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Pavagadh is a small
but tall mountain about 46 kilometers away from
Vadodara. The history of the religious and historic
mountain is linked with Patai Raval. It is said
that the king Vanaraj Chavada established Champaner
at the, foot of Pavagadh in fond memory of his
wise minister Champa. The Patai Raval family
ruled it and took care of the boundary. The
folk tales say that the Mahakali joined the
Garba ' (The traditional Gujarati group dance)
assuming the form of a woman during the Navaratra
festival. There is the Mahakali seat at the
top of the hill. The last Patai Jaisinh saw
the beautiful lady and threw nasty looks at
her. The deity cursed him. As a result of that
curse, the emperor of Gujarat, Muhammad Begda
assaulted Pavagadh and won over the hill on
the boundary.
Guidance
!
Patai was defeated and assassinated. Muhammad
Begda shifted his capital from Ahmedabad to
Champaner for some time because of some diplomatic
reasons. He developed the town and constructed
some very nice places. The fort of Champaner,
Uohra mosque, Mandavi, Kirtistambh,
Jama Masjid, Nagina Mosque and Kevda
Mosque are few of them. The remains of the Palace
of Begda are still found near Vad Talav (Banyan
Pond) two kilometers away from Champaner.
The great
music maestro of I6th century and Tansen's contemporary
rival Baiju Bawra belonged to Champaner Pavagadh
has a height of about 800 metres. IC is one
of the important pilgrimages of Kali. The bus
service has been extended up to Machi. The remains
of Raval Palace still exist at Machi. There
are rest houses, holiday homes and small hotels
at Machi. Then comes Teliya Talav and Dudhia
Talau The temple of Kali is at the height of
550 metres. Now-a-days the rope-way facility
has been made available to the tourists to reach
the temple. About 250 steps have to be climbed
from there. A little above the Kali Temple there
is Sadanshah Pir Dargah. There are numerous
tales, songs and dramas knitting the story of
Patai Raval. The scholars and historians may
accept it or not, but the people believe it
as part of the history. Pavagadh is the gateway
to Panchmahals. It is the area of the tribals
and the backward people. The government has
taken special care for the Pudhio Tolov –
Pavagadh development of the area, It has granted
many concessions and offered subsidies to the
new industries coming up in this area.
As a result
of it, Halol and Kalol
near Pavagadh have turned into a virtual industrial
estate. Dhabadungari, a nearby place has a very
nice temple. The locations of hilly areas around
Halol provide a very good sight. A film studio
at Halol has this added advantage.
On the eastern side, the Rangpur Ashram run
by Mr. Harivallahh Parikh is busy with the activities
for the upliftment of the local tribals. The
manganese mines of Shivrajpur have stopped excavation
and there is production these days. There are
plenty of minerals in the Ambadungar across
Chhota Udepur town. Godhra is the capital town
of Panchmahals district. It was an important
centre during the Moghul and Maratha pericxi.
North of Godhra is Devgadhbaria and Dohad, the
tribal and forest belt. The forests are not
as dense as before.
There the beast sanctuary at the Devgadhharia
is an old princely state and a beautiful town,
Dohad is almost at the border of central India
and also a tinny trade centre. Educational institutions
and colleges for higher education have now been
established in Dabhoi, Sankheda, Halol, Chhota-Udepur,
fodeli, Godhra Devgadhbaria, Dohad, Lunawada,
Santrampur, etc. Marker places for the products
of forests and industrial units have also been
developed at these towns. Lunawada, another
princely state is in the north of Godhra, but
it has lost its old glory. Ratanpur is to the
Mommad Begdo. south of Godhra, via Venganpur.
It is known for its splendid temple built with
two types of stones, a number of sculptures
an<i a beautiful arch. It was build in the
l4th century. On the main highway there are
streams of hot water. Then there are stone varities
near Timba. By crossing Mahi River, we enter
into the Kheda district.
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