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Gandhi Ashram / Sabarmati Ashram
Kankaria Lake
Malik Isan’s Mosque / Malik Isan’s Masjid
Queen’s Mosque
Swaminarayan Temple
Jama Masjid / Jami Mosque
Sidi Saiyyed Mosque
Sarkhej Roza
Hutheesing Jain Temple
Mata Bhavani’s Vav

Heritage of Ahmedabad

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Gandhi Ashram / Sabarmati Ashram
Gandhi Ashram / Sabarmati Ashram
Gandhi Ashram / Sabarmati Ashram
Tourism

Gandhi Ashram / Sabarmati Ashram

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Gandhi Ashram / Sabarmati Ashram

Gandhi Ashram also known as Sabarmati Ashram, or Harijan Ashram, or Satyagraha Ashram is located at Bank of Rivers in the Sabarmati of Ahmedabad. It is one of the residences place of Mahatma Gandhi who lived there for about twelve years along with his wife Kasturba Gandhi.

It was the base from where Gandhi led the Dandi march. Which Is also known as the Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930. In recognition of the significant influence that this march had on the Indian independence movement the Indian government has established the ashram as a national monument.

History

Gandhi’s ashram was established on 25 May 1915 at the Bunglow of his friend Jivanlal Desai’s Kocharab Bungalow. At that time the ashram was called the Satyagraha Ashram. Gandhiji wanted to carry out various activities such as farming and animal husbandry, in addition to other pursuits which called for the need of a much larger area of usable land. On 17 June 1917, the ashram was relocated to an area of thirty-six acres on the banks of the river Sabarmati, and it came to be known as the Sabarmati Ashram.

Gandhiji believed that this is one of the ancient ashram sites of Dadhichi Rishi who had donated his bones for a righteous war. Gandhiji’s main ashram lies in Naimisharanya, near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Address

Ghandhi Ashram, Hridaya Kunj, Old Wadaj, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380027

March 11, 2018 0 comment
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Kankaria Lake
Kankaria Lake
Kankaria Lake
Tourism

Kankaria Lake

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Kankaria Lake

Kankaria Lake, formerly known as Hauj-e-Qutb. It was been completed during the period of Sultan Qutb-ud-Din Ahmad Shah II. A lakefront is developed around it, which has many public attractions such as a zoo, toy train, kids city, tethered balloon ride, water rides, water park, food stalls, and entertainment facilities. The lakefront was restructured in 2008. Kankaria Carnival is a week-long festival held here from 25th to 31st December. Many cultural, art, and social activities are organised during the carnival.

Attractions

Kankaria Zoo

Kankaria Zoo, officially Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden, was established by Rueben David in 1951 spread over 21 acres. It was rated the best zoo in Asia in 1974. They are 450 mammals, 2,000 birds, 140 reptiles in a 31-acre zoo. It houses wild animals like tigers, lions, python, anaconda, snakes, elephants, albino (white) animals like the rhesus monkey, spotted deer, white blackbuck, chinkara, elephant, emu, jungle babbler, bush-quail and common palm civet. Kankaria Zoo has also bred of rare species like pythons, crocodiles, bearcats and wild asses. Reuben David was awarded Padma Shri in 1974 for it.

Balvatika

It is a children’s park named after Jawaharlal Nehru. Balvatika has a boat house, playroom, butterfly and weapon displays, mirror house, toy house and planetarium. Presently most part of the park is under renovation.

Amusement Park

Netherlands based company installed five rides in the amusement park in 2014. It includes the Boomerang Roller Coaster, the Flipping Arm, the Torching Tower, Disk ‘O’ pendulum and the merry-go-round. It will also have a kids play zone for computer games.

Kids City

Kids City is a miniature world designed for kids. It is spread in 4240 sq.metre area having 18 activity centres including banks, fire station, science lab, radio station, police station, court room and prison, dental as well as medical hospital, theatre, BRTS, heritage gallery, town governance, IT centre, News room, ice-cream factory, etc. AMC had applied for copyrights and patents on the individual games in the premises, the unique point system, Virmo (Virtual Money) and the design of the different venues in games.

Toy Trains

A train named Atal Express (Named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birthday 25 December 2008) was imported from London, the train circles the lake on a 2.3 km track at a speed of 10 km/h. The train has the capacity to carry 150 passengers, including 36 adults. The train is manufactured by Severn Lamb. During the first 11 months of introducing the train, it attracted nearly a million visitors. After the success of this train, another train was also started which named Swarnim Jayanti Express. All trains on the railway, and hence the railway itself, are 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge.

Balloon Safari

Ahmedabad Eye is a tethered balloon ride set up near Kankaria Lake after renovation. The tethered balloon complex spread over 3000 square yard, is divided into four sections including a restaurant, tethered balloon, heritage exhibit and an exhibition displaying the making of the Ahmedabad Eye. SKYZ is a balloon themed restaurant located at the Ahmedabad Eye complex. It is managed by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Rainforest theme restaurant is also there.

Address

Kankaria, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380002

March 10, 2018 0 comment
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Malik Isan’s Mosque / Malik Isan’s Masjid
Malik Isan’s Mosque / Malik Isan’s Masjid
Malik Isan’s Mosque / Malik Isan’s Masjid
Spiritual

Malik Isan’s Mosque / Malik Isan’s Masjid

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Malik Isan’s Mosque / Malik Isan’s Masjid

Malik Isan’s Mosque have two different name as Gumle Masjid and Isanpur Mosque. It is situated in Isanpur area of Ahmedabad.

History & Architecture

Isanpur mosque was built in 1520 by Malik Isan.  Malik Isan founded the Isanpur suburb of Ahmedabad. The mosque is built on raised platform which can be approached by porches on north and east side. The courtyard is square and the mosque is situated on the west side. Opposite to the mosque Maliq Isan’s tomb is situated. At the time of 2001 Gujarat earthquake the mosque was damaged and was again vandalized during 2002 Gujarat violence.

Address

Malik Isan’s Mosque, Ekta Park Society, Rajeswari Society, Isanpur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382443

February 4, 2018 0 comment
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Queen’s Mosque
Queen’s Mosque
Queen’s Mosque
Spiritual

Queen’s Mosque

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Queen’s Mosque

Queen’s Mosque in Sarangpur was built by Malik Qiwam ’ul-Mulk Sarang. He was a Rajput converted to Islam under the influence of the Sultan and later rose to the status of the Governor of Ahmadabad, in AD 1521, during the reign of Muzaffar Shah II. The Masjid probably built during the second half of the fifteenth century measures 14.56 meters by 11.13 meters on the inside and has five large domes over as many square areas in the sanctuary, entered into through fine arched gateways, the central one being large, higherand with a richly carved arch-rim; The two large-sized minars standing on either side of the centre or now unfortunately extant up to the roof only, resemble closely those of Bibi-Ki-Masjid of Rajpur. The front wall behind the minars is raised on the central portion to about 2.74 meters along a stretch of 12.80 meters but on the interior, there is only a kind of balcony to the gallery resting on pillars of normal height. This is further connected with the gallery under the central dome. The front wall has four perforated windows while on the back wall there are six, with two at the each of side walls.

The tomb is juxtaposed in front of the Masjid, as in the case of Rani Sipri’s or Sayyid ‘Uthman’s and stands on a base 22.86 meters square. The outer fringe has 21.74 meters interspace which had four pairs of coupled pillars on each face with the corner angles totally closed in stone walling while the 20.42 meters inner area was supported by squares of thirty-six, twenty-eight, twenty and twelve pillars raised to 3.96 meters height throughout up to the roof, the innermost square carrying the dome over it. This had also jali-worked screens around it with an entrance on the south side. Twenty pillars which are in the inner square and carries an upper projection has a long gallery there around the central high dome, and has also small corner domes. The two tombs in the rauda had long since been stripped of their marble veneer. While one of them is obviously of Malik Sarang, the other is usually taken to be that of his wife. In its original condition, the rauda would have been very attractive.

Address

Queen’s Mosque, Khadia, Sarangpur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001

February 4, 2018 0 comment
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Swaminarayan Temple
Swaminarayan Temple
Swaminarayan Temple
Spiritual

Swaminarayan Temple

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Swaminarayan Temple

Shri Swaminarayan Temple, which is the first temple of the Swaminarayan Sampraday in Ahmedabad.. It is located in Kalupur area of Ahmedabad. It was built on the instructions of Swaminarayan, the founder of the sect.

NarNarayan Dev Gadi and LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi are two Gadis (seats) of Swaminarayan Sampraday. This temple is the headquarters of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi. Green and yellow sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, their bodies fitted in opulent dress, cover the structure of this nineteenth-century temple.

Temple’s architecture based on Burma teak wood, all coloured arch and bracket have different shade,. According to Anjali Desai, who is the author of India Guide Gujarat, the temple resembles a fairytale with all its colours and opulent carvings that profusely embellish every wooden bracket, column and arch. The day after Diwali million people are attracts to the temple. The temple has a multi-story guesthouse that is air conditioned and has a fully equipped medical clinic within its compound.

History

The land for construction of Swaminarayan Temple was been given by the British Government to India. The task of constructing this temple was entrusted personally by Swaminarayan to Ananandanand Swami (a paramhansa of the sect). The installation ceremony of the murti (images) in the temple was celebrated in the presence about 50,000 of pilgrims representing many parts of India.

Address

Swaminarayan Mandir Road, Zaveriwad, Kalupur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001

February 4, 2018 0 comment
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Jama Masjid / Jami Mosque
Jama Masjid / Jami Mosque
Jama Masjid / Jami Mosque
Spiritual

Jama Masjid / Jami Mosque

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Jama Masjid / Jami Mosque

Jama Masjid also known as Jumma or Jami Mosque, built in 1424 during the reign of Ahmed Shah I. The mosque is situated outside Bhadra Fort area, along the south side of the road extending from Teen Darwaza to Manek Chowk.

The Jama Masjid was the largest mosque in the Indian subcontinent built. Designed as part of a major plan desired by the Emperor Sultan Ahmed Shah, the mosque is located south of the processional axis that runs from the Maidan-i Shah at the door with three arches, Teen Darwaja.

The Tombs of Ahmed Shah I, his son and his grandson, Ahmed Shah’s Tomb are at the west of the mosque . Nearby are the graves of the queens and the other wives of the king, Rani no Hajiro.

Architecture

Mosque complex is centered on a large rectangular courtyard 75 m long and 66 m wide built with yellow sandstone. One enters the court by three entrances, one at the center of each side.The Courtyard is lined on three sides with a colonnade , the prayer hall occupies the fourth (east) side. Rectangular basin for ablutions is situated in the center of the courtyard.

Prayer room is also covered by four domes and rectangular. In its Indo-Saracenic architecture, the mosque also contains many syncretic elements not necessarily obvious to the viewer: Some central domes which are carved like lotus flowers and closely related to the domes of Jain temples. Some of the pillars are carved in the form of a hanging bell and in reference to the bells that often hang in Hindu temples. The wide open courtyard, floored with white marble, is ringed by a colonnade painted with giant Arabic calligraphy, and has a tank for ritual ablutions in the center. For supporting the roof there were over 260 columns in the main prayer hall , with its 15 domes, making a walk through the hall a beautiful maze of light and shadows. The Wall of Prayer, the qibla is decorated. Pierced stone screens (the ‘Jalis’) are placed between the two pillars of the central openings. Two columns which are framed the main entrance, and other remains columns of two minarets which were destroyed in the earthquakes of 1819 and 1957.

Address

Jama Masjid, Manek Chowk, Gandhi Road, Danapidth, Khadia, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001

January 20, 2018 0 comment
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Sidi Saiyyed Mosque
Sidi Saiyyed Mosque
Sidi Saiyyed Mosque
Spiritual

Sidi Saiyyed Mosque

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Sidi Saiyyed Mosque

The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, popularly known as Sidi Saiyyed ni Jali locally, built in 1572 AD, is one of the most famous mosques of Ahmedabad. As attested by the marble tablet fixed on the wall of the mosque, it was built by Sidi Saiyyed in the retinue of Bilal Jhajar Khan, general in the army of the last Sultan Shams-ud-Din Muzaffar Shah III of the Gujarat Sultanate.

The mosque was built in the last year of the existence of Sultanate of Gujarat. The mosque is entirely arcuated and is famous for beautifully carved ten stone latticework windows (jalis) on the side and rear arches. The rear wall is filled with square stone pierced panels in geometrical designs. The two bays flanking the central aisle have reticulated stone slabs carved in designs of intertwined trees and foliage and a palm motif. This intricately carved lattice stone window is the Sidi Saiyyed Jali, the unofficial symbol of city of Ahmedabad and the inspiration for the design of the logo of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.

The central window arch of the mosque, where one would expect to see another intricate jali, is instead walled with stone. This is possibly because the mosque was not completed according to plan before the Mughals invaded Gujarat.

Address

Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Opposite Electricity House Gheekanta, Lal Darwaja,  Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001

January 12, 2018 0 comment
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Sarkhej Roza
Sarkhej Roza
Sarkhej Roza
Sarkhej Roza
Spiritual

Sarkhej Roza

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Sarkhej Roza

Sarkhej Roza is a mosque and complex tomb which is 7 km south-west of Ahmedabad situated in the village of Makarba.

There were many Roza’s across Gujarat, the Sarkhej Roza is the most revered. Sarkhej was once a prominent centre of Sufi Culture in the country, where influential Sufi saint Shaikh Ahmed Ganj Baksh lived. It was on the saint’s suggestion that Sultan Ahmed Shah set up his capital on the banks of the Sabarmati, a few miles away from Sarkhej.

Monuments

The architecture of the complex is credited to Azam and Muazzam Khan; two Persian brothers who are buried in the tomb near Vasna, Ahmedabad. The complex was originally spread over 72 acres, surrounded by elaborate gardens on all sides. Over time, human settlements came around it, eating into the gardens and reducing the area to 34 acres.

Shaikh Ahmed Khattu Ganj Bakhsh of Anhilwad Patan, the friend and adviser of Ahmad Shah I, retired to Sarkhej in his later life and died here in 1445. In his honour a tomb, begun in 1445 by Muhammad Shah II, was, in 1451, finished by his son Qutbuddin Ahmad Shah II. The next Sultan Mahmud Begada was fond of the place and expanded the complex greatly. He dug a large Sarkhej lake, surrounded it with cut stone steps, built on its south-west corner a splendid palace, and finally, opposite to the Ganj Baksh’s tomb, raised a mausoleum for himself and his family, where he, his son Muzaffar Shah II and his queen Rajbai are buried.

Entering the covered eastern gateway on the north bank of the Sarkhej lake, the building to the right with a handsome stone pavilion in front of it, is the mausoleum of Shaikh Ahmed Khattu Ganj Bakhsh. This, the largest of its kind in Gujarat, has along its whole length its sides filled with stone trellis work, and inside, round the tomb, has a beautifully cut open metal screen. Across the courtyard on the left are two mausoleums with a connecting porch, the east mausoleum containing the tombs of Mahmud Begada, and of his son Saltan Muzaffar II, and the west, the tomb of Rajabai, Muzaffar’s queen. Beyond the Ganj Bakhsh mausoleum is a courtyard, covering more than an acre of ground, surrounded by cloisters, with a mosque only slightly smaller than the Jama mosque. The want of minarets and the shallowness of its caves rather mar the outside effect. But inside ‘it is the perfection of simple grace unrivaled in India except by the Moti mosque at Agra.’ Looking across the lake the ruined buildings at the south-west corner are Mahmud Begada’s palace and harem. The Sarkhej lake covers 17 acres. Oblong in shape, it is surrounded by flights of stone steps, and has a most richly decorated supply sluice.

Besides the chief group of remains, the country round is studded with mosques and other old buildings. A little to the south of the lake is a small ugly whitewashed tomb, the burial place of Baba Ali Sher, a saint held in higher respect even than Ganj Bakhsh. Close by are the remains of Fatehwadi or Victory Garden, laid out in 1584 by Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana (1583-1590) to mark his defeat of Muzaffar Shah III, the last of the Gujarat Sultanate. In the 17th century Sarkhej was so famous for its indigo that in 1620 the Dutch established a factory in the village.

Architecture

The Sarkhej Roza complex has been interpreted as being composed of both ‘jism'(body) and ‘ruh'(spirit), giving it the qualities of a human being.

Like many monuments built during that period, the Sarkhej Roza fused both non-Indian and Indian principles of architecture. While the ringed domes, the profusion of pillars and brackets can be claimed to follow the Islamic west asian genre (even though they can also be found in Indian architecture itself since much before), much of the ornamentation and motifs have Indian Hindu designs. Most of the buildings do not have arches and depend on pierced stone trellises for stability. In its architecture, Sarkhej Roza is an example of the early Islamic architectural culture of the region, which fused Islamic stylistic influences from Persia with Indian Hindu and Jain features to form a composite Indo-Saracenic architectural style. The mosque, with its courtyard, creates a religious milieu; the royal connection is made through the tombs and palaces; the great tank, platforms and pavilions were used by the common man.

The complex is called “Acropolis of Ahmedabad”, due to 20th century architect Le Corbusier’s comparison of this complex’s design to the Acropolis of Athens.

Address

Sarkhej Roza, Post Jeevraj Park, Sarkhej Makarba Road, Makarba, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380051

January 8, 2018 0 comment
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Hutheesing Jain Temple
Hutheesing Jain Temple
Hutheesing Jain Temple
Spiritual

Hutheesing Jain Temple

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Hutheesing Jain Temple

Hutheesing Temple (Gujarati: હઠીસિંહનાં દેરા) is the best known Jain Temple in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. It was constructed in 1848.

History

The construction of the temple was initiated originally planned by Shet Hathisinh Kesarisinh, a wealthy Ahmedabad trader who died at 49. The construction was supervised and completed by his wife Shethani Harkunvar. The total cost was approximately Rs. 8 lakh. , then a major sum. The temple is dedicated to Dharmanatha, the fifteenth Jain Tirthankar.Lockwood de Forest who was a business associate of Muggenbhai Hutheesing, the son of Sheth Hathisinh, estimated the cost as “over a million dollars“. The temple was built during a severe famine in Gujarat. Building the temple employed hundreds of skilled artisans which supported them for a period of two years.The temple is managed by a Hutheesing family trust.

Address

Hutheesing Jain Temple, Shahibaug Rd, Bardolpura, Madhupura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380004

January 8, 2018 0 comment
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Mata Bhavani’s Vav
Mata Bhavani’s Vav
Mata Bhavani’s Vav
Uncategorized

Mata Bhavani’s Vav

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Mata Bhavani’s Vav / Mata Bhavani’s Stepwell

Mata Bhavani’s Stepwell or Mata Bhavani ni Vav is a stepwell in Asarwa area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

History

The stepwell was built in 1485 by Dhai Harir, a household lady of Mahmud Begada according the persian inscription in the stepwell. She was the superintendent of the royal harem.
Dhai Harir built a mosque and a tomb in which she was buried. The well bears two inscriptions, one in Sanskrit on the south, and one in Arabic on the north wall, of the first gallery.

This holy and wholesome water; the splendid travellers’ rest-house enclosed on four sides by carved and painted walls, and a grove of fruit trees with their fruit, a well, and a pool of water for the use of man and heist, were built in the reign of the Sultan of the Sultans of the age, established by the grace of God and of the faith, Abul Fath Mahmud Shah, son of Muhammad Shah, son of Ahmed Shah, son of Muhammad Shah, son of Muzaffar Shah the Sultan, may God keep his kingdom. Dated the metropolis of the kingdom the 2nd of Jamadi-ul-awwal in the 26th year of the reign.

A Sanskrit inscription says that the step-well was built in December 1499 AD. It was during the reign of Mahmud Shah that Bai Harir Sultani, locally known as Dhai Harir, built the step-well. The name later corrupted into Dada Hari. It costed 3,29,000 Mahmudis (₹ 3 lakh) at that time. The ornate step-well has spiral staircases pieced into the sidewall of the well shaft and descending to the different platform levels.

Structure

Built in sand stone in Solanki architectural style, the Dada Harir stepwell is five stories deep. It is octagonal (8-sided polygon) in plan at the top, built on intricately carved large number of pillars. Each floor is spacious enough to provide for people to congregate. It was dug deep to access ground water at that level, accounting for seasonal fluctuations in water level due to rainfall over the year. The air and light vents in the roofs at various floors and at the landing level are in the form of large openings. From the first story level, three staircases lead to the bottom water level of the well, which is considered a unique feature.

At the level of the ground, it is 190 feet long by forty wide. At the east end, from a domed canopy, a descent of eight steps leads to a covered gallery. A second flight of nine steps leads to another gallery, and a third of eight steps to the lowest gallery two or three foot above the level of the water. At each landing a corridor runs along the sides and leads to other galleries that cross the well at intervals.

Built along a East-West axis, entrance is from the East, the two spiral staircases are in West, near the well. The structural system is typically Indian style with traditional trabeat with horizontal beams and lintels. At the bottom of the well is a square stepped floor in the shape of a funnel extending to the lowest plane. This is chiseled into a circular well. Above the square floor, columns, beams, wall and arched openings spiral around; a feature that continues to the top. The top part of the well, however, is a vertical space open to the sky. The four corners of the square are strengthened with stone beams, set at 45 degrees angle. The motifs of flowers and graphics of Islamic architecture blend very well with the symbols of Hindu and Jain gods carved at various levels of the well. The dominant carvings on the upper floors are of elephants (3 inches (76 mm) in size, each of different design). The Islamic architectural style could be attributed to Sultani Dhai Harir who built it.

Address

Mata Bhavani’s Vav, Haripura, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380016

January 7, 2018 0 comment
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