Morbi (also spelled Morvi) is a city and the administrative headquarters of Morbi district in the Saurashtra region of the state of Gujarat, India. Situated on the banks of the Machhu river, the city is widely known as the ceramic capital of India, hosting one of the largest clusters of ceramic tile and sanitaryware manufacturing units in the world. Morbi is also historically associated with the manufacture of wall clocks and is the seat of the former princely state of Morvi.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Region | Saurashtra |
| District | Morbi |
| River | Machhu |
| Languages | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Known for | Ceramics, tiles, wall clocks |
Morbi lies in the north-western part of the Saurashtra peninsula, with the Machhu river flowing through the city. The surrounding region is largely semi-arid, transitioning into the Little Rann of Kutch to the north. The city is connected by road and rail to Rajkot, Ahmedabad and the port towns of Kandla and Mundra, which support its export-oriented industries.
Morbi was the capital of the princely state of Morvi, ruled by the Jadeja Rajput dynasty during the British Raj. The state was part of the Western India States Agency. Under rulers such as Sir Waghji Thakor and later Sir Lakhdhirji Waghji, the state undertook extensive urban planning and public works, including the construction of palaces, civic buildings and the Mani Mandir complex. After Indian independence in 1947, Morvi acceded to the Indian Union and was eventually integrated into the state of Saurashtra, later merged into Bombay State and, in 1960, into the newly formed state of Gujarat.
On 11 August 1979, the Machhu-II dam upstream of Morbi failed following heavy rainfall, causing a catastrophic flood that submerged large parts of the city. The disaster is considered one of the worst dam failures in history. Reconstruction efforts in the years that followed reshaped the city's infrastructure.
On 30 October 2022, a pedestrian suspension bridge over the Machhu river in Morbi, originally built in the 19th century during the rule of the Jadeja kings, collapsed shortly after reopening following renovation, resulting in significant loss of life. The incident drew national attention and led to investigations into maintenance and safety practices.
Morbi's economy is dominated by manufacturing. The city and surrounding district host a large concentration of ceramic factories producing wall and floor tiles, vitrified tiles, sanitaryware and roofing tiles, supplying both domestic and international markets. The Morbi cluster is represented in industry forums such as the Morbi Ceramic Association.
Morbi serves as the headquarters of Morbi district, which was carved out of Rajkot district in 2013. The city is administered by a municipality and falls within the Morbi Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies.
Morbi is connected by State Highways to Rajkot, Wankaner, Halvad and the Kutch region. It has a railway station on the broad-gauge network, and the nearest major airport is at Rajkot, with Ahmedabad serving as the principal international gateway.