The history of the town dates back to ancient times when
it was known as Vardhamanpuri. It is an important centre
of Jainism and the footprints of Mahavir Swami lend a special
sanctity to wadhvan, among the other pilgrim centres of
Jains.
There are two ancient step wells in Wadhvan- Madhu Vav
and Ganga Vav. Both are fine examples of subterranean architecture,
typical of Gujarat. The rulers of Wadhvan have built several
buildings in and around Wadhvan and the most interesting
of them are Raj Mahal and Hawa Mahal.
Wadhvan is famous for its craft traditions of tie and die,
brass utensils, metal wares and educational wooden toys.
It is equally well known for its culinary delights of 'Ganthia'
and 'Peda'. A visit to the bazaar can be a wonderful experience.
The low height wooden buildings of an old bazaar, with
shops at lower level and residences at upper level with
projecting carved balconies and the hustle-bustle of rural
folks in colourful attire, transports one back to the last
century, into medieval oriental bazaar.
Wadhvan, a town with old world charm and its own serene
pace, will make it a memorable experience for any traveller.
Prime Attractions
Ranakdevi Temple:
A small, beautiful temple of Ranakdevi is located on the
southern edge of Wadhvan, at the cremation ground along
with cenotaphs of Wadhvan rulers and hero stones of warriors.
This town is a witness to the famous story of Sati Ranakdevi
and the great Solanki ruler Siddhraj Jaisinh. Ranakdevi
committed a ritual of 'sati' at this place to protect her
honour, when Siddhraj Jaisinh murdered her husband, Ra 'Khengar
and two sons. It is believed that her curse to Bhogavo,
a mute witness to this injustice, made it waterless, forever.
Raj Mahal:
The late H. H. Balsinhji built the Raj Mahal in the 19th
century. The sprawling campus of 14 acres has cricket pitches,
tennis courts, gardens, fountains and lily ponds. The palace
is designed around a central pillared courtyard with marble
fountains, statues and carved marble furniture.
The 'Darbar Hall' has many life-size paintings of past rulers
and the royal throne. The drawing room is decorated with
crystal chandeliers and the Shish Mahal has Belgian mirrors.
Every nook and corner of the palace is covered by intricate
decoration.
Raj Mahal is being converted into a heritage hotel, with
about 10 rooms and will be operational soon.
Hawa Mahal:
The Hawa Mahal literally means 'wind palace'. It was an
ambitious project, abandoned halfway by the Wadhvan rulers.
The incomplete structure stands outside the fort and is
a building worth studying for its architecture, showing
different stages of construction. Even today, around the
Hawa Mahal, one can see Sompura artisans carving stones
for various Hindu and Jain temple projects in India and
abroad.
Vintage Car Collection:
The rulers of Wadhvan were great automobile enthusiasts
and their passion for cars is reflected in their collection
of vintage, classic and sports cars and a well-stocked library
of automobile books.
Swami Narayan Temple:
Wadhvan has a Swami Narayan Temple with a majestic gate
and nicely painted interiors using bright colours, truly
in the style of architecture of the Swami Narayan Sect.
Wagheshwari Devi Temple:
The ancient temple of Goddess Wagheswari is famous for
its Navratri celebration, in which only men perform Garbis.
Excursions
How to Get There
Air:
Nearest airport is Ahmedabad (111kms).
Rail:
Wadhvan city is located on Surendranagar-Bhavnagar railway
line.
Road:
Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surendranagar are connected by road.
