Places of Interest

Places of Interest

Photos Back several Nagar Brahmin havelis

Other Places of Interest The Tana Riri memorial, the 17th century Vishnu and Shiva temples, and several Nagar Brahmin havelis, are the other major attractions of Vadnagar. On the outskirts of Vadnagar is the rundown seven-story Pancham Mehta ni Vav built in the 16th c. The Gaurikund, a square-shaped pond with a pavilion, continues to be visited by people performing funeral rites. The steps leading to the pond have inscriptions from the Hindu scriptures.

Hatkeshwar Temple

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Hatkeshwar Temple

Photos Hatkeshwar Temple

Hatkeshwar Temple This profusely carved 17th century temple just outside town enshrines Hatkeshwar Mahadev, the family deity of Nagar Brahmins, who were once a prominent community in Vadnagar. The temple's inner sanctum houses a Shiva linga said to have self-emerged (swayambhu). From the roof of the sanctum a massive shikhar soars high into the sky. Facing east, the temple is enclosed by a high wall topped by three circular domes interspersed with flat stretches in the Indo-Saracenic tradition. The exterior of the temple is exquisitely ornamented with figures of the nine planets, musicians, evocative dancing apsaras, regent deities, the chief gods of the Hindu pantheon, scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and varied animal and floral motifs. The premises also have an ancient Kashivishveshvara Shiva temple, a Swaminarayan temple and two Jain temples.

Buddhist Caves

Buddhist Caves

Photos Buddhist Caves

Buddhist Caves Northeast of the main gate of the fort is a cave where the air is extraordinarily cool. The cave, locally known as Jogida ni Gufa, was found and used by Buddhist monks thousands of years ago. It has Buddhist sculptures carved in stone that resemble the Bodhi Vriksha or Kalpavruksha and other Buddhist motifs. You also come across some beautiful Buddhist sculptures on the mountain on the way to the cave.

Kumbhariya

Kumbhariya

Photos Back Kumbharia Jain Temple

Kumbhariya Kumbhariya is known for its five temples, which are all that remain out of the 360 Jain temples built by Vimal Shah in the 12th century. The white marble temples shine as specimens of reverence and artistic brilliance. Located 40 km away from Taranga, the temples are dedicated to the Jain tirthankars Neminath, Mahavir, Parshvanath, Shantinath and Sambhavnath. The walls, pillars and ceilings are ornately sculpted with motifs of gods and goddesses, apsaras, musicians and horsemen. Open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Photography Rs. 40 and Videography Rs.150 for the interiors. One kilometer from here are the temples of Chamunda Mata and Someshwar Mahadeva, in a beautiful spot near a stream.

Siddhshila

Siddhshila

Photos Siddhshila

Siddhshila Less than one km to the northwest of Taranga is a small hill with a steep slope that is difficult to climb. At the top of the hill there is a deep well, and a small Hanuman temple,with a kund. Among the various small shrines there is one with foot impressions of Chaumukhiji and Bhagwan Ajitnathji. Many Jain acharyas have attained moksha at this sacred place, so it is also called 'Siddhshila'.