e.g. - Rangpur Samaaj wadi, Raman wadi, Unava Desh ni Wadi, Bhraman
ni wadi, umiya desh ni wadi, sanskarbhavan wadi, ACHLESHAWAR NI WADI .
There is also Dwarkadhishji Temple located in Nava Mahad, Nr Bramhan
Chora. Seva ( Pooja ) is being done as per Vaishanva Sampradaya ( Pushti
Marg ). There are lot of Devotees of Dwarkadhishji in Unjha.
Education
Unjha has many schools including a B.B.A. College. Law College, a
Teachers Training College, a Women's Residential College, and a commerce
and arts college also.
Recreation
Almost near the center of the town is a pond. There are very few places of public recreation in Unjha.
Places to Stay
There are almost no hotels to stay in Unjha but the best place to
stay is Umiya maata Guest House which is located just next to the temple
premises. Rooms are very neat and clean and maintained by Umiya Mataji
Sansthan itself, also have simple rooms without any amenities to air
conditioned rooms, as per the one's choice can stay over there. There is
Gujarati food available by Umiya Mataji Sansthan in the Temple
premises. The Temple Guest house has a spectacular view covering the
ancient temple and a small artificial pool with a large vedic colorful
fountain.
Facts
Unjha is dominated by mainly Kadva Patidars along with mostly all communities.
Although a small town, Unjha has many people with the zest for social
service. Many international social service groups have active members
who live in Unjha like the Rotary, Rotract, Lions, JCIUNJHA.
Unjha will be hoisting 18 Shatabdi Rajat Jayanti Mohatsav in glory of
goddess Umiya, a type of festival that will have 1000 yagna kunds,
expected to cost over 2000 million rupees (200 crores), and almost 4.5
million people are expected to visit the festival. These people will be
provided shelter and food for their stay free of cost plus other
amenities during the time of festival free of cost. The RAJAT JAYANTI
MOHATSAV is held every 25 years, last time it was held before 33 years
in 1966 and 1.3 million devotees visited Unjha at that time. This time
it will be held from 28 November 2009 through 2 December 2009. IN
NOVEMBER 28/ 09 TO DECEMBER 2 / 09 18TH SATABDHI RAJAT JAYANTI MAHOTSAV
2009 IN UMIYA MATA TEMPLE.
Economy
Unjha is known as biggest spices and oil seed market of Asia.
The APMC market of Unjha is the place where all farmers and traders
from states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Saurashtra come to trade and sell
spices and oil seeds like cumin seeds, fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, dill seeds, ajwain seeds, Mustard Seeds, Sesame seeds, Coriander Seeds etc.
The annual volume of total trade is USD 353203384.3333333 for the financial year 2012-2013. Sourced from Unjha APMC data
The nearest Seaport is Mundra, which gives location advantage to Exporters of Spices in Unjha by exporting best quality spices at competitive rates
There are many direct manufacturer exporter of Indian Spices and Oil Seeds in Unjha having their own manufacturing plant of highest quality standards for serving worldwide requirement
Major importing countries are USA, Germany, Central America, New Zealand, Portugal, Poland
Notable persons from Unjha
- Dev Patel who is the actor in very popular Hollywood movie "SLUMDOG
MILLIONAIRE" (which is directed by foreigner director) has family roots
from Unjha although he was born and brought up in The United Kingdom.
- World famous musician and sarod player Vasant Rai's family is from Unjha. There is a music school commemorating his memory in Unjha.
- Lt. Vaidyaraja shree Nagindasji Shah, had put the foundation stone
of UNJHA PHARMACY, with a noble goal to spread the fame and 100 years
ago, a town named UNJHA in north province of Gujarat, in the popularity
of Ayurveda-the science of life, world-wide. After scrutinizing various
ayurvedic authentic textbooks, Lt.Vaidyaraja Nagindasji, plucked 1100
formulations and started manufacturing these formulations. He dispensed
ayurvedic drugs free of cost amongst the learned people and well wishers
of Ayurveda for 10 years. Later his successors established the Unjha
Pharmacy - an ayurvedic pharmaceutical company that makes various
medicines based on natural Ayurvedic compounds, and are sold in market
to date.
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