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Eternal India
encyclopedia
A GREAT DESTINATION
Delhi Gate, is made of marble and has intricately carved pillars,
built in 1848 by Seth Hatheesing. Dedicated to Dharmanath, the
15th Jain Tirthankara. There are 2 dozen marble figures of the
Tirthankaras, the founding saints of Jainism.
Jami Masjid
: Built by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1423, this mosque is
situated a little away from Tin-Daroja (Three doors). At the
centre of the city, it is one of the largest mosques in India and the
most perfectly built in Western India, with its 16 domes resting on
260 pillars.
Kankana Lake
: South-East of the city, this artificial lake was
constructed in 1451 and has 34 sides, each 60 metres long. It was
once frequented by Emperor Jehangir and Empress Nur Jehan.
Shaking Minarets - Sidi Bashir's Mosque (Jhulta Minar)
:This is
an example of a most ingenious feat of building engineering.
Situated outside the Sarangpur gate, these towers were built in
1450. Two 3 storeyed minarets, girdled by balconies, stand side
by side. If you shake one, the other one shakes on its own. If you
bang on one, the echo is produced in the other. This was said to be
a protection against earthquake damage.
Sidi Sayyid Mosque :
Supposed to have been built by Siddis,
Abyssinian slaves forming the cavalry of Sultan Ahmed Shah,
this mosque has wonderful perforated latticed stone windows.
The delicate stone screens in the windows particularly the one
showing a tree and its artistically spread-out branches are unique
examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture.
Rani Rupmati's mosque
: Built around 1560 by Baz Bahadur's
lovely wife Rani Rupmati, this mosque has exquisitely carved fa-
cades and balconies.
Tombs of Ahmed Shah & his queens
: The tomb of Ahmed Shah
stands just outside the east gate of the Jami Masjid. His son and
grandson, also have their cenotaphs here. Women are not al-
lowed into the Central Chamber.
Ahmed Shah's Mosque :
Dating from 1414, rebuilt from a ran-
sacked Hindu temple.
Sabarmati Ashram
: Situated 6km from the centre of the town, on
the west bank of the Sabarmati river, this was Gandhi's head-
quarters during his long struggle for Indian Independence. His
ashram was founded in 1918 and still makes handicrafts, hand-
made paper and spinning wheels. Gandhi's living quarters are
preserved as a small museum and there is a pictorial exhibit of
the major events in his life. On Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday evenings a son et lumiere (sound and light show) is held at
the ashram
Adalaj Vav
: 19 km from Ahmedabad this is one of Gujarat's
finest step wells or boalis. Built by Queen Rudabai in 1499, it
provided a cool and secluded retreat during the hot summer
months.
Gandhinagar
: Capital of Gujarat situated on the west bank of the
Sabarmati, 32 km north-east of Ahmedabad, it is named after
Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat. It is India's second
planned city, after Chandigarh and like that city is laid out into
numbered sectors. Construction of the city commenced in 1965
and the secretariat was moved there in 1970.
Sarkhej
: Only 8 km out of Ahmedabad, the suburb of Sarkhej is
noted for its elegant group of buildings. The architecture here is
interesting in that the style is almost purely Hindu. The buildings
include the mausoleum of Azam & Minazzam, built in 1457. These
brothers were responsible for Sarkhej's architecture.
There is the mausoleum of Mohammed Begara and his Queen
Rajabai. Also there is the tomb of Ahmad Khattu Gaj Buksh, a
renowned Muslim saint and spiritual adviser of Ahmed Shah.The
•saint is said to have died in 1445 at the age of 111.
Batwa
: South-East of Ahmedabad, this has tomb of a noted
Muslim saint. It also has an important mosque.
Cambay :
The old seaport of Ahmedabad is to the south-west at
the northern end of the Gulf of Cambay. At the height of Muslim
power in Gujarat the entire region was known as Cambay.
Nal Sarovar :
From Nov to Feb this 116 sq.km lake is home for
vast flocks of indigenous and migratory birds, particularly early in
the morning and in the evening one can see ducks, geese, pelicans
and flamingoes.
Lothal
: 80 km south of Ahmedabad. The excavations at Lothal
and a few other places in the Saurashtra & Kutch regions of
Gujarat have brought to light highly developed civilisations that
flourished in pre-historic times. The city which stood here 4500
years ago was architecturally similar to the Indus valley cities of
Mohenjodaro & Harappa - both in Pakistan.
Modhera :
106 km from Ahmedabad. The ruined Sun temple of
Modhera was built by King Bhimdev (1026-27). Like the Sun
temple of Konark in the State of Orissa.,, it was so designed, that
the rays of the rising sun shone on the image of Surya, the Sun
God, at the time of the equinoxes. Mohammed of Ghazni devas-
tated it.
Patan :
About 120 km north-west of Ahmedabad, this was an
ancient Hindu capital before being sacked by Mohammed of
Ghazni in 1024. It still has over a 100 Jain temples and is a centre
for the manufacture of beautifully designed Patola silk sarees.
Baroda :
Now called Vadodara, the city of Baroda was capital of
one of the major princely states of India known by the same name.
Baroda is a graceful city, with parks and impressively built pal-
aces of the Gaekwad dynasty. In the centre of the city is the Sur
Sagar lake .
The palaces
: Laxmivilas palace with its Indo-Saracenic architec-
ture and floor of Italian mosaic, the Makaipur palace with its at-
tractive Italian architecture, the Nazarbagh palace, rich with the
heir looms of the Gaekwad dynasty and the Pratap Vilas palace.
M.S.University :
This famous University, grew from a college,
where Sri. Aurobindo worked as a teacher.
Kirti Mandir :
This family vault of the Gaekwads, who ruled
Baroda state till 1947, is preserved. The inner walls here are
beautified with murals by renowned artist Nandalal Bose.
Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum
: It houses a rich collection of art
treasures belonging to the Gaekwads. Along with the works by
modern Indian and Western painters can be seen the works of
Raphael, Titian and Murillo. The museum has a sculpture section.
The exhibits include Graeco-Roman, Chinese, Japanese as well
as Indian works.
Baroda museum and picture gallery :
Works by great European
artists .
The Naulakhi well :
one of those step wells unique to Gujarat, is
near the Laxmi Vilas Palace.