Monument – Bandra Worli Sea Link, Mumbai
Built by –  Ar Seshadri Srinivasan
Built in – 2000

“The Bandra-Worli Sea Link, officially known as Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, is an eight-lane wide and 5.6 km long bridge that links Bandra in the western suburbs of Mumbai to Worli in South Mumbai.

The fourth longest bridge in India is a cable-stayed bridge with pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side. The Bandra Worli Sea Link was designed as the first cable-stayed bridge constructed across open seas in India.

Overlooking the magnificent blue waters of Mahim Bay, this splendid architecture is a mighty sight to behold. Undeniably, the Bandra Worli Sea Link is an amalgamation of natural beauty and man-made marvel.

Roll your windows down as you whizz past the bridge, and let the salty sea breeze run through your hair. The spectacle of Mumbai is especially appealing from the bridge’s elevation and makes it the perfect destination to capture a few candid shots of the city in all its glory.”

Photo Courtesy –  www.mageba-group.com

Monument – Azam Khan Sarai, Ahmedabad
Built by – Azam Khan
Built in – 1637

Azam Khan Sarai is one of the grand royal palaces inside the Bhadra Fort compound. It was built by Azam Khan in 1637 and was initially designed as his home. Later it was used as a resting place for travellers during the Mughal era and as a hospital and prison during the British Raj.

Photo Courtesy – commons.wikimedia.org

Monument –ATMA House, Ahmedabad
Built by – Le Corbusier
Built in – 1954

“Mill Owners’ Association Building, also known as Ahmedabad Textile Mill Owners’ Association House (ATMA House), is one of the first modern buildings in Ahmedabad designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier. The ATMA House was commissioned as the association’s new headquarters by Surottam Hutheesing, the then president of AMOA. The building was completed in 1954.

Le Corbusier’s points of reference for building in Ahmedabad were the climate and culture. Climate, with regard to extremities of sun, and culture in terms of paradoxes, of people with futuristic outlooks yet rooted in tradition.

The triple-height entrance hall has a grand approach through the ceremonial ramp. The arrival is on the first floor while the ground floor houses the workspaces of the clerks, which is a separate single-story canteen at the rear end. The third floor houses a top-lit auditorium with a roof canopy and a curved enclosing wall.

The east and west facades are in the form of sun breakers, one of Corbusier’s many inventions which provide visual connectivity and wind flow while avoiding the harsh sunlight. The sun breakers act as free facades made of rough shuttered concrete, while the north and south sides built in rough brickwork are almost unbroken.

On the second floor of the Mill Owners’ Building, the lobby is treated as “”an open space defined by harsh, angular forms and the auditorium as an enclosed space delineated by soft, curvilinear forms, two contradictory elements that both need the other to exist.”

Photo Courtesy – www.archdaily.com

Monument – Astodia Darwaja, Ahmedabad
Built by – Ahmad Shah I
Built in – 15th Century

“Ahmedabad was founded over the ancient settlement of Ashaval in 1411 by Ahmed Shah I of Gujarat Sultanate. He built the first citadel, Bhadra Fort, starting from Manek Burj, the first bastion of the city. The Bhadra Fort had eight gates, excluding the palace gates. When the city expanded, Ahmed Shah built the second fort, which was later fortified by Mahmud Begada in 1486. The second fort had twelve major gates and other smaller gates.

Astodia Darwaja is visible on various roads in the central city. This gate was a part of the 12 gates which served as the entrance to the walled city of Ahmedabad. Built from Ashlar stone masonry, it lies on the southern side of the old citadel and is adorned with lotus medallions.

Dated 15th century, the Astodia Darwaja has three stone arches which are seventeen feet broad and twenty-five feet high, with a platform of 28 by 27 feet.”

Photo Courtesy – heritage.ahmedabadcity.gov.in

Monument – Amdavad ni Gufa, Ahmedabad
Built by –  B. V Doshi
Built in – 1992

Amdavad Ni Gufa was designed to demonstrate the collaboration between an artist and an architect. It is an underground art gallery in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Earlier known as Husain-Doshi ni Gufa, it was designed by renowned architect Balkrishna Doshi and exhibits the works of the celebrated artist Maqbool Fida Husain.

Set adjacent to the Cept University, this museum is a one-of-a-kind structure. From exterior, the Gufa looks more like a work of art, a sculpture of domed shells with black serpentine imagery snaking across the surfaces.

The cave-like underground structure has a roof made of multiple interconnected domes covered with mosaic tiles. The irregular tree-like columns support the domes. The gallery is a unique juxtaposition of art and architecture.

The museum spaces set below the ground contain no straight wall, a surprise when the function of the structure was to house Husain’s paintings. The entry to the area is through a staircase partly hidden through a circular door.

The porcelain mosaic tiles reflect sunlight and mitigate heat. It covers the tortoise shell-inspired roof, which shelters the undulating cave-like interiors below. The gallery has facilities for painting exhibitions and projecting films. The gardens and a cafe are located on the ground floor.

Photo Courtesy – www.pinterest.com

Monument – Akha Bhagat Statue, Ahmedabad
Built by – Sculptor Ratilal Kansodaria

“Akha Bhagat, commonly known as Akho or Akha Rahiyadas Soni, was a medieval Gujarati poet who wrote in the tradition of the Bhakti movement. According to scholars, he lived from 1615 – 1674 or 1600 – 1655. A goldsmith by profession, Akha Bhagat lived in Jetalpur near Ahmedabad. Later in his life, he shifted to Ahmedabad.

Akha no Ordo (“”A room for Akha””) is a small room in Desai Ni Pol. Akha no Ordo was Akha Bhagat’s residence in Ahmedabad. He was a disciple of Saint Gokulnath, grandson of Vallabhacharya and got the inspiration to go towards the way of Bhakti from him. He shared his experience, knowledge and philosophy in chhappas. Chappas were a six-stanza satirical poem. He wrote 746 chappas in his lifetime.

In Rajkot, the Kotharya nala chowk is named after Akha Bhagat as Akha Bhagat Chowk. The soni bazaar of rajkot starts from this chowk.

He is regarded as the most important poet of mediaeval Gujarati literature. Three of his works are dated, including Panchikarana (1645; Mixture of five elements), Gurushishyasamvada (1645; A Dialogue between Teacher and a Pupil) and Akhe-Gita, among which, Akhe-Gita is considered as essential work.”

Photo Courtesy – www.aapnugujarat.org

Monument – Ahmedabad Junction
Built by – Established by Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway (BB&CI)
Built in – 1864

“Some 159 years ago, the first locomotive chugged on the Ahmedabad – Surat line. The railway line was flagged off on 20th January 1863 from Kalupur, some ten years after the railways first came to India.

The first train in India travelled between Mumbai and Thane on 16th April 1853. The Mahajan community rallied for a separate line for Ahmedabad and succeeded in putting the city on the railway map of India. The first train was then flagged off to Surat from the Kalupur Railway Station, also known as Ahmedabad Junction.

The community pressure to create a railway line on such short notice drove the British government to issue a notice that the stone to be used for the renovation of the Kankaria Lake will now be redirected to the construction of Kalupur Station and laying of the railway line.

Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station is the main terminus which gives access to different parts of Gujarat as well as country. It is major station in the city because trains from different parts of the country stops here. Ahmedabad is also considered an important centre of Western Railway zone of the Indian Railways. ”

Photo Courtesy – www.indiarailinfo.com

Monument – Adalaj Stepwell, Ahmedabad
Built by – Commenced by Raja Veer Singh. Completed by Queen Rudabai
Built in – 1499

“Adalaj ni Vav is a beautiful structure descending five stories deep. It was built in 1499 to hold water, provide refuge to travellers and local people and offer spiritual sustenance. The fifth floor of the vav is stunning. The deep turquoise water of the well seems to glow with inner light, surrounded by astonishing beauty forever captured in stone.

The tale of the creation of Adalaj ni Vav is full of love, war, devotion, and betrayal.

Rana Veer Singh commenced the construction of Adalaj ni Vav to provide relief to his people in the arid region. However, before the completion of the Vav, Rana Veer Singh was killed in battle against King Mehmud Begada. Mehmud Begada fell in love with Queen Rudabai, the widowed queen of Rana Veer Singh.

Queen Rudabai agreed to marry Mehmud Begada on the condition that he completes the stepwell’s construction. However, once the construction was complete, she threw herself into the well and died.

The architecture of Adalaj ni Vav is an amalgamation of the Solanki style of architecture adorned with Hindu and Jain images and Islamic influences. The entire structure is covered with carvings, sculptures, and ornamentation, combining Indo-Islamic architectural elements and designs. Islamic floral patterns blend seamlessly with Hindu and Jain symbolism and scenes of everyday life, such as women churning butter. Hindu and Jain gods also adorn the walls; to this day, the stepwell serves as a temple. It’s not uncommon to see flower offerings.

The only stepwell with three entrances, Adalaj ni Vav, is unique!”

Photo Courtesy – www.gosahin.com