THE State got its first world heritage site on Thursday when the medieval ruins of Champaner-Pavagadh town was declared a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The decision was announced at UNESCO’s 28th session in Beijing, China.
The ruins, scattered over 6 sq km around the foothills of Pavagadh in the Panchmahals about 45 kms from here, has more than 100 small and large monuments dating back to the early medieval period of Indian history. It was selected along with 15 other sites after a UN agency made numerous visits in the past one year in order to scrutinise the site.
The valuable recognition has come following the initiative taken by city-based Heritage Trust that began working on the ruins about 22 years ago. Persistent efforts made by the trust brought the site to the notice of State and central government agencies, including the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which declared it a protected site some years ago.
Trust’s president and noted architect Karan Grover, who was in Beijing to make a final presentation on the site, described it as an ‘on top of the world’ moment for his team. The trust members had made it their mission to fight for the preservation of the site.
‘‘Its good news for everyone and I am elated,’’ Grover said, speaking over over phone from Beijing. ‘‘Late prof R N Mehta took me to the site about 30 years ago. Since then, it has been my mission to salvage the site.’’
Set up in 1984 by city-based professionals, with Grover as its secretary, the trust had since been lobbying with various Government, non-Government and international agencies like the UN to get the world heritage status for this site. In 2000, the site was put on World Monuments Watch List, as one of the 100 most endangered sites of the world by the New York-based World Monuments Fund.
‘‘Once it got the ‘endangered’ tag, Government and international agencies began spending their time and money for the site,’’ says a trust spokesperson.
The deserted 15th century capital of Champaner was first excavated by late professor R N Mehta of the M S University in the late 1960s. The Champaner fort was set up by the sultans of Gujarat.
The ruins lie at the bottom of an underground archaeological area with a few standing structures. Within the inner citadel area, a small village exists since 19th century. It derived its subsistence from Kalikamata temple on Pavagadh hill. Champaner has been high on the religious map, and the newly bestowed status is expected to add to the town’s tourism economy.
As the news trickles in, everyone associated with the site beams with happiness. ‘‘It’s great news. It should help the region and the State economically, culturally and archaeologically too,’’ says Prof V H Sonwane, former head of MSU’s Archaeology Department, who did his doctorate on the monuments in Panchmahals district.
Residents of Pavagadh and neighbouring villages also received this news with great elation. Local Ghanshyam Joshi, who has been associated with the regeneration of the site, says: ‘‘Now, it is the responsibility of the people here to make the place more attractive and approachable for tourists. At the same time, they have to ensure that the fragile ecology is preserved.’’
Past forward: from glory to ruins
THE history of the Champaner-Pavagadh archaeological park goes back to pre-historic times, when it was first inhabited by the Stone Age man. Then, after a long gap, early settlements were recorded in the 6th and 7th century AD when the site became part of the Maitrak dynasty ruling from Valabhi in Gujarat. With the waning of Maitraks in the 9th century, the region came under the influence of Gurajar Pratihar and Parmara rulers.
The site then passed into the hands of Khichi Chauhans of Rajasthan, the descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan in 13th century. The site’s Muslim period began with Sultan Mehmood Begada, who shifted his capital from Ahmedabad to Champaner fort to ward off the Sultans of Mandu. That was in the year 1484.
The region passed into the hands of Mughals in the year 1535 when the fledgling town was plundered by Humayun. By the end of 16th century, the town fell from grace, losing its importance as a place of commerce and governance.
The architecture is a mix of Muslim and Hindu styles with some pre-Sultanate monuments having Jain motifs and temples. The Muslim monuments, mostly built by Mehmood Begada, like the Jami Masjid, Nagina Masjid, Kevda, Lila Gumbaj are typical of the Sultanate architecture with medieval Hindu influence, attributed mainly to Hindu artisans.