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Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
22.4833° N, 73.5333° E
About
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in Panchmahal district in Gujarat, India. It is located around the historical city of Champaner, a city which was founded by Vanraj Chavda, the most prominent king of the Chavda Dynasty, in the eighth century. He named it after the name of his friend and general Champa, also known later as Champaraj. The heritage site is studded with forts with bastions starting from the hills of Pavagadh, and extending into the city of Champaner. The park's landscape includes archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage monuments such as chalcolithic sites, a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16th-century capital of the state of Gujarat. There are palaces, entrance gates and arches, mosques, tombs and temples, residential complexes, agricultural structures and water installations such as stepwells and tanks, dating from the eighth to the 14th centuries. The Kalika Mata Temple, located on top of the 800 metres (2,600 ft) high Pavagadh Hill, is an important Hindu shrine in the region, attracting large numbers of pilgrims throughout the year. The transition between Hindu and Muslim culture and architecture in the late 15th to early 16th century is documented in the park, particularly the early Islamic and pre-Mughal city that has remained without any change. It was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2004.
Historical Timeline
Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history
Jain presence on the hill
3rd century BCE
Chalcolithic occupation
Chalcolithic period
British administration
13 July 1829
Capture of Pavagadh fort
17 November 1484
Founding of Champaner
c. 746–806 CE
Ram Gaur Tuar rule
11th century
Alauddin Khalji's conquest of Anhilwad
c. 1297
Khichi and regional conflicts
1418 and c. 1450
Death of Malik Asad and rising tensions
1483
Mahmud Begada's rule and development
d. 1511
Succession and Mughal attack
1526–1536
British period observations
1803
Later conservation and World Heritage inscription
July 2004
Archaeological Features
Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site
Defensive Structures
Water Management Features
Public and Civic Structures
Burial and Funerary Structures
Industrial and Craft Structures
Religious and Ritual Structures
Artistic and Decorative Features
Agricultural and Land Use Features
Domestic and Habitation Structures
Environmental and Natural Features
Food Production and Processing Features
Transportation and Communication Structures
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit
Tours, travel arrangements, and practical information
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