| Patan | |
| — city — | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District(s) | Patan |
| Population | 125,027 (2010[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 76 metres (249 ft) |
Patan was a capital of Gujarat in medieval times. It is the administrative seat of Patan District in the Indian state of Gujarat and administered by municipality. The city contains many Hindu and Jain temples as well as few mosques, dargahs and rojas. The city has many historical places also.
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Patan, an ancient fortified town, was founded in 745 AD by Vanraj Chavda, the most prominent king of the Chavda Kingdom. He named the city Anhilpur Patan or "Anhilwad Patan" after his close friend and Prime Minister Anhil shepherd. It is variously referred to in Sanskrit literature as Anahilpatak, Anahipattan, Anahilpur, Anahilvad Pattan, Pattan etc.
These Chalukya rajputs, with Paramaras of Malwa, the Chauhans of Sakambhari and Chandellas of Kalanjar and Mahoba, were serious contestants for supremacy in northern India. At the zenith of their imperial greatness the bounds of Gujarat were extended to cover Saurashtra and Kutch in the West, Lata in the South, Malwa in the East and Southern Rajasthan in the North. Historian Tertius Chandler estimates that Anhilwara was the tenth-largest city in the world in the year 1000, with a population of approximately 100,000.
When Muhammad Ghori had attempted to conquer Gujarat, the forces of Mularaja II, the then king of Patan, a mere boy-ruler, led by his heroic mother Naikidevi, inflicted such a crushing and conclusive defeat on him that the foreigner did not dare again during his lifetime to cast his greedy eye upon Patan. He never again entered India through Gujarat. The battle was fought at Kayadra, a village near Mount Abu. Ghori’s army was completely routed in the conflict, but somehow he escaped with his defeated army from Gujarat.
Muhammed's general and later Sultan of Delhi Qutb-ud-din Aybak sacked the city between 1200 and 1210, and it was destroyed by the Alladin Khilji in 1298.
The modern town of Patan later sprung up near the ruins of Anhilwara. During 1304 to 1411, First Patan was the Gujarat State or Suba Headquarter of Delhi Sultanate and then Capital City of Gujarat Sultanate after the collapse of the Delhi Sultanate at the end of the fourteenth century. A new Fort was built by these Subas, a large portion of which along with a few of the gates is still intact. The old Fort of Hindu kingdom is nearly vanquished and only a wall can be seen on the way from Kalka to Ranaki ni Vaav. In 1411, Sultan Ahmed Shah moved the capital to Ahmedabad.
Patan was part of the Maratha state of Baroda from the mid-eighteenth century until India's independence in 1947, when Baroda became part of Bombay state, which in 1960 was separated into Gujarat and Maharashtra.
During the period of the Solanki or Chalukya, the stepwell called the Rani ki vav, or Ran-ki vav (Queen’s step well) was constructed. It is a richly sculptured monument.
It is generally assumed that it was built in the memory of Bhimdev I (A.D. 1022 to 1063) son of Mularaja, the founder of the Solanki dynasty of Anahilwada Pattan in about 1050 A.D. by his widowed queen Udayamati.
It was probably completed by Udayamati and Karandev I after his death. A reference to Udayamati building the monument is in the 'Prabandha Chintamani' composed by Merunga Suri in 1304 AD..
It was one of the largest and the most sumptuous structures of its type. It became silted up and much of it is not visible now, except for some rows of sculptured panels in the circular part of the well. Among its ruins one pillar still stands which is the proof not only of the elegance of its design, but also excellent example of this period. A part only of the west well is extant from which it appears that the wall had been built of brick and faced with stone. From this wall project vertical bracket in pairs, this supported the different galleries of the well shaft proper. This bracketing is arranged in tiers and is richly carved.
There is also a small gate below the last step of the step well which is having a 30 kilometre tunnel built (now its has been blocked by stones and mud) which leads to the town of Sidhpur near Patan. It was used as an escape gateway for king who built the step well in the times of defeat.
Most of the sculpture is in devotion to Vishnu, in the forms of his Avatars (Krishna, Rama and others), representing their return to the world.
Around 50–60 years back there used to be ayurvedic plants around this areas which causes the water accumulated in Rani ni vav helpful for viral disease, fever etc.
Presently, Patan is home to the Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University[1] previously known as North Gujarat University. Patan is a prominent medical centre in the North Gujarat with almost 200 practicing medical professionals. Patan serves as a central market place for local farmers.
There are many schools and colleges in Patan. B. M. Shah High School and Junior College is the oldest amongst all.
The patola saree is one of the finest hand-woven sarees produced today. This is a specialty of Patan, and is famous for extremely delicate patterns woven with great precision and clarity. A patola sari takes 4 to 6 months to make, depending on how complicated the designs is and if the length is 5 or 6 metres.
There are many Toursist Attractions including Forts, Vavs (Step Wells), Talavs (Lakes) and places of worships.
The only remains of Old City of Patan in the form of a very small portion of Old Fort near Kalka on the outskirts of the New City is of historical and archeological importance. So is the case with the remains of the walls of new fort and the Darwajas (Gates) of the new fort which are fast disappearing. Unfortunately, administration as well as a majority of local people show little interest in preserving these heritage places which are shrinking at a rapid pace. Fortunately, the inner fort of Bhadra with its Darwajas (Gates) is preserved well. However, with the transfer of all Government and Administrative machinery from Bhadra how long it will be preserved is unclear.
Step wells include Rani-ki-Vav and Trikam Barot ni Vav. Lakes include historically and archeologically important Sahstraling Sarovar, Anand Sarovar (Gungadi Talav) and KHAN Sarovar. There are many a Religious places of significance on religious, historical or architerctural grounds. These include Old Kalka Mandir, Panchmukhi Hanuman, Jasma Odan ni Deri, Old Mahalaxmi Mandir, Sindhavai Mata nu Mandir, Hingaraj Mandir, Panchasar Derasar and Sheikh Farid no Rojo.
Salvivad, a place where Patolas are woven along with places where traditional clay toys are made are also worth visiting. Many annual religious fairs also act as tourist destination.
Patan is located at . Patan Railway Station is 108 km away from Ahemdabad Railway Station. It can be reached by a bus or private taxi from Ahmedabad via Chansama or Unjha.[2] It has an average elevation of 76 metres (249 feet).
As of 2001[update] India census,[3] Patan had a population of 112,038. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Patan has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 65%. In Patan, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
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