Princely State of Gadhula

The Princely State of Gadhula, also known as Godhula or Gadula, was one of the renowned native states 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 1 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 325 in the year 1931. Gadhula state was located in the Songadh Thana region and included only a single village. The native state was bounded by the territory of Chitravav in the east; and by the princely state of Bhavnagar on other 3 sides. Gadhula state was under the administrative control of the Baroda Agency, which was incorporated as a part of the Western India States Agency. The region was also a part of the Songadh Thana.

Songadh Thana covered a total area of 57 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 19,144 in the year 1931. It comprised 22 estates with a total of 355 recognized shareholders, most of whom were Gohel Rajputs, excluding the Charans of Samadhiala. Around 13 talukas were branches of Bhavnagar state and 8 talukas were offshoots of the princely state of Lathi. Although there were around a thousand shareholders, only 355 estateholders were recognized. The talukas were not placed on condensed block but rather scattered over an extensive area within the borders of the princely state of Bhavnagar.

The princely state of Gadhula was claimed by more than one native prince, who were formally addressed as shareholders. There were 2 such shareholders in the state. Both the shareholders of Gadhula state were are Rajputs, who were bhayats of Lathi state. The former princely state was a non- jurisdictionary native state. The estateholders were uneducated, impoverished and ignorant. The estates were minutely sub divided. Gadhula state paid annual tribute to the princely state of Baroda and the princely state of Junagadh. The princely state was attached to the princely state of Bhavangar, under the Attachment Scheme of 1943.

The state of Gadhula was acceded the princely state to the Dominion of India, also known as Union of India, after the country gained independence from the British rule in the year 1947.