Tourist Places of Ahmedabad City
Though the city developed more as a vibrant business and
commercial hub, Ahmedabad also holds attraction as a centre for
the study of Indo-Saracenic architecture. This style is a mixture
of Hindu and Islamic architecture. Ahmedabad is afloat with
mosques, minarets, mausoleums, museums, step-wells, temples,
libraries, etc. It is a matter of choice for the tourist to
scamper around few of the monuments or to leisurely scout the
monuments one by one.
Bhadra And Sidi Sayyid's Mosque
The
solid fortified citadel, Bhadra, built of deep red stone in 1411
AD as Ahmedabad's first Muslim structure, is relatively plain in
comparison to later mosques. The palace inside is now occupied by
offices and off-limits to tourists, but you can climb to its roof
via a winding staircase just inside the main gateway and survey
the streets below from behind its weathered bastions.
A prominent feature on the front of glossy city brochures, Sidi
Sayyid's Mosque, famed for the ten magnificent 'jali' screens
lining its upper walls sits in the centre of a busy traffic circle
in the northwest corner of Bhadra
Ahmed Shah's Mosque
West of Bhadra citadel, Ahmed Shah's small and attractively
simple mosque was the private place of worship for the royal
household. The 'mihrabs' are particularly ornate, with the central
one carved in white and black marble. Hidden behind pierced stone
screens above the sanctuary in the northeast corner, the 'zenana',
or women's chamber, is entered by steps from outside the main
wall.
Dada Harini Vav
Dada Harini Vav, in the northeast of the city just outside the
old boundaries, is among the very finest step wells in Gujarat .
While it's a Muslim construction, built in 1500 AD for Bai Harir
Sultani, superintendent of the royal harem, the craftsmen were
Hindu, and their influence is clear in the lavish and sensuous
carvings on the walls and pillars.
A short walk from Teen Darwaja along Gandhi Road leads to the
spectacular Jumma Masjid, or Friday Mosque. Completed in 1424, it
stands today in its entirety, except for two minarets destroyed by
an earthquake in 1957. Always buzzing with people, the mosque is
even busier on Fridays, when thousands converge to worship.
Swaminarayan Temple
North
from Rani-ka-Hazira through Temple Road, a narrow street of fabric
shops, and across Relief Road, the Swaminarayan temple stands
behind huge gates and brightly painted walls. Forming a delicate
contrast to the many hard stone mosques in the city, both the
temple and the houses in the courtyard surrounding it are of
finely carved wood, with elaborate and intricate patterns typical
of the style of the havelis of north and west Gujarat.
Vishalla Village
Designed by surendra patel, vishalla is an admirably authentic
collection of traditionally decorated mud huts where potters
weavers and paan-makers demonstrate their skills. The Vechaar
Utensils Museum houses a vast collection of Gujarati metalware,
including jewellery, knives and forks and odd-looking machinery
for milking camels.
Shaking Minarets
Opposite the large gate of Sarangpur Darwaja, Sidi Bashir's
minars are all that remain of the mosque popularly named after one
of Ahmed Shah's favourite slaves. Over 21m high, these are the
best existing example of the "shaking minarets"- built on a
foundation of flexible sandstone, probably to protect them from
earthquake damage-that were once a common sight on Ahmedabad's
skyline. The best time to visit is an hour or so before noon when
the sculpted floral patterns and shapely figurines inside are
bathed in sunlight. Bai Harir's lofty mosque and lattice-walled
tomb stand west of the well.
Manek Chowk And The Tomb Of Ahmed Shah
East of the Jami Masjid, the jewellery and textiles market,
Manek Chowk is a bustling hive of colour where jewellers work in
narrow alleys amid newly dyed and tailored cloth. Immediately
outside the east entrance of the mosque, the square tomb of Ahmed
Shah I, who died in 1442 AD, stands surrounded by pillared
verandahs. Women are not permitted to enter the central chamber,
where his grave and those of his son and grandson, lie shrouded in
cloth.
Mosque And Tomb Of Rani Sipri
Near
Astodia Darwaja in the south of the city, the small and elegant
mosque of Rani Sipri was built in 1514 AD at the queen's behest.
Her grave lies in front, sheltered by a pillared mausoleum. The
stylish mosque shows more Hindu influence than any where in
Ahmedabad, with several Hindu carvings and an absence of arches.
Its pillared sanctuary has an open façade to the east and fine
travery work on the west wall.
Ahmedabad, has maintained a tradition of self-help since the
days of Gandhi, and has achieved world recognition as the home
base of the ground breaking Self-Employed Women's Association, or
SEWA, founded in the early 1970s by Ela Bhatt.
Kankaria Lake:
This artificial lake was developed by Qut'b-Ud-Din in 1451 and
is a popular recreation spot for the people of Ahmedabad. This
lake is surrounded by gardens, an aquarium and a 'Balvatika'
(Children's Park). In the middle of the lake is located an island
palace, which has 34 sides each side being 60 m long.
Hathee Sing Temple
The
Svetambara Hathee Sing Temple, is easily distinguished by its high
carved column, visible from the road. Built entirely of white
marble embossed with smooth carvings of dancers, musicians,
animals and flowers, this serene temple is dedicated to Dharamnath,
whose statue stands in the main sanctum.
Parks And Gardens
Ahmedabad's quieter spots and open spaces provide welcome
relief from the chaos of the busy streets. Just south of Bhadra,
the Victoria gardens are suitably formal, with spacious lawns and
tree-lined promenades around a pompous statue of queen Victoria.
