Porbandar is best known for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, but its heritage architecture and traditional way of life also draw tourists to the town in Gujarat.
“ Rano... Pano... Bhano!” goes the local saying to describe this beautiful coastal town. “Rano” refers to the last king of Porbandar Natwarsinhji Rana Jethwa; “Pano” is the local limestone and “Bhano” refers to Bhanji Lavji Gheewala, a firm still in business with its founding family’s sixth generation managing its operations. In yesteryear, they exported ghee, says Vinodkumar Sadiya, who is in charge of the Kasturba Gandhi Memorial House.
The local limestone finds a place in most of the 200-year-old houses that flourish in the town. These houses have high ceilings and are furnished in wood, says resident K.K. Samani, who himself lives in a 200-year-old building. “Our limestone can last for about 500 years,” he added. Rainwater harvesting systems are part of the buildings.
