Gulf of Khambhat
The
Gulf of Khambhat (
formerly known as the
Gulf of Cambay) is an inlet of the
Arabian Sea along the west coast of
India, in the state of
Gujarat. It is about 80 miles in length, and divides the
Kathiawar peninsula to the west from the eastern part of Gujarat state on the east. The
Narmada and
Tapti rivers empty into the Gulf. The Gulf is shallow and abounds in shoals and sandbanks. The Gulf is known for its extreme
tides, which vary greatly in height and run into it with amazing speed. At low tide the bottom is left nearly dry for some distance below the town of Khambhat.
The
Alang Ship Recycling Yard takes advantage of the extreme high tides of the gulf. Large ships are beached during the twice-monthly highest tides, and are dismantled when the tide recedes.
The Gulf of Khambhat has been an important center of trade since ancient times; its ports connect central India to the maritime trade routes of the Indian Ocean.
Bharuch (Broach),
Surat,
Khambhat,
Bhavnagar, and
Daman are historically important seaports. Bharuch has been important since ancient times; Khambhat was the gulf's chief port in the
Middle Ages, but after the silting of its harbor, Surat rose to prominence as the most important harbor of the
Mughal empire.
The name
Gulf of Khambhat is most probably the origin of the family name Khambhatta. See, for example,
Persis Khambatta.
