princely state · Indian princely states
Porbandar State
Origins
The Jethwa Rajputs are among the oldest ruling clans of Saurashtra, and tradition gives their rule an early date. Their seat moved between Ghumli, Ranpur and Chhaya before settling at the port of Porbandar in the late 18th century.
Rule and society
Porbandar lived on sea trade with Arabia and East Africa and on its fine building stone. Mohandas Gandhi was born there in 1869; his grandfather Uttamchand and father Karamchand served as diwans of the state. The last ruler, Natwarsinhji, captained India's cricket tour of England in 1932, though he did not play in the Test.
Decline and legacy
Porbandar joined the United State of Saurashtra in 1948, which merged into Bombay State in 1956 and was divided in 1960, leaving Porbandar in Gujarat. Gandhi's birthplace, Kirti Mandir, is a national memorial.
Lineage
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (2)
- Porbandar State was a protectorate of Company rule in India1807 CE – 1858 CE
- Porbandar State was a protectorate of British Raj1858 CE – 1947 CE
More states of Indian princely states →
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Porbandar State. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/porbandar-state
- MLA
- “Porbandar State.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/porbandar-state. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Porbandar State.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/porbandar-state.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Porbandar State’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/porbandar-state (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻