Vadnagar

Vadnagar is in north Gujarat, India. Vadnagar's old town is found inside the walls of a fort with six gates. There are scores of temples dedicated to almost every god. There are remains of a Buddhist monastery dating from the 7th century CE, and two Jain derasars.

Understand

Vadnagar is a town that has existed since prehistoric times. It is fortified and established on an elevated terrain. The town was added to the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2022. In 2011, it was home to 28,000 people.

Vadnagar was the birthplace of Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India.

Get in

• 1 Vadnagar railway station. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 GSRTC Bus station. (updated Apr 2021)
• 3 GSRTC New Bus Station. (updated Mar 2022)

Get around

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

See

Religious structures

• 1 Kirti Torana (Narsinh Mehta ni Chauri). Two ornamental gateways, east one is better preserved. Built in Maru-Gurjara style (Solanki) architecture, these gateways are 40 feet tall. Built of red-yellow sandstone, they have battle and hunting scenes. They are probably part of a larger temple complex which no longer exists. They might have been erected to commemorate a battle victory. Free. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple, Outside the town. A 15th-century temple of Shiva revered by Nagar Brahmin community. The exterior of the temple is adorned with scenes from Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata as well as dancing Apsaras and musicians. (updated Apr 2021)
• 3 Tana Riri shrines. The memorial shrines of Tana and Riri, legendary musician sisters of the Mughal era. A classical music festival is organised here very year. (updated Apr 2021)
• 4 Amther Mata temple. 5AM-9PM. (updated Apr 2021)
• 5 Ambaji Temple behind GMERS Hospital. Few ancient temple parts and idols can be seen here. (updated Mar 2022)
• 6 Hathiwalu Derasar. A Jain temple. (updated Apr 2021)
• 7 Chauta Adinath Derasar. A Jain temple. Jains consider Vadnagar the ancient foothill of Shatrunjaya hill in Palitana. The temple has a memorial foothill. (updated Apr 2021)
• 8 Buddhist monastery ruins, Mahadev Puri. Dating from 2nd to 7th century. (updated Apr 2021)

Water structures

• 9 Jhanjhanio Kuvo (Zunzunia Well) (north-east from Arjun Bari gate). Ancient circular well connected with local folklore. Must have been larger water structure of the past. The diametre is 3.3 m and constructed from stone. In the inner walls of the well, there are panels with carving of swans, flowers and honeycomb. The exterior wall has a niche with Ganesha. (updated Mar 2022)
• 10 Sharmistha lake. A lake with public amenities and ghats. The lake forms the northern boundary of the fort town and shapes northern fort wall in curve while the rest of the fort is rectangular. Kapila river originating from Banganga feeds the water to the lake via canal. (updated Apr 2021)
• 11 Lakeview. Scenic lakeview and walkways developed for public. (updated Mar 2022)
• 12 Pancham Mehta ni Vav (Pashchim Mehta ni Vav) (eastern side of Amarthol gate). Ancient seven storey deep stepwell with 11 kutas built in 16th century. 67 m-long and 5.5-m wide. (updated Apr 2021)
• 13 Gauri Kund (Ajpal Kund) (southeast of Amarthol Gate). Ancient square stepped tank built in stone. The walls are decorated with 54 sculptures. The steps have inscriptions derived from Hindu religious works. It is visited by locals in post-death rituals. (updated Apr 2021)
• 14 Lateri Vav. Old stepwell developed as a tourist spot. (updated Apr 2021)
• 15 Saptarshi no Aro. Remnants of the ancient lake. (updated Apr 2021)

Others

• Gates: There are six gates of the ancient fort, on the north side 16 Arjun Bari.  , 17 Nadiol.  and Amtol gates on the west, Ghaskol and 18 Pithori.  gates on the south and 19 Amarthol gate.  on the east. These gates feature niches with sculptures of various Hindu deities including Mahishasurmardini, Bhairava and Ganesha. Arjuni Bari has an inscription dating to Solanki era.
• 20 Vadnagar Museum (under reconstruction). 10:30AM-5:30PM, 2nd and 4th Sat closed, Public holiday closed. A museum about history of the town and artifacts collected from local archeological excavations. ₹5 for local. ₹50 for foreigners, ₹2 for students. (updated Apr 2021)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Toran, ☏ +91 2761 222051. State government run hotel. (updated Mar 2022)

Connect

• 1 Vasant Prabha Hospital. All basic medical facilities are available. (updated Mar 2022)
• 2 GMERS Medical College and Hospital. Emergency, OPD and IPD medical facilities. (updated Mar 2022)

Go next

• Taranga
• Mehsana
• Siddhpur
• Modhera
• Patan