The Walled City Ahmedabad

                                     

Gates of Bhadra Fort 

                                           
                                                           

History:

     

Ahmedabad city is said to be the former capital city of Gujarat. It was built in 1411 A.D. by Sultan Ahmed Shah. It is believed that the city was surrounded by 21 Gates and Walls were connected with these gates.

The Places to visit in Walled City Ahmedabad:

Bhadra Fort:

Bhadra Fort

                                  
                                                               

The name Bhadra Killa (Fort) is adopted after the name of temple Bhadra Kali and built on the East Bank of Sabarmati River. It was also called Arak Fort as depicted in Mirat-I-Ahmadi. The establishment stone of fortress was set down at Manek Burj in 1411.

The timing to visit Bhadra Fort is between 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

I always visit Old City Ahmedabad to wander with friends for heritage walk and photography. So, on a particular visit I was passing-by through this fort in the morning around 8:00 AM. That was the time of monsoon season and it was raining so, I stopped and glancing at the fort, which looks so brilliant and amazing in the rain.

Jama Masjid:

                                       

                                       

 

Jama Masjid 

                                                                                                    

                                                 

The Jama Masjid is also called Jumah Masjid which means Friday Mosque. It is situated between the Teen Darwaja and Manek Chowk. It is built with yellow sandstone, the mosque complex is centered on a large rectangular courtyard. One enters the court by three passageways, one at the center point of each side.

The timing to visit Jama Masjid is between 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

The Jama Masjid is one of the peaceful places in Old City Ahmedabad. When I have visited there was the evening time before the sunset. I was roaming there and observing to take pictures from different angles. The first picture is taken by panorama from mobile and the second take when the sunset is happening behind the mosque, which looks so dramatic and brilliant which looks the view of the mosque so spectacular.

Pols of Ahmedabad:

                                         

   
                                 

Haja Patel ni Pol

                               

Pol is an old cluster of Housing which comprises many families of a particular group, linked by caste, profession, or religion. Pols are typical of urban centers in Gujarat, especially in Old Ahmedabad.

Here is some glimpse of one of the Pols in Ahmedabad i.e. Haja Patel Ni Pole.

The Fine Wooden Carving work on the Windows and Door so eye-catching and dazzling.

The one Entrance of this Pol is from Relief Road and it is exited to the other side of Gandhi Road.

Kavi Dalpatram Chowk:

                           

Kavi Dalpatram Chowk

                                                          

ઊંટ કહે: આ સભામાં, વાંકાં અંગવાળાં ભૂંડા;

ભૂતળમાં પક્ષીઓ ને પશુઓ અપાર છે;

બગલાની ડોક વાંકી, પોપટની ચાંચ વાંકી

કૂતરાની પૂછ્ડીનો, વાંકો વિસ્તાર છે.

વારણની સૂંઢ વાંકી, વાઘના છે નખ વાંકા;

ભેંસને તો શિર વાંકાં, શિંગડાનો ભાર છે.

સાંભળી શિયાળ બોલ્યું, દાખે દલપતરામ;

“અન્યનું તો એક વાંકું, આપનાં અઢાર છે ”

                                                 

If you remember this poem sung by Malhar Thakkar in the famous Gujarati Movie Chello Divas.

So this poem is written by the Kavi Dalpatram, who is one of the prominent poets in  Gujarati Literature. Kavi Dalpatram Chowk named after poet Kavi Dalpatram.

This place is situated on the way to the Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple from Relief Road.

There are many notable works done by Kavi Dalpatram.

Kalupur Swamianayar Temple:

                                     

Entrance of Temple

       

Swaminarayan Temple

Beautiful work on Pillars

                                                         

Swaminarayan Temple

Shree Swaminarayan Kalupur Temple is the first temple of Swaminarayan Sampraday. It was built by the instructions of Swaminayaran itself. It is located in the Kalupur area, Ahmedabad

According to the will of the Swaminarayan, the organization of the Swaminarayan Sampraday is separated into two Gadis (seats) - NarNarayan Dev Gadi and LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi. This Temple is the main headquarters of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi.

Timing to visit this temple is 5:00 AM – 12:00 PM and  4:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

This temple is famous for its beautiful architecture and sculpture inside it.       

Jhulta Minara (Sidi Bashir Mosque):

Jhulta Minara

Carving on one of the Minarets

                                                 

Sidi Bashir Mosque is also known as Jhulta Minara which means Shaking Minarets.

The mosque is accepted to have been developed either by Sidi Bashir, a captive of Sultan Ahmed Shah, or by Malik Sarang, an honorable in the court of Mahmud Begada, another Sultan of Gujarat. It has been dated to 1452.

The construction of this minarets is like if one of the minarets shake the other will also start shaking after a few seconds and this is the reason it is called Jhulta Minarets.

Manek Chowk:

Manek Chowk

Samadhi of Baba Maneknath

Manek Chowk is named after Baba Maneknath who is believed to interrupt Ahmed Shah's efforts to build a wall around the city. Each day he would weave a mat while the fort walls were being built, which he would then untie at night, magically bringing down the walls. At the point when this was found, he was welcome to demonstrate his powers to Ahmed Shah by placing himself into a little jar. At the point when he did this, Ahmed Shah fixed and buried the jar.

Here above is the picture of Samadhi of Baba Maneknath where Ahmed Shah buried that jar.

It is one of the busiest areas of street food in Old City Ahmedabad in the evening time.

This area is functioning as the vegetable market in the morning time, jewelry shops in the afternoon time and street food stalls in the evening time.

The timing to visit Manek Chowk is 7:00 PM to 3:00 AM.