Navibandar is about 35 km east of Porbandar on the coastal highway. Bhadar is a major river of the western Saurashtra that flows into the Arabian Sea, about half a km west of Navibandar Lighthouse. The river has a wide estuarine area which served as safe harbour; however due to regular formation of sand bar at the mouth of the river the use of harbour is limited to the small boat fishermen only, and it could not be developed as a major harbour at any given time in the past. The coastline consists of sand dunes and vegetation around the inhabitations. Navibandar is still a fishing port. Navibandar was a part of Porbandar Princely State and was an important transit centre cum check post prior to independence. Presently, Navibunder village comprise of a fortified village along the Saurashtra coast. The majority of residents are ‘Kharwa’ (Hindu fishing community) and they informed us that Navibandar was major port of the region in the past.
Navibandar has been an important maritime centre since the medieval period. As per the local information there was a memorial stone with boat motif but it was taken by a historian of Porbandar and presently it’s location is unknown. The oral tradition reveals that the fort was constructed by Jethwa Queen Rajamata Kalabai during the early 17th century for the protection of overseas traders and in the process generates a lot of revenue for the State. The maritime archaeological explorations around Navibandar have provided unique evidence on the coastal transport system existing during the late medieval period, which was not reported so far from the region. Evidence indicate that in the estuarine areas the crossing of river was a major challenge as the width of the river mouth is greater than the upstream and also the area is affected with tidal system. Thus the approach road to the ferry/ jetty point was constructed using stones. The surface observation suggests that the stone used for the construction is locally available. The mark of the bullock cart on the road as well as on rocky surface suggests that this was the major means of transport system along the coastal area of the Saurashtra coast. The study of old map suggests that the ferry point and road existed prior to 1948.
Stone anchor noticed from Navibandar is very similar to those reported from the closest underwater sites at Visawada and Miyani, and Somnath waters on the Saurashtra coast. Thus, it is indicating that Navibandar served as a port prior to the construction of fort and tradition continued even till today though anchors are in crude shape. Perhaps Arab boats did not visit this port as no evidence have come to light in the form of Indo-Arab type of anchor, thus indicating that this port has not played a major role in the Indo-Arab trading system which is a major feature of the Saurashtra coast during the medieval period. Porbandar on the west and Mangrol on the east were major ports during the early medieval period.
The reuse of iron cannons have been a long practice along the Indian coast for maritime purpose particularly as a bollard on the jetty. Four cannons have been partially buried in the jetty are presently used as bollard. The introduction of the new defense technology and the loss of the Princely states after independence of the country the cannons installed at different strategic location lost their importance for defense purpose and the best use for the cannons found in the coastal areas was as bollard on the jetties. Similar evidences are noticed at Porbandar, Veraval, Bet Dwarka and Mangrol ports.
Navibandar has been an important maritime centre since the medieval period. As per the local information there was a memorial stone with boat motif but it was taken by a historian of Porbandar and presently it’s location is unknown. The oral tradition reveals that the fort was constructed by Jethwa Queen Rajamata Kalabai during the early 17th century for the protection of overseas traders and in the process generates a lot of revenue for the State. The maritime archaeological explorations around Navibandar have provided unique evidence on the coastal transport system existing during the late medieval period, which was not reported so far from the region. Evidence indicate that in the estuarine areas the crossing of river was a major challenge as the width of the river mouth is greater than the upstream and also the area is affected with tidal system. Thus the approach road to the ferry/ jetty point was constructed using stones. The surface observation suggests that the stone used for the construction is locally available. The mark of the bullock cart on the road as well as on rocky surface suggests that this was the major means of transport system along the coastal area of the Saurashtra coast. The study of old map suggests that the ferry point and road existed prior to 1948.
Stone anchor noticed from Navibandar is very similar to those reported from the closest underwater sites at Visawada and Miyani, and Somnath waters on the Saurashtra coast. Thus, it is indicating that Navibandar served as a port prior to the construction of fort and tradition continued even till today though anchors are in crude shape. Perhaps Arab boats did not visit this port as no evidence have come to light in the form of Indo-Arab type of anchor, thus indicating that this port has not played a major role in the Indo-Arab trading system which is a major feature of the Saurashtra coast during the medieval period. Porbandar on the west and Mangrol on the east were major ports during the early medieval period.
The reuse of iron cannons have been a long practice along the Indian coast for maritime purpose particularly as a bollard on the jetty. Four cannons have been partially buried in the jetty are presently used as bollard. The introduction of the new defense technology and the loss of the Princely states after independence of the country the cannons installed at different strategic location lost their importance for defense purpose and the best use for the cannons found in the coastal areas was as bollard on the jetties. Similar evidences are noticed at Porbandar, Veraval, Bet Dwarka and Mangrol ports.