Sarkhej Roza
SarkhejRoza is a mosque and tomb complex located in the village of Makarba, 7 km south-west of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. The complex is known as “Ahmedabad‘s Acropolis”, due to 20th century architect Le Corbusier’s famous comparison of this mosque’s design to the Acropolis of Athens. Although there are many rozas across Gujarat, the SarkhejRoza is the most revered. SarkhejRoza is the most revered. Sarkhej was once a prominent centre of Sufi culture in the country, where influential Sufi Saint Shaikh Ahmed GanjBaksh lived. It was on the saint’s suggestion that Sultan Ahmed Shah set up his capital on the banks of the Sabarmati, a few miles away from Sarkhej.
SarkhejRoza comprises one of the most elegant and unique architectural complexes of Ahmedabad. In its architecture, SarkhejRoza is an example of the early Islamic architectural culture of the region, which fused Islamic stylistic influences from Persia with indigenous Hindu and Jain features to from a composite “Indo-Saracenic” architectural style. The architectural style of SarkhejRoza is a precursor to the Mughal period in a true amalgamation of Hindu, Jain and Islamic styles. Hindu craftsmanship and construction know-how was overlaid on Islamic sense of geometry and scale. The Roza Complex at Sarkhej was built at the advent of Sultanate era.
Architecture
The SarkhejRoza complex has been interpreted as being composed of both ‘jism’ and ‘ruh’, giving it the qualities of a human being. Like many monuments built during that period, the SarkhejRoza fused both Muslim and Hindu principles of pillars and brackets follow the Islamic genre, much of the ornamentation and motifs have Hindu designs. Most of the buildings do not have arches and depend on pierced stone trellises for stability. In its architecture, SarkhejRoza is an example of the early Islamic architectural culture of the region, which fused Islamic stylistic influences from Persia with indigenous Hindu and Jain features to from a composite “Indo-Saracenic” architectural style. The mosque, with its courtyard, creates a religious milieu; the royal connection is made through the tombs and palaces; the great tank, platforms and pavilions were used by the common man.
The mosque is a fascinating structure for the ones who admire architectural excellence. It has multi domed prayer halls, arches and spacious courtyards and can be reached from the saint's tomb. As a result, the mosque has become the most secluded and tranquil place in the complex. However, the most imposing structure in SarkhejRoza remains the tomb of the saint, owing to the mammoth size of the dome. The religious as well as the royal worlds co-exist in the complex. The royal tombs stand silently exhibiting their royal majesty.
History
At the time when Ahmedabad city was built, which was during the region of Ahmed Shah (1410-1443 AD), Sarkhej was a village with a population consisting of weavers and indigo-dyers who were predominantly Hindu. It became associated with the name of Shaikh Ahmed KhattuGanjBaksh, a Sufi Saint and a friend / advisor to Sultan Ahmed Shah, who in his later years retired to the quiet environment of Sarkhej, away from from the city. The saint lived till he was 111 years of age and was greatly venerated during his lifetime. Myths about his miraculous powers are prevalent even today. Life and teachings of Shaikh GanjBakshKhattu Upon his death in 1445, the reigning monarch, Mohammed Shah ordered a mausoleum built in his honour, along with a mosque. The construction of these two monuments were completed in 1451 A.D., by his successor Qutb'ud-Din Ahmed Shah. In the latter half of the 15th century, Sultan Mahmud Begada completed the complex by excavating a central tank and adding a number of pavilions and a small private mosque. Sarkhej now, became a place of repose and meditation; a summer resort for the royal family. Also, he built a mausoleum for himself and his family opposite to that of the saint, where his son Muzzaffar II and his queen, Rajabai were buried.A garden were constructed to commemorate the event. The complex is therefore one of the producand his queents of an important phase in the socio-political history of Gujarat. Further additions to the complex were made in 1584 A.D., when Akbar's forces defeated Muzaffar III. A country house gujarat, and in particular, the city of Ahmedabad.
Visiting Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Everyday
Location: At Makarba Post, Jeevraj Park, 11 km from Ahmedabd Station