Bhavnagar State was a princely state with 13 Gun Salutes during the British Raj. It was part of Kathiawar Agency in Saurashtra. The State of Bhavnagar covered an area of 2,961 sq. miles and had a population of 618,429 in 1941. Its ruler signed the accession to the Indian Union on 15 February 1948. The Kotwals of the royal palace of Bhavnagar were Talpada Kolis of Radhavanaj village of Kheda district.