Galpadar

Galpadar is a village in the Gandhidham Municipal Corporation, within the Kutch District of the Gujarat State of India. It is located at a distance of about 3 km from Gandhidham, 11 km from Anjar and 51 km from Bhuj.

History
About the history of Galpadar it is one of the 18 villages founded by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya community also known as Mistris. These Mistris first moved into Saurashtra in early 7th century and later a major group entered Kutch in 12th Century & established themselves at Dhaneti. Later from 12th century onwards they moved between Anjar and Bhuj and founded the villages eighteen villages including Galpadar.

The village & old infrastructure, temples, Well, the huge pond named Meghasar Talav, community halls around the villages have been built and developed by this community in late 18th century.

Demographics
Much of the population presently is of the Ahir Community with surnames like Virda, Dangar, and Marand. Other Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya, and Jain communities mostly have migrated out of village for employment and business activity.

Climate
The climate here is "desert." there is virtually no rainfall in a year in Galpadar. This climate is considered to be BWh according to the Koppen-Geiger classification of climates. The average annual temperature is 24.6c. The average rainfall is 379mm.

Temples
Bhagvan Ram Temple, Shiva Temple, Ramdev Pir Temple & Hanumanji Temple were all built by the Mistris of Kutch, the founders of the village. Other temples in village are Parmar family dada Sonal Ma Temple Kuldevi of Virda family Samaj, famous Nagabava Temple, Kuldevi & Dada – Surapura Temples, Revachi Mata temple, Ksehtarpal Dada Mandir, Vachhra Dada temple. There is also Dargah of Gebansha Pir. In 2011, the migrant Oriya people have built temple of Jagannath in village. Jain temple of 23rd Tirthankar, Shri Parshvanath Swami is located in Galpadar and it is approximately 120 years old. It is established by the ancestors of Vora family and still managed by the successors of the same family. Vora Families Kuddevi Shri Dudhad Maataji Temple and Kshetrapal Dada Temple is also located in Galpadar.

Present Status
Till the 1950s when Kandla Port and Gandhidham town were developed by Government, Galpadar was the only big village in this, then a barren area, of Kutch. Today Gandhidham Town and Airport are only 3 kilometers away and Kandla Port at distance of 12 km.

Recently, plans are there to shift Bhuj jail to Galpadar.