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Friday 12 July 2013

Sabarmati Ashram

Sabarmati Ashram (also known as Gandhi Ashram, Harijan Ashram, or Satyagraha Ashram) is located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, adjoining the Ashram Road, on the banks of the River Sabarmati, four miles from the town hall. An ashram is a Hindu religious retreat. This was one of the residences of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, generally called Mahatma Gandhi, who lived there for about twelve years, with his wife Kasturba.
It was from his base here that Gandhi led the Dandi march also known as the Salt Satyagraha on March 12, 1930. In recognition of the significant influence that this march had on the Indian independence movement the Indian government has established the ashram as a national monument.



History

The ashram was originally established at the Kocharab Bungalow of Jivanlal Desai, a barrister and friend of Gandhi, on 25 May 1915. At that time the ashram was called the Satyagraha Ashram. Gandhi had wanted to carry out various activities such as farming and animal husbandry, in addition to other pursuits which called for the need of a much larger area of usable land. So that some two years later, on 17 June 1917, the ashram was relocated to an area of thirty-six acres on the banks of the river Sabarmati and came to be known as the Sabarmati Ashram. It is believed that this is one of the ancient ashram sites of Dadhichi Rishi who had donated his bones for a righteous war. His main ashram lies in Naimisharanya, near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The Sabarmati ashram is sited between a jail and a crematorium, and Gandhi believed that a satyagrahi has invariably to go to either place. Mohandas Gandhi said, "This is the right place for our activities to carry on the search for truth and develop fearlessness, for on one side are the iron bolts of the foreigners, and on the other the thunderbolts of Mother Nature."
While at the ashram, Gandhi formed a tertiary school that focused on manual labour, agriculture and literacy, in order to advance his efforts for the nation's self-sufficiency. It was also from here that on March 12 1930,Gandhi marched to Dandi, 241 miles from the ashram, with 78 companions in protest at the British Salt Law, which increased the taxes on Indian salt in an effort to promote sales of British salt in India. It was this march and the subsequent illegal production of salt (Gandhi boiled up some salty mud in seawater) that spurred hundreds of thousands across India to join in, either in the illegal production, buying or selling of salt. This mass civil disobedience in turn led to the jailing of some 60,000 freedom fighters by the British Raj over the following three weeks. Subsequently the government seized the ashram. Gandhi later asked the Government to give it back but they were not willing to do this. He had by then already decided on 22 July 1933 to disband the ashram, which then became a deserted place after the detention of so many. Then local citizens decided to preserve it. On March 12, 1930 Gandhi had vowed that he would not return to the ashram until India had gained independence. Although this was won on 15 August 1947, when India was declared a free nation, Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948.



Present day
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalay


The ashram now has a museum, the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalay. This had originally been located in 'Hridaya Kunj', Gandhi's own cottage in the ashram. Then in 1963, having been designed by the architect Charles Correa, the museum was built. The Sangrahalay was then re-located into the well-designed and well-furnished museum building and was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India on 10 May 1963. Memorial activities could then continue.
Other buildings and sites within the ashram are:
Nandini: This is an old ashram guest house where visitors from India and abroad are accommodated. It is situated on the right hand side of 'Hridaya Kunj'.
Vinoba Kutir: This cottage is named after Acharya Vinoba Bhave who stayed here. Today It is also known as Mira Kutir after Gandhiji's disciple Mirabehn who later lived there, following Gandhi's principles. She was the daughter of a British Rear-Admiral.
Upasana Mandir: This is an open -air prayer ground, where after Prayers Gandhiji would refer to individual's questions and as head of family would try to analyse and solve these queries. It is situated between Hridaya Kunj and Magan Nivas.
Magan Niwas: This hut used to be the home of the ashram manager, Maganlal Gandhi. Maganlal was the much loved nephew of Gandhi who he called the soul of the ashram.


Museum Features

"My life is my message" gallery, consisting of 8 life-size paintings and more than 250 photo-enlargements of some of the most vivid and historic events of Gandhi's life
Gandhi in Ahmedabad Gallery, tracking Gandhi's life in Ahmedabad from 1915–1930
Life-size oil painting gallery
Exhibition showing quotations, letters and other relics of Gandhi
Library consisting of nearly 35,000 books dealing with Gandhi's life, work, teachings, Indian freedom movement and allied subjects, and a Reading Room with more than 80 periodicals in English, Gujarati and Hindi
Archives consisting of nearly 34,117 letters to and from Gandhi both in original and in photocopies, about 8,781 pages of manuscripts of Gandhi's articles appearing in Harijan, Harijansevak, and Harijanbandhu and about 6,000 photographs of Gandhi and his associates
An important landmark of the ashram is Gandhi's cottage 'Hridaya Kunj', where some of the personal relics of Gandhi are displayed
Ashram book store, non-profit making, which sells literature and memorabilia related to Gandhi and his life's work, which in turn supports local artisans.


Ashram Activities

The Sabarmati ashram receives about 7 lakh (700,000) visitors a year whose needs have to be catered for. It remains open for visitors every day of the year from 8.00am to 7.00.pm
Collecting, processing, preserving and displaying archival materials such as writings, photographs, paintings, voice-records, films and personal effects..
The charkha used by Gandhi to spin khadi and the writing table he used for writing letters are also a few of the priceless items kept and looked after here.


Charkha kept at Gandhi Ashram
Microfilming, lamination and preservation of negatives
Arranging exhibitions on different aspects of Gandhi’s life, literature and activities
Publication of the "Mahadevbhani Diary," which chronicles the entire history of the Indian freedom struggle
The Ashram Trust funds activities that include education for the visitor and the community and routine maintenance of the museum and its surrounding grounds and buildings
Helping and undertaking study and research in Gandhian thought and activities. Keeping in contact with those being helped. Publishing those results of study and research together with allied literature, for the benefit of all
Observance in a suitable manner of occasions connected with Gandhi’s life
Maintaining contact with the youth and student community and providing facilities for them to study Gandhian thought



A Walk in Gandhi Ashram

With prior appointment from The Secretary, Gandhi Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust, the Gandhi Smarak Sangralaya, Gandhi Ashram Ahmedabad 380 027 a walking tour can be organised. This 90 minute guided tour starts with a slide show and ends at the Library. The tour visits the following places, in order:
Magan Niwas - Magan Gandhi - The soul of the ashram which exhibits different designs of charkhas.
Upasana Mandir - Prayer Ground where the ashramite listened to bhajans (devotional songs) and readings from the Holy Gita, Quran and Bible.
Hriday Kunj - Like the heart in the body this centrally located dwelling supplied energy to the entire place.
Vinoba-Mira Kutir - The hut where Vinoba Bhave and Madeleine (renamed Mirabehn by Gandhi) the daughter of the British Rear-Admiral Sir Edmond Slade stayed at different times.
Nandini - This was the guest house of the ashram.
Udyog Mandir - A temple of industry symbolizing self-reliance and dignity of labour.
Somnath Chattralaya - A cluster of rooms occupied by ashramities who forsook family affairs and shared ashram life.
Teacher's Niwas - Bapu's associates stayed at teacher's chali
Gandhi in Ahmedabad - This gallery exhibits major events of Gandhiji's life from 1915 to 1930 in Ahmedabad.
Painting Gallery - Eight life size paintings have been displayed.
My life is my message - Events which were turning points in Gandhiji's life and which ultimately changed the history of India are depicted through oil paintings and photographs.
Library & Archives - Archives preserve the legacy of eternal Gandhi in 34,000 manuscripts, 150 felicitations, 6,000 photo negatives, and 200 files of photostats. The Library has 35,000 books including 4,500 books from Mahadevbhai Desai's personal collection and books on Gandhian thought. It is an invaluable resource for researchers.








Ahmedabad The Most Beautifull City In India

Ahmedabad i/ˈɑːmɨdəbɑːd/ i/ˈəmdɑːvɑːd/ is the largest city and former capital of the Indian state of Gujarat.
The city is the administrative headquarter of Ahmedabad district and is the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court is located here. With a population of more than 5.8 million and an extended population of 6.3 million, it is the fifth largest city and seventh largest metropolitan area of India. Ahmedabad is located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, 32 km (20 mi) from the state capital Gandhinagar.
Though incorporated into the Bombay Presidency during British rule, Ahmedabad remained one of the most important cities in the Gujarat region. The city established itself as the home of a developing textile industry, which earned it the nickname Manchester of the East. The city was at the forefront of the Indian independence movement in the first half of the 20th century and the centre of many campaigns of civil disobedience to promote farmers' and workers' rights, and civil rights apart from political independence.
The city has large populations of Hindus, Muslims and Jains, and these cultures are preeminent in the city, with their religious festivals and cuisine dominating the city's culture. Cricket is a popular sport in Ahmedabad, and the Sardar Patel Stadium is situated within the city. In 2012, The Times of India chose Ahmedabad as the best city to live in India.



MAP OF AHMEDABAD

Mini Kankariya Naroda Ahmedabad


Located in Naroda, beside Naroda Vegetable Market, right beside the hush of the buzy road, this Mini-kankaria is the perfect place to rewind your senses to refresh and take a small break with your family or friends. 




Two lions places across two ends of the entry gate, looking over at the road; surely to tempt any child and a child within you. When you enter with a minimal entry fees of Rs.5, to the right you get to see small food stalls to add up to your taste-buds with Ice-creams, Chinese dishes,chats and many other delicious items to go with. 


While you are munching on your snack, you might get to see the mini train go by on the lane that mark the area between the food stalls and the little lake. As you go near to the lake, you will find yourself near mother nature. In between the lake you will find bunch of trees look like jungle and various different kinds of birds flying across the sky to their shelter on the trees. 


If you take a chance to go boating in to the beautiful lake near the mid, you will also get to see bats hanging upside down on the trees enjoying their sleep. The best time to visit the lake would be evening when you will get to see all different kinds of birds flying back to their home, ducks showering in lake water, sun above smiling and shining at you. 


You can also take an evening walk around the lake to feel the calm and composure. On the extreme right, you shall get to see children running around on the grass and parents enjoying their own time on the swinging benches places all around the lake. 


Long swings and rides like Giant wheel, rocket are sure to lure you towards them.If you are the person who is more into indoor games, you have your set of games within the game room like game consoles, table tennis and many others. And when you are going back to the parking, you might also see a giant Elephant playing at a corner for your enthusiasm.


So if you are looking for a good place to hangout with your family or friends, this is a good choice which will surely entertain you and give you a break from your busy life.



MAP OF MINI KANKARIYA NARODA AHMEDABAD

Law Garden

Law Garden is a public garden in the city of Ahmedabad, India. The market outside the garden is very famous for the handicraft goods sold by local people. The road at the side of the garden is filled with street hawkers selling all kinds of food items.
The Law Garden eatery market would be regularized. The standing committee has asked the municipal commissioner to get the design and policy prepared. The regularization will help generate employment and will help the civic body to keep a close watch on the quality of food served there.






MAP OF LAW GARDEN
MAP

Sabarmati River Front

The Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project is an initiative by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to develop the Sabarmati riverfront in the city of Ahmedabad, India. It is being developed by the Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL)funded by central government of india that was established in May 1997 with a seed capital of 1 crore (US$170,000) and was charged with the responsibility of developing the approximately 10.4 km stretch along the river in the city. The project has encountered several delays due to concerns regarding water level, flooding, rehabilitation of displaced slum dwellers and met with severe opposition from activists involved with slum rehabilitation. However, the process of obtaining land for the development, through clearance and reclamation has been substantially completed. It is also the largest slum displacing project of the city till date.



History

The first known proposal for developing the riverfront was given in 1961 by prominent Ahmedabad citizens and the French architect Bernard Kohn.
In the first phase, EPC identified a 9 km stretch of the riverfront extending from Subhash bridge to Vasna barrage and proposed to reclaim 162 hectares (400 acres) of the riverbed. SRFDCL planned to sell or lease out a part of it to finance the project. In 2003, it extended the project to cover a 20 km stretch from the Narmada main canal to Vasna barrage.





Design problems

The average width of the Sabarmati channel was 382 metres (1,253 ft) and the narrowest cross-section 330 metres (1,080 ft). To develop the riverfront, SRFDCL had uniformly narrowed the channel to 275 metres (902 ft), ensuring this constriction did not affect its carrying capacity, according to officials. According to them, the peak discharge in the Sabarmati in August 2006 was between 260,000 and 310,000 cu ft/s (8,800 m3/s), which caused floods that washed away hundreds of hutments. However, Gujarat state irrigation department measured a peak flow of 550,000 cu ft/s (16,000 m3/s) in 1973. Officials claim embankments being built along both the banks will protect the entire reclaimed area, including resettlement sites, from floods, a statement that has been criticised as unsubstantiated



Land Use


Panoramic view of Sabarmati Riverfront Jan 2011, Ahmedabad
SRFDCL plans to sell 21 per cent for residential and commercial purposes and rest of the land will be used to set up promenades, informal markets, gardens and to extend the road network. For maximum usage of land, the floor space index (FSI) has been raised up to 5. A portion of ten per cent has been reserved for the rehabilitation of slum dwellers. A 1997 EPC study of the estimated 10,000 families living along the riverbank concluded that 4,400 were to be resettled and rehabilitated. In 2003, the Gujarat government transferred land to AMC, stipulating that resettlement and rehabilitation was to follow epc recommendations. This has been challenged as a severe undercounting. A survey in 2003 by Swapan Garain of the International Institute for Social Entrepreneurship Management, Mumbai, established that the number of slum households along the riverbank was 14,555, of which 6,293 needed to be rehabilitated.


View of Sabarmati Riverfront May 2012, Ahmedabad
The EPC plan assures slum dwellers secure tenure, access to roads, infrastructure services and a 2–3 km proximity to their present location, to maintain livelihood sources. In 2005 however, Girish Patel, a social activist in Ahmedabad, filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court, arguing that the scheme would in fact disrupt livelihoods. Acting on the petition, on 8 March 2005, the court issued a stay order on eviction and called for policy documents, when formulated, for prior approval..

Perennial status

SRFDCL's intention to cash in on the new perennial status of the Sabarmati by keeping water in the course throughout the year in the 10.5 km city stretch also caused apprehensions. The river used to be seasonal, retaining water for two to three months. According to the EIA, maintaining a water depth of 1 m at Subhash bridge will require a continuous flow of 108 to 140 mld from October to June. As of now, surplus water in the Narmada main canal is being diverted to ensure this. But given that Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam, responsible for Narmada water allocation, has no agreement with SRFDCL, Sabarmati's perennial status may be threatened unless AMC shells out.


Project details
Project is undertaken with a prime objective of environmental improvement and provision of housing for the poor who living in life threatening conditions along river bed. The project has been planned as a self-financing project. The revenues would be generated from the sale of proclaimed land. 12 billion (US$210 million) project includes walkway development, road development along the river, promenades, garden, construction of 4000 houses under slum rehabilitation, amusement parks, golf courses, water sports park and construction of Kotarpur Weir.


MAP OF SABARMATI RIVER FRONT

Kankaria

Kankaria Lake is one of the biggest lakes in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. A lakefront was developed around it which has many public attractions like zoo, toy train, kids city, tethered balloon ride, water rides and water park, food stalls and entertainment facilities. Kankaria Carnival is a week long festival being held here in last week of December. Many cultural, art and social activities are organised during carnival. It is located in the southern part of the city, in Maninagar area.





History

Kankaria Lake was built by Sultan Kutubuddin in 15th century. The work was completed in 1451 CE and was known as "Qutub Hojj" or "Hauj-E-Kutub" .It was used for bathing by the kings. It had a water purification system but it has been lost with the time. At one point of the circular lake, there opens a walkway which later merges into a garden called Nagina Wadi (which means beautiful garden in Urdu) that is located in the centre of the lake. With an approximate circumference of 1.4 miles (2.3 km), it represents the regale history of Ahmedabad. It is a 34-sided polygon having steps which leading down to water level.





Renovation

The central garden and the walkway had been revamped and utilities are enhanced.[3]Upon completion of the renovation the lake was officially inaugurated in a week long event known as "Kankaria Carnival".[4]The inauguration ceremony for renovated Kankaria lakefront was held on December 25, 2008.





Kankaria Zoo

Kamla Nehru Zoological Park was established by Rueben David in 1951 CE spread over 21 acres. It was rated the best zoo in Asia in 1974.[6]They are 450 mammals, 2,000 birds, 140 reptiles in a 31 acre zoo. It is a treasure of wild animals like tigers, lions, python, anaconda, snakes, elephant, albinos (white), like the rhesus monkey and peacock, spotted deer, white blackbuck, chinkara, elephants, emu, jungle babbler, bush-quail and common palm civet. Kankaria Zoo has also records in breeding of rare species in Zoo like pythons, crocodiles, bearcats and wild asses. [7] Reuben David was awarded Padma Shri in 1974 for it.


Balvatika

It is a children's park named after Jawaharlal Nehru. Balvatika has a boat house, playroom, butterfly and weapon displays, mirror house, toy house and planetarium.



Kids City

Kids City is a miniature world designed for kids. It is spread in 4240 sq.metre area having 18 activity centres including banks, fire station, science lab, radio station, police station, court room and prison, dental as well as medical hospital, theatre, BRTS, heritage gallery, town governance, IT centre, News room, ice-cream factory, etc. AMC had applied for copyrights and patents on the individual games in the premises, the unique point system, Virmo (Virtual Money) and the design of the different venues in games.



Toy Trains
Atal Express - Toy Train


A train named Atal Express (Named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birthday 25 December 2008) was imported from London, the train circles the lake on a 4.5 km track at a speed of 10 km/h. The train has the capacity to carry 150 passengers, including 36 adults. The train is manufactured by Severn Lamb.During the first 11 months of introducing the train, it attracted nearly a million visitors. After the success of this train, another train was also started which named Swarnim Jayanti Express.



Balloon Safari


Ahmedabad Eye is a tethered balloon ride set up near Kankaria Lake after renovation. The tethered balloon complex spread over 3000 square yard, is divided into four sections including a restaurant, tethered balloon, heritage exhibit and an exhibition displaying the making of the Ahmedabad Eye. SKYZ is a balloon themed restaurant located at the Ahmedabad Eye complex. It is managed by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Rainforest theme restaurant is also there.



Nagina Wadi

Musical Fountain at Nagina Wadi
There is an island in center of Kankaria Lake which houses a small summer palace and a musical fountain. Food stalls are also there.



Stone Mural Park


India's biggest Stone Mural Park named Gurjar Gaurav Gatha on the side walls of the circular lake in which sculptors are depicting, in pink sand stone, the history and rise of Gujarat is under construction. It has murals covering 3150 sq feet depicting the history of Ahmedabad right now but when completed, it will measure 6000 feet in length and will be world's largest mural (30000 sq.metre).
Following subjects are being included in murals: folklores and history of Ahmedabad, great rulers of Gujarat, ports, commerce and good practices(ethical business-trade traditions), education, freedom fight, cultural heritage, art and literature, expression of culture, today’s Gujarat, global Gujaratis, selected stories of common Gujaratis in past centuries.[18]It will also includes stories about ancient sage Dadhichi, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jhaverchand Meghani and Indulal Yagnik


map of kankaria

Saturday 6 July 2013

Three Gates

Teen Darwaja (Tran Darwaja, Three gates) - It is composed of 3 arched entrances was built by Sultan Ahmed Shah to serve as a royal entrance to Maidan Shahi. Mughal emperor Jehangir and his wife Nur Jahan used to watch the Tazia procession of Mahuram from over these gates.



The architectural marvel and the beauty of Teen Darwaza is an excellent spot for sightseeing in Ahmedabad. The gorgeously arched gates and the intricately carved walls and pillars make Teen Darwaza a special place to visit. It is because of this, it is considered as India's finest epitome of Islamic culture and architecture. This gateway is one of the oldest and the longest in the Ahmedabad city.


MAP OF 3 GATES.

MAP