Overview
Valsad district is an administrative district in the southern part of the state of Gujarat, India. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Valsad, formerly known as Bulsar. Located along the Arabian Sea coast, it is known for its alphonso and other mango varieties, particularly the locally celebrated Hafus and Kesar, as well as for the chemical and industrial belt around Vapi.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Region | South Gujarat |
| Headquarters | Valsad |
| Type | District |
Geography
Valsad district lies on the western coast of India, bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and the state of Maharashtra to the south, the district of Navsari district to the north, and The Dangs to the east. The terrain combines a coastal plain with hilly tracts of the Western Ghats foothills in the eastern parts. Major rivers flowing through the district include the Par, Auranga, Damanganga and Kolak, all draining westwards into the Arabian Sea.
Administration
The district is divided into several talukas, including Valsad, Pardi, Vapi, Umbergaon (Umargam), Dharampur and Kaprada. Administrative functions are coordinated by the District Collector and the Zilla Panchayat headquartered at Valsad town.
History
The area now forming Valsad district was historically part of the larger Surat region under successive regimes including the Mughal Empire, the Marathas, and the British Raj, the latter administering it within the Bombay Presidency. After India's independence in 1947 and the reorganisation of states, the territory became part of Bombay State and, with the bifurcation of 1960, of the new state of Gujarat. Valsad was carved out as a separate district from Surat district in 1966. In 2000, the northern portion of Valsad district was further separated to form Navsari district.
Economy
The district has a mixed agricultural and industrial economy. Mango, chiku (sapota), sugarcane and paddy are important agricultural products, with Valsad being among Gujarat's principal mango-producing regions. The Vapi industrial estate, one of the largest in Asia in terms of small-scale industries, hosts a wide range of chemical, pharmaceutical, paper, packaging and engineering units. Tithal, a coastal locality near Valsad town, is a regional beach destination, and Saputara-bound traffic often passes through the eastern talukas.
Transport
The district is served by the Western Railway's Mumbai–Ahmedabad main line, with major stations at Valsad, Vapi and Bhilad. National Highway 48 (the old NH 8), part of the Mumbai–Delhi corridor, traverses the district from south to north. The nearest major international airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, while Surat Airport serves regional needs.
Demographics and culture
The population of the district includes a substantial tribal component, particularly in the eastern talukas of Dharampur and Kaprada, where communities such as the Warli, Kunbi, Dhodia and Konkana are present. Gujarati is the principal language, with Marathi and tribal dialects also spoken near the Maharashtra border. Notable cultural sites include the Swaminarayan and Sai Baba temples at Tithal, the Wilson Hills hill station near Dharampur, and the Lady Wilson Museum at Dharampur, founded in the early twentieth century to preserve regional ethnographic and natural-history collections.
Related topics
- Gujarat
- Navsari district
- Surat district
- The Dangs district
- Vapi
- Dharampur
- List of districts of Gujarat
References
- Wikidata entity: Q1946743
- Government of Gujarat, District administration portal for Valsad.