Ahmedabad is the third largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is also the sixth largest city in India, with a population of 7.5 million people. As well as being the commercial capital of Gujarat, Ahmedabad was once its political capital too — until it was replaced by Rajkot in 1811.
Even so, throughout its long and rich history, this vibrant city has remained an essential centre for trade, business, education and culture. Today, there are many factors which continue to drive Ahmedabad’s economy forward and make it one of the leading cities in India. With more than 1,000 years of history behind it, this Vibrant Gujarat city is packed with exciting things to see and do. Here is a look at some historical facts about Ahmedabad that you may not have known before:
The Origins of Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad was founded in the early 14th century by Sultan Ahmed Shah. It was one of the most important trading towns along the caravan routes between Delhi and the Gujarat coast. By the end of the 17th century, Ahmedabad was one of the largest cities in the world, with a population of 500,000. Ahmedabad became the new capital of Gujarat after the city of Dwarka was lost due to a flood. This shift in power is said to have happened because Sultan Ahmed Shah wanted a less windy place to live in. Ahmedabad was named after its founder, Ahmed Shah.
700-year-old Shaking Minarets
The Shahi Mosque in the old city of Ahmedabad is one of the two mosques in India that have “shaking” minarets. This is a must visit monument if you’re interested in architechture. What’s so special about these minarets? It’s because they are built on a shaky foundation. The foundation is a little shaky because the mosque was built on sandy ground.
This caused the minarets to “shake’. Ahmedabad’s Shahi Mosque has three minarets, but only two of them are “shaking”. The third minaret is not “shaking” because it was built on a foundation of stone. The reason why these two minarets are “shaking” is because they were built on a foundation of sand. This caused the minarets to “shake” a little bit each year as the ground beneath them shifted.
450-year-old Jama mosque
The Jama Mosque in Ahmedabad was built in 1573 by the third ruler of the Gujarat Sultanate, Sultan Muhammed III. This mosque was the largest in Ahmedabad and one of the most important architectural landmarks of the city. It was an important centre of trade and religion, and it also played an important role in the administration of the city. The Jama Mosque had its own system of collecting taxes, and it had a large staff of administrators who helped to run the mosque and keep it in good condition. The Jama Mosque had a large central courtyard, which was surrounded by the mosque’s three large rooms. Today, this mosque still serves as an important Muslim place of worship in Ahmedabad.
250-year-old Humayun’s Mosque
Humayun’s Mosque in Ahmedabad was built in 1611 by Sultan Qutb-ud-Din who was the fifth ruler of the Gujarat Sultanate. It was named after Humayun, a ruler of the Mughal Empire who was the son of Emperor Babur. Humayun’s Mosque was one of the two mosques in Ahmedabad that were built in a Persian architectural style. It had a large central courtyard surrounded by four large rooms. Like the Jama Mosque, it had two “shaking” minarets. Humayun’s Mosque was destroyed by a fire in 1879.
150-year-old Bhadra Fort
Bhadra Fort is one of the oldest monuments in Ahmedabad and was built by Sultan Muhammed III in the 16th century. It was built to defend the city from attacks by the Portuguese and the Sidi. Although the fort’s original structure has been altered over the years, it still retains some of its original wall-towers. The Bhadra Fort has been extensively renovated recently, and it is currently used as a hotel. It also houses a museum that preserves some of the artifacts found in and around the fort.
Conclusion
Ahmedabad is one of the oldest cities in India, and it has been an important center for trade, education, architecture, and culture for many centuries. It is the commercial capital of Gujarat and was once its political capital as well. Among all the historical facts about the city, the most interesting is the “shaking” minarets of the two mosques as its shaking quality was a mystery for architects for many years.
