About Patan

Country: India | State: Gujarat

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Patan: Ahmedabad (129 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Patan: October to March

Peak Season: November to February

At a distance of 50 km from Mehsana, 129 km from Ahmedabad, 142 km from Mount Abu, 237 km from Vadodara, 251 km from Gandhidham, 260 km from Udaipur, 266 km from Rajkot, 295 km from Bhuj, 345 km from Jamnagar, 366 km from Junagadh, 384 km from Surat, 446 km from Porbandar, 477 km from Dwarka and 672 km from Mumbai, Patan is an ancient fortified city located on the banks of Saraswati River in Gujarat, India. It is one of the popular places to visit near Ahmedabad, and among the must-include places in Gujarat tour packages.

Earlier known as the Anhilwad Patan, the ancient city of Patan was built in 746 AD by Vanraj Chavda, the prominent king of the Chavda dynasty. Legend has it that he laid the foundation at the place pointed out by Anahil, a shepherd friend from his younger days, and named the city after him. The city was the capital of Gujarat for almost 650 years, from 746-1411 CE. The town flourished during the Solanki dynasty in the 8th-11th century. It was also the thriving center for Jainism, and the Solanki rulers commissioned a large number of Hindu and Jain temples, as well as other civic and religious constructions. But the city lost all its charm when Mahmud of Ghazni attacked it in 1024 AD. Later, Qutb-ud-din Aibak sacked the city between 1200 and 1210, and it was destroyed by the Allauddin Khilji in 1298 CE.

From 1304 to 1411 CE, Patan was the Suba headquarter of Delhi Sultanate. A new fort was built by these Subas, a large portion of which is still intact. In 1411, Sultan Ahmed Shah moved the capital to the newly founded Ahmedabad, leaving Patan as a shadow of its former glory. Patan was part of the Baroda state from the mid-18th century until India's independence in 1947 when Baroda became part of Bombay state and Patan became part of Gujarat state in 1960.

The city is shielded by the fort walls and gates, which prevents the ancestral aura and old-world charm from escaping. From medieval forts to an ancient Kali temple built in the Solanki dynasty, Patan has many attractions that lure tourists as part of Patan tour packages. Rani ki Vav or the Queen's stepwell has the unique most architectural attributes and is the must-visit place in Patan. Sahasralinga Sarovar, Panchasara Parshwanath Jain Derasar, Khan Sarovar, Shankeshwar Jain Thirth, etc. are the other popular places to visit in Patan.

Besides, Patan is also famous for Patola sarees, one of the finest hand-made textiles in the world. It has its origin in a very intricate and difficult technique of tie-dyeing and knot dyeing known as 'Bandhani'. It has gorgeous colors, designs, and durability and is one of a kind. Costs start from Rs. 20,000 which may go up to Rs. 20,00,000 depending on work done and thread used. Only two families are making Patola Sarees nowadays.

Navratri, Uttarayan and Rani ki Vav festival are the three major festivals and events celebrated with much fanfare in Patan. Apart from these, Modhera Dance Festival is another important festival celebrated in Patan which opens the doors to the rich classical dances of India for its visitors.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport, Ahmedabad is the nearest airport which is about 122 km from Patan. It has flights from New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Lucknow. Patan Railway Station has well-connected trains from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Jodhpur, and Mehsana Junction. Ahmedabad Railway Station is the major railhead which has well-connected trains from all the major cities of India. Patan Bus terminal is the nearest bus station which is well-connected with all the major cities of Gujarat including Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Vadodara, Bhuj, Rajkot, Junagadh, Mumbai, Udaipur, and Surat.

The best time to visit Patan is from October to March when the weather is pleasant enough to explore the rich cultural heritage of this ancient fortified town. Summers are too hot and humid so better to avoid visiting Patan during this time.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Average
STD Code: 02766
Languages Spoken: Gujarati, Hindi & English
Major Festivals: Navratri, Rani ki Vav Festival & Modhera Dance Festival
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Patan

By Air

Nearest Airport: Ahmedabad - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (122 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Patan Railway Station (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Patan Bus Stand (1 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Patan

Heritage

#1 of 11 Places to Visit in Patan

At a distance of 4 km from Patan Railway Station, Rani ki Vav is an intricately carved stepwell located in the fortified town of Patan. Situated on the banks of River Saraswati, it is one of the finest step-wells in India and among prime places to visit during your Patan trip.

Rani ki Vav was built by Rani Udayamati in memory of her husband Bhimdev I (1022 - 1063 AD) of the Solanki dynasty. The construction started around 1050 AD and was probably completed by Udayamati and Karandev I after the death of her husband. One can find the reference of Udayamati building the monument in the 'Prabandha Chintamani' composed by Merunga Suri in 1304 AD. The vav was later flooded by the nearby Saraswati River and silted over until the late 1980s, when it was excavated by the Archeological Survey of India, with the carvings found in pristine condition. Today, Rani Ki Vav is amongst the best step-wells in India, and one of the most famous legacies .....

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Heritage

#2 of 11 Places to Visit in Patan

At a distance of 1 km from Rani ki Vav and 5 km from Patan Railway Station, Sahastralinga Talav is a medieval water tank located in Patan, Gujarat. Maintained by Archaeological Survey of India, it is one of the prominent places of heritage in Gujarat and among the top places to visit in Patan.

Sahasralinga Talav, meaning 'lake of a thousand lingams', was built in 1084 by Siddhraj Jaisinh over a lake originally known as Durlabh Sarovar, built by the King of Durlabhray. This tank is situated on the north-western part of Patan, on the banks of the Saraswati River. The water tank, which is now dry, is known to have been cursed by a woman named Jasma Oden, who refused to marry Siddhraj Jaisinh and committed Sati to protect her honor.

The Sahastralinga Talav is pentagonal in shape and marked by a series of mounds showing its shape. The talav is about 1 km broad and spans over an area of about 17 hectares. At its fullest, the talav would have contained about 4,206,500 cubic meters .....

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Museum

#3 of 11 Places to Visit in Patan

At a distance of 1 km from Rani ki Vav and 3 km from Patan Railway Station, Patan Patola Heritage is a small private museum located in Patan, Gujarat. Situated near Patan City Museum, it is one of its kind in the world and among the best places of sightseeing in Patan.

Run by the award-winning Salvi family, Patan Patola Heritage Museum came into existence in 2014. Over 3,000 sq. ft of space and three floors, it documents the history of the Patan Patola, a textile that combines techniques of tyeing, dyeing, and weaving. Worn by royals and aristocrats on auspicious occasions, and prized as a holy cloth even in Southeast Asia, the Patola finds mention in the 14th century travel accounts of Ibn Batuta, who gifted Patolas to kings. These sarees were also mentioned in the 'Kalpsutra', a 2000-year-old Jain holy book.

This museum is an excellent place to see Patola silk weaving in action as part of Patan tour. It .....

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Heritage

#4 of 11 Places to Visit in Patan

At a distance of 28 km from Mehsana, 35 km from Patan and 100 km from Ahmedabad, Modhera Sun Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Modhera village near Patan in Gujarat. Situated on the banks of River Pushpavati, it is one of the popular places of heritage in India, and among the must include places in Patan packages.

Dedicated to the Sun God, the Sun Temple in Modhera was built by King Bhimdev I of the Solanki dynasty in 1026 AD, and is one of the prominent heritage sites near Ahmedabad. This temple not only reflects the architectural abilities of the Solanki rulers but also, speaks highly of the devotional zeal of the ruling dynasty at that time. As in the Sun Temple at Konark, this temple was also designed that the first rays of the Sun fall on the image of Lord Surya at the time equinoxes. The temple .....

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Pilgrimage

#5 of 11 Places to Visit in Patan

At a distance of 2 km from Patan Railway Station, Panchasara Parshwanath Jain Derasar is a Jain Temple situated in Gungdipati Part of Patan city. It is one of the ancient Jain temples in Gujarat and among the top places to visit in Patan.

Panchasara Parshwanath Jain Derasar is one of the largest of more than 100 Jain temples in Patan. Dedicated to Shri Parshwanathji, it was built by King Vanraj Chavda around 746 CE. He brought the moolnayak idol from his native place Panchasara and hence called as Panchasara Parashwanath Bhagwan. Temple was destroyed by the Muslim invaders and again renovated in the course of time. The renovated Jinalaya of the past was made of wood and was rebuilt in stone during the 20th century. There are about 51 smaller temples surrounding the main temple.

Also known as the Jinalaya Vanraj Vihar, Panchasara Parshwanath Temple is adorned with sophisticated stone carvings and white marble floors that are characteristic of Jain architecture. The length of .....

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Museum

#6 of 11 Places to Visit in Patan

At a distance of 1 km from Rani ki Vav and 3 km from Patan Railway Station, Patan City Museum is a museum located in Patan city of Gujarat. Situated near Patan Patola Heritage, it is one of the renowned museums in Gujarat and among the must visit Patan Tourist Places.

Patan City Museum or Patan Museum was established in the year of 2010 with the sole objective of acquainting the less known cultural heritage of Patan. This museum has its own special charm that attracts tourists all over the world. The museum mainly showcases a wide range of marble and sandstone sculptures which date back to the ancient and medieval periods of Gujarat. Some of these statutes do represent deities of Hindu religion and also the erstwhile ancient kings of Gujarat. All these age-old artifacts have been properly preserved to showcase before the visitors.

Timings: 10.30 AM - 5.30 PM, Closed on Wednesdays, 2nd & 4th Saturdays

Entry Fee: Rs. 5 for Indians & Rs. 50 for Foreigners

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Pilgrimage

#7 of 11 Places to Visit in Patan

At a distance of 27 km from Patan and 36 km from Mehsana, Bindu Sarovar is a sacred pond located in Siddhpur town near Patan, Gujarat. Situated on the banks of Saraswati River, it is one of the holy places in Gujarat and among the most visited places near Patan.

Bindu Sarovar simply means a lake of drops. It is believed that Lord Mahavishnu's tears have fallen in this lake. Also known as Matru Gaya Kshetra, Bindu Sarovar is one among the five sacred theerthas of Hindu religion - Pancha Sarovar. The other four are Manas Sarovar in Tibet, Pushkar Sarovar in Rajasthan, Narayana Sarovar in Gujarat and Pampa Sarovar in Karnataka. Hindus normally go to Gaya in Bihar to offer pinda to their male ancestors but Bindu Sarovar is the only place in India where Matru Shradh is being carried out. It is also known as the Sri-sthal or a 'pious place' and finds a reference in the ancient Vedic text the Rig-Veda.

According to legend, Bindu Sarovar is the place where Sage Kardhama did severe .....

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Pilgrimage

#8 of 11 Places to Visit in Patan

At a distance of 60 km from Patan Railway Station, Shankeshwar Jain Temple is an ancient Jain temple located in Shankeshwar town in Gujarat. It is one of the important Jain pilgrimage sies near Ahmedabad, and among the best places to visit as part of Patan sightseeing packages.

Built in the year 1098 CE by Sajjan Shah on the banks of the Rupen River, the temple is dedicated to Lord Parshwanath. Later, Vastupal Tejpal renovated this temple under the instructions of Vardhamansuri in the year 1229 CE. The temple was destroyed by Alauddin Khalji in the 14th century and later in the 16th century CE, a new temple with 52 idols was built under the inspiration of Vijaysensuri. But, the current temple was built in 1811 CE.

The Shankeshwar birth ranks next only to those on Shatrunjaya Hill in Palitana, in terms of importance to the Swetambara Jains, and among the most .....

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Backwaters

#9 of 11 Places to Visit in Patan

At a distance of 4 km from Patan Railway Station, Khan Sarovar is a manmade lake situated in Patan, Gujarat. It is one of the few historical water bodies in Patan and among the best places to visit in the ancient capital of Gujarat as part of Patan Packages.

Khan Sarovar is situated outside the South Gate in Patan, Gujarat. The tank was constructed using the stones from ruined structures in the year 1589 AD by Mirza Aziz Kokah, the then governor of Gujarat.

The large water tank is square in shape and measures 1228 by 1273 feet. Separated only by pillars of Hindu workmanship, the tank contains stone steps and masonry on all four sides along with the outflow of the waste weir. Thus, the water is prevented from rising above a certain height during the rainy season. Besides, one can also visit Khan Sarovar Park located on the premises.

Timings: 8 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free

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Heritage | City

#10 of 11 Places to Visit in Patan

At a distance of 29 km from Gandhinagar, 109 km from Vadodara, 175 km from Bhavnagar, 220 km from Rajkot, 230 km from Mount Abu, 250 km from Udaipur, 257 km from Surat, 310 km from Jamnagar, 534 km from Mumbai, 585 km from Bhopal, 681 km from Jaipur and 905 km from Delhi, Ahmedabad is the largest city and also the former capital of Gujarat. Situated on the banks of the River Sabarmati, it is one of the popular places of heritage in India, and among the must-include places in Gujarat tour packages.

Ahmedabad is India's first UNESCO World Heritage City and is also regarded as one of the fastest-growing cities in India. Also known as Amdavad, the city of Ahmedabad is the commercial hub and also the living symbol of the rich cultural heritage of Gujarat state. Popularly called the Land of Gandhi, Ahmedabad is closely associated with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the father of the nation. It .....

Distance (From Patan): 129 Kms
Trip Duration (From Patan - Including Travel): Full Day
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Top 3 Patan Tour Packages

Package Duration Starting Price Details
Best of Patan in 2 Days 2D/1N ₹ 5100 View Details
Patan & Little Rann of Kutch in 2 Days 2D/1N ₹ 5300 View Details
Patan & Mount Abu in 3 Days 3D/2N ₹ 8600 View Details