 |
 |
Few areas of the world are more
evocative than the Indian subcontinent, with its exotic
natural beauty and extraordinary contrasts. The princely
rulers of India with their opulent palaces and extravagant
lifestyles have been a source of fascination for centuries.
Before India's independence in 1947 AD, the 565 Maharajas,
Rajas, Maharaos, Maharanas, Nawabs, Thakore Sahebs and
other rulers held sway as absolute sovereigns over one
third of India's land surface and a quarter of her population.
Many of the ruling dynasties had been in power, uninterrupted
for hundreds of years. Even after Independence, when all
the princely states were asked to join the Indian union
by signing the Act of Accession, relinquishing their authority,
they still maintained their pomp and pageantry, their
dignity and ingenuity and their grandeur of their past
in form of their palaces and jewelry.
The Hindu Rajputs, who ruled the majority of the princely
states in India were prominent in Gujarat as well. The
various Rajput clans - Jadejas, Gohils, Jhalas, Chauhans,
Vaghela-Solanki and Jethwa accounted for a considerable
number of princely states. The Hindu Marathas ruled the
strongest state in Gujarat, Baroda. There were some Muslim
nawabs too namely in Junagadh, Balasinor, Cambay, Radhanpur
and Palanpur. |
|
|
| These states were stratified in
gun salute states. The sovereigns of these states received
the number of gun salutes based on several criteria. Baroda
was the only 21 gun salute state whereas Kutch was a 17
gun salute state. Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar,
Rajpipla were some of the 13 gun salute states. Balasinor,
Chota Udepur, Palitana, Rajkot, Limbdi etc were some of
the 9 gun salute states. There were some other non gun
salute states. |
|
|
|
|
