India, Gugurat, Champaner-Pavagadh Archeaological Park

I was in Vadodara, Gugarat, India over the weekend, so my friend Pankil asked if I'd like to see a few sites we hadn't previously seen.  This is an area not far from the Step Wells I had visited a year or so ago, but the Step Wells are about 1100 years old.  The buildings, city walls and mosques of the Champaner area date to about 1500, though they were built by some of the same Mogul emperor types that built the wells.  You can see a lot of similarity in the materials and craftsmanship.

https://writtenpost.blogspot.com/2016/03/sun-temple-of-gugarat.html
https://writtenpost.blogspot.com/2016/02/a-complete-step-well.html
https://writtenpost.blogspot.com/2016/01/anatomy-of-step-well.html

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Beautiful stone buildings with intricate carvings.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin 

Photo by Pankil Shah 

 Twin minarets (and an old gringo)...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Large internal area, heavy columns supporting the roof and upper floors.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin 

 A smaller, shallower mini-step-well out back. 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin 

Guardian of the temple (no tigers in this general area...)

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin 

Such intricate carving...think of the man(person)-hours it took to create.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin 

My friend Pankil (Aaska's dad) to show the scale of the place.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin 

Another mosque in the same area, a km or so away.  


The area is inhabited by the local folks whose ancestors have no doubt lived among the old buildings for many generations.  On a Saturday afternoon, they go about their business as always...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin 

A lonelier part of the complex.  A ruined temple along the roadway that connects the park.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin 

So, if you happen to be passing through Gugarat State, 
near Vadodara, stop in and see the park.  
Pretty Cool !

- Mark

https://www.tourmyindia.com/heritage/champaner-pavagarh-archaeolgical-park.html