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The City
The City
AHMEDABAD'S HISTORY
Ahmedabad is a city with a tremendously rich architectural history. The city dates its foundation to the early fifteenth century and has almost always prospered with significant buildings being constructed throughout every historical period.
It is popularly referred to as the Manchester of the East, owing to its popular textile industry and has a historical significance with various rulers across various dynasties. The city has is home to various marvellous mosques, tombs, stepwells, polhouses with vernacular architecture and in later times, it was home to beautiful Jain and Hindu temple.
This is the reason Ahmedabad is declared first world heritage city by UNESCO.
1411
It was the start of the 15th century, according to mythology. The Muzaffarid dynasty of Muslims ruled over Gujarat. While meandering down the Sabarmati River one day, Sultan Ahmad Shah happened upon an unbelievable scene. Usually it's the other way around, but this time a small hare was chasing a mean dog. Enthusiastic by his experience, he contacted his spiritual counselor and requested an explanation. The counselor referred to it as a wonder of this enchanted place that creates such unique behaviors in both the human and animal residents. The Sultan, astonished by his remarks, gave the order to establish Ahmadabad as his capital.
Scavenging by the archaeologists revealed some magnificent facts about the history of Ahmedabad. Around the 10th century, the place was called Ashapalli ruled by the Bhil kings. It was the next century when the Bhil rule received a challenge to the throne. The challenge was the Solanki King Karandev. The battle was inevitable to which Solanki's were the vanquishers. Their reign lasted up until the 13th century when the Vaghela dethroned Solanki's.
Vaghelas won only to lose to Sultan Ahmed Shah who seated as the Sultan and renamed the city.
Origin of Ahmedabad
The Claim of Solankis
Footprints of the Sultanate
Gujarat's Sultanate Empire was ruled by Sultan Ahmed Shah. His grandson, Muhammad Begada, assumed leadership and erected a wall around the city to keep it safe. There were twelve gates positioned along the six kilometers of the outer wall. But destiny had different ideas for the city, and Muhammad Begada became Ahmedabad's final Sultan.
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The Mughals
Invasion
1573
Akbar, the Mughal Emperor, overthrew the Sultanate in 1573. If not for the Mughal dynasty, Ahmedabad would never have been referred to as the Manchester of the East. Trade was of utmost importance under their control, and the textile industry was receiving recognition. The city even exported to foreign countries while Jahangir, Akbar's son, was in power. Even though Jahangir derided Gardabad as a "garbage ground" and called it
"The City of Dust," it's ironic that he ultimately lived a large portion of his life there. The concept for the Moti Shahi Mahal in Ahmedabad was created because to his presence.
1758
The Mighty
Maratha
The Maratha Empire was vast, the Mughals' arch rival, and an essential component of Ahmedabad's past. It was the only thing preventing the Mughals from gaining total control over India. The two Maratha kings who stole Ahmedabad from the Mughal shackles and turned it into their domain were Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad. Regretfully, this home order turned out to be far inferior to the alien rule. The Marathas' internal conflicts spread to the south, where they culminated in a full-scale conflict that brought to the city's cataclysmic rule. This insurrection nearly devastated the entire city. The main attractions did, however, remain.The influence of Marathi Culture is visible in the historical lineage of Ahmedabad till now.
1817
The British Era
The city started developing and gradually regained its former glory. The municipality and the government urged the citizens to develop the town in a planned way, with regard to health and convenience of the people, avoiding the congestion of the old city. A substantial change in the city pattern occurred as a result, new investments in buildings with characteristics of western architecture was started.
The British took over authority of Ahmedabad in 1818. In other words, they were rebuilding Ahmedabad after the order was formed, a government was constructed, and soldiers were assigned. When the iron bars were affixed to the city's premises, the city was elevated. The railroad line created countless opportunities and vastly expanded the market for the city's textiles.
1870
Firstly in 1870 Britishers made lakadiya pull which was destroyed by the flood. After that in 1892 engineer Himmatlal Dhirajlal Bhachech started reconstruction of the bridge by exporting steels from Birmingham.
1915
StartinG OF
Independence
The rest of India learned the art of Satyagraha from Ahmedabad. It also produced some significant leaders, one of whom is known to us as Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation! This region was the starting point of the fabled Salt March. Given everything the city has to offer, it would be meaningful to refer to it as a monumental freedom fighter in and of itself!
With perfect precision, Ahmedabad fulfilled
its role and ignited the flame of independence in every state.
After Independence, the city was named as a temporary part of Bombay. Ahmedabad was granted the right to become a part of Gujarat and the state's honorable capital on May 1, 1960. Gandhinagar was chosen to be the new capital of Gujarat, despite being the largest in the state.
Ahmedabad is a thriving city that attracts a lot of tourists these days. It is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A tourist visits, takes photos, enjoys the delicious cuisine, and shops for mementos. The things a great city like Ahmedabad and its diverse history have undergone to achieve their pinnacle, however, are invisible.
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