 The town was base of many mercantile communities including Kutchi Oswal Vanias and Bhatias in 18th to early 20th century.The importance of town declined with the rise of Bombay (now Mumbai) and the construction of Rajputana railway in 1870s.After independence of India in 1947, Cutch State acceded unto the dominion of India and was constituted an independent commissionaire, Kutch State.