Pavagadh |
About: |
Located at the foothill of the Pavagadh, Champaner is 50 km from Baroda in the State of Gujarat. The complete hill is one amongst the oldest stone formations in India and resembles a reddish-yellow shade. Pavagadh hill measures to a height 800 m and was once standing as a fortress of the Hindus under the regime of the Solanki Kings and later under the Khichi Chauhans. The fort was later taken over by Sultan Mehmud Begarah in 1484 and renamed as Muhammadabad. There are many temples dating back to the 10th, 11th, 13th and 15th centuries, all built in the Nagara style. The ruins are stretched over an area of 6 sq km at the foothills of Pavagadh.
Pavagadh is one of the major attractions for pilgrims and tourists. Pavagadh is mountain about 46 kms from Vadodara and 190 kms from Ahmedabad. It is situated in the Halol, Panchmahal district. It covers 42 Kms in circumference.Champaner in the foot of Pavagadh is established by King Vanaraj Chavada in memory of his wise minister Champa. Champaner area is declared as protected area by the Archeological survey of India.Gujarat government has developed Pavagadh as a hill resort because of its scenic beauty and fresh atmosphere.
The hill of Pavagadh rises from Champaner in three stages. The plateau at an altitude of 1471 ft. is known as the Machi Haveli. State bus service is extended up to Machi. Small hotels and rest houses are available at Machi. Teliya Talav and Dudhia Talav come on top of Machi.Famous temple of Goddess Mahakali is located on the top of hill. Rope-way facility is available from Machi to reach Mahakali Mata's temple at the top. About 250 steps have to be climbed from there to reach the temple. On the roof of the temple is a adanshah Pir Dargah, visited by Muslim devotees. |
Location info: |
Address:Pavagadh,Gujrat,India |
District: Vadodra |
Nearest City: Broda |
Language: Gujarati, Hindi. |
Best time to visit: October to february |
Climate/Weather: |
It gets very hot in summer, with the mercury soaring to 45 degrees Celsius. The winters are pleasant though, with a minimum of around 11 degrees Celsius. |
History: |
It is said that the king Vanraj Chavda established Champaner at the foot of Pavagadh in fond memory of his wise minister Champa. Later, the Patai Raval family ruled it and took care of the boundary. The folk tales say that Mahakali assumed the form of a woman and danced in a Garba during Navaratri. The last Patai, Jaisinh watched her with dirty looks. The deity became angry at Jaisinh and cursed him. As a result, the Muslim emperor of Gujarat, Mahmud Begada assaulted Pavagadh and won the hill on the boundary. Patai was defeated and killed. Mahmud Begada shifted his capital from Ahmedabad to Champaner for some time for reasons of diplomacy. He developed the town by constructing buildings such as the fort of Champaner, Uohra mosque, Mandavi, Kirtistambh, the temple of Shalkh, Jama Masjid, Nagina Mosque and Kevda Mosque. The remains of the Palace of Begada are still found near Vad Talav (Banyan Pond) two kilometers (1.25 miles) away from Champaner. |
Interesting things to do: |
worship: Kali here is worshipped as Dakshina Kali, and is worshipped in the Dakshina marga with vedic and tantric rites. The festival season of Navaratri witnesses several celebrations here. |
Interesting things to Visit: |
Jami Masjid: Machi: Kalika Temple: Lakulish Temple: Jambughoda: |
Mobile range info: |
How to reach? |
Nearest Railway Station:Vadodara-Godhara railway line. |
Nearest Airport:Vadodara,airport is about 46 kms |
Road Transport:Vadodara is 46 km and Ahmedabad is 159 km from Champaner. There are regular bus services from Champaner to other parts of the state. |
Nearest Visiting places: |
Navsari: A port city in Gujarat, Surat boasts of being the second largest city in Gujarat. Located on the banks of the river Tapi, Surat is popular for its narrow streets and beautiful houses. The city is a major industrial hub of Gujarat and is well known for its textiles and diamond business. Apart from these, the many Tourist attractions in Surat are also worth a visit during your Tour to Surat. One such place to visit is Navsari close to Surat. Navsari is popular as the headquarters of the Parsis ever since they settled in Surat. It is one of the leading Monuments in Surat. Sanjan: If history interests you, then a trip to Surat's Sanjan is what you would cherish for the rest of your life. Since February 2002, excavation work is in full swing in Sanjan. Among the ancient relics unearthed were human skeletons, coins, shards of pottery, beads and glasses. The praiseworthy initiative was taken by the World Zarathusti Cultural foundation and the project was jointly sponsored by the ASI and the Indian Council for Historical Research. The articled that were thrown up during the excavations are capable of providing valuable insights into the early history of the Parsis.
Another significant thing to be revealed during the excavation was that there used to exist a large city on the banks of the Varoli River that was inhabited during the period spanning from 8th to 13th century AD. The presence of a considerable amount of the West Asian and Chinese ceramics testify the fact that the city was directly involved in trade relations with these countries. A more concrete and substantial proof of the Parsi settlement in this part of Gujarat is the dokhma or the Tower of Silence which is a uniquely designed Zoroastrian morgue. Old Fort: Udvada: Sardar Patel Museum: Dutch Garden: Laxmi Vilas Palace: Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum: Vadodara Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum is a right place for the art lovers. Situated in the stunning city of Vadodra, the Museum displays amazing royal collection of 19th and 20th centuries which essentially comprises of European paintings of old masters like Raphael, Titian and Murillo plus modern Western and Indian miniature paintings, Greco-Roman exhibits and Chinese and Japanese art. It also shows an interesting collection of modern Indian art. It has a rich collection of Indian and Greco-Roman artifacts. Museum and Art Gallery : Vadodara Baroda Museum and Art Gallery exhibits a rich collection of artifacts. This collection comprises of Indian sculptures, ancient manuscripts and Egyptian antiquities. In the art gallery of this museum Mughal miniatures and works of great European masters are put on display. Sayaji Bagh: EME Temple: Narmada river: Champaner: Tuwa: Dabhoi Fort: Anand: Halol: Malsar: Sankheda: Chandod: |
Nearest Petrol Pump: |
Ghelani Petrol Pum:Baroda,Vadodara,Gujarat,India,Ph:0265 2780781
Harish Petrol Pump:Ajwa Main Road,Vadodara,Gujrat,India,Ph:0265 2519911 |
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation: |
Hotel Yuvraj:Sayajigunj,Vadodara,Gujarat,India,Ph:0265 2794439
Surya Hotel:Sayajigunj,Baroda, Gujarat,India,MO:09327227818 Comfort Residency:Alkapuri,Vadodara,Gujarat,India,Ph:0265 3088888 |
Things to carry: |
Tips & Suggestions: |
Help Line/Phone Number: |
Police Station: |
Nearest Hospital: Kesha Hospital:Behind Alkapuri Shopping Centre,Vadodara,Gujarat,India,ph:0265 2338099 Adarsh General Hospital:Race Course,Vadodara,Gujarat,India,Ph:0265 2331894 |
Society/Community Phone Number |
Links:www.gujaratplus.com |
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Laxmi Vilas Palace |
Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara is one of the famous monuments in Vadodara that is high on tourist value. People visiting Vadodara make it a point to visit Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara. A wonderful exemplification of the Indo-Sarcenic architectural style, the palace is a majestic structure that warrants a special visit if you wish to marvel at the detailed and exquisite work from the close quarters. Indianholiday.com is your indispensable e-travelogue that provides you with all you needed to know on Vadodara Laxmi Vilas Palace....more |
Citadel of Mahmud Beghada |
Tour to Gujarat is not only incomplete but an arid experience of vacationing if Champaner is not visited. It is a historical hill town located 47 kms to the north-west of Vadodara. Dotted with impressive mosques like Juma Masjid and Shah-ki-Masjid, this attractive town is charted by several tourists every year. It is lying at the foot of Pavagarh Fort and the feature that distinguishes it from rest of the places of tourist interest is the enchanting reflection of the ruins of palaces and mosques in the lake. On arriving at this place however the one site that will hold your attention unwavering is the Citadel of Mahmud Beghada in Champaner.Champaner Citadel of Mahmud Beghada is a rectangular shaped stunning structure. It is very expansive and measures around three-quarters of a mile in length and 280 yards in breadth. This is indeed the quintessential example of the forts and monuments in Gujarat....more |
Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum |
Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, Vadodara Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum is located on the Laxmi Vilas Palace grounds at Vadodara, Gujrat.In 1961 the building of a school for the children, built by the Maharaja was converted into the museum. The museum exhibits outstanding painting collection of 19th and 20th century. Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III mostly collected the paintings. European paintings of old masters like Raphael, Titian and Murillo, modern Western paintings and Indian miniature paintings, paintings of Raja Ravi Varma are worth mentioning.Vadodara Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum houses the remarkably huge number of works of art of the royal family. Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III during his several visits out of India collected works of art and stored them here....more |
Watson Museum |
Located in the Jubilee Gardens, the Museum commemorating Colonel John Watson is a good introduction to Saurashtra's cultural heritage. Important exhibits are copies of artifacts from Mohenjodaro, 13th century carvings, silverware, natural history exhibits and textiles. A huge 19th century marble statue of queen Victoria is fascinating. There are many splendid portraits and photographs of royal princes of Saurashtra and European dignitaries, handicrafts, pottery and princely relics.The Watson Museum of Rajkot is a memorial of Colonel James Watson, a political agent of Saurashtra. The Watson Museum at Rajkot is known for housing a huge collection of ancient and traditional artefacts. The museum of Rajkot exhibits the cultural heritage of Saurashtra. Among the exhibits of the Watson Museum in Rajkot....more
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Narmada Dam |
The Narmada is Bifurcating Bharuch and Vadodara districts, this Narmada district came into existence during the year 1997. This place is located between the banks of the rivers Narmada and the Karjan at the southern parts of Gujarat state. The circumference of this district is 2,755 sq.km. and Rajpipla is the district headquarters. The places of tourist visit are Sardar Sarovar, the largest dam projects of South Asia the Karjan Dam, Vijayraj Palace dates up 1912, Shoolpaneshwar sanctuary and Malsamot Waterfalls. There are important shrines and holy sites around such as Garudeshwar,Chandod, Shuklatirth and Nareshwar, and temples of Harisiddhi Mata, Hanuman and Gayatri Mata......more |
Sardar Sarrovar Dam |
The Sardar Sarovar Dam is on the Narmada River in Gujarat state, 170 kilometres (106 miles) upstream from where the river flows into the Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea. The Narmada is the largest westward flowing river in India. A few kilometres downstream from the dam site on the north bank is Kevadia Colony, the town built to house the construction workers and related bureaucracy. Vadgam, the first village behind the dam, starts around one kilometre from the dam site and stretches out for several more kilometres along the north bank. About 15 km upstream on the south bank a small tributary running into the Narmada forms the Gujarat-Maharashtra border. On the eastern (Maharashtra) side of the creek is the village of Manibeli, a focus of resistance to the project where the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA -- Save the Narmada Movement) maintains an office......more |
Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary |
This sanctuary has vast, undulating terrain, ever pervading greenery, tall inspiring canopy, deep awesome valleys, somberly silent rocks, gentle youthful streams, majestic waterfalls, breathtaking landscapes, culminating at the congregation of Vindhyan Satpura hill ranges. The sanctuary was first created in 1982 over an area of 150.87 sq. km. As Dumkhal Sanctuary an important home for sloth bears. Subsequently, in 1987 and 1989, the area of the sanctuary was enlarged to 607.71sq. Km. and it was renamed as Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary.The forest area rated as one of the best and thickest in the state, is spread over an area, which includes a major watershed feeding two major reservoirs with the Rajpipla hills as backdrop. The thick vegetative ground cover not only provides endless greenery and habitat and home to a variety of life forms, but also conserves the soil and water....more |
Sayaji Bagh |
One of the major tourist attractions in Vadodara is the Sayaji Bagh in Vadodara, the large green park whose main entrance is on the Tilak Road. The Sayaji Bagh contains a planetarium that offers a 35 minutes show daily, except on Thursday.This garden also known as the garden of Sayaji, is an extensive park sprawling over more than a hundred acres with a mini rail track around the periphery. Cheerful kids can be seen enjoying a joy ride on the toy train. Elders may also join the fun after a little coaxing of the guard.Sayaji Bagh Vadodara is one of the major attractions in the city. Also known as the garden of Sayaji, it is an extensive park that contains a mini rail track. Sayaji Bagh of Vadodara was built in 1879 by Sayajirao on the banks of river Vishvamitri. The Bagh is known for its splendid gardens, which are adorned with beautiful pavilions and fountains. The gardens of the Sayaji Bagh in Vadodara serve as pristine retreat amid the hustle and bustle of the city life......more |
Narmada River |
Whatever we tell you, however detailed a description we give, it won't do justice to the body of water that flows from the Amarkantak plateau to Arabian sea, the river we call Narmada. Hinduism sees it as one of the seven most sacred rivers in India, and in fact, most wisdom traditions around the world draw inspiration from rivers and their behavior.The Narmada Periplus Maris Erythraei calls it the Nammadus. The British Raj called it the Nerbudda or Narbada is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent.Narmada is a Sanskrit word meaning 'the Giver of Pleasure. It forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India and flows westwards over before draining through the Gulf of Cambey Khambat into the Arabian Sea,30 km 18.6 mi west of Bharuch city of Gujarat....more |
Archaeological Park |
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Narmada Waterfall |
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Akota Gardens |
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