Things to do at Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park: A travel guide!

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park was declared a World Heritage Site in 2004 and is now a popular tourist destination in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat. The present day Champaner is a walled town, located on the foothills of the Pavagarh hill. In the past it was once briefly the capital of Gujarat too, and looking at the ruins its not difficult to imagine that. It was also known as Muhammadabad for a while when the Sultan of Gujarat attacked and captured the town.

The ruins of this majestic town are scattered all around, and they are all highly impressive. However, there are five mosques which especially stand out, none of these are functional though.

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo
Jami Masjid

Sahar ki Masjid

Sahar ki Masjid is located within the walled (fortified) town of Champaner. There is a huge open space lying just outside. You can purchase an entry pass which is valid for all the other heritage monuments in and around Champaner.  Katie was aghast when was charged Rs. 250 as entry fee while everyone else was only asked for Rs. 10; of course we divided the money equally amongst us, but it failed to pacify her. Soon all this was forgotten while we climbed up the mosque and took all sorts of pictures, none disrespectful or inside the praying area.

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo
The floating people

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo
Sahar ki Masjid

champaner travel travelogue trip friends monsoon gujarat mosque
Vikram collecting duas at the Sahar ki Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque sahar
Sahar ki Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque sahar
Nona at Sahar ki Masjid


Jami Masjid

One of the most imposing amongst these is the Jami Masjid, located very close to the walled town. The scale and the beauty of the place is unmatched, especially considering its almost obscure location. There is also a huge step-well just outside which should not be missed. The Masjid has one of the most ornate carvings every to be seen anywhere.

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo  mosque jami
Jami Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo  mosque jami
Jami Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo  mosque jami
Jami Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque jami
Jami Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque jami
Jami Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo  mosque jami
Jami Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo  mosque jami
Jami Masjid


champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque jami
Jami Masjid
champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque jami
The tank outside the Jami Masjid



Kabutarkhana Pavilion

The next was Kabutarkhana Pavilion on the north bank of Wada Talao near Khajuri Masji. Its an almost dilapidated monument but still very charming. The pond near-by is dry, but everything else around is beautifully green. We climbed up the monument and clicked away to glory!

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kabutarkhana
Manoj and Katie on top of the Kabutarkhana
champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kabutarkhana
Towards the greenery
champaner travel travelogue trip friends monsoon gujarat mosque kabutarkhana
Katie -  the Tarzan woman!

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo  mosque kabutarkhana
Niren posing

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kabutarkhana
Manoj and Katie again
champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo  mosque kabutarkhana
Kabutarkhana from top

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kabutarkhana
Kids at the Kabutarkhana


Kevda Masjid

The best place to see was reserved for the end - Kevda Masjid. This is located a short distance behind the Jami Masjid and one can easily walk down to it. Since it was monsoon and there were intermittent rains, our journey to the place became memorable. We crossed bushes, water logged roads and many thorns to reach our destination. But the place was completely worth it. We climbed up the minarets and could see all over the area, and were completely blown away by the sheer beauty of the greenery around. We walked, talked and rested at the mosque and took many many pictures as well.
champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kevda
On the way to Kevda Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kevda
Kevda Masjid
champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kevda
Kevda Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kevda
Kevda Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo  mosque kevda
Kevda Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kevda
Kevda Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kevda
Niren and Nona at the Kevda Masjid

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kevda
Kevda Masjid


champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque kevda
Manoj, Niren and Nona at Kevda Masjid


Missing lunch and eating almost no breakfast ensured that we skipped all the other heritage monuments at Champaner and decided to return back. Food was disappointing but we all hogged due to the sheer call of our individual hunger.

champaner world heritage site gujarat travel guide photo mosque car
Looking through the lens

Comments

  1. Hi sid,
    Informative post and great pics. I am planning to visit gujarat for kite festival. Itinerary already planned..but Just now came to know about this interesting places now I am just wondering how I could modify my itinerary to cover this place.. So it would be helpful if u can help me with following queries.. approximately how many hours are required for this trip? Will there be any English speaking guides available or can we find these places on our own?
    Does it involves more of walking between places? (bcoz there will be two senior citizens with us.. So wondering will it be suitable for them)
    Anticipating ur reply :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would suggest an entire day for the place. As for the guides, I am not sure if they are available there itself. We had someone in the group itself who knew the place a little, and we used google to locate places. Check if you can find a good travel agent in Ahmedabad who can organise this for you...

      Delete
  2. WOW! These photographs are such a delight. So glad you got to climb the minarets and have such a delightful view of the surroundings. Great post, as always!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great! All pictures you shared here are really awesome, special thanks for jami masjid and kevda masjid images that's awesome. Your travel guide are really helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That's amazing travel guide and article

    ReplyDelete

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