New Delhi: Every state in India has its unique rich culture and heritage. Located on the western coast of India, Gujarat is no exception. There are many historical sites in the state, some of which have been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. These sites offer us glimpses into the past and show us the rich history of Gujarat. In this article, we will take a look at the heritage sites of the state.
UNESCO Heritage Sites in Gujarat
Rani ki Vav
Rani Ki Vav, also known as The Queen’s Stepwell, is a stepwell in Patan on the Saraswati River’s banks. As per reports, it was constructed by Udayamati, the queen of Bhima I, the 11th-century Chaulukya king. It was lost to common view before it was rediscovered in the 1940s. In the 1980s, the Archaeological Survey of India restored it. The stepwell is like an inverted temple which shows the sanctity of water. It has seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels which have over 500 principal sculptures.
Champaner Pavagadh Archaeological Park
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is located in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district. It is located around Champaner, a historical city that Vanraj Chavda, a famous ruler of the Chavda Dynasty founded in the 8th century. It was named after his general Champa. The heritage site has forts with bastions starting from the hills of Pavagadh and extending into the Champaner city. The park has historic and living cultural heritage monuments, a hill fortress, and remains of the 16th-century capital of Gujarat. The place has several other historical monuments dating from the 8th century to the 14th century.
Dholavira
It is an archaeological site in Gujarat’s Kutch District. The site has the ruins of a city of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. Dholavira has been repeatedly affected by the earthquakes including a particularly severe one around 2600 BCE. The archaeological site was occupied between 3000-1500 BCE and is one of the best preserved urban settlements from the period in Southeast Asia with a fortified city and a cemetery.
Historic City of Ahmadabad
Sultan Ahmad Shah founded the walled city of Ahmedabad in the 15th century, on the Sabarmati river’s eastern bank. It has a rich architectural heritage from the sultanate period, notably the Bhadra citadel, the fort city’s walls and gates and several temples and mosques of later periods. The houses are densely packed in gated traditional streets with characteristic features like public wells and religious institutions. The city continued to flourish since its inception.
