Panchmahal district



Panchmahal, also Panch Mahal, is a district in the western, in the eastern portion of state. Panch mahal means "five districts", and refers to the five districts that were transferred by the Maharaja of  to the British. The district had a population of 2,025,277 of which 12.51% were urban as of 2001. 

History
Panchmahal were conquered from the by the  leader  in the eighteenth century. The Sindhias became Maharajas of Gwalior, and after were forced to recognize British sovereignty. The Panch Mahals were transferred in by the Sindhias to, where they became a district in the northern division of. The British district consisted of two separate parts, divided by the territory of a. The southwestern portion was for the most part a level plain of rich soil; while the northern, although it comprised some fertile valleys, was generally rugged, undulating and barren, with but little cultivation. The area of the British district was 1606 sq. mi., and the population was 261,020 in 1901. The administrative headquarters were at, pop. (1901), 20,915. The ruins of, the former capital of a Hindu kingdom and later of the Sultans of Gujarat, was included in the district. It was the only district of Bombay Presidency that is administered on the non-regulation system, the collector being also political agent for agency. The mineral products comprised sandstone, granite and other kinds of building stone. Mining for manganese on a large scale was begun by a European firm. The principal crops were maize, millets, rice, pulse and oilseeds; there were manufactures of lac bracelets and lacquered toys; the chief export was. Both portions of the district were crossed by the branch of the from, through Godhra and , to ; and a chord line was opened in  from Godhra to  city. The district suffered very severely from the famine of -, and its population decreased 17% from to  owing to the famine.

is a. Pavagarh hosts a temple of , whose holy shrine attracts about two million s per annum.