Adalaj
Adalaj, situated 19 km north of Ahmedabad on Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway, has a step-well that was built by queen Rudabai in 1499. It has three stepped entrances that ascending into an open court. A single arched, heavily decorated entrance leads to to corridor having four pavilions. The corridor has five storeys under the ground all the way upto the well. At noon , the monument is at its best as sunlight penetrates to the bottom of the five-storey octagonal well shaft. This makes the exquisite sculptures, the walls, pillars, dancing maidens, cornices and niches portray erotica, animals and images of Shiva come alive. Mythical animals, stone elephants and horses can be seen around the sidewalls of the shaft.

Modhera
Modhera is located 102 km north-west of Ahmedabad. The Sun, built by Raja Bhimdev I, is a major tourist attraction here. The Temple has three main compartments. The first is the Surya Kund. It has a massive rectangular stepped tank. The tank, now stands dry, was believed to be full of nirmal jal (holy water). Devotees were first required to stop here for ceremonial ablutions. Small steps lead to the enchanting Sabha Mandap meant for religious gatherings and conferences. The unique walnut-shaped ceiling supported by 52 pillars exhibit the brilliance of achitecture. Each pillar depicts intricately carved scenes form Ramayana and Mahabharata (the epic of hindu religion) and Krishna Leela (the childhood antics of Lord Krishna). The Guda Mandap has a surang (tunnel), believed to emerge at Patan. These tunnels were built as escape routes for the king and the royal family. The nearby town of Unjha has the site for ruins of an ancient temple.

Patan
Patan is situated 130 km north-west of Ahmedabad by the river Saraswati. Originally,Anhil-Vad-Pattan, the town flourished under the Solanki dynasty in 8th-11th century. The Rani-Ki-Vav (Queen’s Step well ) is one of the most captivating monuments in the town. Constructed by queen Udayamati (AD 1022-63) in the Khajuraho style, the vav is 90 feet wide. Its walls are lined with images of gods and goddesses with Vishnu and Shiva among the popular ones..Sahastralinga Talav ( tank of a thousand Shiva shrines) spread over an area of 5 km, was built by Jayasimha Siddharaja (AD 1093-1143). Among over a hundred 100 Jain temples belived to be in Patan, the one devoted to Panchasara Parasvanath is the largest. It also houses famous image of Vanaraja made in white marble. Standing nearby is the Hemchandracharya Jain Gyan Mandir. The temple contains valuable Jain manuscripts, some written in ink of gold. The city is also famous worldwide for its Patola saris.

Sarkhej
Sarkhej, situated 8 km from Ahmedabad city, has some of the most elegant architectural complexes. Around a stepped tank lies a mosque and tombs of saint Ahmed Khattu Ganj Mahmud Shah Begada and his queen. Palaces and pavilions for the king and the royal family are also aound the tank. The buildings are completely devoid of arches and the pierced stone trellises have been used instead, throughout the construction. <



About Ahmedabad   |   Ahmedabad Sight Seeing    |   Around Ahmedabad Tour    |