Naliya is an town, which is also Taluka headquarter of Abdasa Tauka of Kutch District of Gujarat, India. It is located on Western end of Kutch at a distance of 17 km from ancient port of Jakhau. Naliya is centuries old town, which boasts of Jain temples built several centuries ago.[1][2]It is a famous Jain pilgrimage center and one the famous five Jain temples of Abdasa ni Panchtirthi ( meaning five-temples of Abdasa ) is in the town. Other Jain temples are in nearby places in Abdasa Taluka. The main architects of these centuries old beautiful Jain temples were Mistris of Kutch.[3][4] Naliya is also famous for Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary also known as LalaParjan Sanctuary, which is located nearby the town. With an area of about only 2 square kilometers, it is the smallest sanctuary in the country. There are approximately 30 Great Indian Bustards here, second only to Desert National Park, Rajasthan.[5][6] Naliya also has a Indian Air Force station, which was built here in view of the town's proximity to Pakistan.[7] Nos 45 and 101 Squadrons IAF fly Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s from the base.[8]
