SIX GATES

ARJUNBARI DARWAJO (GATE)

FORT AND SIX GATES

The entire old city had a protective fort with six huge 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 gates exist more or less intact. All the existing five gates are of different design. These are excellent specimen of high quality workmanship.

The gates contain beautiful scultures scattered on the walls. As in other monuments, here too one finds some erotic ones, usually placed high up and in small size. But their existence in such public places is evidence that sex was no taboo in those times.

Nadiol Darwajo, which literally means 'gate on the river side,' is another well preseved gate. It has some of the most beautiful carvings the gates offer.

Amarthol Darwaja

  Amther Darwaja

      

 

      

KIRTIDHAR - CREATOR OF DILWARA

The temples of Dilwara at Mt. Abu (Rajasthan), famous for their esquisite marble carvings, were created by the master-builder Kirtidhar of Vadnagar.

A BIRD SANCTUARY

Vadnagar is emerging as a new-found bird sanctuary of Gujarat. During the winter of 2010 as many as 81 varieties of birds were seen there. Our chief photographer, R. Gajjar, documented these and put the images on the net to share with the web-viewers. You can enjoy viewing the stunning images and learn about the birds by clicking HERE!

THE ONLY PARSI IN THE WORLD...

Keki Ardeshir Dossabhoy born at Vadnagar September 8, 1947

ONLY Parsi in the whole world born at Vadnagar.

In the whole history of Vadnagar only one Parsi gentleman has the honour of being born at Vadnagar. To put it differently, in the entire Parsi community's history only one person could claim to have his birth in the ancient city of Vadnagar, the first capital of Gujarat. This gentleman with the unique distinction approached us after seeing "VADNAGAR - an ancient city" on the internet and put forward his claim.

In the beginning, we took it lightly. But we were confronted with hard evidence and there was no go but to accept his claim. Keki Kolah happened to be the son of an engineer who had worked at Vadnagar Electicity Company, owned by Sheth Mayabhai Mehta, in its early years. Keki even dared to give Vadnagar a quick visit travelling all the way from Mumbai. He was saddened by seeing the site of the collapsed Tower Library.