Siddhpur

Siddhpur is in North Gujarat, India.

Understand

A historical and religiously important town for Hindus on the bank of revered Saraswati River. It has many temples and ashrams thus. It also has a sizable Dawoodi Bohra community.

Get in

By train

• 1 Siddhpur railway station. (updated Apr 2021)

By bus

2 GSRTC Bus station. Provides bus service connecting all major cities and towns of Gujarat. (updated Apr 2021)

By Jeep

Shared Jeeps are available from Mehsana but they are somewhat crowded and uncomfortable.

By plane

The nearest airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad.

Get around

Autorickshaws are the main local mode of transport. Shuttles are available to move around in city.

The markets and old town are best explored on foot.

See

• 1 Rudra Mahalaya temple. Ruined temple was dedicated to Rudra, a form of the Hindu deity Shiva. It was built by the Chaulukya (Solanki) rulers of Gujarat and took nearly 175 years and three generation of rulers from Mulraj to Siddhraj Jaysimha to complete. It is estimated that it had a three-storey shikhara, 12 entrances and 1,600 pillars. It was surrounded by more shrines and had ornamental gateways (torana). Later it was destroyed in the 12th and 15th centuries by Ulugh Khan and Ahmad Shah and a part of it was converted in a mosque. Now a row of surrounding shrines, two porticos and torana is all that surviving. The idols of deities and parts of the temple are scattered around. As it is now a contested site, it is closed to public, but a security guard may allow you to have a look. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 Shristhal Sangrahalay (Siddhpur Museum) (Near Bindu Sarovar). Opened in 2017, it has three galleries presenting religious and ritual significance as well as history and society of the region. ₹20. (updated Apr 2021)
• 3 Mohamedally Tower (Clock Tower). (updated Apr 2021)
• 4 Bohra havelis (Vorawad). Mansions in European influenced architecture are largely belonging to Dawoodi Bohra trading community and spread over 18 mohallas or neighbourhoods in Najampura and Hassanpura. They are known for their wooden architecture and interior decorations. They are painted in pastel colours. Nearly 500 of these mansions are empty as their owners have migrated. (updated Apr 2021)
• 5 Bindu Sarovar (Matrugaya). A small artificial tank considered pious by Hindus. According to Hindu theology, there are five sacred lakes; collectively called Panch-Sarovar; Mansarovar, Bindu Sarovar, Narayan Sarovar, Pampa Sarovar and Pushkar Sarovar. It is the only place where Matrushraddh, Shraddh ritual for mothers, is performed thus thousands of people visit it annually to perform the rituals for their dead mothers, in Kartika month of Hindu calendar. (updated Apr 2021)
• 6 Arvadeshwar Shiva temple. An ancient place associated with Natha Sampradaya. (updated Apr 2021)
• 7 Sidhheshwar Mahadev temple and Moksha Peepal tree. The Saraswati river is nearby and the riverfront has been developed for rituals. (updated Apr 2021)

Drink

• 1 Lalumal Lassiwala, Civil Hospital Road, ☏ +91 9016586193. 9AM-9PM. Drink Lassi, a cool refreshing milk based drink. (updated Apr 2021)

Go next

• Patan
• Modhera
• Mehsana
• Vadnagar