About Pethapur

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

Geography:

Pethapur is located near Gandhinagar, on the Sabarmati River bank, only 7 km from the capital of Gujarat and situated 34 km away from Ahmedabad. Pethapur is the town of Gandhinagar district.

History:

Pethapur was a small princely state belonging to the Mahi Kantha Agency of the Bombay Presidency during the era of the British Raj. It was centred on Pethapur village, in the present-day it is a town, under Gandhinagar district of Gujarat State. Pethapur is renowned for block-making craft.

There were various industries developed in Pethapur related to the letter "b," like bandhani, banduk (gun), bobbins made for cotton mills, bidi (cigarette), bataka (potatoes), and biba (wooden blocks). It had a good association with the letter "b."

It is famous for its finely carved wooden blocks all over the world. The renown Saudagiri trade has made Pethapur a block-making hub. It was a hundred years of trade. Three main companies were involved in the Saudagiri trade: Maskati, Baghi, and Vashi. The fabric was printed in Ahmedabad, and wood blocks were carved in Pethapur. Printed fabrics were then exported to Siam (present-day Thailand) via the sea routes of Cambay. At the time of the Saudagiri trade, around 122 households and more than 1500 craftsmen in Pethapur were engaged in block-making. The trade was diminished due to the Second World War. Traditionally, the Gajjar (Carpenter-Suthar) community practised the craft. Pethapur was also known as a craftsman’s village.

Places to visit in Pethapur:

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