Ahmedabad
Sabarmati Ashram – Gandhi Ashram- Harijan Ashram – Satyagraha
It’s Located On The Western Bank Of The Sabarmati River. Ashram Was The Residence Of Mahatma Gandhi. From This Ashram Gandhi Started The Dandi March In 1930. The Ashram Now Has A Museum, Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya.The Museum Building Was Erected (Designed By Architect Charles Correa), And Memorial Activities Were Then Started Here.One Of The Important Activities Undertaken Is The Establishment Of A Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya. Initially Started In ‘Hriday Kunj,’ Gandhi’s Own Cottage In The Ashram, The Sangrahalaya Has Now Shifted To Its Own Well-Designed And Well-Furnished Building. Exhibits At The Museum Includes: Gandhi Quotations, Letters, And Life Size Oil Painting Gallery.
Calico Museum Of Textile
The Calico Museum Of Textiles At Ahmedabad, India, Is The Premier Textile Museum Of The Country. Its Outstanding Collection Of Indian Fabrics Exemplifies Handicraft Textiles Spanning Five Centuries And Attracts Large Numbers Of Visitors From The General Public, As Well As Increasing Numbers Of Indian And International Research Scholars. The Museum Is Housed In Two Buildings, One Displaying Textiles Of Religious Significance And The Other Traditional Court Fabrics, Tents, Carpets And Costumes. The Museum Endeavors To Present Its Collection In Themes Connected With The Two Great Indian Religions: Vaishnavism And Jainism, And Simulates A Suitable Religious Atmosphere. The First Exhibit Is A Replica Of A Small Recoiytructed Pustimarga Shrine With An Idol Of Srinath Ji Placed On An Altar, Covered With A Painted Textile. The Shrine Leads To Galleries Where Pichhwais And Textiles Belonging To The Vallabha Sect Are Displayed. The 90 Pichhwais Are Divided Into Groups Relating To Festivals, Seasons And A Variety Of Devotional Themes. The Jain Gallery Includes Shrines, Derasaras Of The Svetambara And Digambara Sects As Well As A Small Home Shrine, Important Manuscripts Tike The Kalpasuira And Kalakakatha And Jain Patas: The Yantras And Tirtha Chitras. The Main Attraction, However, Is A Painted, Domed, Wooden Ceiling Of A Derasara.
Calico Museum Of Textiles – Ahmedabad
Timings: 10.15 Am To .12.30 Pm 2.30 Pm To 5.00 Pm
Closed On Wednesdays And Government Holidays.
Sidi Sayed Mosque- Architecture
The Sidi Sayed Mosque, Built In 1573, Is One Of The Most Famous Mosques Of Ahmedabad. The Mosque Is Entirely Arcuated. The Mosque Has Ten Screen Windows (Jalis) On The Side And Rear Arches. The Rear Wall Is Filled With Square Stone Pierced Panels In Geometrical Designs. The Two Bays Flanking The Central Aisle Have Reticulated Stone Slabs Carved In Designs Of Intertwined Trees And Foliage And A Palm Motif. This Intricately Carved Stone Window Is Called The Sidi Saiyyed Jali.
Hate Singh Jain Temple
It Was Built By Seth Hate Singh In 1850. It Is Easily Distinguished By Its High Carved Column, Visible From Road. Built Entirely Of White Marble Embossed With Smooth Carvings Of Dancers, Musicians, Animals & Flowers, This Serene Temple Is Dedicated To Dharamnath, Whose Statue Stand In The Main Temple. It Has A Paved Courtyard Surrounded By An Imposing Row Of Cloisters Containing 52 Shrines, Each With An Image Of A Tirthankara, Profusely Decorated With Rich Carvings, One Containing The Marble Image Of The 15th Tirthankara. The Temple Is A Two-Storied Structure With Elaborate Porches On Three Sides And Front Porch Crowned By A Large Dome.
Adalaj Step Well
The Step Well Was Built In 1499 A.D. By Queen Rudabai. The Designs On Its Walls And Pillars Include Leaves, Flowers, Birds, Fish And Other Breathtaking Ornamental Designs. In The Past, These Step Wells Were Frequented By Travellers And Caravans As Stopovers Along Trade Routes. The Five-Storied, Step-Well Located In The Sleepy Village Of Adlaj Is A Marvel Of Architecture. This Unique Water Work Is An Excellent Blend Of Hindu And Islamic Styles. The Intricately Carved Monument Served Religious And Utilitarian Purposes Of The People Around Though Its Origin Is Marred By Tragedy. The Indo-Islamic Style Of Architecture, Which Developed In India In The Early Centuries Of The Medieval Period, Is Neither A Local Variant Of Islamic Art, Nor A Modification Of Hindu Art, But It Is An Assimilation Of Both The Styles, Though Not Always To An Equal Degree. The Architecture Of This Well Also Shows The Influence Of The Earlier Solanki Rulers Of Gujarat. Built Entirely Of Sandstone, One Can Enter Into This Step-Well From Three Sides, Which Consist Of Octagonal Landings With Huge Carved Colonnades And Intricately Carved Niches. The Step-Well Served Both Ritualistic As Well As Utilitarian Needs.
Dada Harir ki Vav
This Step Well Brings Us To The Early Sixteenth Century. Bai Harir Was The Supervisor Of The Royal Harem And She Had Planned The Step Well Along With Her Tomb And Mosque Amidst A Sprawling Garden Mix Together With Fruit Bearing Trees. Bai Harir, Whose Tomb Is Adjacent To The Step Well, Must Be Turning In Her Grave At The Fate Of Her Grand Complex Which Has Run Out Of Water And The Trees Have Disappeared Since Long. Her Only Consolation May Be The Muezzin’s Call To Prayer Echoing From The Mosque. The Courtyard Of The Mosque Is Worth Observing For Few Of The Sealed Passages That Once Gave Way To The Tunnel Underneath Were Possibly Connected To The Step Well As Well With Some Spacious Underground Alcoves. The Pool At The Bottom Leads To The Shaft Of The Well, Which Is Divided By An Arched Doorway. Besides, There Is A Narrow Spiral Stairway Leading To The Well. Being A Moslem Monument, It Is Bereft Of Figurative Decorations, Which Has Been Replaced With Floral Motifs. However Hindu Hand Or Influences Are Evident From Few Of The Animal Figures. This Well Was Built At A Place Where Four Roads Meet, Crowded With Good Men, Who Come From Four Quarters. As Long As The Moon And Sun Endure, May Be Sweet Water Of The Well Be Drunk By All Men.”
Auto World
“Auto World" Is One Of The Most Important Collections Of Antique Vehicles, Cars, Motorcycles, Utility Vehicles, Buggies Etc. Built By One Family Over The Last Century. It Represents Several Of The Greatest Marques Of Cars From All Over The World, Of All Types And Ages. “Auto World" Showcases That Time Of History When An Automobile Was Not A Mere Means Of Transport But A Symbol Of Wealth, Power & Style; The Mighty Ceremonial Limousines, The Romantic Convertibles & The Snappy Sports Cars, Cars Specially Coach Built Like Railway Saloons, Horse Drawn Carriages, Boat Tailed Wooden Speedsters. At “Auto World", Various Pavilions Built On Acres Of Verdant Grounds Showcase More Than 100 Of The Finest Cars In The World Such As Rolls-Royce’s, Bentleys, Daimlers, Langonda, Mercedes, Maybach, Packard’s, Cadillac, Buicks, Auburns, Cord, Chryslers And Many Other Distinguished Makes From USA, UK & Europe. Most Of The Cars Are Coach Built By Renowned Coach Builders Like Hooper, Barker, Gurney-Nutting, Fleetwood Etc.