Located on the banks of River Saraswati, Patan not only looks ancient, but feels just as old as well. From the monuments to the crumbling roads, and the trees that have seen generations pass by, every nook and cranny about this city will take you back in time and help you relive India’s glorious past. Founded in 746 AD by Vanraj Chawda, the city served as the capital of Gujarat till it was conquered by Mahmud of Ghazni in the year 1024.
Patan still has some graceful, old houses with intricate carvings characteristic to the traditional Gujarati style of architecture. The city may be almost entirely in ruins, but it continues to serve as a great cultural and spiritual destination, attracting religious tourists from all over the country. Take some time out to experience the way life was lived back in the days of the Hindu Kshatriya dynasty.
Patan has a lot to offer to visitors such as its several temples and monuments. Rani Ki Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) is a UNESCO Heritage Site which was built in the 11th century by Rani Udayamti in the memory of her husband. The dimensions of this structure are huge, and the walls and steps pillars are beautifully carved with intricate designs.
The artificial tank Sahastralinga Talav is situated on the banks of River Saraswati, and is filled from a canal from the same river. The total area of the Talav is 17 hectares. Years ago, people built thousands of shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva around it, but today, hardly any of them remain.
Apart from these two, Patan also has over 100 Jain temples, with Mahavir Swami Derasar in Dhandherwad being one of the most important, and several Hindu temples like Kalika Mata, Sindhwai Mata, Harihareshwar Mahadev and Brahma Kund. It also has the Khan Sarovar, which is a water tank dating back to the Solanki period, the Hemachandracharya Gyan Mandir, which houses thousands of rare, ancient manuscripts, a museum and many local bazaars.
Transport in Patan won’t be much of a problem as taxis, auto-rickshaws and mini buses are easily available, but in order to make the most of your trip, exploring the city on foot would be ideal.
On a daily basis there are approximately 135 flights that operate at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India are the most popular airline brands that fly frequently to this airport.
By road Patan is surrounded by Unjha, Mahesana, Deesa which are 16.55 km, 23.14 km, 29.88 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.