Madhapar

Madhapar is a large village located in the south western Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. Bhuj is the regional hub of the town where the nearest airport exists. It serves three flights daily to Mumbai.

Present status

The town of Madhapar, with a population of fewer than fifteen thousand people, some 3 km from the main town of Bhuj in the province of Kutch (Gujarat), is wealthiest town in the whole of Southern Asia with an average GDP of $12,000 per person.

In recent times, the town has become greener, with new lakes, check dams and deep bore artisaaln wells that provide fresh water all year round. It has new health centers, playing fields, parks and temples.

History

Madhapar is one of the 18 villages established by the Mistris of Kutch. In the 12th century, many people of the Mistris community moved into a village named Dhaneti and later settled between Anjar and Bhuj. Madhapar is named after Madha Kanji Solanki who had shifted from the Dhaneti village to Madhapar in the year 1473-1474 (VS 1529). Madha Kanji was the third generation of Hemraj Hardas of Solanki dynasty of Gujarat, who moved from the Halar region to Dhaneti and then to Madhapar. This early Madhapar today is known as Juna Vaas (Old Residence). These warrior Kshatriyas later came to be known by Mistri mainly because of their of occupation. These Mistris have founded the Juna Vaas and contributed a lot to the development of all early infrastructure, temples of the village and erection of other architects of Kutch.