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VADNAGAR - an ancient city Wandering in Vadnagar History, Best Places to Visit
VADNAGAR is an ancient city in Gujarat, India. Its known history goes back to 2,500 B.C. Archaeological excavations have established that the settlement of mainly agricultural community existed in the place more than 4,500 years back. Pottery, textiles fragments, ornaments, tools, etc., were found during these excavations from various sites around the present lake Sharmishtha. Some archaeologists suggest that it was one of the many Harappan sites. Source
Archaeological evidence suggests that Vadnagar is over 4,000 years old and was, perhaps, a Harappan site.But results are not conclusive as present day Vadnagar is built on layers and millennia of previous settlements making excavation a challenge. Over the milliennia and centuries, Vadnagar has also gone through name changes from Chamatkarpur to Anartapur (as per references in the Mahabharata) to Anandpura (from the records of the Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang) to its present name. A centre for three major religions — Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism — Vadnagar was also a key manufacturing and trading hub making it a very prosperous city. Source
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Darwajas (Gates)
The entire old city had a protective fort with six gates built by the Solanki king Kumarpal in 1152 A.D. Arjunbari Darwajo (Gate), situated right on the shore of Lake Sharmishtha and facing east, bears a carved stone plaque providing evidence to this effect. Today most of the fort wall is destroyed, but five of the six imposing gates exist more or less intact. Each of the existing five gates is of a different design. These are excellent specimen of high quality workmanship. Source
Arjunbari Darwaja * ( * = worth visiting, IMO )
Talavs (Lakes), Vavs (Stepwells) & Kunds (Ponds)
THE early settlement was on the bank of river Kapila flowing from the hills of Aravalli. It fed water to a lake, known as Sharmishtha, at the site and the settlement extended around it. Over a period of time the settlement grew into a city of considerable size. Source
Junjunio Kuvo (Well) *
Mandirs (Temples)
VADNAGAR has always been a city of temples. There are small and large temples devoted to many different gods and goddesses. Some of these are very old and some recent ones. Two large temple complexes are that of Amther Mata and Hatkeshvar. Both are built with red and yellow sandstone. They present exquisite carvings and themes in stone. Amther Mata is unique as it contains a Sun temple, though it is much smaller than that of Modhera. Source
Dargahs (Tombs)
Miscellaneous
Railway Station (renovated)