Bariya, Lunavada, Sunth and Kadana

Lunavada

Lunavada traces its descent through Virpura Solankis, one of the seven branches of Solankis of Anhilwada Patan. The Solanki Chief Bhuvanaditya who ruled the Ganga-Yamuna Doab had two sons - Raj and Bij who as a part of their exploits reached Somnath during the reign of Raja Samanthsinhji, the Chavda ruler of Gujarat. Raj married his sister Liladevi. Their son Mulraj killed his uncle Samantsinhji and seized the throne. Samantsinhji’s line is believed to be continued as the Thakurs of Mehlol. Dhavaldev, a descendant of Mulraj conquered Kalarigarh and moved there while his great grandson Virabhadra a few years hence, moved to Virpur in 1225. At that time, Virpur was ruled by Viro Bhaiya, a petty chieftain whom Virabhadra murdered. His descendants are known as Virpur Solankis.

Vithalsinh shifted the capital to the village of Diya and Bhimsinh shifted the capital to Lunavada in 1434. He is considered to be the founder of the ruling line. Akherajji is the last ruler in the direct line. After he deceased heirless, an infant and a relative, Kumbho Rano was placed on the throne around 1600. Chandrasinhji was in the train of Arjundas, the brother of Raja Punjo of Idar when they were attacked by the Rehwars of Ranasan in retaliation for their plundering the village in 1674. Arjundas and the chiefs of Dungarpur, Devlia and Lunavada were killed and only the ruler of Banswara came out alive. Whether Aurangzeb order a retaliation is not known.

By the time of Naharsinhji, Mughal Empire was as good as non-existent and Lunavada was invaded by Haider Kuli Khan, the Viceroy of Gujarat. Naharsinhji, on the other hand, started the construction of the fort wall of Lunavada. The next invasion was seen during the reign of his grandson Wakhatsinhji - the village Virpur after which the ruling line is named is lost in that raid but later regained. The Mughal incursions haven't ended when the Marathas erupted upon the scene. Dipsinhji was taken into custody by the Marathas till the arrears are cleared. Just four years into his reign in 1786, Durjansalji was assassinated by Shankardas, a minister and the Desai of Nariad. Jagatsinhji, a half brother of the king was made the ruler while Durjansalji's mother, wife and infant son Pratapsinhji fled the kingdom. After a few years, Pratapsinhji returned, slew Shankardas and ejected Jagatsinhji from the kingdom.