Patan, Gujarat

Patan pronunciation  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.

This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Patan district.

Patan Anhilvad, Anhilpur
City
Rani Ki Vav
Nickname(s):  Patola City
Patan Location in Gujarat, India
Coordinates: 23°51′00″N 72°07′30″E
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Patan
Founded by	Vanraj Chavda
Elevation	76 m (249 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	133,744
• Rank	26th (Gujarat)
Languages
• Official	Gujarati, Hindi, and English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	384265
Telephone code	02766
Vehicle registration	GJ-24
It was also known as capital of rajputana state before independence.

It is a historical place located on the bank of the endorheic Saraswati River.[1] which is probably what remains of the ancient Sarasvati River.Patan Has very Big Market which attracts Near by Villagers for Shopping also it's Big medical Hub In North Gujarat

History

Patan was established by the Chavda ruler Vanaraja in 8th century as "Anahilapataka".[2] During 10th-13th century, the city served as the capital of the Chaulukyas, who supplanted the Chavdas. Historian Tertius Chandler estimates that Anhilwara (Patan is built on this ancient city) was the tenth-largest city in the world in the year 1000, with a population of approximately 100,000.[3]

Coin of the Chaulukyas of Anahillapataka (Patan), King Kumarapala, c. 1145 – c. 1171.[4]

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 Allauddin Khilji in 1298. The modern town of Patan later sprung up near the ruins of Anhilwara. During 1304 to 1411, first Patan was the Suba headquarter of Delhi Sultanate and capital city of the Gujarat Sultanate after the collapse of the Delhi Sultanate at the end of the 14th 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 the Hindu kingdom is nearly vanished and only a wall can be seen on the way from Kalka to Rani ki vav. In 1411, Sultan Ahmed Shah moved the capital to Ahmedabad.

Patan was part of the Baroda state from the mid-18th century until India's independence in 1947, when Baroda became part of Bombay state, which in 1960 was separated into Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The braveness of the Vanaraja Sinh is visible from the fact that he built the state capital on planes of north Gujarat. No hill tops, no huge fortifying. It was said that during his tenure western and northern India has no similar power axis.

Rani ki vav

Rani ki vav.

During the period of the Chaulukya dynasty or Solanki's of Patan, the stepwell called the Rani ki vav or Ran-ki vav (Queen's step well) was constructed. It is a richly sculptured monument, built by Udaymati in memory of her husband, Bhima I (1022-1063).[5]

It was probably completed by Udaymati and Karna after his death. A reference to Udaymati building the monument is in the 'Prabandha-Chintamani' composed by Merutunga Suri in 1304 AD.

Richly reliefed nymphs from the walls of the Rani ki Vav, a 1000 year old stepwell

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, except for some rows of sculptured panels in the circular part of the well. Among its ruins one pillar still stands which is proof of the elegance of its design and an excellent example of this period. A part 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 galleries of the well shaft proper. This bracketing is arranged in tiers and is richly carved.

There is a small gate below the last step of the step well which has a 30 km tunnel (now it 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.

This stepwell is the oldest and the deepest among the 120 other stepwell in Gujarat. The sculpture of Rani ki vav depicting Lord Vishnu's avatars, Hindu Goddesses, Jain idols and their ancestors.[6] 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 to be helpful for viral disease, fever.

It was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on 22 June 2014.[7]

The modern city

Education

Patan is home to the Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University[8] named after the famous polymath Acharya Hemachandra. It was previously known as North Gujarat University.

There are many schools and colleges in Patan. Sheth B.D. High School, P.P.G experimental higher secondary school and Junior College is the oldest. Other famous schools are P.P.G. Experimental High School, Adarsha Vidhyalaya, Bhagwati International Public School, Sheth M.N. High School, Sheth B.M. High School, Prerna Mandir High School, Pioneer School of Science, Lord Krishna School of Science and Eklavya School of Science.

There are K.D. Polytechnic Patan for diploma in engineering, Government Engineering College and Sheth M.N. Science College,Sheth M.N.Law College. Patan is the education hub in North Gujarat.

Medical

Patan is a prominent medical centre in North Gujarat with almost 200 practicing medical professionals. It has a medical college named GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Dharpur-Patan at Dharpur on Unjha Highway.

Major multi-speciality hospitals include General Hospital, Janta Hospital, Docter House and other Clinics in Patan.

Entertainment

City Point Multiplex and Time Cinema provides Entertainment facilities.

Siddhhem Water Park & Resort is developing on Sariyad Highway near Rani Ki Vav.

Industries

Patan has a GIDC and the small and medium size industries and a new GIDC in Charup, Ta Sarawati District, Patan.

Market

Auction of agricultural product done here between farmers and buyers through commission agent is called APMC (Agriculture Product Market Committee)

Patan has a Vegetable Market on Chanasma Highway.

Patola sari

Patola Sari

The patola sari is one of the finest hand-woven sarees produced today. This is a specialty of Patan. It 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. This saris are totally colored with vegetable colors. Costs start from Rs. 20,000 which may go up to Rs. 20,00,000 even depending on the difficulty of work as many times gold threads are included during its weaving process.

There are only two families making patola saris. They don't teach this art to other family members. Only their sons are eligible to learn.

Salvivad, a place where patolas are woven along with places where traditional clay toys are made are worth visiting. Many annual religious fairs act as tourist destination.

It is an ancient art and needs to be preserved as well as nurtured. Local folks in Gujarat always praises the "Patan Na patola" being most costly item for the women to afford in Gujarat.

Tourist attractions

[9]

Remains of the walls of new fort.

Sahasralinga Talav

Water Inlets

Platform

Canal of Water tank (Lake)

Sahastralinga Tank

There are many tourist attractions including forts, vavs (step wells), talavs (lakes) and places of worship. The main tourist attractions are the Rani ki vav (World Heritage Site) and patola saris.

The remains of Old City of Patan are 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. The administration and a majority of local people show little interest in preserving these heritage places which are shrinking at a rapid pace. The inner fort of Bhadra with its Darwajas is preserved well.

Step wells include Rani ki vav and Trikam Barot ni Vav. Lakes include historically and archaeologically important Sahastralinga Tank, Anand Sarovar (Gungadi Talav) and Khan Sarovar.

Two famous architectural monuments have gain the status of national monuments. One of them is Sahastralinga tank and other one is Rani ki vav stepwell. Rani ki vav is an intricately constructed stepwell situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat, India. It is located on the banks of Saraswati River. Rani ki vav was built as a memorial to an 11th-century AD king Bhimdev for his queen Rani Udaymati. It was added to the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites on 22 June 2014 ([10])Another historical monument of the Patan is Sahastralinga Tank or Sahasralinga Talav is a medieval artificial water tank was commissioned during Chaulukya (Solanki) rule

12 Darwajas (Gates)

Bagwada, Chhidiya, Mira, Aghara, Kothakooe, Phatipaal (Fatipal), Ghoonghdi, Kanasda (also known as Kalika), Khansarovar, Motishah, Bhathi, Lal, 12th is door and 1 window (in middle of city is called Ganesh Bari).

Places of worship

There are many places of significance on religious, historical or architerctural grounds. Being the state capital of Gujarat for long time the city has heritage associated with religious places as well. The spread of Jainism in Patan can be understood that the city stands third in number of Jain Derasar (Temples) after Palitana and Ahmedabad (Rajnagar).

Religion

Hindus are the largest religious community of the city. other minority religious communities includes Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Jains. About 90% of the population is Hindu.

The history of Patan indicates that it was one of Jainism influenced state.

Politics

Patan is a constituency of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly within the Patan (Lok Sabha Constituency).

Transport

Local

City bus service is run by municipality connecting nearby village. Autorickshaw are available.

Rail

Patan is 108 km from Ahmedabad Railway Station. Ahmedabad - Bhagat Ki Kothi (Jodhpur) Main line. It is also connected by rail to Mehsana, Ahmedabad and Okha by BG Line. Patan railway station is now connected with Bhildi Railway Station With New BG Line. New train will start from Bandra to Bhagat Ki Kothi and connectivity to Rajasthan, Delhi, Mumbai.

Road

It is approximately 110 km away from Ahmedabad. It is connected cities Ahmedabad or Mehsana or Chanasma or Unjha or Siddhpur or Deesa or Harij or Radhanpur or Thara via state highways. GSRTC, provides bus service connecting all major cities and towns of Gujarat. Patan has not yet become the National Highway from the city.

Air

The nearest airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad.

Demographics

Religions in Patan District
Religion			Percent
Hindus			88.91%
Muslims			10.63%

As of 2001 India census,[11] 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.

Patan		Male	Female
Population	112,308	53%	47%
Literacy rate	72%	78%	65%
Under-6	11%

See also

• Kumarapala (Chaulukya dynasty)
• Hemachandra

References

1. John E. Cort (2001). Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India. Oxford University Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-19-513234-2.
2. Anthony Kennedy Warder (1988). Indian Kāvya Literature: The bold style (Śaktibhadra to Dhanapāla). Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 194–195. ISBN 978-81-208-0450-0.
3. "Tres Fronteras: Where Colombia, Peru and Brazil Meet in the Amazon". Geography.about.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
4. "CNG: eAuction 97. INDIA, Chaulukyas of Anahillapataka. Kumarapala. Circa 1145-1171. AV Dinar (19mm, 3.88 gm)". Cngcoins.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
5. Jarzombek, Mark M.; Prakash, Vikramaditya (2011). A Global History of Architecture. Ching, Francis D. K. (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 907. ISBN 9780470902486.
6. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen's Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
7. "Gujarat's Rani ki Vav added to UNESCO World Heritage site List". News.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
8. Patan., Result Center Team, HNGU. "HNGU-Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University,Patan". Ngu.ac.in. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
9. "Panchayat". Patandp.gujarat.gov.in. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
10. "Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen's Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat".
11. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.

Further reading

• Prof. K.A. Nizami, ‘Foundation of the Delhi Sultanat’ in A Comprehensive History of India-Vol-V part one.
• Chandler, Tertius. 1987. Four Thousand Years of Urban Growth: An Historical Census. St. David's University Press.

External links