Ahmedabad Attractions
Sabarmati or the Gandhi ashram
Mahatma Gandhi, the great saint of the Indian Freedom Struggle, decided to launch
the freedom movement of Gujarat from this very place. Situated on peaceful stretch
of the River Sabarmati, this was also the place where Gandhiji lived during the
long struggle for freedom. The ashram is set up in most simple manner and is kept
in the same tradition as was Gandhiji''s living style. It still produces handicraft
items and the small room with basic amenities, where the great man stayed has been
converted into a small museum depicting important events of his life.
Mosques of Ahemedabad
The Ahemed Shah''s Mosque was built in 1414 A.D. by the founder
of the city, Ahemed Shah. One of the earliest mosques of the city, it is to the
south-west of the Bhadra Fort, named after the Hindu goddess, Kali. The front of
the mosque is now a garden. Named after the Hindu wife of Sultan Mohammad Beghara.
The Rani Raupamati''s Mosque was built in between 1430 to 1440
A. D. The mosque has richly carved minarets, balcony windows and perforated stone
lattices. Its three domes are linked together by a flat roof. As with so many of
Ahemedabad''s early mosques, this one displays elements of both Hindu and Islamic
design. Nearly every town and city with Islamic influence has a Jama Masjid. But
The Jama Masjid of Ahemedabad is considered to be he most beautiful
mosque of the east. It was build by Ahmad Shah in 1423 and is the principal mosque
of the Islamic era situated in the centre of the city near Three Gates (Tran Darwaja).
Built in Indo- Saracenic architectural style, it has 260 pillars supporting 15 domes
arranged symmetrically. A special feature of the mosque is the Muluk-Khana, or the
Royal Gallery, which is a platform standing on pillars and enclosed up to the roof
with beautiful stone work. The Sidi Bashir Mosque is famed for
its shaking minarets. This is a pair of minarets and is said that when one minaret
is shaken, the other rocks in sympathy. The architecture was designed so to protect
the monument against the earth quakes but even today the crucial mechanism that
causes the vibration is still a mystery.
The Mosque of Siddi Saiyyed , near Lal Darwaja is world famous
for its magnificent stone tracery. The tracery is acclaimed for its splendid carved
net screen of ten semi-circular windows. This unique architecture was built by the
so called slave of Ahemed Shah, Siddi Sayyed in the mid 16th century. The mosque
is the best example of the Indo Saracenic architecture with delicate carvings which
transform stones into filigree. The models in miniatures of this splendid structure
are best to carry as souvenirs from the city.
The Step Wells
Besides mosques and tombs, the other most notable thing about the city are its step-wells
(vav). The stepped well is one the finest example of Gujarati architecture. The
main wells are reached through steps and all around them there are decoration of
the columns, curved brackets and lintels, highly elaborate with repeated friezes
and ornamentation of animal motifs and deities.
The Adalaj Step Well , located on outskirts of Ahemedabad, was
built in 1499 A.D. by Ruda Rani, wife of Raja Virsing, a Vaghela Rajput. It has
an entrance from three sides with open colonnades of increasing height and complexity
rise over the staircase landings. Before the main well is reached, there is open
octagonal surrounded by galleries on four levels with circular well at the bottom.
The Dada Hari Vav was built in 1501. It has a flight of steps leading
down to lower and lower platform terminating at a small, octagonal well. These wells
are cool even on the hottest of the days and make a good resting places and providing
drinking water for the weary travelers.
The Calico museum of Textiles
One of the rarest museums and also the best in the world, the Calico museum of Textiles,
was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1948. It is the
finest museum of textiles and has one of the richest Collection of Indian textiles
covering all regions of India. Exhibits include a wide range of embroidered shamianas,
wall hangings, costumes, saris and embroideries. There are exhibits from historic
era and the impression that the art and craft had during that period is quite evident.
Various kinds and various designs of textiles ranging from the 12th century and
even earlier leaves one spell bound.
Modhera
The 11th century Sun Temple of Modhera is one of the finest examples of the prosperous
era of Gujarat during the rule of the Solanki dynasty. The temple is dedicated to
the Sun God who stands high on a plinth overlooking a deep stone-steeped tank. The
carvings on each inch of the edifice are intricate and rich with various figures
and natural objects. With a step well and many shrines around of Shiva, Ganesha
and Vishnu the Sun temple is comparatively small one. Hardly 80 kms from Ahemedabad
its worth a visit.
The Little Rann of Kutch
The Little Rann of Kutch is the most exciting place and probably comprising the
largest wild life sanctuary in India. It is most famous for the extinct specie of
the wild Ass, the last of India''s wild horse family which does not survive elsewhere
in Indian lowlands. The 4950 sq ft in area houses a range of habitats from saline
desert plains to arid grasslands and from rocky and thorn scrub to lakes and marshes.
Along with the galloping herds of handsome chestnut brown wild Ass, the sanctuary
houses a thriving population of gazelle, blue bull, wolf, and Indian foxes. Birds
like the bustard, spotted & Indian sand grouse, desert wheatear, species of eagles
and vultures along with the beautiful flamingoes, pelicans, ducks, cranes and storks
frequent this sanctuary.
On the way to the Rann of Kutch, the 11th century historic walled town of Patdi
with intricately carved temples is worth a visit. The bird sanctuary of Nalsarovar,
40 kms from Ahemedabad is also worth a visit to watch the dances and frolics of
the flaming flocks of Flamingoes and other birds.