Khambhat, historically known as Cambay, is a town and municipality in the Anand district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Situated at the head of the Gulf of Khambhat, an inlet of the Arabian Sea, the town was once one of the most important ports of western India and gave its name to the gulf. Although its maritime prominence declined due to the silting of its harbour, Khambhat retains historical, architectural, and commercial significance, especially for its handicrafts and Islamic-era monuments.
| Name | Khambhat (Cambay) |
|---|---|
| Type | Town and Municipality |
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Anand |
| Region | Charotar / Gulf of Khambhat coast |
| Language | Gujarati (primary), Hindi, Urdu |
| Historical name | Cambay / Stambhatirtha |
| Notable for | Historical port, agate handicrafts, Jama Masjid |
Khambhat lies on the western shore of the Gulf of Khambhat, where the Mahi River drains into the sea. The gulf is known for its high tidal range, one of the highest in India, which historically affected navigation and contributed to the silting that diminished the port's accessibility for large vessels. The surrounding region is part of the alluvial plain of central Gujarat, with fertile agricultural land inland and tidal flats along the coast.
The town is located south of Anand and Vadodara, and is connected by road to nearby urban centres including Tarapur, Petlad, and Bharuch (across the gulf).
Khambhat has a long recorded history as a port. References to the town, sometimes as Stambhatirtha, appear in early Indian and foreign accounts. By the medieval period it was a leading entrepôt linking Indian commerce with the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Arab geographers and travellers, including Al-Biruni and later Ibn Battuta, mention the town as a centre of trade.
Under the Chaulukya (Solanki) rulers of Gujarat, Khambhat flourished as a commercial hub. It continued to thrive under the Delhi Sultanate and especially under the Gujarat Sultanate, when many of its surviving monuments were built. The town's Jama Masjid, constructed in the early 14th century, is among the earliest substantial mosques in Gujarat and incorporates spolia from earlier temple structures.
During the Mughal period, Cambay remained a key port for the empire's western trade. European trading companies — Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French — established factories at Cambay during the 16th and 17th centuries, drawn by its trade in textiles, indigo, and other commodities. The English East India Company maintained a factory here in the 17th century before its commercial focus shifted to Surat and later Bombay.
Khambhat became the seat of the princely state of Cambay during the colonial era, ruled by a Nawab under British paramountcy. After Indian independence in 1947, the state acceded to the Indian Union and was integrated into Bombay State, and later, with the bifurcation of 1960, into the new state of Gujarat. Following district reorganisation in Gujarat, Khambhat became part of Anand district when it was carved out of Kheda district in 1997.
Although Khambhat is no longer a major seaport, it retains a diversified local economy:
Khambhat is notable for its concentration of medieval Islamic architecture. Important monuments include:
The town has a religiously and culturally diverse population, including Hindu, Muslim, and Jain communities. The Jain community has historically been associated with the town's mercantile life and has supported temples and libraries in the area.
Khambhat is connected by state highways to Anand, Vadodara, and other towns of central Gujarat. It has a railway station on a branch line of the Western Railway. The nearest major airport is at Vadodara, with Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport providing wider connectivity. Maritime traffic is limited owing to the heavy silting of the gulf and its strong tides; modern port activity in the region is concentrated at facilities such as Dahej and Hazira on other parts of the Gujarat coast.
Khambhat occupies an important place in the economic and maritime history of India. For several centuries it was the principal western Indian gateway for international trade, and its name became attached to the gulf on which it stands. The town's monuments document the transition from regional Hindu and Jain rule to the Sultanate period, and its surviving craft traditions, especially in agate, link present-day artisans to an industry of considerable antiquity.