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AHMEDABAD,
in the Sultanate of Gujarat (1400's - 1576) |
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*MAP*
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Section 5, top margin c, left margin d;
and here's a *map of the city* |
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The Rajput kingdom of Gujarat was conquered
by Sultan Ala ud-Din Khilji in 1297/8 and ruled by the Delhi Sultanate
until Timur's sack of Delhi in 1398 |
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CHAMPANER, located below the fort of Pavangarh,
was the early capital of the newly independent Gujarat Sultans, until the
rise of Ahmedabad: a good *overview
site* |
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In Ahmedabad, the Jama Masjid (1423) was
constructed by Sultan Ahmad Shah; like most of the mosques of the time
and place, it's a grand fusion of Indic and Islamic styles |
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Sultan Ahmad Shah is said to have built
this mosque (1430-1440) in honor of his Hindu queen, Rani Rupmati; our
knowledge about this period leaves much to be desired |
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Sultan Mahmud (r.1442-51) created a remarkable
complex of tombs and royal pavilions at Sarkhej, just outside Ahmedabad |
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The Sidi Bashir mosque (c.1450) is still
famous for its unusual "shaking" minarets |
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In a dry region like Gujarat, water management
was crucial, and "step-wells" were common public gifts, built especially
by queens and other upper-class women |
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The remarkable Adalaj Vav, a most beautiful
and elaborate step-well, was built by Rani Rudabai or Rujuha around 1500:
*more
information* |
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Rani Sipri, Sultah Mahmud's daughter, is
believed to have built her own mosque (1514), and adjoining it, her own
tomb as well |
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The Sultanate minted some wonderful coins,
but the best were those of Mahmud Shah III (r.1537-53) |
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The Sufi pir Shaikh Muhammad Ghaus Gwaliyari
built a mosque in Ahmedabad in c.1565 |
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Sidi Sayyid's mosque (1572-73) is famous
for its exquisite carved marble lattices; but it's not clear who "Sidi
Sayyid" may have been |
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Compare the style of the Jain "Hathisingh's
Temple" in Ahmedabad |
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The Sultanate was finally conquered by Humayun;
Shah Jahan later built the Shah Bagh palace on the banks of the Sabarmati |
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Some later drawings of Ahmedabad |
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Some photos of other sites and scenes in
Ahmedabad |
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