Pavagadh Hill - 1

Hello everyone! I am Dhirendra from Gujarat. I wanted all of you to travel with me wherever I go. There are many famous places here in our city. I wanted all of you to know them.

The Pavagadh hill is a famous place of pilgrimage situated in the Halol taluka of the district. The gods send so large a hill that three quarter of it filled up the hollow and the rest standing out of the plains was called ‘Pavagdh’ the quarter hill. In old inscriptions, the name of the hill also appears as ‘Pavakgadh’ or ‘fire-hill’. The first historical reference to the Pavagadh is in the writings of Chand Barot of the eleventh century, who mentioned Ram Gaur, the Tuar, as lord of Pava. Pavagadh is well-known as the strongest hill fortress of the ancient Gujarat, like so many hill forts in India.

The 15th century deserted capital of Champaner was first excavated by late professor R N Mehta of Maharaja Sayajorao University in 1969-75. Indian officials however took notice in 1987 when the World Heritage Trust commissioned an international study to conserve the remains of the ruins. A report to the study proposed the development of the site as an archeological park. A team from the University of Illinois has been set up to develop and manage the landscape of the Pavagadh site.

Akshardham Temple

I want you to travel along with me all the way. This will be exciting for you and me. I decided to travel in one of the temple in Ahmedabad where my place is.

As you look at this temple, it’s like you are in native place. Look at the specimen of fine craftsmanship, the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar is one of the largest and most prominent temples in the entire state of Gujarat. Located in Gandhinagar city, the famous Akshardham temple is a place, which consists of a number of things under one roof like art, education, architecture, exhibitions and research. It is truly an architectural masterpiece.

Established in the year 1992, the Akshardham temple was built in the dedication of Lord Swaminarayan. The credit for laying the foundation of the famous Akshardham temple at Gandhinahar goes to the Bochasanwasi Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). The highlights of the temple consist of the seven feet long idol of Lord Swaminarayan, the chief deity at the Akshardham temple.

Made by using tonnes of pink stones, Akshardham temple is one of the most magnificent edifices of modern India. It measures 240 feet in length, 131 feet in width and 108 feet in height. This intricately carved imperial structure stands regally amid the green garden. Within the complex of Akshardham, lies a beautiful garden known as Sahajanand Van. On one hand, where its beauty lends it the look of a garden and on the other it serves as a park for kids. It encompasses a herbal garden, lake and a waterfall. There is also the ultramodern Akshardham Center for Applied Research in Social Harmony (AARSH). If you want to relax from the rush of the urban confusion then Akshardham temple at Gandhinagar surely is a place to be in.