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.
Jumma
Masjid
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.
SEWA
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.
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.