Zinzuwada
is a fortified town located at the southern edge of the little Rann of
Kutch. The town is part of several legends related to the birth of the
great Solanki ruler, Siddhraj Jaisinh, son of Minaldevi, who was born by a
blessing of a saint from a nearby place.
The fortification of
Zinzuwada dates back to the 11th century AD. Zinzuwada was a frontier fort
of the Solanki rulers and the inscriptions on the fort walls by Uda
Mantri, a minster of Siddhraj Jaisinh, is proof of its antiquity. The fort
is built with huge stone slabs and fortifipation is broad enough for two
horsemen to pass at a time. Zinzuwada is one of the finest examples of
Hindu fortifications in India, without Islamic influence. In Gujarat,
another similar fort is situated at Dabhoi.
The town has four
gateways in four directions : Madapol Gate, Rakshaspol Gate, Harijan Gate
and Dhama Gate. Madapol Gate is one of the finest examples of entrance
gateways in the Maru Gurjar architectural style. The gateway is decorated
with multi layered, carved, corbelled brackets resting on pillars. Images
of Ganesha, Bhairava and other protecting deities are placed in niches at
a lower level on both sides. At the upper level, one can see beautifully
carved jharokhas projecting above the niches. The town planning layout,
location of gates and sculptural decorations are as per the ancient Hindu
architectural treatises.
Other interesting structures outside
the town are : the old sacred kund and the Jhileshwar Mahadev, dating back
to the Solanki period.
Limbdi : (107 km from Zinzuwada)
Limbdi was the capital of the former princely State of Limbdi, ruled
by the Jhala Rajputs. In the past, it was a prosperous cotton trading
centre, between Saurashtra and Gujarat. The arcaded bazaar, is a conscious
attempt in urban design and this unifying architectural style is a fine
example of the architectural awareness of rulers of the smaller princely
states of Saurashtra. The bazaar street finally leads to a beautiful
palace, which is now converted into Vivekanand Memorial. The Green Chowk,
Gandhi Smriti Mandir, Tower Bungalow, Jagdish Ashram, Fulnath Mahadev and
Jain Bhandar- housing ancient manuscripts are also worth visiting.
Dhrangadhra
: (74 km from Zinzuwada) Dhrangadhra was the capital of the
former Dhrangadhra State, under the rule of the Jhala Rajputs. For
centuries, it has been known as a famous centre for excellent stone
carving. The Sompuras (the traditional architects) of this town are still
engaged in the same trade and are solely responsible for keeping alive the
ancient architectural tradition of constructing Hindu and Jain temples in
India and abroad. The finest workmanship of stone carving can be seen in
all the public and royal buildings. Royal palaces of Suraj Mahal, Man
Mahal, bazaars. crescent and towers in the town are fine examples of this.
Viramgam : (57 km from Zinzuwada) This ancient town
with fortification has five entrance gates. Munsar Tank, the finest
example of civic architecture, is located on the western edge of the town.
This is one of the largest man-made tanks in Gujarat, dating from the 11th
century. The tank epitomizes the fusion of hydraulic engineering and
architectural aesthetic values of Minaldevi, who patronized the
construction of this tank. The architectural style is similar to the
Sahastralinga Talav of Patan. The shape of the tank is not a perfect
rectangle, but like a Conch or Gomukh. Originaly there were 520 shrines on
the bank of Munsar Tank, out of which 360 survive. Most of them are Shiva
Shrines, along with a few Vaishnava Shrines. These shrines are typical of
the early Chalukya architectural style. Each Shiva Shrine has 3 niches
housing images of Mahakaal, Bhairava and Natesh. Two large twin temples,
located in the middle of the south side, are also of great tourist
interest.
Travel Information : Air :
Nearest airport is Ahmedabad (120 km) Rail : Nearest railway
station is Patdi (25 km) Road : Ahmedabad (120 km) Local
transport : Non-metered auto rickshaws and Jeeps Accommodation
: Heritage hotel at Zainabad Food : Local eating joints
and heritage hotel at Zainabad on prior intimation.
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