Ahmedabad become the capital of Gujarat in 1414, replacing Patan, and since then became the centre of architectural activity. The fist mosque built by Ahmed Shah, generally referred to as Ahmed Shah Masjid, become the model for other mosque in the city with its large arch, minarets and latticework. The largest of the mosques is Jama Masjid, which was built in 1424. It has a huge prayer room, supported by 260 columns and crowned by 15 domes. The façade is well-proportioned with three arches in the centre with exquisite carving along the large central archway. The mosque also has find sculpture and intricate lattice work. The most famous jails are those of the 16th centaury Sidi Syaid Mosque. These latticework screens are the symbol of Ahmedabad. One of the oldest mausoleum complexes in Ahmedabad is at Sarkheja where the sultan visited their spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Kattu whose tomb here is an impressive work of 15th century architecture.
Ahmedabad is also a good place to see the famous wooden havelis of Gujarat. The best way to see the wooden architecture of the city is by joining the daily Heritage Walk, a guided walking tour that explores the ‘pols (the old residential areas and culde-sac connected by narrow lanes) which are lined the elaborate facades of these havelis, Hindu and Jain temples.

LOTHAL, AN ANCIENT PORT CITY OF Indus civilization excavated besides the river Sabarmati .The remarkable feature of this ancient city is the dockyard, which used to permit ships to go to open sea carrying merchandise from this part of the world perhaps to the Gulf and Mesopotamia. The dock, spanning an area of 218 meters from east to west and nearly 37 meters from north to south, is the greatest work of maritime architecture before the birth of Christ. It is said that at that time the dockyard could hold 30ships of 60 tons each or 60 ships of 30 tons each, which is comparable to today’s modern docks at Vishakapatnam.  Some proto-historic anchor stones and remains of a spacious store house have been found at the site.
The inscription speaks of the land of the rising sun and elephants. An elephants bone was excavated at Lothal, which signifies elephant population in olden days in the region. The excellent system of sanitary drainage can be seen when touring the site. There is a museum that offers an insight into the town planning and industries and trade of Lothal when it was at its peak from 2400-1600 BC.

Dholavira is a small village located at a corner of an isolated island of Khadir in the Great Rann of Kutch in Bhachau Taluka of Dist. Kutch, Gujarat.

An Archeological site situated in the Kutch district and surrounded by the formidable Rann of Kutch, Dholavira is a massive site belongs to the 5000 years old Mohenjo-daro
Harappan civilization. The fortified city was ruled by fiercely protective men from 2900 B.C. to 1500 B.C.

The main reason for visiting the district for many travelers is the archeological site of  Dholavira, one of the most impressive Harappan cities excavated in India .  It showcases the hydraulic engineering skills of the Harappans who converted the city walls into veritable reservoirs to preserve every drop of water. It is quite obvious that the people of the region have been experiencing water shortage from a remote past. Of special interest to students of history  is signboard in Indus script. Which is claimed to be one of the oldest in the world?

How To reach ?

Dholavira is a small village situated in Rapar Taluka near the north-western extremity of Khadir, which is a large island in the great Rann of Kutch. The village is approachable from Bhuj via Rappar by a good road.

The UNESCO-listed WORLD HERITSGE SITE of Champaner is one of Gujarat’s most remarkable archaeological zones with Hindu temples and step wells  at neighboring Pavagadh and the regional capital city built by Sultan Muhammad Bhegada in 1484
A WORLD Heritage site,  It is situated 47kms form Vadodara. Champaner is a concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage properties cradled in an impressive landscape which includes pre-historic sites,  a hill fortress of early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16th centaury capital of the state of Gujarat. Champaner, the only complete and unchanged Islamic pre-Mughal city, also includes fortifications, palaces, religious buildings, residential precincts, agricultural structures and water installations from the 8th to the 14th centuries.

RANI-KI-VAV was built in the 11th centaury when Patan was the capital of the Solanki rulers. It was constructed by Queen Udyamati in  memory of her husband Bhimdev I. It has seven galleries and is laid out in an east west direction. The stepped corridors and some of the mandps are beautiful to behold. The galleries contain exquisite sculptures of gods and goddesses. The Sculptural art of Ranki Vav is of deep understanding and divine glory. The sculptures explain all aspects of life and the eternal wisdom of divinity is shared with the viewers. A casual look at these sculptures may indicate that the figures of apsaras are dancing figures. But a detailed  examination and analysis convey a deeper philosophical message. It is a sincere attempt to relate physical health to spiritual well-being.