A Sneak Peek into Gujarat’s amazing Architectural Wonders
Gujarat is a fantastic place to visit due to being a land of innumerable wonders and sights of the western peak of India and the house of wonderful artworks. India has some marvelous architectural achievements and Gujarat is supposed to be the best of them. All can be enjoyed at Gujarat whether it is steady hand of the sculptures or the historic masterminds of art. A land of legends and lions, head on straight to the proud state of India to witness these 5 architectural gems. Go through a page of history, written in stone and brick.
Modhera Sun Temple
The Modhera Sun Temple: Mehsana district of Gujarat is the home to have an architectural wonder like no other. The Modhera Sun Temple is dedicated to the Sun, and stretch out by the banks of River Pushpavati. No ritual work is performed here now and the site is looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The temple follows the Chaulukya style of architecture, and has well-defined, intricate carvings on its walls. It contains a water reservoir also which is built like a stepwell. You can visit here during the annual dance festival that goes on for three days every January, the Uttarardha Mahotsav .
Mahabat Maqbara
Mahabat Maqbara is located in Junagadh which is often compared with Agra’s fame, the Taj Mahal; thus, you can magine very well because of it’s amazing looks. It was built in between 1851 and 1882 by Nawab Mahabat Khan II and is also the tomb of Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai. A towering structure, it is surrounded by some equally interesting burial chambers around.
Jama Masjid
Ahmedabad’s Jama Masjid was built by Ahmed Shah I in 1424 and is one of the most famous mosques in the region. It is believed to be the largest mosque of its time in the nearby zone which contains some impressively decorated work that embellishes it’s walls. It is built of yellow sandstone and has a huge courtyard where people of city gather in pleasant winter evenings. The prayer room of the mosque has some of the most decorative pillars and 260 columns, for supporting the roof, with a fascinating look.
Laxmi Vilas Palace
It is built in Indo-Saracenic style and the palace was constructed in the 19th century, commissioned by Maharaja Sayaji Rao III. One can feel like royalty style while entering the beautifully ornate frontage. The palace is aristocratically decorated with marble, fine stone and some elegant furnishings. The Grand Durbar Hall, within the palace, has eye-pleasing and mosaic walls look excellent. Other attractions at the palace include serene sculptures in bronze, marble, and terracotta, for the wide-eyed history of energumen. The palace has a Museum and a pond also and is still inhabited by the royal family.
Rani Ki Vav
Rani Ki Vav is the most superb stepwell in Patan which has an architectural masterpiece. It was built in 11th century and the age-old stonework remains awe-inspiring till date. A sublime piece of art, the step-well is 64m long, 20m wide and 27m deep. Such a huge artwork is praised not just for its size but also the quality. It is intricately built by cutting stones and bricks and even walls of the well are adorned with symmetrical statues. These include those of Vishnu, Ganesh and Lakshmi-Narayan. Rani KI Vav shows the true skill of Indian sculptors who creating beautiful architect out of bricks and stones.
Ahmed Shah’s Mosque
It was built by the ruler Ahmed Shah by whom the name of the city Ahmedabad derives. This Mosque has a noble site to see. An architectural marvel, it is well revered by many Muslim pilgrims. Located south-west to the Bhadra Fort, the mosque has a superb garden in front of it.It is built with domes and minarets which retains some Hindu figures and symbols, since a temple was demolished at the site to build the mosque. The mosque has a lovely white-marble steps with a yellow-marbles and the canopy is built in the shape of a leaf.
Shaking Minar (JHULTA MINAR)
Locating in the Sidi Bashir’s mosque, The shaking minarets are the most unique architectural wonder in Gujarat which is locating in Sidi Bashir’s mosque.It was constructed to protect the earthquakes. According to popular beliefs, it is the most interesting wonder of India’s architectural splendor. Each minaret has beautiful patterns carved on it and they have stone balconies. The remarkable feat of the minarets remains how on the gentle shaking of a minaret, the other one also vibrates, even though a connecting passage between them remains unaffected. The cause of this phenomenon still remains a mystery. Have a look at these shaking minarets and let yourself be amazed by the advanced architectural thinkers of the past.
Old Fort
The Surat Fort was built by Muhammad Tughlak to serve as a dedicated fortification against his enemies. The fort has been built with stone walls and has iron bars, which once served as protective features against Bhils – the tribal who were against a Mughal rule. Due to the grand architectural impressing of the fort, many tourists gather inside the premises to witness it’s over abundance. Go to this fort and get for the Mughal ruler’s strength and prosperity.
The wealthy heritage of India’s glorious past can be observed through these forts and tombs. Gujarat represents some glorious historical insights into the pre-colonial past through its architecture. Be sure to have your own privacy with the past and visit these architectural milestones in the wonderful Gujarat.
