Khambhat

Khambhat, also called Cambay, town, east-central Gujarat state, west-central India. It lies at the head of the Gulf of Khambhat (Cambay) and the mouth of the Mahi River.

The town was mentioned in 1293 by the Venetian traveler Marco Polo, who referred to it as a busy port. It was still a prosperous port in the late 15th century, when Muslims controlled Gujarat. As the gulf silted up, however, the port became insignificant. The town was the capital of the princely state of Cambay, which was incorporated into Kaira (later Kheda) district in 1949.

Khambhat later became a commercial centre trading in cotton, grains, tobacco, textiles, and carpets. The textile industry is prominent, and salt, matches, and stone ornaments are also manufactured. Petroleum was discovered in the area, and development began in the 1970s. Khambhat is a rail terminus and is served by a main highway. Pop. (2001) 80,452; (2011) 83,715.