ARCHAELOGICAL

Sarkhej Rauja
From the archaeological point the most important group of buildings are the tombs and mosque with a palace around the tank of Sarkhej. Its construction is attributed to Muhammad Begdo who excavated the tank, surrounded it by flight of stone steps, constructed a richly decorated supply sluice and built at its south-west corner the splendid palace and harlem. The tomb was built here for Shaikh Ahmad Khattu, known as Ganj Bakhsh, who was the revered saint whose blessings were invoked while founding Ahmedabad. The saint had died at a ripe age of 111 years.

The mausoleum is roofed by a large central dome supported by a range of thirteen pillars on each side. The walls are broken up into two storeys and perforated stone work of great variety fills up the spaces above and below. A porch leads from the dargah into the court of the mosque which has neither the arched facade, nor the minars but a roof of uniform height, which is supported by 120 pillars. The chamber housing the dargah of Sultan Mahmud Begda has a balcony window which projects into the tank.The complex has also preserved the hand-written copy of Kuran by Saikh Ahmad Khattu.The atmosphere of reverent repose which pervades this beautiful prayer complex in the solitudes of Sarkhej still makes it a charming retreat, visited by devotees and city-visitors.

Lothal
A find of tremendous archaeological significance. This site, 87 Kms. from Ahmedabad was discovered some 20 years ago. Lothal has proved to be a full-fledged settlement of the Harappan era dating as far back as the 2nd milennium B.C.