Viramgam
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Viramgam
વીરમગામ | |
|---|---|
city | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Ahmedabad |
| Founded by | King Viramdev Desai |
| Named for | King Viramdev Desai |
| Elevation | 32 m (105 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 55,821 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati,Hindi,English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Viramgam is a municipality and town in Ahmedabad district in the Indian state of Gujarat.
History
Around 1090, Minaldevi, the mother of Siddharaj Jaisinh of Solanki dynasty who ruled from Anhilwad Patan, built the Mansar lake. Siddhraj added several shrines and temples later. Under the strong Mandal chief, Viramgam did not become part of the Gujarat Sultanate till 1530. Commanding the entrance to Kathiawar, the Mughal governors chose it as the head-quarters of the Jhalavad district, and in the disturbances of the eighteenth century it was the scene of several struggles.[2]
Fortified by its Desai about 1730, it continued under a Muslim governor, till in 1735 the Desai Bhavsingh called in the Marathas who, dislodging the Muslim governor, held the town till 1740. In that year Bhavsingh, hoping to make himself independent, drove out the Marathas. But after four months they returned in strength, and Bhavsingh unable to cope with them, on promise of the estate of Patri, gave up Viramgam. Maratha ruled the town until it was handed over to British.[2]
Fort
Old town of Viramgam is surrounded by a towerflanked brick and stone wall, rectangular in shape, and about 21 miles round. In the wall are five gates, on the north the Golwadi gate leading to Patan; on the north-east the Bharwadi gate leading to the railway station ; on the east the Raipuri or Rayyapur gate leading to Ahmedabad; on the south-west the Gangasar gate, and on the west the Mansar or Munsar gate. There are also two unopened gatewayson the north-west and north-east, and in the south face is a window through which water is drawn from the Gangasar lake. It was possibly built by Viramdev Desai around 1730.[2]
Lakes
The town is surrounded by three reservoirs, the Gangasar lake on the south-east and south, lying outside of the wall except a small portion known as the Gusaria lake; in the south-west beyond the Gangasar gate the Dhunia lake; and in the west the Mansar lake.[2]
Mansar lake
Mansar lake was built about 1090 by Minaldevi, the mother of Siddhraj Jaisinh. Formerly known as Mansarovar, now shortened into Mansar or Munsar lake is 220 yards round, shaped like the conch and is surrounded by flights of stone steps. Gathering from the west, the water passes into a stone-built eightsided silt-well, kund, with, in a niche in each side, a figure cut in bold relief. From the silt-well, through a stone-lined channel and a three-cylinder tunnel, the water passes into the lake. Over the tunnel is a large pyramid-roofed pavilion repaired by the Marathas, and made a temple of Bahuchraji, or, as she is locally called, Mansar Mata. Towards the north the steps round the lake are ruinous, and in several places broken roadways run down to the water's edge. Round the top of the steps runs a row of small spire-roofed shrines, many now wanting but once said to have numbered more than 300. In each shrine on one side of the lake is a pedestal, probably for an image of Krishna, and on the other side a round basin, jaladhar, probably sacred to Shiva. On either hand of one of the roadways that run to the water's edge, is a larger temple with double porch and spire and across the lake a flat roofed colonnade. [2]
Gangasar lake
The Gangasar lake is built eight hundred years ago by Muslim Sufi saint Hazrat Alauddin Shah Chishty with help of Hazrat Islahuddin. He was born Hindu and his birth name was Gangu Vanjara. According to legend, he converted to Islam after watching miracles by Aladdin Shah. He built a lake on request of Hazrat Aladdin Shah and was named Gangasagar after his former name Gangu Vanjara. The name later shortened to Gangasar.[citation needed]
Geography
Viramgam is located at 23°07′N 72°02′E / 23.12°N 72.03°E.[3] It has an average elevation of 32 metres (104 feet).
Connectivity
Viramgam used to be the point of intersection of BB & CI Railway and the Saurashtra Railway. Viramgam is at the intersection of four railway lines Ahmedabad-Viramgam; Viramgam-Surendranagar; Viramgam-Mehsana; and Viramgam-Dhrangdhra-Samakhyali lines.
It is at the intersection of the routes splitting towards Kachchh and Saurashtra while travelling from Ahmedabad.
There is a crude oil storage tank depot at Viramgam on Salya-Mathura oli pipeline of Indian Oil Corporation.
Historical References
According to Dr Savliya - author of "Ancient lakes of Gujarat" - noted that one of the room on the Musar lake is having ancient writing of the person who build this lake. That is believed to be a proof according to which it seems like this lake was built by King Viramdev Vaghela. And in that writing, His wife name is also there - Queen Sumla Devi.
According to other story - King Bhimdev II had given land on samvat 1295 of Ghusdi village (now known as Viramgam). That land is used for Musar lake. Still today there is Ghusdiya lake and Ghusdiya ground in Viramgam which proves that earlier Viramgam was known as Ghusdi.
According to other story - Barbara Bhut (Ghost) who was slave of King Siddhraj Jaysinh has build this lake in one night.
References
- ^ http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=539745
- ^ a b c d e Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Ahmedabad (Public Domain text). Government Central Press. 1879. pp. 354–356.
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Viramgam