Princely State of Bhathan

The Princely State of Bhathan, also known as Bhalthan, was a native state of India that was managed and supervised by a native prince under the guidance of the British authorities. The princely state was under the indirect control of the British Empire in India. The state was scattered over a total area of 4 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 465 in the year 1931. The taluka of Bhathan was situated in District Thana of Wadhwan and the territory consisted of only a single village. The village was located around 18 miles towards the west of the town of Wadhwan. The Bhathan state was a virtual enclave located in the princely state of Limbdi, but it also shared a border with Palali to the east.

The Princely State of Bhathan or Bhalthan was under the administrative control of the Baroda Agency, which was incorporated as a part of the Western India States Agency. Later the territory was merged with the state of Gujarat. The state was also a part of the Eastern Kathiawar Agency as well as the District Thana of Wadhwan.

The District Thana of Wadhwan was generally bordered by the princely state of Lakhtar in the north; by the princely state of Limbdi in the south and east; and by the princely state of Wadhwan in the west. Almost all of the 17 estates were the branches of Wadhwan. The region was merged with Bhoika Thana after the year 1935 in order to form the new Wadhwan Bhoika Thana for convenience purposes. It incorporated around 35 estates, covering a total area of 347 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 38,719 in the year 1931.

The princely state of Bhathan was claimed by more than one native prince, who were formally addressed as shareholders. There are 6 such shareholders in the state of Bhathan. The Jhala Rajputs, bhayats of Wadhwan, were the shareholders the territory. Bhathan state was a non- jurisdictionary native state. The estateholders of the District Thana of Wadhwan were well learned and educated individuals who were politically aware, unlike the shareholders in other Kathiawar Thanas. The native state of Bhalthan or Bhathan paid annual tribute to the princely state of Junagadh. According to the Attachment Scheme of 1943, Bhalthan state was attached to the princely state of Limbdi. The territory was amongst of the 29 units that were attached in the initial phase of the scheme which followed the lead of Ghodasar and Bhadwa in declining to recognize the power and authority of the attaching of princely states.

After the withdrawal of the British and the independence of India on 15th August 1947, the state was acceded to the newly formed Union of India, also known as the Dominion of India.