Vadnagar

Vadnagar વડનગર
city
Kirti Toran
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Mehsana
Elevation	143 m (469 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	27,790
Languages
• Official	Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)

Vadnagar is a city and a municipality in Mehsana district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the birthplace of Narendra Modi, the 15th and current Prime Minister of India.

Geography

Vadnagar is located at 23.78°N 72.63°E / 23.78; 72.63. It has an average elevation of 143 metres (469 feet).

Vadnagar is located South of Vadnagar Kheralu Telgah. To the West Unjha telgah, South- Visnagar and Vijapur telgah and on East side Sabarkantha Districts are located.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Vadnagar had a population of 25,041. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Vadnagar has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 54%. In Vadnagar, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

Known history of Vadnagar goes back to more than 2500 years. Vadnagar is referred to as Anartapur in Mahabharata. According to the great epic the Anarta warriors fought in the Mahabharata war on both the sides and the feud among them continued even after the war was over. Recent archaeological excavations have established the existence of a thriving city of religious and cultural activities at the location around the 1st century.

Vadnagar has also yielded an image of Bodhisattva dated back to the 3rd or 4th century AD. This image seems to be brought from Mathura to install in one of the Buddhist monasteries of the town. Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited Vadnagar in the 641 A.D. and recorded the presence of Buddhist establishments.

It is also said that Vadnagar was the earliest capital of Gujarat. Vadnagar's main is located inside the walls of a fort which has 6 huge gates namely Arjun Bari, Nadiol, Amarthol, Ghaskol, Pithori and Amarthol in which Amarthol gate area is the oldest existing part of the town. The river Kapila used to flow through the town of Vadnagar

Places of interest

File:Tana Riri Deri Vadnagar 2007.JPG

Tana Riri garden and shrine

File:Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple Vadnagar 2007 Apr.JPG

Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple

Arjun Bari

The town is also blessed with a magnificent lake named as "Sharmistha Lake" which has a small island like place amidst it. It is connected with a 7 km long inlet canal. The government is developing this island into a beautiful garden.

Vadnagar also has various public architectures like a Museum and Library, government hospital and a government court.

There are scores of temples dedicated to almost every God: Shiva, Chhabila, Hanuman, Ashapuri Mata, Ambaji Mata, Vishnupuri, Gaurikund to name just a few. Of the numerous Shiva shrines, the 15th-century "Hatkeshver Mahadev" is the most important. He is the family deity of the Nagar Brahmins. Facing the east, it is enclosed by a high wall surmounted by three circular domes. From the roof of the sanctum rises a massive pinnacle, which soars high above in the sky. A massive congregation hall leads to the sanctum which houses a shivling said to have self-emerged or as it is said -"Swayambhu"(self emerged). The exterior of the temple is exquisitely and profusely ornamented with figures of the nine planets, regent deities, the chief gods of the Hindu pantheon, scenes from the life of Krishna and Pandava princes, besides the varied animal and floral motifs. The premises also house an older Swaminarayan Temples (one for male and one for females), two Jain derasars, a goddess Ashapuri temple (Shaktipith), goddess Bhuvaneshpuri Temple, Somnath Mahadev Temple, Daaneshwar Mahadev Temple and Vishnupuri Temple (it is said that God Vishnu himself had stepped here).

Renovated twice or thrice is the "Sitla Mata" Temple ornately carved with figures of celestial beings. Its door frames and ceilings depict the Rasmandala (Krishna dancing with milkmaids). The most striking pieces of architecture in Vadnagar, however, are the two magnificent Kirtistambhas or triumphal arches. Built of red sandstone they are both identical in size and style. Only, one lies in pieces on the ground (now re-erected) and the other stand erect. Its pillars and arches are decorated with lozenges at the base and geometric and floral designs-leaves, creepers, lotus, animal motifs, human figures engaged in various activities and divine figures in different poses. The top bears an image of a seated god Kartikeya flanked by Ganesh and Makara (griffin) from which spring arches. A number of standing female figures also ornament the top. Vadnagar is also known as Skandhpur after Kartikeya, who is identified with Murugan.

• Temple of Hatkeshwar Mahadev
• Lake Sharmista - Renovation done in 2009 which includes stadium construction in island in the Lake
• Tana Riri garden and shrine
• Jain temples
• Khokha Ganapati
• Ancient Library
• Gauri Kund
• Well of Pancham Mehta
• Janjanio well
• Temple of Ashapuri Mata
• Temple of Amther Mata
• Kirti Toran or Narsinh Mehta’s Chori
• Nag Dharo and Nag Temple
• Amarkund and Mahakaleshwar Mahadev temple
• Baithakji of Gusaiji
• Saptrushi

Educational institutes

Schools

• Anart Shikshan Kendra
• Vadnagar Girls High School
• Navin Sarva Vidyalaya
• Kumar Shala
• Kanya Shala
• B N High School.
• Arjanbari School.
• Royal English Medium School.
• Saraswati vidhyamandir Schools.
• Shishu Mandir.
• Pattharwali School.
• Sarvjanik vidhyalay vaghasi
• JAWAHAR NAVODAYA VIDHYALAYA, VADNAGAR DIST: MEHSANA (CBSE SCHOOL)

Colleges

• GOVT. SCIENCE COLLEGE
• ITI (Government)
• ITI (self finance)
• Vadnagar Arts and Commerce College
• gov.diploma engg. College
• CBSC

Hospitals

• Govt Medical Hospital
• Vadnagar Nagrik Mandal Hospital
• Vadnagar Civil Hospital
• Drsti Hospital
• Dardar Patel General Hospital
• Sardar Patel City Centre Hospital
• Vasant Prabha Hospital

References

• Vadnagar - an ancient city [1]
• Vadnagar's second kirti toran re-established: News report on DeshGujarat.Com