Bansda

Princely States

Bansda tradition states that the line descended from Dhaval, a descendant of Siddharaja Jayasimha, the ruler of Gujarat. He founded Dhavalgadh in 1103 and then conquered to Kalarigarh in 1134. When Jetmalji, Sarangji and Vajerajji, descendants of Dhavaldev were ruling Kalarigarh, the fort was attacked by Ahmed Shah I of Gujarat and the defeated Solankis, after putting a stiff fight scattered - some moving towards Sagwada, some towards Bansda and some, other locations of not much prominence. The founder of the Bansda line is Muldevji and his successors till Udaysinhji are

• Khandhaldevji

• Baldevji

• Karandevji

• Udayasinhji

• Molkaranji

• Udayasinhji

His successor Virdevji is considered to be the actual founder of Bansda kingdom.

Though tradition makes Dhavaladeva a descendant of Mularaja or Siddharaja, it is more possible that he is a prince of the ruling Chaulukya line of Gujarat who held some prominent command. His descendants spread and one of his successors, Virandev founded Vasudevpur which later transmorphed into Bansda.

An alternative version states that he is a descendant of Jayasimha, the son of Chalukya Someshwara I of Kalyana and not of Siddharaja. It is assumed that he rebelled against his brother Vikramaditya and advanced till Kalyana till he was decisively defeated and his family captured. However, he effected an escape with his family and it is assumed that he went back to his power base, Gujarat area. His son Vijayasimha is assumed to be the progenitor of Bansda line. He carved his own principality daring his uncle and made Mangalapuri his capital city. This line came to be known as Chalukyas of Mangalapuri.

The traditional paramparas mention that his son Dhavaladeva is from the Gujarat Chaulukya family and that he is the progenitor of 14 Solanki families including that of Bansda. Vasantadeva's tenure coinciding with the weakening power of Chalukyas of Kalyana and witnessed a conquest - most probably by the Silaharas though the line was able to reclaim the estates back. The estate was under subjugation during the reign of Ramadeva as well - as against the title Mahasamanta his father used, he used the title Samanta. He built the village of Vasantapura due to which the line came to be known as Chalukyas of