Google Earth Community: Meghpur, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Meghpur Gaam History

Meghpur Gaam is located 12 km from Bhuj on the main Bhuj-Mandvi road and is half a mile from the main road. As you enter the town itself, you come to Meghpur Primary School that was originally built in 1971. With the aid of ‘Meghpurians’ living in the United Kingdom the school was rebuilt in 1992 and now consists of 16 teaching rooms with modern teaching facilities including 3 computers.

Further on into the gaam, you come across Nava Vaas and then the Town Centre Square (Bhathaan). The main Bus stop is located in the square where there are shops, tea stalls and Shankar Mandir (Temple). Shankar Mandir is one of the oldest temples in Meghpur. There is a Bal Mandir nearby that was built in 1990 with a beautiful garden in front and Samajwadi by the side of it. There is a cemetery (Samsan) just off the main Bhuj-Mandvi road and the entrance to the Samsan is clearly visible from the road.

The old Meghpur Gaam was actually located approximately half a mile from the present-day town centre, by the side of the river. Meghpur Gaam is approximately 500-600 years old and once used to have its own fort. The area was governed from the fort and ruins of the fort are all that remain today. In the olden times Meghpur Gaam used to host the 24-Gaam Samaj meetings and was very active in all Samaj activities.

There is a river alongside the Old and New Meghpur towns and with the partnership of the Indian Government and the private sector three check dams (The river water is blocked and water goes back into the ground) have been built to conserve water. The town enjoys a constant water supply with the old well and main supply tanks located behind the Primary School. The new borehole has had to be relocated 3 km on the other side of the river due to the reduction in water quality following the 2001 earthquake that struck the region with frightening accuracy.

Meghpur was and continues to be mainly involved in farming and agriculture and some of the people have in the last 50 years or so worked and settled in the Middle East, Kenya, the United Kingdom and as far away as Australia and the United States. Although the Gaam is small in comparison to others in the 24 Gaams, it continues to prosper due largely to the economic support given by those Meghpurians who have settled abroad.

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