KATHIAWAR, a peninsula of India, within the Gujarat division of Bombay, giving its name to a political agency. The peninsula is bounded north by the Ran of Cutch, east by Ahmed abad district and the Gulf of Cambay, and south and west by the Arabian sea. Excepting the Tangha and Mandav hills, in the west of Jhalawar, and some unimportant hills in Hallar, the northern portion of the country is flat ; but in the south, from near Gogo, the Gir range runs nearly parallel with the coast, and at a distance of about 20 m. from it, along the north of Babriawar and Sorath, to the neighbourhood of Girnar. Opposite this last mountain is the solitary Osam hill, and then still farther west the Barada group, between Hallar and Barada, runs about 20 m. north and south from Gumli to Ranawao. The Girnar group is a granitic mass, rising to 3,500 feet. The principal river is the Bhadar, which rises in the Mandav hills, and flowing south-west falls into the sea at Navi-Bandar ; highly cultivated lands adjoin its course of about 115 m. Four of the old races, the Jaitwas, Churasamus, Solunkis and Walas, still exist as proprietors of the soil who exercised sovereignty in the country prior to the immi gration of the Jhalas, Jadejas, Purmars, Kathis, Gohels, Jats, Mohammedans and Mahrattas, between whom the country is now chiefly portioned out. Kathiawar has many notable antiquities,
comprising a rock inscription of Asoka, Buddhist caves, and fine Jain temples on the sacred hill of Girnar and at Palitana.
The political agency of Kathiawar had an area of 20,911 sq.m. in 1921 and a population of 2,538,497. There are altogether 188 states of varying size and importance. Fourteen independent states, previously in the Kathiawar agency, were formed into the Western India States agency in 1924, and brought into direct relations with the British Government. There are two political agents, one with headquarters at Rajkot, in the centre of the peninsula, and the other at Wadhwan. An excellent system of metre-gauge railways has been provided at the cost of the leading states. Maritime trade is also active, the chief ports being Por bandar, Mangrol and Veraval. Tribute of £31,129 is paid to the British Government.