Editing Valsad

{{Short description|Human settlement in India}}
{{About|the municipality in India|its namesake district|Valsad district}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2024}}
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Valsad
| native_name_lang   = Vad(Banyan Tree) Saal(covered - Gujarati term for shawl) Vadsal- land covered with banyan trees, later britishers adopted Bulsar, which later became Valsad.
| other_name         = Bulsar
| settlement_type    = City
| image_skyline      = Valsad City View from Parnera Hill in Gujarat,India.jpg
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Valsad City View from Parnera Hill
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = India Gujarat#India3#Asia
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_label      = Valsad
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|20.610|N|72.926|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Gujarat]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Valsad district|Valsad]]
| established_title  = <!-- Established -->
| established_date   = 
| founder            = 
| named_for          = 
| government_type    = 
| governing_body     = 
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_rank          = 
| area_total_km2     = 24.10
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 13
| population_total   = 170,060
| population_as_of   = 2011
| population_rank    = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Valsadians, Valsadis
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=555577 |title=Census of India: Search Details |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123639/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=555577 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| blank_name_sec2    = Literacy
| blank_info_sec2    = 91 %
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code        = 396000
| area_code_type     = Telephone code
| area_code          = 91263
| registration_plate = GJ-15
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = 1000/1000 [[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Valsad''' (Pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Gujarati|[ʋalsɑɖ]]]), historically known as '''Bulsar''', is a town and a [[municipality]] in [[Valsad district]] of the [[States and territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Gujarat]]. It is the district headquarters of [[Valsad district]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=District Valsad, Government of Gujarat {{!}} Famous for Mangos and Tithal Beach {{!}} India |url=https://valsad.nic.in/ |access-date=26 February 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> Valsad is located north of [[Vapi]] and shares border with [[Maharashtra]] and the union territories of  [[Daman and Diu|Daman]] in the south.

== Etymology ==
The name "Valsad" derives from ''vad-saal'', a [[Gujarati language]] [[compound word|compound]] meaning "covered (''sal'') by [[banyan tree]]s (''vad'')" or "where [[Banyan|vad]] (banyan trees) and [[Shorea robusta|sal]] (sal tree) are" (the area was naturally rich in banyan trees). During [[British Empire|British]] Era, it was historically known as "Bulsar".<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} DISTRICT COURT VALSAD - GUJARAT {{!}} India |url=https://valsad.dcourts.gov.in/about-department/history/#:~:text=Valsad,%20historically%20was%20known%20as,three%20districts%20of%20Gujarat%20State. |access-date=2025-03-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Valsad is located at {{Coord|20.63|N|72.93|E|}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/09/Valsad.html|title=redirect to /world/IN/09/Valsad.html|website=www.fallingrain.com}}</ref> It has an average elevation of 13&nbsp;metres (42&nbsp;feet). The old city is about 4&nbsp;km inland from the [[Arabian Sea]].

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col" colspan="2" style="background:orange;"| Geography of Valsad City:<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.valsadonline.in/city-guide/geography-of-valsad| title=Geography of Valsad| website=Valsadonline}}</ref>

|-
||'''Average rainfall'''
||'''2300&nbsp;mm'''
|-
||'''Average temperature'''
||'''26.9&nbsp;°C'''
|-
||'''Seismic Zone'''
||'''[[Earthquake hazard zoning of India#Zone 3|Zone III]]'''
|-
||'''Major rivers'''
||'''[[Auranga River (Gujarat)|Auranga]], Wanki'''
|-
||'''Beaches'''
||'''[[Tithal Beach]]'''
|}

===Climate===
Valsad has a [[tropical savanna climate]] (Aw) with little to no rainfall from October to May and very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from June to September when it is under the direct influence of the [[Arabian Sea]] branch of the South-west monsoon.
{{Weather box
| location = Valsad, India (1991-2020, extremes 1974–2020)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| collapsed = 
| Jan record high C = 36.9
| Feb record high C = 38.8
| Mar record high C = 42.3
| Apr record high C = 43.1
| May record high C = 41.9
| Jun record high C = 38.1
| Jul record high C = 36.8
| Aug record high C = 33.4
| Sep record high C = 36.4
| Oct record high C = 38.9
| Nov record high C = 38.1
| Dec record high C = 36.7
|year record high C = 43.1
| Jan high C = 30.5
| Feb high C = 30.8
| Mar high C = 34.2
| Apr high C = 35.2
| May high C = 34.5
| Jun high C = 33.0
| Jul high C = 30.4
| Aug high C = 29.9
| Sep high C = 30.9
| Oct high C = 33.8
| Nov high C = 33.2
| Dec high C = 32.2
| year high C = 32.4
| Jan low C = 13.7
| Feb low C = 15.4
| Mar low C = 18.6
| Apr low C = 22.3
| May low C = 25.3
| Jun low C = 25.2
| Jul low C = 24.1
| Aug low C = 23.7
| Sep low C = 23.1
| Oct low C = 21.8
| Nov low C = 18.4
| Dec low C = 15.0
| year low C = 20.6
| Jan record low C = 7.1
| Feb record low C = 5.6
| Mar record low C = 10.1
| Apr record low C = 16.1
| May record low C = 19.8
| Jun record low C = 17.0
| Jul record low C = 16.8
| Aug record low C = 15.6
| Sep record low C = 16.8
| Oct record low C = 12.6
| Nov record low C = 10.4
| Dec record low C = 7.0
|year record low C = 5.6
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 0.4
| Feb rain mm = 0.0
| Mar rain mm = 0.7
| Apr rain mm = 0.0
| May rain mm = 0.7
| Jun rain mm = 322.8
| Jul rain mm = 665.0
| Aug rain mm = 442.8
| Sep rain mm = 279.9
| Oct rain mm = 26.9
| Nov rain mm = 6.3
| Dec rain mm = 5.9
| year rain mm = 1751.4
| Jan rain days = 0.1
| Feb rain days = 0.0
| Mar rain days = 0.0
| Apr rain days = 0.0
| May rain days = 0.2
| Jun rain days = 8.6
| Jul rain days = 17.4
| Aug rain days = 16.7
| Sep rain days = 10.1
| Oct rain days = 1.2
| Nov rain days = 0.2
| Dec rain days = 0.2
|year rain days = 54.7
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 51
| Feb humidity = 50
| Mar humidity = 48
| Apr humidity = 58
| May humidity = 66
| Jun humidity = 74
| Jul humidity = 82
| Aug humidity = 83
| Sep humidity = 79
| Oct humidity = 65
| Nov humidity = 54
| Dec humidity = 54
|year humidity = 64
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020
| publisher = [[India Meteorological Department]]
| access-date = April 8, 2024
}}</ref><ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = July 2020
| pages = 75–76
| access-date = 28 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M51
| access-date = 28 September 2020}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Valsad city
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hindus]]|orange|85.04}}
{{bar percent|[[Muslims]]|green|10.31}}
{{bar percent|[[Jainism|Jains]]|pink|2.55}}
{{bar percent|[[Christians]]|blue|1.24}}
{{bar percent|Others†|black|0.8}}
|caption=Distribution of religions<br />
†<small>Includes [[Sikh]]s (0.2%), [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (0.11%).</small>
}}

As of the 2011 India census,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=16 June 2004|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=1 November 2008|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Valsad (metropolitan area) has a population of 170,060. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Valsad has an average literacy rate of 91.66%, higher than the national average of 74.04%. Male literacy is 94.62%, and female literacy is 88.58%.

The major language spoken is [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]. Other languages spoken are [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and [[English language|English]].

The major religion followed in Valsad is Hinduism. Other religions followed are [[Islam]], [[Christianity]], Jainism, [[Zoroastrianism]] and [[Buddhism]].

==Transport==
[[File:Valsad Railway Building.jpg|thumb|[[Valsad railway station]]]]
===Road transport===
Valsad lies on [[National Highway 48 (India)|NH 48]] and is connected to many cities in [[Gujarat]] and neighbouring states by the [[Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation]] bus service.

===Railways===
[[Valsad railway station]] is managed by the [[Mumbai WR railway division]] of the [[Western Railway (India)|Western Railway]] and it is a Sub-Division under Western Railway. It lies on the [[New Delhi–Mumbai main line]]. The present railway station building was established in 1925.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-22 |title=Indian Railways completely redevelops Valsad station of Gujarat! See stunning before-and-after revamp pictures |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/railways-indian-railways-completely-redevelops-valsad-station-of-mumbai-see-stunning-before-and-after-revamp-pictures-1614793/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref> Adjacent to the railway station is the [[Electric Loco Shed, Valsad|Valsad Electric Loco Shed]] which houses over 100 electric locomotives.

===Airport===
Valsad is close to [[Surat International Airport]], which is 99&nbsp;km north of the city and [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport]], [[Mumbai]] which is 188.3&nbsp;km south of the city.

== Economy ==
Valsad is an industrial base for sectors such as [[Chemical industry|chemicals]], [[Textile industry|textiles]], and [[Pulp and paper industry|paper & pulp industries]]. Since the 1980s, textile and chemicals have been the major sectors of investments and employment in the district. Valsad is emerging as a horticulture hub of the state, witnessing significant production in food grains and crops.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valsad Economy |url=https://valsad.nic.in/economy/}}</ref>

Valsad has 7 industrial estates located in Dungra, Pardi, Dharampur, Bhilad, Valsad, Umbergaon, Sarigam, Vapi (the [[chemical hub]] of Gujarat) and 1 Industrial park in Kalgam.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.globalgujarat.com/images/valsad-district-profile.pdf| title=District Profile: Valsad| website=Global Gujarat}}</ref> With over 300 medium and large scale industries, Vapi is a major industrial center in Valsad. One of Asia's largest Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is present in Vapi, owned by Vapi Waste & Effluent Management Company and promoted by Vapi Industrial Association.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://dcmsme.gov.in/old/dips/2016-17/30.%20Valsad%202016-17.pdf| title={{as written|DIST|IRCT [sic]}} INDUSTRIAL POTENTIALITY SURVEY REPORT| website=Dcmsme}}</ref>

==Education==

===Colleges===
*GMERS Medical College, est 2014
*Government Engineering College (affiliated to Gujarat Technological University) , est 2004
*Government Polytechnic (affiliated to Gujarat Technological University) , est 1965
*Smt. J.P. Shroff Arts College
*Shah N.H. Commerce College
*Dhiru-Sarla Institute of Management and Commerce
*B.K.M. Science College
*Dolat-Usha Institute of Applied Sciences
*Shree N. K. M. Nursing Instuite
*Shah K.M. Law College

===Schools===
;Affiliated with [[Indian Certificate of Secondary Education|ICSE]]
*[[Atul Vidyalaya School]]

;Affiliated with the [[Central Board of Secondary Education|CBSE]]
* [[Saraswati International School]]
* Shree Vallabh Ashram's MGM Amin & V N Savani International School
* Shree Vallabh Sanskar Dham's Smt. Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel Day Boarding School<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vadb.edu.in/|title=Vallabh Ashram - Smt. Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel Day Boarding School|website=www.vadb.edu.in}}</ref>
* Shree Vallabh Ashram's MCM Kothari Girl's Residential School<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vamcm.edu.in/|title=Vallabh Ashram - MCM Kothari International Girls' Residential School|website=www.vamcm.edu.in}}</ref>
* Western Railway English Medium Secondary School

;Affiliated with the [[Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board|GSHSEB]]
* D.M.D.G. Municipal High School
* Jamnabai Sarvajanik Kanya Vidyalaya
* Maniba Sarvajanik Vidyalaya
* Shah Khimchand Mulji Sarvajanik High School
* St. Joseph's English Teaching High School 
* Mother Mary Public High school.
* Bai Ava Bai High School
* BAPS Swaminarayan Vidhyamandir
* G.V.D. Sarvajanik High School
* Sett Rustomjee Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy or Sett R.J.J High School
* R.M. & V.M. Desai Vidyalaya
* Swaminarayan High School
* Gayatri High School
* Kusum Vidyalaya
* C.B High school
* Shree Saraswati Vidyamandir School

== Places to visit ==
[[File:Udvada Fire Temple 1905.JPG|thumb|Udvada Agiyari]]

* [[Udvada]], Valsad is the Primary, and Oldest [[Parsis|Parsi]] [[Fire temple|Agiyari]] in India.
[[File:Tithal_Beach_Sun_Set.JPG|thumb|Tithal Beach]]

* [[Tithal Beach]] is located near [[Tithal]] town. The sand of the beach is black. Tithal Beach Festival and the International Kite Festival are also organised on the shore of the beach.

* Shree Shirdi Saibaba Sansthapan is located on the shore of the beach in [[Tithal]] town of Valsad district. The temple was established in 1982.

[[File:Swaminarayan Temple.Tithal,Valsad.JPG|thumb|Swaminarayan Temple, Tithal]]
[[Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Tithal|Shri Swaminarayan Mandir]] is located on the shore of the beach in [[Tithal]] town of Valsad district. This is a temple of Lord Swami Narayan.

* Shantidham Aradhana Kendra in Tithal is a meditation centre.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.jinjimaharaj.com/home/| title=Shantidham Aradhana Kendra| website=Jinjimaharaj}}</ref>
[[File:Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Valsad.jpg|thumb|Tadkeshwar Mandir, Valsad.]]

* [[Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple]] is the only Sleeping [[Lingam|Shiv-ling]] in the World, located in [[Abrama]] and is believed to be more than 800 years old. It also has an open roof-top, which is intact since inauguration of the Mandir.
[[File:Morarji Desai portrait.jpg|thumb|Morarji Desai]]

* Morarji Desai Museum dedicated to the 5th Prime Minister of India, [[Morarji Desai]] is in Valsad. The museum was inaugurated by the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, [[Anandiben Patel]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://deshgujarat.com/2014/12/29/museum-on-morarji-desai-likely-to-open-in-february-2015-in-gujarat/| title=Museum on Morarji Desai likely to open in February 2015 in Gujarat| website=DeshGujarat| date=29 December 2014}}</ref>

* Callian(Kalyan) Baug is an urban park in Valsad. In 1929, Mr. [[Motilal Callianji]] presented a donation for park to Valsad Municipality in memory of his father. In 1931, Callian Baug was opened by [[J.H.Garrett]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://valsadtourism.weebly.com/|title=Valsad Tourism|website=Valsad Tourism}}</ref>
[[File:Valsad City View from Parnera Hill in Gujarat,India.jpg|thumb|Parnera Mandir Hill View.]]

* '''[[Parnera Hill]]''', also called Parnera Dungar, is one of the pilgrimages within the city that offers great view of the city. It's located 6.5 kilometers away from the city center. This is a Temple of 3 Goddesses and a "Bhairav Temple" 900 steps from base level. [[Shivaji|Chhatrapati Shivaji]] jumped from this hilltop on his Horse when he was in Valsad.

* Valsad Ganpati Mandir's Murti (idol) was given by [[Bajirao I|Peshwa Bajirao]] himself.
* [[Dharampur, Gujarat|Dharampur]] Science [[Planetarium|Planetaurium]], and Science City.
* [[Dharampur, Gujarat|Dharampur]] Palace.
[[File:Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur Spiritual Activity.jpg|thumb|Rajchandra Mission, Dharampur]]

* [https://srmd.org/ Srimad Rajchandra Mission], [[Mohangadh]], [[Dharampur, Gujarat|Dharampur]], Valsad.

==Notable people==

* [[Morarji Desai]] - former [[Prime Minister of India]].
* [[Bhulabhai Desai]] - [[Indian freedom fighter]] and acclaimed lawyer.
* [[Sam Manekshaw]] - First Field Marshal of India and former chief of army staff, India. His family hailed from Valsad, later moved to Bombay and then Amritsar.
* [[Freddie Mercury]] (born ''Farrokh Bulsara'') - singer and songwriter for the British rock band ''[[Queen (band)|Queen]]'', whose family originated from Valsad.
* [[Nirupa Roy]] - Hindi film actress.
* [[Pratap Save]] - a social activist.

* [[Kanubhai Desai]], MLA - [[Pardi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Pardi]] Constituency and [[Cabinet Minister]] at [[Government of Gujarat]].
* [https://www.sci.gov.in/judge/justice-j-b-pardiwala/#:~:text=Father%20Shri%20Burjor%20CawasjiPardiwala%20joined,at%20Valsad%20from%20January%2C%201989. Burjor Cawasji Pardiwala]: Lawyer and Politician. Father of [[J. B. Pardiwala|Justice J. B. Pardiwala]]. 
* [[J. B. Pardiwala]]: Senior Judge at Supreme Court of India. 
* [[Ranchhoddas Thakkar]]: Notable Lawyer, M.A.(Sanskrit), M.A.(English) from [[Wilson College, Mumbai]], 1911. 
* [[Dr. Moghabhai Desai]]: Established College Campus in Valsad. 
* [[Shri Siddharthbhai Lalbhai]]: Established [[College campus|College Campus]] in Valsad, and First [[Chemical factory|Chemical Factory]] of [[Gujarat]]([[Atul (company)|Atul]]). 
* [[Dadabhoy Havewala]] - first-class cricketer, who played for [[Bombay cricket team]] and [[Parsees cricket team]].
* [[Hemin Desai]] - Indian-born cricketer, who has represented Oman at the [[List A cricket]].
* [[Makarand Dave]] ([[Nandigram, Valsad|Nandigram]]) - Gujarati poet.
* [[Manilal Desai]] - Gujarati poet.
* [[Nagindas Parekh]] - literary critic, editor and translator.
* [[Nanubhai Vakil]] - a Hindi and Gujarati film director.
* [[Narayan Desai]] - Gujarati author.
* [[Naresh Bhatt]]- Author, and Professor of Sanskrit.<ref>{{Cite news |title=વલસાડના સંસ્કૃત વિદ્વાનને વેદ એવોર્ડ એનાયત થયો {{!}} Valsad |url=https://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/news/GUJ-VAP-MAT-latest-valsad-news-035652-3175500-NOR.html |work=દિવ્ય ભાસ્કર}}</ref>
* [[Pramodkumar Patel]] - literary critic.
* [[Ravindra Parekh]] - a writer, novelist, poet, critic and translator.
* [[Ushnas]] - Gujarati poet.
* [[Bindu (actress)|Bindu Desai]] - Hindi film actress.

* [[Pooja Jhaveri]] - Telugu, Tamil and Kannada film actress.
* [[Sangeita Chauhan]] - Indian film and television actress.
* [[Sheela Sharma]] - Hindi and Gujarati film actress.
* [[Rex Sellers (cricketer)|Rex Sellers]] - a former Indian-Australian cricketer.
* [[Sam Balsara]] - Indian advertising executive.

==See also==
*[[Bulsara]]
*[[Balsara]]
*[[Gulf of Khambhat]]
*[[Tithal Beach]]
*[[Vapi]]
*[[Navsari]]
*[[Khambhat]]
*[[Bharuch]]
*[[Morarji Desai]]
*[[Sam Manekshaw]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Valsad}}
*[http://valsadnagarpalika.org/ Official website] of the Valsad Nagarpalika.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080513174557/http://collectorvalsad.gujarat.gov.in/ Official website] of the Valsad Collectorate (in [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]).

{{Gujarat}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Valsad| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Valsad district]]