Monuments of Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
There are eleven different types of buildings at the UNESCO-protected Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park in Gujarat, India, including mosques, temples, granaries, tombs, wells, walls, and terraces.
The Baroda Heritage Trust lists 114 monuments in the area, of which only 39 are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, due to limited funding.
[6] The Forest Department owns 94% of the land here, while the temple trusts and other sectarian establishments provide facilities for boarding and lodging to pilgrims and tourists.
It has a blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture preserving the Islamic ethos and is considered one of the finest mosques in Western India with its elegant interiors.
[2][8] In the Jami Masjid, the ornamentation of the surface areas of the mosque and tomb consist of symbols of motifs of the Sun, diamonds, pots and vines, and lotus insignia which were used in the earlier temples; the artists of the region who worked on these monuments had imbibed their craftsmanship from their forefathers and they were not sectarian in character as they worked as per assignments given by Hindus, Muslims or Jains.
This mosque had three mural plaques, in oblong shape, one at the top of the pulpit and the other two on the sides with engravings of hymns from the Koran.
Of the two minarets, one was damaged by an intentional gun firing in 1812 by Patankar, a Scindia Governor considered a “tyrant.”[6][5] Tombs have been built adjacent to mosques, invariably to a square plan with columns and domes erected over them, and also embellished with decorations.
[3] This mosque was built in Champaner during the time of Mahmud Begada, as were several other masjids, such as the Bawaman, Ek Minar, Jama, Khajuri, Nagina, and Shahar Ki.
[15] After James Burgess and Henry Cousens wrote descriptions of the Kevada, Jama, and Nagina Masjid, roads were built to reach them.
Three large domes are seen over the main prayer hall (a two-storied structure with balcony), which are built over decorative columns and windows.
Northeast of the masjid is the cenotaph, which has openings on all four sides and whose frontage, columns and niches are artistically carved with floral and geometrical designs.
The central arch is a structure of well spaced minarets fashioned with horizontal cornices and mouldings; the niches have decorations.
[3][1] This mosque, located on the western side of the fort gate, is named after Bawaman, a follower of Sadan Shah revered as a saint.
Built on a raised platform on a high plinth, the mosque has a minaret, three large domes, three mehrabs on the rear wall and three arched entrances.
[19] This masjid built by Bahadur Shah (1526–36 AD) on a high plinth has a single minaret (Ek-Minar), while all other architectural features have disappeared.
Lakulisha, Dakshinmurthi, Brahma, Vishnu, Gajendra Moksha, various forms of Shiva, Indra, seated Ambika and Sura Sundaris are the images seen in this temple.
[21] The temple has large fortifications and an open chowk in front, with two altars for sacrifices and an array of lights for special occasions.
[22] On Chaitra sud 8, during navaratri (nine-day festival), a fair is held at the MahaKali Mata temple which is attended by thousands of devotees.
Hindu pilgrims were coming to visit this temple long before the development of Champaner as a major city and have continued to do so for hundreds of years after its decline, right up to the present day.
[23] The Greek geographer Ptolemy, who journeyed to India in the year 140 A.D. regarded this temple as an ancient and holy place.
The structure is very simple but the brackets, plinth base and finial of the dome are elaborately carved with floral and geometrical patterns.
[1] The shrine of Khon pir, a saint, a colourful tomb, was a place of worship of the weaver community (Muslims known as Tais) of Champaner.
[8] The west gate has fortifications running from the ridge to the north built of brick and cement which is followed by a freely laid stone wall for about a mile, then by a second line of old wall (30 feet (9.1 m) in height) which extends 220 yards (200 m) and rises to join the first line (known as atak) of fortifications on the hill.
[5] This famous Hindu fort built by the Solanki kings of Gujarat and improved by Khichi Chauhans is part of the Pavagadh hill landscape.
[1] The building with three cells located within the fort walls is conjectured to have been constructed during the rule of Mahmud begada.
Sadan Shah Gate is cut through solid rock above which there are tall walls and bastions dating to approximately the 13th century.
[8][5] Other structures seen in the site include a single arch near the West Gate of Champaner; a square pond called Kasbi talao with descending steps which was built by Sakar Khan, a Pathan, and used by the courtesans; the Julan Badan gate and wall starting from the Pavagadh spur and extending into a ravine; the palace of a brother-in-law of Patai Ravals on the ridge of a hill; and the custom house or Mandvi located in the centre of the citadel.
Excavations have shown that the rooms of the palace were built of rubble plastered with lime, and some covered water cisterns were also unearthed.
[25] Basically a sarai, a small structure made of bricks and lime plaster, it was built next to the Vada Talav or pond.
[1] The well laid out square structure in the center of Champaner's fort was an exclusive and separate enclosure for royalty visiting as guests of the kings.
