Kheda

Kheda, also known as Kaira, is a town and a municipality in Kheda district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Kheda, is 35 km from Ahmedabad. The National Highway no. 8 connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai passes through Kheda. It forms the administrative center of Kheda District.HistoryThe town of Kheda passed to the Babi Dynasty (of Pashtun descent) early in the eighteenth century, with whom it remained until 1763, when it was taken by the Marathas. The Babi family which ruled Kheda shifted to Khambat and now most of that family lives in Ahmedabad. The last head of the Kheda family, Sahibzada Ahmed Siddique Hussain khanji Dilawar khanji Babi, was married to Bima Rahim sultana bakhte babi sahiba of Junagarh State, and issued a daughter named Bima Nasreen sultana bakhte Babi, who is married to Sahibzada Anis Muhammad khanji babi of Devgam A house of Junagadh state. The Marathas ceded the district to the British in 1803, and it became part of the Bombay Presidency of British India. Nevertheless Kaira was still entitled, at least in 1901, to a tribute of 488 Rupees from the Koli petty princely state of Ghorasar. Kheda was a large military station until 1830, when the cantonment was removed to Deesa. Gujjars established many villages in the Kheda District area, as did Jats and other groups.