In The Knights of Jhalavad: Return to Dhrangadhra, documentary filmmaker and cultural historian Alex Goldblum takes readers and viewers on a deeply personal journey through Gujarat, India, as he reconnects with old friends, explores sacred landscapes, and traces the living legacy of the ancient Jhala Rajput dynasty.
Part travel memoir, part cultural preservation project, and part philosophical meditation on duty, friendship, and history, this vivid account chronicles Goldblum’s 2025 return to Dhrangadhra—the former capital of the princely state of Jhalavad. From the sun-bleached salt flats of the Little Rann of Kutch to the carved sandstone arches of medieval Jinjuwada, from Holi celebrations at the Hanuman temple in Salangpur to intimate conversations within the Ajit Nivas Palace walls, Goldblum paints a sensory-rich portrait of a place where past and present are in constant dialogue.
At the heart of the narrative is Goldblum’s enduring bond with Maharaja Dr. Jayasinhji Jhala, a Cambridge-based anthropologist and the 47th Jhallesvar Maharaja of Halvad-Dhrangadhra. Appointed a Knight of the Royal Order of Jhalavad in 2024 for his cultural contributions, Goldblum embraces the ancient motto of the Jhala clan—to render help to the helpless—and reflects on the meaning of that charge in a contemporary world.
Through encounters with cattle herders, village elders, spiritual devotees, and young professionals working to restore historic sites, The Knights of Jhalavad explores themes of heritage, continuity, and belonging. Whether drinking chai made from fresh cow’s milk at sunrise or attending meetings to preserve ancient architecture, Goldblum invites the reader to see Gujarat not just as a place on a map, but as a living cultural ecosystem shaped by memory, resilience, and devotion.
Lyrical, observant, and deeply respectful, The Knights of Jhalavad: Return to Dhrangadhra is a testament to the enduring bonds between people and place, and an ode to a hidden corner of India that continues to inspire and surprise. Perfect for readers of travel literature, South Asian history, and those drawn to stories of intercultural friendship and legacy.
