HETRITAGEWALK

On the ancient site of Ashaval and Karnavati, Ahmedabad was found on 1411. The City of Ahmedabad has some of the finest India, Islamic monuments and exquisite Hindu and Jain temples. Its carved wooden houses are another unique architectural tradition.A special feature of Ahmedabad is the plan of the old city comprising numerous pols, self-contained neighborhoods, sheltering large numbers of peoples. Some of these virtually small villages, traversed by narrow streets, usually terminating in square with community wells and chabutaras for feeding birds, gates, Cul-de-sacs and secret passages. To experience the glory of Ahmedabad, it is necessary to walk through an old quarter and truly observe the nature of its architecture, its art, religious places, its culture and traditions. With the purpose of unveiling the city to the tourists and the citizens themselves, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has arranged this HERITAGE WALK OF AHMEDABAD

KAVI DAULAT RAM

As per the will of Swaminarayan, the administration of the Swaminarayan Sampraday is divided into two Gadis (seats) - NarNarayan Dev Gadi and LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi. This temple is the headquarters of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi. Green and yellow sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, their bodies fitted in opulent dress, cover the structure of this nineteenth-century temple.With its architecture based on Burma teak wood, every coloured arch and bracket is a bright different shade, something that stands out in most Swaminarayan temples. According to Anjali Desai, author of India Guide Gujarat, the temple resembles a fairy-tale with all its colours and opulent carvings that profusely embellish every wooden bracket, column and arch. The temple attracts a million people on the day after Diwali.

The temple has a multi-story guesthouse that is air conditioned and has a fully equipped medical clinic within its compound.

Ahmedabad to build this temple. When the temple was completed, the officer was so impressed by the temple that he commanded a 101 gun salute to the temple. When the British government wanted to build a railway station in Kalupur, the temple returned part of the land, where Kalupur Railway Station stands today. The government compensated the temple by granting it 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of land in the Narayannagar village. Although the temple had very good relations with the British government, part of the wooden carvings in the temple depict the1857 uprising, which is often referred to as India's first war of Independence.

The land for construction of this first shrine of Swaminarayan Sampraday, was given by the British Imperial Government in India to Swaminarayan. The task of constructing this temple was entrusted personally by Swaminarayan to Ananandanand Swami (a paramhansa of the sect). The installation ceremony of the murti (images) in the temple was celebrated in the presence about 50,000 of pilgrims representing many parts of India.

A British officer, Sir Dunlop was so impressed with activities of Swaminarayan and his followers, that on behalf of the government he gave 5,000 acres (20 km2) of land in Kalupur area of

HETRITAGEWALK

HETRITAGEWALK

This is grade-1 ,400 old heritage temple of lord Ram. The uniqueness of this temple is that the idol of lord Ram is in the sitting posture made with black marble stone which is rare to find. This temple is an important point in 'Heritage walk of Ahmedabad'. Kala Ramji Mandir is a “ Haveli Mandir”, one portion of the building is temple and rest of the area is used for residential purpose. Since the founding of this temple the family of this temple has grown to the current size to 80 people. - See more at:

After living 15 years in a rented house in Ahmedabad Kavi Dalpatram at the age of 44, felt the urge to create his very own 'Poets residence. He received generous assistance from officers and businessmen for thispurpose. Dalpatram desired to devote the remaining years of his life under the blessings of Lord At a walking 3 minutes from one end of the temple, at the south of Haja Patel's pole, in Lambeshwar ni pole, was a small goldsmith's house. The house was converted into a bungalow, To the south of the house was a Peepal tree, under which was the common 'square of the pole. If my family grows up under the grace of the Gods, they will become good and moral human beings" were his thoughts as he bought the goldsmith's house. District engineer Nhana Jardine designed a harmonious blend of traditional and modern styles for the poet's residence. Even the architecture the house reflects this smooth integration of cultures. Engineer Curtiss an eye quality and progress of the construction. Description of Kavi house from his biography "Gujrati Vani No Vakil" written by his son KaviNanala

Chabutara is specially constructed for use and breeding of Pigeons only in Gujarat, especially Ahemdabad. People and specially ladies of Gujarat, belonging to Hindu faith, consider it auspicious to feed Pigeons. Therefore, this structure is made in villages, where pigeons can live. In early morning, you can find ladies, children and gents alike feeding grains to Pigeons below Chabutra.

This sculpture at the entrance of the temple was ordered that the central lady must resemble queen Victoria with a book in her arms. That would signify that the British studies have reached India. But the Hindu artisans could not resist themselves to give it an Indian touch.

This sculpture clearly signifies the rule of British and it’s impact in India

. The mosque and arcades are built of beautiful yellow sandstone and carved with the intricate detail that mosques of this period are known for. While the two principal minarets flanking the main arched entranceway collapsed in the 1819 earthquake, their lower portions still stand. The main prayer hall has over 260 columns supporting the roof, with its 15 domes, making a walk through the hall a beautiful maze of light and shadows. The Wall of Prayer, the qibla is decorated. Pierced stone screens (the 'Jalis') are placed between the two pillars of the central openings. The main entrance is framed by two columns, the remains of two minarets (the 'shaking minarets') which were destroyed by the earthquakes of 1819 and 1957

HETRITAGEWALK

Built with yellow sandstone, the mosque complex is centred on a large rectangular courtyard 75 m long and 66 m wide. One enters the court by three entrances, one at the centre of each side. The courtyard is lined with a colonnade on three sides, the prayer hall occupies the fourth (east) side. In the centre of the courtyard is a rectangular basin for ablutions.The prayer room is also rectangular and covered by four domes

In its Indo-Saracenic architecture, the mosque also contains many syncretic elements not necessarily obvious to the viewer: some of the central domes are carved like lotus flowers, closely related to the typical domes of Jain temples; and some of the pillars are carved with the form of a bell hanging on a chain, in reference to the bells that often hang in Hindu temples. The wide open courtyard, floored with white marble, is ringed by a colonnade painted with giant Arabic calligraphy, and has a tank for ritual ablutions in the centre.

HETRITAGEWALK