Ahmedabad
Introduction to Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad was named after the Sultan Ahmed Shah, who
built the city in 1411. Also called the "Manchester of
the East", today, it is one of the most highly
industrialized cities of India. Historically, Ahmedabad
was a major base camp during the Indian freedom
struggle. Mahatma Gandhi built the Sabarmati Ashram on
the outskirts of the city, from where he guided India to
freedom. Today Ahmedabad, more than any other Indian
city represents non-violence and peace. Ahmedabad is
also the textile city of India. Though the city has
developed more as a business and commercial center, it
also holds attraction as a center for the study of Indo-Saracenic
architecture, a style that fuses elements of Hindu and
Islamic architecture. The old city of Ahmedabad is
dotted with labyrinth of bylanes called polls. The
exquisitely carved wooden mansions are beautiful
examples of the craftsmanship of the time. Although it
is no longer the capital of Gujarat, Ahmedabad remains
the second largest industrial city in western India.
Places of Interest
Jama Masjid
The Jama Masjid of Ahmedabad is one of the most
beautiful mosques in the country. Located to the east of
the Teen Darwaja besides Mahatma Gandhi road, the mosque
was built in AD 1423 by Ahmad Shah. Built in the Indo-Saracenic
style, the mosque has 260 columns supporting the roof.
The dome is illuminated by the natural light which is
reflected into it by the external roofs. One of the
major attractions of the mosque is the beautiful
stonework of the Muluk-Khana or the Royal Gallery, which
is a platform standing on pillars
Shaking Minarets
The Sidi Bashir Mosque, commonly known as the Shaking
Minaret or Jhulta Minar, is located outside the
Sarangpur Gate. An interesting thing about the minarets
is that if one of the minarets is shaken, the other
begins to vibrate on its own. The minarets evoke lot of
curiosity and are the major attraction here. The
mechanism that causes the vibration is still a mystery
and it is believed that that the vibration is a
protection against the damage caused by the earthquakes
Sidi Saiyad Mosque
The mosque was built by Sidi Sayid, Ahmad Shah's slave,
in AD 1573. The mosque is famous for its stone tracery
and the motifs of the banyan tree on its windows. It is
located near the Lal Darwaza (Red Gateway) and is very
close to the river end of the Relief Road
Hatheesing Jain Temple
Built in 1848, this two-storeyed structure in pure white
marble is dedicated to Dharmanath, the fifteenth Jina or
Jain apostle. The temple has 52 shrines, each with an
image of a Jain Tirthankara. Located outside the Delhi
Gate, the temple is named after its builder Sheth Hathi
Singh.
Dada Hari Vav (Stepped Well)
This well was built in 1501 to provide a cool resting
place and water to the travellers. The stepped well is
among the finest examples of Gujarati architecture. Even
on the hottest days, the well remains cool.
Sabarmati Ashram
Seven kilometres to the north of the city on a quiet
stretch of the river Sabarmati lies the ashram set up by
Mahatma Gandhi in 1915. The Sabarmati Ashram, as it is
popularly called, was the first Satyagraha Ashram set up
by Gandhi. The ashram still makes handicrafts, handmade
paper and spinning wheels. Hridaya Kunj, the cottage
where Mahatma Gandhi lived, is preserved as it was
during his lifetime. The Gandhi Ashram also houses a
small memorial. Visitors can have a look at a sound and
light spectacle that takes place three days a week.
The Calico Textile Museum
This museum of textiles displays antique and modern
textiles. It is housed in a carved wooden haveli and
exhibits rare tapestries, wall hangings and costumes.
Some of the old weaving machines are also kept here. The
museum's collection dates back to the 17th century and
it also has an excellent reference library on textiles.
Teen Darwaza
These arched gateways were built by Sultan Ahmed Shah.
They formed the royal entrance to the Maidan Shah or
Royal Square. From here the Sultans watched the
processions from the palace to the Jama Masjid.
Rani Sipri Mosque
Another beautiful mosque is the Rani Sipri mosque, built
by the Queen of Mahmud Shah Begda in 1514. After her
death she was buried in the premises of the mosque
itself.
NC Mehta Museum The NC Mehta Museum houses a spectacular
collection of miniatures from various Indian painting
schools.
The Shreyas Folk Museum
This museum displays some of the finest examples of the
traditional arts & crafts of Gujarat. A must-see for
those interested in folk art.
Excursions:-
Adalaj
Adalaj is situated about 19 km north of Ahmedabad on
Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway. This step-well was built by
queen Rudabai in 1499. The well has three stepped
entrances that ascend into an open court. From here, a
single arched heavily decorated entrance leads to a
corridor. The corridor has four pavilions and is five
storeys under the ground up to the well. The monument is
best seen around noon, when sunlight penetrates the
bottom of the five-storey octagonal well shaft, making
the exquisite sculptures, the walls, pillars, cornices
and niches portray erotica, dancing maidens, musicians,
animals and images of Shiva come alive. Stone elephants,
horses and mythical animals are seen around the sides of
the shaft.
Modhera
Around 102 km north-west of Ahmedabad lies the town of
Modhera. The Sun Temple in this town, built by Raja
Bhimdev I, is a major source of attraction here. The
Temple has been divided into three main compartments.
The first is the Surya Kund, a fascinating massive
rectangular stepped tank. The tank now stands dry, but
in ancient times it was believed to be full of nirmal
jal (holy water). Devotees on their way to offer prayers
to the Sun God were required to first stop here for
ceremonial ablutions. Several small steps from the Kund
lead up to the enchanting Sabha Mandap. The place was
meant for religious gatherings and conferences. Open on
all sides with four doorways, the major attraction here
is its unique walnut-shaped ceiling supported by 52
spectacular pillars. Each of these pillars is
intricately carved with scenes form Ramayana,
Mahabharata and the Krishna Leela (the childhood antics
of Lord Krishna). The Guda Mandap contains a surang
(tunnel), the other end of which is believed to emerge
at Patan. These tunnels provided the ideal escape routes
for the kings and members of the royal family in case of
attacks. From Modhera, one can also take trip to the
nearby towns of Unjha, where one can find the fragmented
ruins of an ancient temple.
Patan
Famous for Patola saris, Patan is situated at about 130
km north-west of Ahmedabad on the banks of the river
Saraswati. Originally known as Anhil-Vad-Pattan, the
town flourished during the reign of the Solanki dynasty
in 8th-11th century. The Queen/'s Step well or
Rani-Ki-Vav is one of the most fascinating monuments in
the town. Constructed by queen Udayamati (AD 1022-63)
and built in the Khajuraho style, the vav is 90 feet
wide. Its walls are lined with images of Vishnu, Shiva
and other gods and goddesses. Also situated here is the
Sahastralinga Talav or tank of a thousand Shiva shrines
spread over an area of 5 km. Its construction was
carried out by Jayasimha Siddharaja (AD 1093-1143).
Among the Jain temples in Patan, said to number over a
hundred, the one dedicated to Panchasara Parasvanath is
the largest. It has a famous white marble image of
Vanaraja. In its vicinity lies the Hemchandracharya Jain
Gyan Mandir that contains valuable Jain manuscripts,
some of which were written in ink made of gold.
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