|
|
| AHMEDABAD
TOURIST INFORMATION |
| |
 GANDHI ASHRAM, AHMEDABAD
: For many years Ahmedabad was the
center of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent struggle
for India's independence. The energy of that
movement can still be felt at the Satyagraha
Ashram that he established on the banks of the
Sabarmati in 1917, after the previous Kochrab
Ashram had to be abandoned because of a breakout
of plague. He chose a location that was, at the
time, far out of the city so that he could try
farming and other such experiments. He learnt
the art of spinning and weaving, and soon the
ashram began to buzz with khadi, not just as a
way of producing clothes, but also as a way of
thought. The activity waned when he moved to
Sevagram Ashram near Wardha, Maharashtra, after
the Namak Satyagraha, leaving the Ashram in the
hands of the Harijan Sevak Sangh. You can get a
sense of his life, the history of the movement
and those who worked alongside him, at the
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, a small museum that
includes excellent pictorial and written
documentation, a library of Gandhian literature
and paintings, and an immense archive of letters
written by Gandhiji, every single one on the
back of used paper. The grounds include the
Hridaykunj, Gandhiji's sparse living quarters,
Vinoba-Mira Kutir, where Vinoba and Mira each
stayed on separate visits, a prarthana bhumi, a
guest house and a building used as a training
center for cottage industries, all preserved as
part of the museum. The grounds are open from
sunrise to sunset, but the best time to visit
these grounds is early morning, as the sun rises
over the river, and people are in a meditative
spirit. |
 AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE :
Akshardham is majestic, intricately
carved stone structure which stands amid
sprawling gardens set in a 23-acre plot at
Gandhinagar (Gandhinagar district). It is built
in 6000 tonnes of pink sandstone and not a bit
of steel has been used. The temple is 108 ft in
height, 240 ft in length and 131 ft in width. A
point worth noting is that this modern monument
to Hinduism was built as per the injunctions of
Vastu Shastra.The monument enshrining the seven
foot high, gold-leafed Murti (idol) of Lord
Swaminarayan is the focal point of the complex.
The monument stands on 7 sculpted pillars, 210
single-piece stone beams, 57 window grills, M
domes, eight ornate zarokhas, etc. The sanctum
sanctorum contains the 1.2 tonne gold-plated
idol of Lord Swaminarayan, the founder of the
sect that bears his name, shown in a sitting
posture with his right hand raised in abhay
mudra. He is flanked by Swami Gunatitanand on
his right and Swami Gopalanand Swami on his
left. Both of them were his disciples. Swami
Gunatitanand is called Swaminarayan's
Akshardham, the eternal abode. According to the
Swaminarayan philosophy whenever Lord
Swaminarayan incarnates on this planet he brings
with him his Akshardham.
 SCIENCE CITY :
Located off the Sarkhej Gandhinagar
Highway, Science City is an ambitious initiative
of the government of Gujarat to trigger an
inquiry of science in the mind of a common
citizen with the aid of entertainment and
experiential knowledge. Covering an area of more
than 107 hectares, the idea is to create
imaginative exhibits, virtual reality activity
corners, and live demonstrations in an easily
understandable manner. Currently the 3D Imax
theater, musical dancing fountain, energy park
and simulation rides interest visitors. It is
hoped that as this place develops, the
investment helps to create awareness and
sensitivity to better care for our ecology and
people through the appropriate use of science
and technology. The park is open from 12-9pm.
For more information see Science City or call
079-65220111.
 KANKARIA LAKE :
This seven meter high pillar stands in
the courtyard of the mosque and has been there
since long before the mosque. A six line
Sanskrit inscription indicates that it was
initially erected outside a Vishnu temple,
possibly in Bihar and was raised in memory of
the Gupta King Chandragupta Vikramaditya, who
ruled from 375 to 413. The pillar is made of a
very exceptional pure iron. Scientists have
never discovered how this iron has not rusted
even after 2000 years.
 JHULTA MINAR
: Also known as the Shaking Minarets,
they are playful but with a whir of quivering
mystery. They have left the best of architects
and pioneering design engineers intrigued and in
unresolvable wonder. What they cannot unravel is
when one minaret is shaken the other begins to
vibrate, though the connecting passage between
the two remains vibration-free; what causes this
vibration is unknown. There are two well-known
pairs of Shaking Minarets in Ahmedabad, one
located opposite the Sarangpur Darwaja and the
other near the Kalupur Railway Station Area. The
one near Sarangpur Darwaja is within the
vicinity of the Sidi Bashir Mosque built in 1452
AD by Sidi Bashir, a slave of Sultan Ahmed Shah.
They are three storeys talls with carved
balconies where visitors were once allowed to
climb all the way up. The other set of minarets
near the Railway Station is taller in height.
However, these are not in a very good condition
as it is believed that the British had
dismantled them to understand the cause of
vibrations. They could not resolve the
engineering and it was not possible to put them
back in their original condition. Demonstrations
of the minarets shaking or vibrating are not
carried out anymore.
|
| | | | |
|
|
| |
| |
