Bhatias are originally Yaduvanshi Sama dynasty Bhatti Rajputs of Jaisalmer. In 1316 AD, 2000 Bhatia families migrated to Sindh & Punjab. In 14th century Bhatias were agriculturist & fisherman in Sindh.Vallabhacharya made them Vaishnav & vegetarian.They began to wear Janoi-thread.
Around 1350 AD some Bhatia families migrated to Kutch from Sindh. Here they settled in Tera,Vinjan & Kothara towns of Abdasa Taluka of Kutch. In 16th century Bhatias spread from Abdasa Taluka to newly founded Kutch cities Mandvi,Mundra & Anjar and Saurashtra. They became traders.
When Kutch king Khengarji founded Mandvi city in 1581 he invited Sindh big trader Bhatia Topan to Mandvi to develop trade & shipping of port. In 16 century Nagarsheth Bhatia Topan & his castes traders made Mandvi Kutch a major port of west India in middle age.He built Topan lake.
Nagarsheth Bhatia Topan built grand Lakshminarayan temple at Mandvi Kutch in 1607 AD. It is adorned with fine sculpture & stone carving. Kutchi Bhatias whose surname is Toprani are descendants of 16th century Mandvi Kutch Nagarsheth Topan Bhatia.
In mid 19th century Sheth Gokuldas Tejpal Bhatia of Kothara Kutch settled in Mumbai was one of richest persons in India.He built GT Hospital & GT Hostel at Mumbai in which famous people of India lived & studied including Morarji Desai.He built GT High Schools at Mandvi & Kothara.
Gujarat had close relation with Zanzibar for centuries.Kutchi Bhatia & Khoja traders played major role in Zanzibar economy in 19th century. In mid 19th century Zanzibar ruler Muscat now Oman Sultan Sayyid Said encouraged Gujarati & especially Kutchi Bhatias to settle in Zanzibar.
In 19 century Bhatia Jeram Shivji was one of biggest slave traders of world at Zanzibar.When slavery abolished, he freed stock of 10000 slaves and gave them some days expenses each of them. In 18th & 19th centuries Arabs & Gujarati Bhatia, Khoja & Vora traders developed Zanzibar.
Bhatia Jeram Shivji who was world level slave traders at Zanzibar was from Mundra port of Kutch.He was top business tycoon of Zanzibar & East Africa.His firm had lease of custom duty on East Africa coast from British authority.When he died,flags were flown at half-mast in ports.
Zanzibar or Jangbar in Gujarati was developed by growing clove plantations & slavery trade by it ruler Sultan Sayyid Said & slave trade by Kutchi Bhatia & Arab in 19th century.Zanzibar was one of main slave trading port of world.80 thousand slaves were sold here every year.
In mid 19th century when first Gujarati Hindu Bhatia lady came in Zanzibar, she was welcomed by Zanzibar Sultan. He gifted her 300 Riyals & a Shawl. Kutchi Bhatia traders were financial advisors of Muscat & Zanzibar Sultans.
In 18 & 19 century Bhatia traders of Kutch were financial advisers of Sultans of Muscat-Oman who were also Sultan of East Africa.20th century Bhatia philanthropist Khimji Ramdas Thakarshi of Mandvi Kutch was big tycoon of Muscat now Oman.His grandson Kanaksinh has title of Sheikh
100 years old 1 Rupee currency note of #Zanzibar. 1 Rupee is written in the Gujarati language proves Gujaratis' importance in trade of Zanzibar in East Africa. 
