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Ahmedabad
India, the largest city and former capital of Gujarat, nurtures
a striking blend of the glorious past and a vibrant present.
Ahmedabad (Ahmadabad) is named after a Sultan who founded it
in 1411, the city is associated with Mahatma Gandhi, Father
of the Nation, whose simple ashram on the banks of river Sabarmati
is now a site of national pilgrimage. Ahmedabad is a great textile
and commercial centre and known as the "Manchester of India".
Ahmedabad, some times spelled Ahmedabad, is today the second
largest prosperous city in Western India and a place where tradition
and modern coexist in perfect harmony.
WHAT TO SEE
Gandhi Ashram - On a quiet stretch of the Sabarmati river
lies the Gandhi Ashram, established in 1920. During the lifetime
of Mahatma Gandhi it was known as Satyagraha Ashram and
was the centre of the struggle for Independence. It was from
here, in 1930, that the Mahatma started on his famous "Dandi
March" to the sea to protest against the Salt Tax imposed by
the British. 'Hridaya Kunj', the simple cottage where he lived,
is preserved as a National Monument. A Gandhi Memorial Centre,
a Library and a Sound-and-Light show offer in depth insight
into the Mahatma's life and work.
Hussain-Doshi's Gufa - It is a gallery in Ahmedabad that
houses the collaborative efforts of artist M. F. Hussain and
the architect B. V. Doshi. Here, art and architecture fuse to
become a unique experience, both complementing each other magnificently.
Located in the campus of the Centre for Environment Planning
and Technology, the Gufa is a configuration of cave-like structures
buried under the ground. This marvel of contemporary architecture
was constructed using computer aided design and tribal initiative.
Calico Museum - The Calico Museum of Textiles in Ahmedabad,
widely regarded as one of the finest textile museums in the
world, was constructed in 1949. The Museum houses no less than
five centuries of the finest fabrics spun, woven, printed and
painted in different parts of India. It also has a collection
of Indian marble, sandstone and bronze icons and busts split
in two thematic sections-gallery for religious textiles and
historical textiles.
Jama Masjid - Built by Ahmad Shah in 1423, Jama Masjid
is the principal mosque of the Islamic era, situated at the
heart of Ahmedabad. The mosque was built in the Indo- Saracenic
architectural era and is said to be the most beautiful mosque
in the East. The mosque 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.
Siddi Bashir Mosque - Known as Shaking Minaret or Jhulta
Minar. When one minaret is shaken the other one begins to vibrate.
The mosque was obviously built by master craftsmen and the crucial
mechanism that causes the vibration is still a mystery.
Rani Rupmati's Mosque - Named after the Hindu wife of
Sultan Mohammed Beghara, this mosque was built in Ahmedabad
between 1430 to 1440 A. D. It has three domes supported by pillars
with the central dome slightly elevated so as to allow natural
light into the mosque. The mosque has richly carved minarets,
balcony windows and perforated stone lattices. Its three domes
are linked together by a flat roof. However, the mosque and
tomb of Rani Sipri at Astodia surpasses it for its planning
and structural arrangement. Popularly known as Masjid-e-Nagina,
this mosque is the most exquisite gem of Ahmedabad.
Hatheesing Jain Temples - Built outside Ahmedabads' Delhi
Gate in 1850 by Sheth Hatheesing, a rich Jain Merchant, this
is the best known of Ahmedabad's many ornate Jain Temples. Built
of pure white marble, it has a paved courtyard surrounded by
an imposing row of cloisters containing 52 shrines, each with
an image of a tirthankara, profusely decorated with rich carvings,
one containing the marble image of the 15th tirthankar. The
temple is a two storied structure with elaborate porches on
three sides and front porch crowned by a large dome. It was
designed by Premchand Salat and is dedicated to Dharmanath,
the fifteenth Jina or Jain apostle.
Kankaria Lake - A circular lake constructed in Ahmedabad
in 1451 by Sultan Qutubub-Din. At the centre of the lake is
an island garden with a summer palace, known as Nagina Wadi.
The lake is a popular recreation centre surrounded by parks,
'Bal Vatika', an aquarium, a boat club, a natural history museum
and a zoo.
Sidi Sayed Jhali - The Mosque of Sidi Sayed, near Lal
Darwaja is world-renowned for its magnificent stone tracery,
in particular, the splendid Jali screen, framed, in ten semi-circular
windows. It is a fine example of Indo-Saracenic architecture
and its models in miniature are best known souvenirs of the
city.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air - Nearest airport is Ahmedabad.
Rail - Nearest railway station is Mehsana.
Road - State transport buses and private luxury coaches
connects various centres of Gujarat. It is situated 119 Kms.
from Ahmedabad via Mehsana.
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