CHAMPANER IN GUJARAT

REIGNING RUINS 

CHAMPANER

Situated nearly 50 km northeast of Vadodara in the foothills of the Pavagadh hills, this medieval city is a confluence of Indo-Islamic archit-ecture and is believed to be the only complete and unscathed pre-Mughal city. Declared a World Heritage site in 2004, Champaner has a lot of unexcavated archeological sites, some even dating back to the prehistoric era! The site also includes fortifications, palaces, religious buildings, tombs, gardens, arches, pillars and wells from the 814 th centuries. The construction and the various structures within the ruins represent an interesting blend of Hindu-Islamic architecture. This trend is exhibited in the Great Mosque or Jami Masjid, a model for later mosque architecture in India. There are signs of an ancient Shiva temple, monasteries of Jain Tirthankaras. Quite similar to the Hampi ruins in Karnataka, the ruins here are spread over 6 km. The city was a major trade centre dealing in fine silk, woven and dyed textiles, and sword manufacturing. It started declining after attacks by the Mughal Emperor Humayun in 1535 AD. 


HOT TIP 

The walk up the Pavagadh hills can be tiring. So, its advisable to set out early. Take a meal-break atop the Pavagadh hill, at one of the many small, roadside restaurants that serve fast food 

HOW TO GET THERE 



By Air: 

There are daily flights connecting Delhi and Ahmedabad 

By Rail: 

There are regular trains to Vadodara 

By Road: 

State buses are available from Ahmedabad and Vadodara