Top 10 Historiacal Monuments in Gujarat

Heritage sites are unarguably the most critical physical components giving a unique identity to a destination. Gujarat is home to some of the top most beautiful historical monuments. The historic locations of Gujarat are a grand display of the various heritage of India. With more than 4,500 years of history, it’s no wonder that Gujarat is teeming with historically and architecturally significant sites. T

From remnants of the historical Indus Valley Civilization to ancient step-wells, right here are some of the best historical locations to go to in Gujarat:

List of Top 10 Historiacal Monuments in Gujarat

Dwarkadish Temple

Dwarkadish temple is one of the top 10 historical monuments in Gujarat. It is one of the Char Dham pilgrimages, situated in the town of Dwarka in Gujarat. Dwarka lies at the banks of river Gomti, in Saurashtra. It is historically considered the capital of Lord Krishna. The town eventually submerged under the ocean except for the Temples. 

Dedicated to Lord Krishna, this temple is called Jagat Mandir. According to famous belief, the Dwarkadhish Temple stands over the original region of Hari Graha, the home of Krishna. Mahabharata states that the castle of Lord Krishna was built-in Gold.

 This temple is the epitome of structural brilliance. This five-storeyed temple is supported by intricately-carved 60 columns and is about 2200 years old. The temple draws lots of devotees, especially at Janmashtami. 

Furthermore, there are Shikhar present in the Temple – the Nij Shikhar and the Ladwa Shikhar. The Nij Shikhar is five-storeyed. It houses the main deity, Lord Krishna. There are most important gates to the Dwarkadhish Temple – the Moksha Dwaar and the Swarg Dwaar.

 The start of Krishna is celebrated in a very grand and religious way. The celebration includes a series of Poojas and rituals. The Dwarkadhish Temple opens at 6:30 AM and closes at 9:30 PM. The devotees may be a part of those rituals, such as the morning, afternoon, and evening poojas. That’s why it is one of the known top historical monuments in Gujarat.

Laxmi Vilas Palace

Laxmi Vilas Palace is one of the top most 10 historical monuments in Gujarat. It was the private residence of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Known to be the biggest private dwelling of the size equivalent to 4 times Buckingham Palace. The striking Laxmi Vilas Palace become built in 1890 and took almost twelve years to complete. 

Sprawling across a place of about 700 acres, it’s miles still home to the royal family of Vadodara, the Gaekwads. It is constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style which is a hybrid of the Hindu, Gothic, and Mughal architectural forms with the presence of domes, minarets, and arches. 

The museum building was mainly built as a college for Maharaja’s children. Today, it homes an extraordinary collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Verma and various other artifacts gathered from all around the world. Moreover it is one of the top historical monuments in Gujarat.

Adalaj Stepwell

Adalaj Stepwell is one of the top most 10 historical monuments in Gujarat. Making up an essential part of Ahmedabad’s history, Adalaj Step Well was commissioned by queen Rudabai, the spouse of the Vaghela dynasty’s Rana Veer Singh in 1498. The stepwell is placed at a distance of three to four kilometers to the southwest of Gandhinagar, the capital town of Gujarat.

 The wondrous monument is a five-tale stepwell that also holds significance owing to the deities engraved on its partitions. It is assumed that villagers go to the stepwell and provide their prayers to the deities. There is a temple located at the entrance of the vav. 

This fascinating structure has been built in such a manner that the temperature in the stepwell is almost 6 levels lesser than the outside temperature. There are 3 front stairs main into the stepwell. People can pass down through 3 staircases from the first floor. 

The whole architecture is a top-notch example of the intelligence of the engineers and architects India had even at that time. No wonder it is one of the top historical monuments in Gujarat.

Sarkhej Roza

Situated in the village of Makarba, 7 km from Ahmedabad, Sarkhej Roza is one of the top most 10 historical monuments in Gujarat.  Boosting of absolutely striking early Islamic architectural finesse with spacious corridors and pillared domes, and surrounded by a mesmerizing water tank, the tomb houses the grave of Ahmad Khattu Ganj Baksh. 

It’s an atmospheric place that was used as a retreat by several of Ahmedabad’s rulers. The mausoleums of Mahmud Begada through the entrance, with geometric jalis casting styles of light on the floor, and Ganj Baksh the largest in Gujarat are each here. 

The location has a cheery communal feel with locals picnicking in its big courtyard. People can go to Sarkhej Roza anytime between 9 am morning to six pm in the evening. Being a sacred place of worship, visitors are expected to maintain the divinity and serenity of the place. Overall it is one of the best historical monuments in Gujarat.

Vijay Vilas Palace

Vijay vilas palace is one of the top most 10 historical monuments in Gujarat.  Built by Rao Vijayraj Ji in 1929, this opulent palace is positioned near the famous Mandvi Beach. It is an outstanding 450-acre palace property at Mandvi in which the Maharaos of Kutch spent summer in the 1940s.

 The palace is built with red sandstone. The central excessive dome at the pillars, the Bengal domes at the sides, the windows with colored glass, carved stone ‘jalis’, domed bastions on the corners, the extended porch, and different exquisitely stone-carved elements, make the palace worth touring.

 It is an erstwhile summer palace of the royal family of Kachchh rulers. This palace additionally showcases the eclectic blend of Mughal, Rajput, and Victorian architectural styles. The palace is beautifully surrounded by manicured gardens and a private beach. 

The carved stone works of Jalis, Jharokas, Chhatris, Chhajas, murals and many other artistic stone carvings, colored glass work on windows and door panels all have been done by the architect and craftsmen from locations like Jaipur, Rajasthan, Bengal, and Saurashtra. Moreover it is known as one of the top most historical monuments in Gujarat.

Rani Ki Vav

Rani ki vav is one of the top most 10 historical monuments in Gujarat. This heritage site is located on the aspect of River Saraswati in Patan. Rani Udayamati, the daughter of King Khengara in the Saurashtra region, built this step nicely in the 11th century. 

As per historians, the step-well was a life savior for the people of the region as the region is known to face severe water issues during the hot, dry season. The step nicely becomes covered in silt while excavated in the 1940s by the Archaeological Survey of India. It got its world heritage site identification in 2014. It is seven-storeyed deep, built to represent an inverted temple. 

The walls, roofs, and columns all throughout the site bear archaeological shows of extreme and complex artwork. Besides showcasing the highest regard for water as a lifeline for mankind, the architectural richness of the site embodies about 500 foremost sculptured works and thousands of minor sculptures.

 All of these have mythological or religious significance. Another noteworthy function of the step-nicely is that it suggests the engineering colleges of these times, with water conservation on the core of its design. Moreover it is one of the top historical monuments in Gujarat.

Uperkot Fort

This historic fort is one of the top most 10 historical monuments in Gujarat. It is believed to had been built in 319 BC by the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta, even though it’s been extended many times. It’s been besieged sixteen times, and legend has it that the fort once withstood a 12-12 month’s siege. 

The views over the city and east to Girnar Hill are superb, and inside its walls, there is a magnificent former mosque, a set of millennia-old Buddhist caves, and fine step-wells. The pinnacle of the fort is flat and dotted with diverse archeological sites. Just in the front are the insignia of a number of Uparkot’s former rulers and temples dedicated to Ganesh, Hanuman, and Shakti. 

 Its amazing features are the structure with 20 meters of high walls and 300 toes deep moat. The moat is full of crocodiles. A little further are Upperkot Caves, which belong to the 200 BC – 200 AD. 

These caves have well-decorated pillars, doors, windows, and meditation cells. This double-storeyed cave complex was used by Buddhist monks during ancient times. This historic site is worth visiting for discerning travelers. No wonder it is one of the top historical monuments in Gujarat.

Sun Temple

The Sun Temple is one of the top most 10 historical monuments in Gujarat. It is a distinguished Hindu Temple dedicated to the Sun God. Located by the banks of the serene River Pushpavati, the temple turned into built all through the Chalukya Dynasty in 1026 AD. 

The general structure of the main body of the temple enclosing the mandapa and garbhagrha is rectangular, with its length within the walls 51 feet 9 inches which is almost exactly double of its width of 25 ft and eight inches. Thus the entire area of about 1275 sq. ft is divided into almost equal halves.

 The outside of the temple is likewise profusely sculptured but perhaps the most stylish and ornamental characteristic of this temple is the beautiful sabha mandapa. It has many terraces and steps main to the water level. On its sides and corners are diverse small shrines with photographs of gods and goddesses namely Jalasayi Vishnu, Trivikrama, Goddess Shitala, etc. 

Today, this temple has primarily become a place of tourism interest, and no prayers are offered. The Archeological Survey of India keeps the site. Beautifully built in Maru-Gurjara architectural style, the Sun Temple is one of the Seven Wonders of India.

 Around the temple, a large Dharamshala has been constructed to house pilgrims on Mahasud 13, when a big fair is held.That’s why it is one of famous top most historical monuments in Gujarat.

Sidi Saiyyed Mosque

The Sidi Saiyad Mosque is one of the top most 10 historical monuments in Gujarat.  Constructed in the year 1573, the mosque was established by Sidi Sayed, a slave of Sultan Ahmed Shah. It is one of the last items of the Sultanate rule in Gujarat in the heart of Ahmedabad. 

This mosque has a worldwide reputation, due to its splendid Indo-Saracenic architecture. The skillfully carved mosque is truly one of its kind in the world. The Jali screen windows and intricate mesh of stylishly carved marble are precious treasures housed in the mosque. 

These jalis are well-known for the first rate artwork engraved at the stones. The Mesh covering those windows looks charming due to the artwork carved onto these meshes. This ancient monument has gained worldwide recognition specifically after Ahmedabad became declared a world heritage city.

 The maximum famous window mesh is called the tree of life, with a tree shape carved on it. These window mesh may be seen closely from in the mosque, but its actual beauty is observed from outdoor the mosque. Overall it is one of the best most historical monuments in Gujarat.

Champaner Pavagadh Archaeological Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is one of the top most 10 historical monuments in Gujarat.  It awes its visitors with its architectural brilliance, that’s a mix of Hindu and Muslim styles. 

The park’s landscape includes archaeological, historic, and dwelling cultural historical past monuments such as chalcolithic sites, a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16th-century capital of the state of Gujarat.

 It contains an impressive collection of historical and religious monuments, together with Hindu and Jain temples from the 13th to the 15th centuries, 5 mosques, a hill citadel, tombs, and agricultural systems from the 8th to 14th centuries.

 The Kalika Mata Temple, placed on top of the 800 metres excessive Pavagadh Hill, is an important Hindu shrine in the region, attracting big numbers of pilgrims throughout the year. Overall it is one of the top historical monuments in Gujarat.

Conclusion

As for the conclusion thses are some of the top 10 historical momuments in Gujarat. These monuments are beautiful & have their own stories built thousand years ago by famous kings. Still now they hold so much historical impotance and are visited by lakhs of visitors from across the globe.