Chavdaચાવડા

The account

The Chavda (Chapotkata) Rajputs trace their ancestral dominion through King Bhimdev at Bhinmal and King Jayashikhari at Panchasar. In 746 A.D., his renowned son Vanraj Chavda founded the imperial capital of Anhilpur Patan, creating the bedrock of medieval Gujarati statehood and establishing early maritime and coastal seats—including Somnath under Som Chavda, Prabhas Patan and Miyani (Minalpur) established by Prabhatsen, Kankavati Nagari founded by Kanaksen, and early Champaner under the lineage of Dhanraj.

The inscription of Dharanivaraha of the Chapotkata dynasty at Vardhamana (Wadhwan) points to this wide spread. In Saurashtra, early Chavda holdings at Vanthali, Dwarka, and Okhamandal were later absorbed by rising neighbor clans—the Rathods, Jethwas, and Chudasamas.

Following the Solanki transition at Patan in 942 A.D., Rana Ahipat (Ahivan Chavda, son of Samantsinh) migrated into Kutch, conquering 900 villages and establishing Morgadh as his fortified dynastic capital. Other distinguished Chavda seats arose at Patgadh (Lakhpat) under Vagham Chavda, Bhuwad under Bhuwadji Chavda (famed for the Bhuvadeshvar Mahadev shrine), Vinjhan under Kanaksen Chavda, and Mathal under Deshalji, before the Jadejas consolidated Kutch.

In North Gujarat, the dynastic line remained sovereign under the Raols. Originally centered at Ambasan under Punjaji Chavda (encompassing 284 villages as recorded in the district gazetteer), Sursinghji later transferred the primary capital to Mansa State, which was further fortified under Adesinhji (VS 1661). In Vikram Samvat 1414 (1358 A.D.), Mesaji Chavda founded the historic town of Mehsana, establishing the Toran archway and temple to Toran Mata across its 84-village tract. Prominent cadet branches flourished at Varsoda State under Surajmalji and Gangdevji, while other branches held Ambod and Dharpur across the Sabarmati and Mahi Kantha.

In East Gujarat (Rewa Kantha), following the 1484 siege of Champaner, Dhanraj’s lineage established Bhilodia State along the Narmada and Orsang rivers, comprising 11 sovereign villages including Rampura and the Sankheda Mewas holdings. At the 1947-1948 integration of India, Mansa, Varsoda, and Bhilodia stood as the recognized Chavda-ruled covenanting states.