With the establishment of Charutar Vidya Mandal and Sardar Patel University, the town was founded by Shri Bhaikaka and Shri Bhikhabhai Saheb of Karamsad with the blessings of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a leader of the Indian Independence movement and the first home minister of India. The reason of foundation of the University and the town was to spread the Education in the Rural Areas of Gujarat. Both the town and the Sardar Patel University are named in honor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The town is also known as V.V. Nagar. SP University is listed in Top 50 universities in India. Initially developed as an educational township, as the name suggests Vidya means Knowledge and Nagar means Town in Gujarati. =Education and Research Besides 24 university postgraduate departments, Vallabh Vidyanagar has many charitable trusts running colleges, affiliated to the Sardar Patel University. The oldest of these is CVM. With the new dimension of disciplines emerging, CVM expanded to the New Vallabh Vidyanagar. The university has been the strongest candidate for becoming the only Central University in Gujarat. In fact, many departments boast to be on the national and international map in their subjects. The university was the first in Gujarat to volunteer for accreditation by NAAC and, in 2001, SPU was rated four star by NAAC. The university has attracted a significant number of foreigners to enroll in programmes including BBA, BCA, MCA, MBA, M-EB, Engg, Medical, M.Sc., Master of Industrial Hygiene & Safety Ph.D., etc. AERC Vallabh Vidyanagar is a research centre to carry out research in Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India. It was established in July 1961 at the Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi. Late Shri H.M. Patel played a key role in establishing such an Institute at Vallabh Vidyanagar. AERC, since 1970, has organized and worked on the scheme to Study Cost of Cultivation of Principal Crops in Gujarat in collaboration with the Department of Economics of S P University.
Charutar Vidya Mandal that had a former Finance Minister, late Shri H.M. Patel, as its president. Shri Bhailalbhai C Patel who was awarded an Order of British Empire served as its Secretary in the 1960s.
The town that had a municipality president who would once become a Finance Minister.
A university that has an FM radio station.
The university that is covered under the Edusat, a UGC Scheme of Nationwide Live Lectures using a satellite.
Vidyanagar Nature Club now known as Voluntary Nature Conservancy, working since 1988 for environment education, awareness and protection, a leading NGO in Anand district that is registered Public Charitable Trust, located in Vallabh Vidyanagar and is responsible for well-protected trees and its pollution-free atmosphere. VNC group on Facebook has more than 22,000 members which is perhaps most in category of any Indian Environmental NGO.
V V Nagar has more than 80 species of trees planted on roadside; it has perhaps highest numbers of trees in the state of Gujarat in such a small area.
Town has the largest colony of rose-ringed parakeet ; last count was in 2003-4 was of more than 63,000 parakeets.
V V Nagar is home to renowned photographer Sunil Adesara, in 1997 his photo exhibition "the transcendence" was done at national centre for performing arts Mumbai and again in 1999 at Indira Gandhi national centre for arts New Delhi. Sunil Adesara has been awarded in 1992 by 'UNESCO' Japan an animal in daily life, in 1999 by "Nikon landscape photo contest", Mumbai, in 2003 by humanity awards china on cultural heritage, in 1990, by WHO Geneva "life for all".
Vidyanagar Alumni Association USA is representing ardent supporters of V V Nagar, settled in USA, are striving to stay connected with its hometown which has played major role in their present-day prosperity.
Vallabh Vidyanagar is a food lover's paradise. With the young student population, a majority of which come from all across the world to study, being the major part of the town, one can find eateries, cafes, and street food vendors of all kinds of cuisines spread across the town serving yummy delicacies at pocket-friendly rates. Some remain open throughout the night where students studying late night can vanquish their hunger pangs.
Demographics
India census, Vallabh Vidyanagar had a population of 29,260. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Vallabh Vidyanagar has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 88%, and female literacy is 77%. In Vallabh Vidyanagar, 8% of the population is under 6 years of age.
