Sluice Gates to Ahmed-Sar Talav
Wiki : NA
Location : Google Maps
I'm trying to pin the location to Google Maps (pinned Oct 2021).
The easiest way to reach the Sluice Gates is from the Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Ali Qazwini. There is a path between houses to the west of this tomb. The path leads to Makarba Lake, turn left there.
But little is known about its waterways that used the natural contouring of the land to create an exquisite lake used by Sultan Mehmud Begada on the banks of which he built his palaces. The lake served not just recreational purposes, but also lowered temperature of the breeze that blew in through the palace windows.
The Ahmed-Sar Talaav (built by Begada) is connected to a much larger and natural lake called the Makarba Talav, one of the biggest in the district of Ahmedabad. In the medieval times, this lake was part of a chain of lakes which collected rainwater that drained off the surface before falling into the Sabarmati that used to flow close by. There is a structure called the sluice gates that divide the natural lake from the manmade lake.
On one end of this structure, one can see three tunnel pipes which connect to an aangan. Elephant grass was grown in this space to filter any kind of physical properties/elements that might be flowing with water. Two spiral staircases made of stone exist even today. And even now, rainwater flows in through the sluice gates and fills the Ahmed Sar Lake, giving the Roza its look of grandeur and royalty.
Source : Perfect 10: Inheritance of pride
The Sarkhej lake covers 17 acres. Oblong in shape, it is surrounded by flights of stone steps, and has a most richly decorated supply sluice.
Source : Wiki
Its sluice (inlet of water) is at the back of Jama Masjid and is decorated and carved with all the elegance ordinarily seen in minarets and buttresses of mosques.
Source : The Social Realm
The gates and the adjoining half minarets are symbols of the celebration of water. The sluice gates are an engineering marvel as they allow for water filtration without the use of electricity. The water overflows through a jali wall into an open courtyard, which also has two spiral staircases on each side for the purpose of maintenance. Long and tall grasses were grown in this courtyard for filtering the physical impurities in the water. It was only after being filtered in this courtyard that the water was allowed to flow into the main lake from the courtyard.
Source : Sarkhej Roza, the Living Monument
Pic taken Aug 2022 when Ahmed-Sar lake was full.
Pics taken Mar 2020
Looking towards Makarba talav.
The rear of Jama Masjid, next to the sluice gates.
Looking towards Ahmed-Sar Talav.
The opening to Makarba Talav.
Water first flows through these jalis.
The opening to Ahmed-Sar Talav.
That's the King's palace in the background ...
... and the Queen's Palace.
Tall 'elephant' grass was grown in the courtyard between the
openings to the two lakes. The grass would filter the physical impurities
in the water.
