Some followers wrote us that today is foundation day of Porbandar city. In fact foundation date of Porbandar is not known. It is very ancient city which is mentioned in Purana. In Skandapurama it is mentioned as Sudamapuri, Puri & Paurvelakul. Porbandar is as old as Dwarka.
In ancient time Porbandar was known by Sanskrit name 'Paurvelakul'.Velakul means port. It was also known as Sudamapuri or Puri in old time. In middle age, Muslims called it Puri Bandir. In Persian/Farsi language Bandir means port. Persian name Puri Bandir later became Porbandar.
In Sudamapur Mahatmya of Skandapuran, Porbandar as Sudamapuri, its river Asmavati, Kedareshvar temple & Kedarkund are mentioned. In ancient time Porbandar was between two major pilgrimages Prabhaskshetra & Dwarkakshetra. So it was also an important pilgrimage place.
Jethava Rajput who were rulers of Porbandar & Ghumali is oldest Rajput dynasty of Saurashtra.Their ancestor Makardhwaj was son of Hanumanji. In 989 AD copper donation plate of Ghumli's 1st known Jethava king Bashkaldev gifted land to Bhardwaj Brahmin Damodar Ardhvaryu of Patan.
Bhutambilika/Ghumli was capital city of 12th century Jethava dynasty Rajput state of west Saurashtra extended from todays Porbandar to Morbi.According to book 'Makardhwajvanshi Mahimala' Morbi area of Saurashtra was under rule of 12 century Jethava kings of Ghumli west Saurashtra
In 1290 AD Jethwa dynasty Rana Bhanji became ruler of west Saurashtra with capital at Ghumli. Story of Bhan Jethwa & Son Kansari is famous. In 1313 AD Sindh Sama dynasty ruler Jam Unnad attacked Ghumli but he was defeated by Ghumli ruler Rana Bhanji Jethwa in a fierce battle.
In 1316 AD Sindh Sama dynasty prince Bamanioji invaded Ghumli & defeated its Jethwa ruler Rana Bhanji. After defeat in 1316 AD Ghumli Jethwa ruler Bhan/Bhanji fled. He founded Ranpur as his new capital in Barada area. He ruled there up to 1360 AD.Ghumli destroyed & ruined forever
