A RENDEZVOUS WITH HISTORY AT AHMEDABAD

A marvellous fusion of the old and new, Ahmedabad offers glimpses into the glorious past of Gujarat

- Aruna Rathod

The city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat has a charm of its own. Laid back, yet steeped in history, it has a lot that attracts visitors from other states of India and tourists from across the world. On the outskirts of the main city is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as late as 2014 - the absolutely stunning Rani ki Vav (the Queen's stepwell), while the old city has its pockets of history strewn into the lanes and by lanes.

A glimpse into the past

Make it a point to include Modhera's stunning Sun Temple in your itinerary. It is on the way to Patan where the Rani ki Vav is located. It's a pleasant drive on roads flanked with fields of mustard, jowar and cotton. After buying the entrance ticket, it's a short walk to the Sun Temple. Green lawns, trees with huge canopies, squirrels and birds, the location is picturesque. An additional attraction is the deep step well located next to the temple. The temple is carved out of stone and was built during the reign of King Bhimadev around 1026 AD. The king belonged to the Solanki dynasty, known for its worship of the Sun God.

About an hour's drive away is the Rani-ki-Vav at Patan. Maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), this architectural wonder remained buried for years after the Saraswati River changed its course and flooded the region. The massive structure lay under piles of sand until its excavation by the Archaeological Survey of India in the late 1980s.