Indian Columbus

Site Name:  Patan Site Type:  Historical, Monuments Location:    Gujarat state, India Highlights:   The popular Rani Ni Nav is located here Nearest Railway Station:   Patan Nearest Airport:  Ahmedabad, at a distance of 110 kms How to reach:  Well connected by road from  Ahmedabad Hotel:  Very limited options Restaurants:  Very limited options Patan  is a historical place located at a distance of about 110 kms from Ahmedabad in Gujarat state of India. Let me briefly talk about Patan in this article. As I visited the place many years ago, I do not have digital photographs of the site. Also, I am unable to provide detailed description of the city. Hence, this article from mine will be unusually brief. History: Patan is a historical town. It was founded by Vanraj Chavda, the most prominent King of the Chavda dynasty in 745 CE. He named the city as Anhilwad Patan after his Prime Minister Anhil.  ...

Site Name:  Rudra Mahalaya Temple Site Type:  Ruins of the ancient Hindu temple Location:    Siddhapur , Gujarat state, India Highlights:   The once magnificent temple that belongs to 12th century CE Nearest Railway Station:   Siddhapur Nearest Airport:  Ahmedabad, at a distance of 110 kms How to reach:  Well connected by road from  Ahmedabad Hotel: Very limited options Restaurants:  Very limited options Siddhapur  is a historical place located at a distance of about 110 kms from Ahmedabad in Gujarat state of India. Let me briefly talk about Rudra Mahalaya Temple of Siddhapur in this article. As I visited the place many years ago, I do not have digital photographs of the site. Also, I am unable to provide detailed description of the city. Hence, this article from mine will be unusually brief. Legend: As per the legend, the sage Dadhici donated his bones to Indra in Siddhapur. In the ancient time, it ...

Site Name:  Ashapuri Mata Temple Site Type:  Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Location:   Piplav, 90 kms from Ahmedabad, Gujarat state, India Highlights:   One of the most important temples of Mataji (Goddess) in Gujarat state of India Nearest Railway Station:   Anand, at a distance of 25 kms Nearest Airport:  Ahmedabad, at a distance of 90 kms How to reach:  Well connected by road from Ahmedabad and Anand Hotel:  A lot of options in Anand  and Ahmedabad Restaurants:  Varieties of options in Anand and Ahmedabad Piplav  is a village located at a distance of about 25 kms from Anand in Gujarat state of India. It is an important pilgrimage center of Gujarat state. Ashapuri Mata temple located in Piplav is one of the most popular Mataji temples in Gujarat. Legend/History: When the Pandavas of Mahabharat were on their exile to the forest, they had visited this site where the Piplav village is currently loc...

Site Name:  Ranchhodraiji Temple Site Type:  Hindu Temple dedicated to Krishna Location:   Dakor, 100 kms from Ahmedabad, Gujarat state, India Highlights:   One of the most beautiful idols of Lord Krishna Nearest Railway Station:   Dakor Nearest Airport:  Ahmedabad, at a distance of 100 kms How to reach:  Well connected by road from Nadiad, Ahmedabad, Anand and Vadodara Hotel:  A lot of options across the entire city Restaurants:  Varieties of options across the entire city Dakor is a small town located at a distance of about 30 kms from Nadiad in Gujarat state of India. Thanks to Ranchhodraiji temple located here, Dakor is one of the most important pilgrim towns of Gujarat. The idol of Krishna called as Ranchhodraiji of this site is considered as one of the most beautiful Krishna idols. Legend/History: Shiva in Dakor Although the site is currently associated with Lord Krishna, it was originally associat...

Site Name:  Pavagadh Kalika Mata Temple Site Type:  Hindu temple Location:    Pavagadh, near Halol, Gujarat state, India Highlights:   One of 51 Shakti Peeth temples; a very popular temple of Goddess Nearest Railway Station:   Ahmedabad, 140 kms away Nearest Airport:   Ahmedabad How to reach:   Well connected by road from Vadodara (45 kms away) Hotel:  Not many options nearby Restaurants:  Very few options are there; not highly dependable Pavagadh Kalika Mata Temple  is a very popular temple in Gujarat state of India. Millions of devotees visit this site every year. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peetha temples.  Highlights: One of the 51  Shakti Peetha  temples Goddess  -  Kalika The original temple dates back to 10th or 11th century CE The toe of Shakti fell on this site  Legend: As per the Hindu mythology, as Daksha insulted his son in law Lord Shiva, Shiva'...

Site Name:  Ambaji Site Type:  Hindu temple Location:    Ambaji, near Abu Road, Gujarat state, India Highlights:   One of 51 Shakti Peeth temples; a very popular temple of Goddess Nearest Railway Station:   Abu Road Nearest Airport:   Ahmedabad How to reach:   Well connected by road   Hotel:  Decent accommodation options are available in Ambaji Restaurants:  Good vegetarian restaurants are found in Ambaji Ambaji  is a very popular temple town located near Abu Road in Gujarat state of India. Millions of devotees visit this site every year. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peetha temples.  Highlights: One of the 51 Shakti Peetha temples Goddess  - Ambaji Instead of image or idol, only Visa Yantra is worshiped as the main deity The heart of Shakti fell on this site  Legend: As per the Hindu mythology, as Daksha insulted his son in law Lord Shiva, Shiva's wife and Daksha's ...

Site Name:  Sun Temple Site Type:  Temple, architectural marvel Location:   Modhera, 100 kms from Ahmedabad, Gujarat state, India Highlights:   An architectural marvel built by Solanki Kings Nearest Railway Station:   Ahmedabad Nearest Airport:  Ahmedabad How to reach:  Well connected by road, rail and air Hotel:  A lot of options across the entire city Restaurants:  Varieties of options across the entire city Modhera is a small village located on the banks of the river Pushpavati at a distance of around 100 kms from Ahmedabad city. The highlight of this village is Sun Temple, which was built in 1026 CE by King Bhimdev of Solanki dynasty. It is an architectural marvel similar to the Sun Temple of Konark. Legend: As per the legend, the place was called as Dharmaranya in the olden days. After killing Ravana, Lord Ram came to this site as per the advice from the sage Vasistha. He stayed in a village called Modher...

Site Name:  Akshardham Temple Site Type:  Temple Location:   Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat state, India Highlights:   A huge temple complex; one of the largest temples of India; an architectural marvel Nearest Railway Station:   Ahmedabad Nearest Airport:  Ahmedabad How to reach:  Well connected by road, rail and air Hotel:  A lot of options across the entire city Restaurants:  Varieties of options across the entire city Gandhi Nagar  is the capital city of Gujarat state in India. It is located near the famous Ahmedabad city. Ahmedabad has a lot of important tourist destinations. However, Gandhi Nagar has only few places of interest. Akshardham temple is one of the few important places of interest located in Gandhi Nagar. Akshardham temple is one of the largest temples of Gujarat state and even the entire nation. It is dedicated to Swami Narayan.  Swami Narayan was a Hindu saint who lived in the beginning of the 19th...

Site Name:  Ahmedabad Site Type:  City with lot of tourist and shopping options Location:   Gujarat state, India Highlights:   One of the most important cities of Gujarat Nearest Railway Station:   Ahmedabad Nearest Airport:  Ahmedabad How to reach:  Well connected by road, rail and air Hotel:  A lot of options across the entire city Restaurants:  Varieties of options across the entire city Ahmedabad  is one of the most important cities of Gujarat state in India. It is the former capital city of the state. There are many tourist destinations including masjids and temples in this city. Let us explore about all the important destinations in Ahmedabad in this article. In the beginning of the 15th century CE, the local governor of Gujarat, Zafar Khan Muzaffar declared himself independent from the Delhi Sultanate and founded Muzzaffarid dynasty. His grandson Sultan Ahmed Shah converted the forest area on the banks ...