Ahmedabad-First Heritage city and Heritage walk in Ahmedabad
Unesco declared the 600-year-old walled city of Ahmedabad as a world heritage city, the first Indian city to make it to the list on .With this title, the Walled City of Ahmedabad has joined Paris, Vienna, Cairo, Brussels, Rome and Edinburgh. Of the 287 world heritage cities across the globe, the only two cities in the Indian subcontinent which enjoy the status are Bhaktapur in Nepal and Galle in Sri Lanka.
For over 600 years, Ahmedabad has stood for peace, as a landmark city where Mahatma Gandhi began India’s freedom struggle. It has stood for unity with its elegant carvings in its Hindu and Jain temples as well as standing as one of the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture and Hindu Muslim art.
History of Ahmedabad
The earliest settlements were situated in south of current old city and on the bank of Sabarmati river. It was known as Ashaval or Ashapalli. In the eleventh century, Karna of Chaulukya dynasty ruling from Anhilwad Patan (1072–1094) made the town his capital and named it Karnavati (Karan’s town) or Shrinagar (prosperous city) and Rajnagar (king’s town).
Ahmed Shah I laid the foundation of Bhadra Fort starting from Manek Burj, the first bastion of the city in 1411 which was completed in 1413. He also established the first square of the city, Manek Chowk, both associated with the legend of Hindu saint Maneknath.
Forts and Gates Of Ahmedabad
Bhadra Fort
Bhadra Fort is situated in the walled city area of Ahmedabad, India. It was built by Ahmad Shah I in 1411. With its well carved royal palaces, mosques, gates and open spaces.It is believed the fort adopted the name Bhadra after a temple of Bhadra Kali.Fort was laid down at Manek Burj in 1411. Square in form, enclosing an area of about forty-three acres, and containing 162 houses, the Bhadra fort had eight gates.The Bhadra Fort tower clock was brought from London in 1849 at cost of Rs. 8000 and installed here at the cost of £243 (Rs. 2430) in 1878 by the British East India Company. At night, it was illuminated from behind by a kerosene lamp which was replaced by an electric light in 1915.
Gates of Ahmedabad
In the city walls of , there were 9 main gates.
- Shahpur gate
- Delhi gate
- Dariyapur gate
- Kalupur gate
- Sarangpur gate
- Raipur gate
- Astodiya gate
- Prem Darwaja
- Panchkuva gate
The city was provided this honour for two key reasons:
- Secular co-existence of Islamic, Hindu and Jain communities along with rich wooden architecture of havelis which dates back a few hundred years
- Ahmedabad was also the cradle for India’s non-violent movement for independence led by Mahatma Gandhi
Unique to Ahmedabad, the city contains 600 pols — innovative, indigenous modes of town planning within the old cities’ walls. These are small neighborhoods, often with a temple at the centre and small shrines, too. Interestingly, many pols host creative and cottage industries, supporting a vibrant community and allowing people to work from home.The Gujarati word “pol” seems to have been derived from the Sanskrit word “pratoli”. Typically, a pol has one entrance and homogeneous groups of people live in it. Originally, people of the same caste or social group would live together in a “khadki” and a group of “khadkis” would make a pol. Many of these pols have colourful names, reflecting the richness of Gujarati language. These pols are beautiful wooden facades, lovely wooden brackets, lovingly carved windows, magical balconies,otlas, chabutaras (bird feeders), khadkis and chowks. Here you can find A to Z list of Pols.
- Aaka Sheth Kuva Ni Pol
Ambli Ni Pol
Amrutlal Ni Pol
Arjunlal Ni Khadki
Bangla Ni Pol
Bapa Shastri Ni Pol
Baua Ni Pol
Bhadva Pol
Bhanderi Ni Pol
Bhau Ni Pol
Bhavanpura Ni Pol
Boabadiya Vaidh Ni Khadki
Bukhara Ni Pol
Chagan Daftar Ni Pol
Chipa Mavji Ni Pol
Dabgarvad
Derdka Ni Pol
Desai Ni pol
Dev Ni Sheri
Devji Saraia Ni Pol
Deydi Ni Pol
Dhal Ni Pol
Dhanashuthar Ni Pol
Dhanpipla Ni Khadki
Dhinkva Pol
Bado Pol
Dhobi Ni Pol
Doshiwada ni pol
Durgamata Ni Pol
Fafda Pol
Fatasa Pol
Gangadhiya Ni Pol
Gatrad Ni Pol
Ghanchi Ni Pol
Ghasiram Ni Pol
Gojaria Ni Pol
Golwad
Goti ni Sheri
Gusa Parekh ni Pol
Habib Ni Golvad
Haja Patel Ni Pol
Hajira Ni Pol
Halim Ni Khadki
Hanuman Ni Khadki
Hanuman Pol
Haran Ni Pol
Hari Bhakti Ni Pol
Harikarsandas Sheth Ni Pol
Hathikhana
Haveli Ni Pol
Hinglok Joshi ni Pol
Hira Gandhi Ni Pol
Jadav Bhagat Ni Pole
Jalkukdi Ni Pol
Jani Ni Khadki
Jati Ni Pol
Jethabhai Ni Pol
Jivan Pol
Kachariya Pol
Kadva Pol
Kaka Baliya Ni Pol
Kaljug Ni Khadki
Kalumiya No Takyo
Kalushi Ni Pol
Kameshwar ni Pol
Kansara Ni Pol
Kavishvar Ni Pol
Khatri Pol
Khichda Ni Pol
Khijada Ni Pol
Khijda Ni Pol
Khijda Sheri
Kokadia Ni Pol
Kokadiya Ni Pol
Kothari Ni Pol
Kuvavalo Khancho
Lakha Patel Ni Pol
Lakhiya Ni Pol
Lala Vasa Ni Pol
Lalabhai Ni Pol
Lamba Pada ni Pol
Lambeshwar ni Pol
Limbu Pol
Limda Sheri
Mahajanwado
Mahalaxmi Ni Pol
Mahalaxmi No Khancho
Mahurat Pol
Makeriwad
Mali Ni Pol
Mamani Ni Pol
Mamunayak Ni Pol
Mandavi Ni Pol
Maniyasa Ni Khadki
Mankodi Ni Pol
Marchi Pol
Mehta Ni Pol
Modhwada Ni Pol
Morlidhan No Vero
Moti Rangila Pol
Motibhai Ni Khadki
Moto Sutharwado
Moti Vasansheri
Nani Vasansheri
Khatriwad
Bhavsar no Khanchho
Luhar Sheri
Kadiawad
Tadiyani Pol
Gandhini Pol
Mumanawad
Navgharini Pol
Pipla Pol
Limda Pol
Nadavada Ni Pol
Nagar Bhagat Ni Pol
Nagarbodi Ni Pol
Nagarvado
Nagina Pol
Nagjibhudar Ni Pol
Nagorivad
Nagu Master No Delo
Naiwado
Nani Hama Ni Pol
Nani Rangila Pol
Nano Sutharwado
Nansha Jivan Ni Pol
Navdhani Ni Pol
Nisha Pol
Pada Pol
Padi Pol
Pagathiawalo Khancho
Pakhali Ni Pol
Panchbhai Ni Pol
Panditji Ni Pol
Panjara Pol
Parabdi Ni Pol
Parekh Ni Khadki
Patasa Ni Pol
Pipla Sheri
Pipardi Ni Pol
Rabarivas
Raja Mehta Ni Pol
Ranchhodji Ni Pol
Ratan Pol
Rugnath Bamb Ni Pol
Rupa Surchand ni Pol
Sadmata Ni Pol
Sai Baba Ni Pol
Salvi Ni Pol
Sambhavnath Ni Pol
Samet Shikhar Ni Pol
Sankdi Sheri
Sarkhedi Ni Khadki
Sarkivad Ni Pole
Sathwara No Khancho
Shamalji Thavar Ni Pol
Shamla Ni Pol
Shangar Sheri
Shantinath ni Pol[7]
Sheth Ni Pol
Shevka Ni Wadi
Shriramji Ni Sheri
Sodagar Ni Pol
Soni Ni Khadki
Soni Ni Pol
Soni No Khancho
Surdas Sheth Ni Pol
Sutariya Ni Pol
Syamsangha Ni Pol
Taliya Ni Pol
Temla Ni Pol
Tokarsha Ni Pol
Tulsi Kyara Ni Khadki
Vada Pol Khadia
Vaghan Pol
Vagheshvarimata Ni pol
Verai Pada Ni Pol
Vinchi Ni Pol
Wadigaam
Zampada ni Pol
Zumkhi Ni Pol
Zupdi Ni Pol
Havada ni Pol
Beside that there are cool itinerary Climb down the step-wells.Water has always been a precious resource in Gujarat’s arid climate, so vavs (or stepwells), were essential. The 500-year-old step-well, Dada Harir Vav, in Asarwa is particularly striking because of its octagonal shape; it has steps going down through five levels of stone columns and walls, carved with stunning Sanskrit and Arabic script, and more.
Adalaj ni Vav, 18 km north of the city in the village of Adalaj, is one of the true wonders of Gujarat. Constructed in 1499 AD, it has five levels with ornate pillars and carvings of Hindu and Jain symbols such as birds, flowers and fish, as well as mythological scenes. The most remarkable feature is that the temperature inside the vav is always six degrees cooler than outside, which keeps the water cool, even through the unbearable summer.
If we talk about the classic itinerary the Jama Masjid, built in 1423 by the city’s founder Sultan Ahmed Shah, is easily one of the most spectacular mosques you will ever see, with its enormous courtyard and the lotus-like carving of some domes.
Outside the Delhi Gate, north of the old city, the Hutheesing Jain Temple is a phenomenal example of how elegant Jain religious art can really be.
Another city highlight is the vibrantly coloured Shri Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple..
Besides Sarkhej Roza is a mosque and tomb complex located in the village of Makarba, 7 km south-west of Ahmedabad.The majestic complex of Sarkhej Roza is a poetic description of the life and teachings of Sufi Saint Ahmed Ganj Baksh, a person close to Ahmedabad’s founder Ahmed Shah. Various successors of Ganj Baksh kept increasing the Rauza, with artificial lakes adding to the beauty of the shimmering complex. The fusion of Muslim and Hindu architecture is symbolic of the transitional phase Ahmedabad was going through. The complex has one large dome surrounded by 13 small domes to add to its crown and is used for daily prayers by the community.
Culture of Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad observes a wide range of festivals. Popular celebrations and observances include Uttarayan, an annual kite-flying day on 14 and 15 January. Nine nights of Navratri are celebrated with people performing Garba, the most popular folk dance of Gujarat, at venues across the city. The festival of lights, Deepavali, is celebrated with the lighting of lamps in every house, decorating the floors with rangoli, and the lighting of firecrackers. The annual Rath Yatra procession on the Ashadh-sud-bij date of the Hindu calendar at the Jagannath Temple and the procession of Tajia during the Muslim holy month of Muharram are important events.
To be precise, Ahmedabad has everything to offer to every age-group.
So why are you waiting for? Join me and explore the heritage of Ahmedabad.
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