Famous for its Patola sarees, one of the finest handmade textiles in the world, Patan is the former capital of Gujarat.
Situated along the banks of the river Saraswati about 51 kilometers from Mahesena and 130 kilometers from Ahmedabad, this historic town was founded in 796 AD and was originally known as Anhil-Vad-Pattan.
The Solanki period, Gujarat's golden age, served as the pinnacle of Patan's glory. During those days, the rulers were great patrons of fine arts and architecture, thus erecting many civic and religious edifices in the city.
Destroyed by time and looted for religion and riches, very little of the city's earlier magnificence remains now. Some remaining monuments such as the Queen's Steps well or Rani Ki Vav is the most stunning, reflecting the sculpting skills of the artisans from the Solanki period.
Also found here is the Sanastrilanga Talav or the tank of a thousand Shiva shrines stretching over an area of 5 kilometers. Other important Hindu temples can be seen here as well such as the Kalika Mata, Brahma Kund and the Sindwhai Mata.
Patan is the city that can be date back to medieval times when it was the capital of Gujarat. This city contains various Hindu and Jain temples. Moreover, Patan has many historical places also. The monument like Rani ki vav (Queen’s step well) was beautifully constructed at the period of the Solanki or Chalukya.
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