Patan, Gujarat



Patan, also known as Anahilavad, is the administrative seat of Patan district in the Indian state of Gujarat and is an administered municipality. It was the capital of Gujarat's Chavda and Chaulukya dynasties in medieval times, and is also known as Anhilpur-Patan to distinguish it from Prabhas Patan. During the rule of Gujarat Sultanate, it was the capital from 1407 to 1411.

Patan was established by the Chavda king Vanaraja. During the rule of several Hindu and Muslim dynasties, it thrived as a trading city and a regional capital of northern Gujarat. The city contains many Hindu and Jain temples as well as mosques, dargahs and rauzas.

It is a historical place located on the bank of the now extinct Saraswati River. Patan has an old market which is quite sizeable and is believed to have been in continuous operation since at least the rule of Vaghelas and gandhis.

History
Patan was established by the Chavda ruler Vanaraja in the ninth century as "Anahilapataka". During 10th-13th century, the city served as the capital of the Chaulukya dynasty, who succeeded the Chavdas.

Jain community
Patan has been home to a community of Jains for at least several hundred years. According to a 1375 CE letter written by a Jain monk,

The people here participate in shining devotion, gifting, morality, and asceticism; the mendicants are firm in upholding the blossom of equanimity; the many Jain temples are blessed with a multitude of images; and even in time of drought the people obtain success in religious actions by means of their merit. The merchants here have built up a mountain of gold; there are many playful young women with swift feet and side-glancing doe-like eyes; gifting is given as if to a divine tree which will sing their praises; and even those focused on moksha at once touch that true excellence amidst the pleasures of transmigration.

– Verses 13-14 of Vijñapti Mahālekha, sent by the Kharatara Gaccha Jain mendicant Jinodayasūri from Patan to Lokahitācārya in Ayodhya, in 1375 C.E.

Education
Patan is home to the Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University named after the famous polymath Acharya Hemachandra. It was previously known as North Gujarat University.

There are many schools and colleges in Patan. Sheth B.D. High School, P.P.G experimental higher secondary school and Junior College is the oldest. Other famous schools are P.P.G. Experimental High School, Adarsha Vidhyalaya, Bhagwati International Public School, Sheth M.N. High School, Sheth B.M. High School, Prerna Mandir High School, Pioneer School of Science, Lord Krishna School of Science and Eklavya School of Science.

There are K.D. Polytechnic Patan for diploma in engineering, Government Engineering College and Sheth M.N. Science College, Sheth M.N.Law College. Patan is the education hub in North Gujarat.

Patan is also known for fotonVR startup who won egovernence silvar award for Innovative Use of ICT.

Heathcare
Patan is a prominent medical centre in North Gujarat with almost 200 practicing medical professionals. It has a medical college named GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Dharpur-Patan at Dharpur on Unjha Highway.

Major hospitals include General Hospital, Janta Hospital, Naari Hospital, Docter House and other Clinics in Patan.

Patola


The Patola is one of the finest hand-woven sarees produced today. This is a specialty of Patan. It is famous for extremely delicate patterns woven with great precision and clarity. A patola sari takes 4 to 6 months to make, depending on how complicated the designs is and if the length is 5 or 6 metres. This saris are totally colored with vegetable colors. Costs start from Rs. 20,000 which may go up to Rs. 20,00,000 even depending on the difficulty of work as many times gold threads are included during its weaving process.

There are only two families making Patola saris. They don't teach this art to other family members. Only their sons are eligible to learn.

Salvivad, a place where Patolas are woven along with places where traditional clay toys are made are worth visiting. Many annual religious fairs act as tourist destination.

It is an ancient art and needs to be preserved as well as nurtured. Local folks in Gujarat always praises the "Patan Na patola" being most costly item for the women to afford in Gujarat.

Tourist attractions
Two famous architectural monuments have gain the status of national monuments. One of them is Sahastralinga tank and other one is Rani ki vav stepwell.

Panchasara Parshvanath Temple
The Panchasara Parshvanath Temple is an important Jain temple located in Patan.

Rani ki Vav
Rani ki vav is an intricately constructed stepwell situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat, India. It is located on the banks of the now dried-up Saraswati River, which was a seasonal river even during its best period.

This stepwell is the oldest and the deepest among the 120 other stepwell in Gujarat. The sculpture of Rani ki vav depicting Vishnu's avatars, Hindu Goddesses, Jain idols and their ancestors. Most of the sculpture is in devotion to Vishnu, in the forms of his avatars (Krishna, Rama and others), representing their return to the world. It was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on 22 June 2014.

Sahasralinga Tank
Sahasralinga Tank is an artificial water tank that was constructed during the Chaulukya (Solanki) rule. It is designated as a Monument of National Importance and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Regional Science Centre
The Regional Science Centre in Patan, Gujarat is dedicated to interactive exhibits, activities, and shows to promote science learning for all ages. Explore dinosaurs at the Dinosaur Park, learn about the human body, see the wonder of optics, and discover how science is used in everyday life through hydroponics, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting. Enjoy science demonstrations, hands-on experiments, and virtual reality experiences.

Local
City bus service is run by municipality connecting nearby village. Autorickshaw are available. Patan Bus Station is under construction.

Bus Station
Patan Central GSRTC Bus Station is the largest bus station of Gujarat.

Rail
Patan is 108 km from Ahmedabad Railway Station. Ahmedabad - Bhagat Ki Kothi (Jodhpur) Main line. It is also connected by rail to Mehsana, Ahmedabad and Okha by BG Line. Patan railway station is now connected with Bhildi Railway Station With New BG Line. New train will start from Bandra to Bhagat Ki Kothi and connectivity to Rajasthan, Delhi, Mumbai.

Roads
The National Highway 68 connecting Ramgarh in Rajasthan with the province of Gujarat passes through Patan-Chanasma, thus connecting it with the cities Jaisalmer, Barmer and Radhanpur. State Highways SH 7, 10, 130 pass through Patan and connect it with the nearest cities of Gujarat. National Highway 68 connects it with Mehsana, Himmatnagar and Ahmedabad.

Air
The nearest airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad. Mehsana Airport It is just 51 km From Patan city. Deesa Airport It is just 53 km from Patan city.

Demographics
India census, Patan had a population of 112,038. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Patan has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 65%. In Patan, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Patan is home to a large Śvetāmbara Murtipujaka Jain community that has deep roots in Patan. The community has been documented in an ethnography by John E. Cort (2001).