Dhrol

Dhrol is a Jadeja State and like all Jadeja's, those of Dhrol are direct descendents of Lord Shri Krishna, the Sovereign of Dwarka. The original founder of the State was Jam Hardholji, son of Jam Lakhoji of Kutch. Jam Rawal and his three brothers - Hardholji, Ravoji and Modji moved in about 1535 from Kutch to Kathiawar, being assisted by his brothers, Jam Rawal conquered many parganahs from the Deda, Chavda and Jethwa clans. One Dhamal Chavda who then reigned at Dhamalpur [Dhrol] obstructed the Jam brothers in their conquests in one way or another, and in order to remove this obstruction, Jam Hardholji marched against Dhamal Chavda and after defeating him, acquired that parganah for himself in about 1539 and founded a separate State of some 140 villages. Succession is by Primogeniture and also by adoption.

Dhrol State was a landlocked princely state during the British Raj. The town of Dhrol in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat was its capital. Dhrol State was part of the Kathiawar Agency of the Bombay Presidency. The rulers of the state bore the title 'Thakur Sahib'.

The Jadeja dynasty ruled the Saurashtra region for 450 years prior to the Hardhrolji and Jamravalji came from the Princely State of Kutch. They spread the Jadeja state into Saurashtra. Dhrol was the second class state in Saurashtra. Bhucharmori is the famous battle-field in Saurashtra which is located near Dhrol. A fierce battle was fought there many years ago between Jaam Sataaji's son Jaam Ajaaji and Akbar's army commander Mirza Aziz Koka.

Before the arrival of Jadejas in Saurashtra, the town of Dhrol was known as Dhamalpur. Dhamalpur was ruled by Chavda King founded & named after Dhamal Chavda who then reigned at Dhamalpur (Dhrol), obstructed the Jam Hardholji in their conquests and in order to remove this obstruction, Jam Hardholji marched against Dhamal Chavda. Dhamal Chavda's army was made of different warrior clans such as Chavda, Rathod, Chauhan, Jadav, Jhala, Gohil, Varsur, Makwana, Dabhi, Khimsurya and Solanki. These clans were not as united as Jadejas. Consequently, they were defeated and King Dhamal Chavda was killed by Jadejas in 1539.

Dhrol State became a British protectorate in 1807. During the British rule of India, Dhrol State was a princely state of India ruled by the Jadeja dynasty, having an area of 732 sqkm and 71 villages under its rule. It was accorded 9-gun salute status and a privy purse of 1,10,000/-.

The last ruler, HH Thakore Saheb Shri Chandrasinhji Dipsinhji Jadeja, acceded to the Union of India on 15 February 1948.