| |
|
| A Metro Heritage Hotel |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
| A
Heritage Walking Tour - Sites Along Route |
| |
 |
WELCOME
TO THE HOUSE OF MANGALDAS GIRDHARDAS
The House of MG is in
the memory of Mangaldas Girdhardas,
amongst Ahmedabad’s foremost businessmen
and philanthropists of the 20th century.
He started his career as a store-keeper
in a textile mill. Within a decade,
he became its owner and soon after,
he was over seeing an empire of a clutch
of mills and other related businesses...
Today, this stately heritage property
has been tastefully |
| refurbished
to retain its old-world charm with amenities
and comforts of contemporary living. |
THE
SIDI SAYID MOSQUE
This little mosque
is world famous for its magnifi cent
stone jali, or lattice-work, a superb
example of delicate carving of the ‘tree
of life’ motif which has become
today the unofficial symbol of Ahmedabad.
Sidis’ are Habshis – people
of African slave ancestry who landed
on the shores of Gujarat from Gibraltar
with the Arab Traders in the 15th and
16th century AD. Sidi Sayid was a prominent
member of the Habshis. This mosque was
built in his memory in 1572. |
 |
 |
Corner
of Sayid Mosque Mosque: AHMEDABAD ELECTRICITY
COMPANY
The Ahmedabad Electricity
Company - or AEC Tower and its pink
façade is a beautiful Art Deco
building. Although clock towers are
today mostly admired for their aesthetics,
they once served an important purpose.
Before the middle of the twentieth century,
most people did not have watches; clock
towers were therefore placed |
| near
the town center and were often the tallest
structures there. The AEC was granted
a license in 1913 to provide electricity
to Ahmedabad's citizens and businesses. |
THE BHADRA FORT
The construction of
the Bhadra citadel may be regarded as
the oldest fort of the royal monuments
built by Sultan Ahmad Shah. Bhadra is
an architectural term. In Hindu works
of architecture and sculpture, any rectangular
construction is termed as ‘Bhadra’.
This citadel is square in structure;
spread over 43 acres with fourteen bastions,
holds eight gates, and eighteen cannons.
The fort was built in 1411. |
 |
 |
Exit of the Bhadra Fort: AZAM KHAN’S PALACE
In this green oasis,
or park, Sri Chinubhai M. Ranchodlal,
the first Baronet of the city, is sitting
on a royal white marble throne. In 1930,
leaving Ahmedabad, Gandhi vowed that
he would return to Ahmedabad only after
India got its independence... Interestingly
this statue was inaugurated by Mahatma
Gandhi on September 29, 1933... 14 years
prior to independence! |
The Park - Green Oasis: SRI CHINUBHAI M. RANCHODLAL STATUE
In this green oasis, or park, Sri Chinubhai M. Ranchodlal, the fi rst Baronet of city, is sitting on a royal white marble throne. In 1930, leaving Ahmedabad, Gandhi vowed that he would return to Ahmedabad only after India gets its independence... Interestingly this statue was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on September 29, 1933... 14 years prior to independence! |
 |
 |
TEEN DARWAJA - Tripolia Gate
The triple triumphal arched gateway was built in the year 1411 as the royal entrance to Maidan-e-Shahi leading to the Bhadra Citadel. It was originally surrounded by two rows of palm trees and tamarind mixed with citrons and oranges... Today, it is surrounded by a vibrant market that extends itself all along the Gandhi road... |
Corner of GANDHI ROAD
The busy street of India...
On Gandhi Road, passed the Teen Darwaja
Gate, you will encounter numerous shops,
peddlers, streets vendors selling clothes,
religious artifacts, fireworks for Diwali,
colorful pigments, cobblers, or street
tea vendors holding a kettle attached
to a coal warmer in one hand and cup
saucers in the other hand making a melodious
clapping sound and shouting “Chai…Chai”
which is hot milk tea. |
 |
 |
JAMI MASJID MOSQUE
This mosque was probably
the largest in the subcontinent. It
was built in yellow sand stone and stands
on 260 pillars supporting 15 domes.
The mosque is in the centre of the old
city, and was built in 1424 by Sultan
Ahmad Shah, the city’s founder.
A special feature of the mosque is the
Muluk-Khana, a platform standing on
pillars and enclosed up to the roof
with beautiful stone carving. This arrangement
|
| enabled
the Sultan’s wife to accompany
himfor Friday prayers without being
seen. |
Exiting
Jumma Masjid Mosque: AHMAD SHAH’S
TOMB
Ahmad Shah, the founder
of Ahmedabad enjoyed a prosperous reign
of 32 years. The beautiful monuments
he built are the Bhadra Fort, the Teen
Darwaja Gate, the Jami Masjid, the Ahmad
Shah Mosque and Hajira’s. He died
on August 12, 1442 AD. He is buried
with his son Mahmud Shah II, and his
grand son Qutbuddin Ahmad Shah II...
Three generations buried all together.
Beware! Women are not allowed into the
central chamber. |
 |
 |
THE OLD STOCK EXCHANGE
The rich and splendid
colonial architecture, though a little
discordant in the vicinity of Hindu-Jain
style architecture, serves as a reminder
of the glorious architectural style
of the Victorian era. Opposite the Old
Stock Exchange is the first pol or residential
area of Ahmedabad City: the Muharat
Pol. “Muharat” means “favorable
and auspicious time to start”,
here it probably applies to the auspicious
moment when the construction of the
first pol started... during Ahmad Shah’s
time. |
Entering the 1st POLE - HARKUNVAR SHETHANI’s haveli
Typical houses in the
pols are called “havelis.”
They are made of wood and bricks which
have protected them over the years from
earthquakes. Façades and brackets
have some amazingly rich carved wood
ornaments which are unique in the world.
Harkunvar Shethani’s haveli, an
eminent and influential woman of Gujarat,
is an outstanding example of architecture
and wood carving. |
 |
 |
Entering the 2nd POLE
Before entering the
pol you will come across many Jain temples.
Jainism, the religion of Jinas or conquerors,
was founded by Mahavira in the 6th century
BC, making it one of the oldest religions
in India. The main entrances of Jain
temples are usually adorned with marble
torana and symbolic pictures of Mahavira.
Artistically carved dancers welcome
believers with music. |
The BHOLANATH DIVETIA’S HAVELI - The End
Slowly approaching the
end of this D*TOURS in Ahmedabad’s
old walled city, you will encounter,
around a corner of this amazing pol’s
narrow street colorful birdfeeders,
a chowk, and the oldest havelis of the
city. |
 |
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
){kind=link}