Zinzuwada

Zinzuwada, also spelled Jhinjhuvada or Jhinjhuwada is a town in Dasada Taluka of Surendranagar district, Gujarat, India.

History
Zinzuwada town was founded by Zunza Bharwad and the village was named after him. In old times Zinzuwada was only the nehado of Zunza Bharvad.Nehado means the residence of Gop Bharvad caste. At that time the queen Minaldevi(Mayanalla devi) of the king karndev solanki of Patan could not be delivered of a child even though two years had passed since the time of conception. Once while on tour the queen's party encamped near the nehado of Zunza Bharvad. The latter, when he learnt of the queen's misfortune, said that the co-wives of the queen had bewitched her by the kaman art, i. e., by passing an earthen pot round her and by burying the pot underground with a live frog hanging with its head downwards in it. He added that the queen would not be delivered unless the frog was brought out by some stratagem. He asked the queen and her followers to stay there for some time, and sent word to Patan with a messenger that the queen was delivered of a son. The co-wives of the queen, dismayed at the unexpected news and at the futility of the kaman art, went to look at the buried frog, which instantly jumped out and at the same moment the pregnant queen gave birth to a son. As the child was brought to birth by the instructions of a Siddha-purusha (a magician), it was named Siddharaj. The town of Zinzuwada was built in memory of Zunza Bharvad, and a temple of Rajbai Mata was crected in honour of the queen. A large lake named Sensasar was also constructed in memory of Sensa bharvad, the brother of Zunza bharvad.

The core town is surrounded by 11th century fort built during the rule of Chaulukya dynasty. There are inscriptions on the walls of the fort ascribed to Udayana, a minister of Jayasimha Siddharaja.

It was a non-salute princely state on Saurashtra peninsula during British Raj. The princely state in Jhalawar prant. In 1901, it comprised 18 villages, covering 165 square miles, with a population of 11,732, yielding 73,343 Rupees state revenue (1903-4, mostly from land), paying 11,075 Rupees tribute to the British.

Fort and gateways
The fort is built with large stone slabs and broad. It is considered as the finest example of Hindu fortification in India along with the Dabhoi fort. The town planning, gateways and decoration of them are according to the Hindu architectural treatises.

There are four gateways in four directions; Madapol Gate, Rakshaspol Gate, Harijan Gate and Dhama Gate. Madapol Gate is fine brackets resting on the pillars and supporting the roof. It is an example of Maru-Gurjara styled gate. The lower niches in the gates houses various Hindu deities while upper niches have well carved balconies.

Others
The town has a Kund (stepwell), sinhsar lake and the Jhileshwar Mahadev temple dated to Chaulukya era.

External links and Sources

 * Imperial Gazetteer, on DSAL.UChicago.edu - Kathiawar