Vadnagar

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Vadnagar
Town
Panoramic view of Vadnagar town
Panoramic view of Vadnagar town
Vadnagar is located in Gujarat
Vadnagar
Vadnagar
Location in Gujarat, India
Vadnagar is located in India
Vadnagar
Vadnagar
Location in India
Coordinates: 23°47′06″N 72°38′24″E / 23.785°N 72.64°E / 23.785; 72.64Coordinates: 23°47′06″N 72°38′24″E / 23.785°N 72.64°E / 23.785; 72.64
Country India
StateGujarat
DistrictMehsana
Elevation
143 m (469 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total27,790
Languages
 • OfficialGujarati, Hindi, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationGJ-02

Vadnagar, वडनगर, is a town and a municipality in Mehsana district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Its ancient name was Anartapura. It was also known as Anandapura, and was one of Buddhist places visited by Xuanzang in 640. Alexander Cunningham, a historian and archaeologist, has identified Anandapura with Vadnagar.[2] Vadnagar was also known as Skandhpur after Kartikeya, who is identified with Murugan. Vadnagar is also the birth place of current Prime Minister of Republic Of India, Narendra Modi.

History[edit]

Several ancient inscriptions and literary sources mention a town called Anartapura or Anandapura, which is identified as the area in and around the present-day Vadnagar. The Mahabharata mentions the Anarta Kingdom in the northern part of the present-day Gujarat. The oldest Puranic legend about Gujarat is about a king named Anartha. The town is mentioned in the Tirtha Mahatmya section of Nagara Khanda of Skanda Purana by the name of Chamatkarapura.[3] The Junagadh rock inscription (150 CE) of Western Kshatrapa king Rudradaman I mentions a region called "Anartha" (meaningless) in the northern part of the present-day Gujarat.

The Maitraka rulers of Vallabhi (505-648 CE) issued several land grants to the Brahmins of Anarthapura or Anandapura.[4] The Harsola copper plates (949 CE) of the Paramara king record the grant of two villages in Gujarat area to the Nagar Brahmins originating from Anandapura. This Anandapura is also identified with Vadnagar, which is associated with the Nagar Brahmins.[5] In 2009, the archaeologists discovered a 4 km long fortification near Vadnagar, which they believe could be the historical Anartapura.[4]

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.

Vadnagar's old town is located inside the walls of a fort which has six gates namely Arjun, Nadiol, Amarthol, Ghaskol and Pithori.

Geography[edit]

Vadnagar is located at 23°47′N 72°38′E / 23.78°N 72.63°E / 23.78; 72.63.[6] It has an average elevation of 143 metres (469 feet).

Demographics[edit]

As of 2011 India census,[7] Vadnagar had population of 27,790 of which 14,097 are males while 13,693 are females. Female Sex Ratio is of 971 against state average of 919. Moreover Child Sex Ratio in Vadnagar is around 937 compared to Gujarat state average of 890. Vadnagar has an average literacy rate of 80.53%, higher than the national average of 78.03%: male literacy is 90.41%, and female literacy is 70.42%. In Vadnagar, 12.26% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Languages[edit]

Gujarati is spoken by majority of the people in Vadnagar. People can also speak Hindi and English.

Transport[edit]

Vadnagar bus stand

The town is served by Vadnagar bus stand and Vadnagar railway station. Buses are available to all the major towns in Gujarat from here. Vadnagar railway station is on the Mahesana–Taranga Hill line, a branch railway line. It falls under Ahmedabad railway division of Western Railway zone.

Places of interest[edit]

Sharmistha Lake is a lake in Vadnagar which also has a small island amidst it. It is connected with a 7 km long inlet canal. The island has been developed into an urban park. In 2009, includes stadium construction in island in the lake. [1]

There are scores of temples dedicated to almost every God: Shiva (Daaneshwar Mahadev Temple, Somnath Mahadev Temple and Kashi Vishveshvara temple), Vishnupuri, Chhabila, Hanuman, Ashapuri Mata, Ambaji Mata, Sitla mata, Bhuvaneshpuri Temple, Amther Mata, Gauri kund, Swaminarayan Temple. There are remains of a Buddhist monastery which belongs to 7th century AD as well as two Jain derasars.

Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple, Vadnagar

Hatkeshver Mahadev temple, a 15th-century temple is the most important of the numerous Shiva shrines. 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.[2]

Sitala Mata temple, is ornately carved with figures of celestial beings. Its door frames and ceilings depict the Rasmandala (Krishna dancing with milkmaids).

Kirtistambhas or triumphal arches, two of them, are built of red sandstone and are both identical in size and style. 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.

Other places of interest are Kirti Toran or Narsinh Mehta’s Chori, a toran built in 12th century and in Solanki style[8] although Narsinh Mehta was born in 15th century, Tana Riri garden and shrine, Gauri Kund, Pancham Mehta's well, Janjanio well, Baithakji of Gusaiji, an ancient library and a directional stone of Solanki era.

Education[edit]

Schools
  • Anart Shikshan Kendra
  • Shri B. N. High School
  • Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
  • Navin Sarva Vidyalaya
  • Pattharwali School
  • Royal English Medium School
  • Saraswati Vidya Mandir
  • Sarvajanik Vidyayalay, Vaghasi
  • Vadnagar Girls High School
Colleges
  • Arts and Commerce College, Vadnagar
  • GMERS Medical College, Vadnagar[3]
  • Government ITI, Vadnagar
  • Government Polytechnic, Vadnagar
  • Government Science College, Vadnagar

Healthcare[edit]

Hospitals
  • Bhavna Hospital
  • Drishti Hospital
  • GMERS Medical College & Civil Hospital
  • Sadbhavna Hospital
  • Sardar Patel General Hospital
  • Vadnagar Nagrik Mandal Hospital
  • Vasant Prabha Hospital

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=537034
  2. The Ancient Geography of India: I. The Buddhist Period, Including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang. By Sir Alexander Cunningham, p.493-494
  3. "Tirtha Mahatmya Nagara Khanda Skanda Purana". Wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Lost city could be Gujarat's womb: Archaeologists". The Times of India. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  5. Harihar Vitthal Trivedi (1991). Inscriptions of the Paramāras (Part 2). Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Volume VII: Inscriptions of the Paramāras, Chandēllas, Kachchapaghātas, and two minor dynasties. Archaeological Survey of India. p. 5. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1451755.
  6. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Vadnagar
  7. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20200819114355/https://mahesana.nic.in/tourist-place/kirti-toran/

Template:Archaeological sites in India