Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
ચાંપાનેર-પાવાગઢ
The ruined capital of the Sultanate of Gujarat, a World Heritage Site. The Jama Masjid is a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture.
The Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. It is the only pre-Mughal Islamic capital in India that remains fully preserved and has not been remodeled in later periods. In the late 15th century, Mahmud Begada, Sultan of Gujarat, captured Pavagadh and then built a new capital, Champaner, at the foot of the mountain. It left behind city walls, palaces, stepwells and many mosques. The Jama Masjid, completed in 1513, has two soaring minarets and 172 stone columns. Its carvings blend Hindu and Islamic styles. The Kevda Mosque and the Nagina Mosque outside the walls are also exquisite. The site is spread out, so it's best to hire a car to tour it, and you can combine it with a visit to the Kalika Mata Temple at the summit on the same day. It is about 50 km from Vadodara.
Opening hours
Sunrise to sunset
Nearby sights
- Kalika Mata Temple, Pavagadh
- Mandvi Gate
- EME Temple
- Sursagar Lake
- Tambekar Wada
- Nyay Mandir
- Sayaji Baug
- Kirti Mandir