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Gandhinagar,
named after the father of the Nation (Mahatma Gandhi), is
the new capital city of Gujarat. It was built on the west
bank of the river Sabarmati and is just 32 kms away from
Ahmedabad in the north-east direction. Gandhinagar is
known to be the second planned city in India after
Chandigarh to be created from scratch after Independence.
It represents a spacious and well-organised look of an
architecturally integrated city. It has 30 sectors around
the central government complex with each sector having its
own shopping centre, health centre, primary school,
housing colonies and community centre. These 30
residential sectors are laid in an ordered style
influenced by the work of Le Corbusier, who designed
Chandigarh. Its near-symmetrical numbered streets are wide
and strangely quiet, lined with a total of 16 lakh trees.
Extensive planting of trees and large recreational areas
along the river gives the city a fresh, green garden city
atmosphere.
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An expressway connects Gandhinagar with Ahmedabad. Care
has been taken to avoid pollution. The famous temple of
Swaminarayan, namely Akshardham is also built in
Gandhinagar which one of the sole tourist site of
Gandhinagar. This temple was constructed out of 6000
tonnes of pink sandstone. |
Beyond the greenery and well-organised town planning,
Gandhinagar is largely apathetic. Akshardham, the
headquarters and most famous temple of Swaminarayan sect
is worth a visit and probably, the sole reason for a short
stopover in the city. The colossal temple complex on J
Road, Sector 20 is built out of pinks sandstones, all six
thousand tonnes brought from Rajasthan.
The temple with domed roofs raised on 100 profusely carved
pillars has its interiors furnished with Karnataka
rosewood and the statutes of Swaminarayan and two other
prominent gurus in gold leaf coating. The hall of Holy
Relics, containing possessions of Swaminarayan, also has a
state-of-the art display of images projected onto 14
screens. The complex surrounded by gardens and fountains
also houses three exhibition halls and a centre for
applied research in social harmony. The halls have figures
representing themes from Hindu epics, while the works of
mystical poets such as Tulsidas and Kabir are displayed
through models.
A Hindu revival movement, Swaminarayan sect, one of the
richest in the world was established in 1907 by
Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj on the vedic ideals
pronounced by Lord Swaminaryan (1781-1830). The saint born
in Uttar Pradesh settled in Gujarat where he built six
temples, wrote religious discourses and proclaimed that
his presence would continue through a succession of
saints. Besides attracting hordes of devotees and
tourists, the temple complex also witnessed a terrorist
attack recently.
HISTORY
In 1960
when the old Bombay (currently known as Mumbai) state was
bifurcated into Maharashtra and Gujarat, the city of
Bombay went to Maharashtra. It was then decided to
construct a new capital for Gujarat. Thus was the origin
of Gandhinagar. |
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| State
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Gujrat |
| Area
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57 sq. kms |
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Population : |
8,11,841 lakhs
(Approx) |
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