until the British period. There were several states in the district during the British period: states such as Dhrangadhra, Wadhwan, and Limbdi were ruled by the Zala Rajputs, formerly known as Makwanas. They claim descent from Harpaldev, son of Kesar Makwana whose wife was daughter of celebrated Chaulukya ruler Karan Ghelo. Harpaldev received 1800 villages from Karan Ghelo for his valour. The state of Bajana was founded by Malik Haider Khan, a Jat leader driven out of Sindh who was given land by the Gujarat sultans. Dasada was ruled by Multani Maliks descended from a Thanedar during the reign of Ahmad Shah I. Dhandhalapur was ruled first by the Babarias, but in 1790 they were displaced by the Khadvads. Lakhtar was founded when a son of the Raja of Halvad received the village from the chief of Dhrangadhra. The rulers of Limbdi claimed descent from Harpaldev. Thangadh was originally ruled by the Babariyas. They were ousted by the Parmars, who migrated from Tharparkar and were given land by the Vaghelas of Wadhwan. After the Parmars came the Kathis, who made Than their headquarters. However Kartalab Khan, governor of Gujarat, dispersed the Kathis and destroyed their Surya temple. Than remained in Muslim hands until the fading of Mughal power, when the Zalas of Halvad took it over. Economy In the past, Surendranagar was used by colonialists as a hill station, because of its dry environment that was beneficial for some physical as well as mental ailments. Surendranagar's dry air is still believed to be the best place in Gujarat to cure tuberculosis patients. District capital Surendranagar, which lies under Municipality body is suffering from poor condition of roads and the two Causeways which join both the sides of city divided by Bhogavo River. Municipality body of city is considered to be a candidate for status of Municipal Corporation for a long time but due to some political reasons it never happen. It has the second highest number of educational institutes per capita. Many newspapers are published from Surendranagar in Gujarat. Businesses Many small and medium enterprises and industries are present, including confectionery, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, engineering plastics, bearings and spindles, and salt production. Wadhwan City is a major trade and processing centre for agricultural products, cotton, salt, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics, textile bearings, ceramics, and sanitary ware. Natural resources Nearly 25 percent of India's salt supply comes from mining in the Surendranagar