Lunavada/ Lunawada Princely State lay in the political agency of Rewa Kantha, Bombay during the British-Raj. It was bounded on the north by the Rajputana State of Dungarpur, on the east by Sunth and Kadana States of Rewa Kantha, on the south by Godhra taluka of Panch Mahal district and on the west by Idar (Mahi Kantha).
Presently Lunavada/ Lunawada is the administrative headquarters of the Mahisagar district and a developing town of central Gujarat. The name Lunawada is derived from Luneshwar Mahadev, a temple of lord Shiva. Lunawada is surrounded by water, the source being the Panam river, Vasant Sagar, Kishan Sagar, Kanka Talav, Veri, Mahi river and Darkoli Talav lake.
Location of Lunavada
According to tradition the predecessor state was established in 1225 by descendants of Sidhraj, Raja of Anhilwara Patan, as a state of Virpur. In 1434, Rana Bhimsinghji moved the capital to Lunavada on the other side of Mahi river. Before the town was established, the area was controlled by the princely Sant State.
In 1826, Lunavada State became a British protectorate and was in the Rewa Kantha Agency. The capital was Lunavada town, founded in 1434. The state had an area of 1,005 km. The rulers had the title ''Rana'' and were accorded a status of 9 gun salute.
Flag
Coat of Arms
Emblem
Solanki Rajputs of Lundawada state are also called as Virpura/Virpara because Maharaja Bhimsinghji established their rule by winning over the ruler of Virpur which is currently located near Lunawada.
Bhim Singh's direct descendants continued to rule Lunavada until around 1600. The first half of the 1500's apparently saw conflicts with the Gujarat Sultanate. Around 1600, the direct line descendents from Bhim Singh died out, and a collateral relative named Kumbho Rano was brought from the village of Gandhari to become King of Lunavada. One of his descendants Nar Singh, laid the foundation of the historical Lunavada town wall in 1718. Throughout the 1700s, Lunavada state lost territory to neighbouring Balasinor State, but gained new lands in the south due to decline of the Godhra chiefs and the Solanki thakurs.
In the 1872 census, the population recorded wad 9662 of whom 7206 were Hindus and 2456 were Muslims. One important ruler was Wakhat Singhji (1867-1919), a Solanki Rajput Maharana.
The last ruler was Maharaja Vir Bhadra Singh.
The present Maharana since 2017, Siddhraj Singhji Dhirendra Singhji, the 25th Maharana was installed on the gaddi in the Raj Tilak ceremony on 10th February 2018.
Maharana Siddhraj Singh with his wife Maharani Nina Kumari and their daughter Mrinalini Kumari
Wakhat Singh, 1/2 Paisa, 1867-1929, copper, weight 3.3 gm, obverse has hand in a square, reverse has Nagari text
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