Patan, Gujarat

Patan was established by the Chavda ruler Vanaraja in the ninth century as "Anahilapataka".{{cite book |author=Anthony Kennedy Warder |title=Indian Kāvya Literature: The bold style (Śaktibhadra to Dhanapāla) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kKD-v7tPc8EC&pg=PA194 |year=1988 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0450-0 |pages=194–195 }} During the 10th–13th centuries, the city served as the capital of the Chaulukya dynasty, who succeeded the Chavdas.

Vanaraja Chavda (c. 746 CE to c. 780 CE),{{Sfn|Mishra|Ray|2016|pp=35-36}}{{cite web |title=Carved wooden ceiling dome in the Parsvanatha Temple, Patan |url=https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/c/019pho001000s18u01910000.html |publisher=British Library |access-date=1 July 2022}} the most prominent ruler of the Chavda dynasty established the territory of Patan in 746 CE{{Sfn|Mehta|2017|p=15}}{{Sfn|Katariya|2007|p=352}} and built the Panchasara Parshwanath temple with main idol of Parshvanatha brought from Panchasar village.{{Sfn|Cort|2010|p=64}}{{sfn|Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency|1896|p=152}}

File:Patan Parshvanatha.jpg

During the rule of Chaulukya dynasty (or Solanki dynasty), Patan was a major pilgrimage centre of Jainism. There are more than 100 temples in the region.{{Sfn|Desai|2007|p=217}} The temple was rebuilt in the 16th–17th centuries after destruction by Muslim invaders.{{Sfn|Titze|Bruhn|1998|p=192}}

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:{{rp|21}}

{{poem quote|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.}}

Patan is home to the Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University{{cite web|url=http://www.ngu.ac.in/|title=HNGU-Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan|author=Result Center Team, HNGU Patan|website=Ngu.ac.in|access-date=18 October 2018}} named after the polymath Acharya Hemachandra. It was previously known as North Gujarat University.

There are many schools and colleges in Patan. Kendriya Vidyalaya Patan, Sheth B.D. High School, P.P.G experimental higher secondary school and Junior College is the oldest. Other 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.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

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.{{fact|date=February 2025}} Also near by Patan 15km away is [https://youtube.com/@jagrutividhyalayvareda?si=klHi-TruksqE0wlL Jagruti U.B.Vidhyalay, Vareda],{{external links inline|date=February 2025}} a leading high school in rural area of Patan.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

Patan is also known for the fotonVR startup which won the [https://nceg.gov.in/nceg_header/files/Award_Citation_Booklet_23rd_NCeG.pdf egovernence silvar award]{{external links inline|date=February 2025}} for Innovative Use of ICT.

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.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

Major hospitals include General Hospital, Janta Hospital, Naari Hospital, Docter House and other clinics in Patan.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

{{unreferenced section|date=February 2023}}

File:Gujarat patola.jpg

Patola is one of the finest hand-woven sarees produced today. This is a specialty of Patan. It is known 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. The saris are colored with vegetable colors. Costs start from Rs. 20,000 which may go up to Rs. 20,00,000 depending on the difficulty of work and the amount of gold threads included during the weaving process.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

File:Antique Patan Patola Double Ikat Trade Textile courtesy Wovensouls Collection, Singapore.jpg

There are only two families making patola saris. They do not teach this art to other family members. Only their sons are eligible to learn.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

Salvivad is a place where patolas are woven along with places where traditional clay toys are made. Many annual religious fairs act as tourist destinations.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

It is an ancient art and needs to be preserved as well as nurtured. Local people in Gujarat praise the "Patan Na patola" as being the most costly item for women to afford in Gujarat.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

File:Sahasralinga Talav.jpg

File:Sahasraling Talav Canal.jpg

Two architectural monuments have gained the status of national monuments.{{fact|date=February 2025}} One of them is Sahastralinga tank and other one is Rani ki Vav stepwell.

{{Main|Panchasara Parshvanath Temple}}

The Panchasara Parshvanath Temple is an important Jain temple located in Patan.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

{{Main|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.{{cite book |author1=John E. Cort |title=Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ip7mCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA32 |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-513234-2 |page=32 }}

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.{{Cite web |last=Centre |first=UNESCO World Heritage |title=Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen's Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/922 |access-date=2017-01-29 |website=Whc.unesco.org |language=en}} 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.{{cite web |title=Gujarat's Rani ki Vav added to UNESCO World Heritage site List |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/gujarats-rani-ki-vav-added-to-unesco-world-heritage-site-list/ |access-date=22 June 2014 |website=News.biharprabha.com}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Sahastra Ling Talav {{!}} Patan, Gujarat, India |url=https://patan.nic.in/tourist-place/sahastra-ling-talav/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |language=en-US}}

The Regional Science Centre,{{cite web |title=Regional Science Centre, Patan |url=https://www.indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in/sciencecentres/regional-science-centre-patan |website=India Science, Technology and Innovation portal |access-date=5 January 2025}} sometimes Regional Science Museum Patan,{{cite web |title=Regional Science Musuem [sic] Patan {{!}} Patan, Gujarat, India |url=https://patan.nic.in/tourist-place/rigional-science-musuem-patan/ |website=Patan District |access-date=5 January 2025}} provides interactive exhibits, activities and shows to promote science learning. There is a Dinosaur Park, exhibits about the human body, optics, and how science is used in everyday life through hydroponics, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting. There are also science demonstrations, hands-on experiments, and virtual reality experiences.{{cite web |title=Case Study: Regional Science Centre (Dinosaur Park), Patan | publisher=fotonVR |url=https://fotonvr.com/regional-science-centre-a-case-study | website=fotonvr.com |access-date=5 January 2025}}

The city bus service is run by the municipality, connecting nearby villages. Autorickshaws are available.{{fact|date=February 2025}} Patan Bus Station is under construction.{{when|date=February 2025}}{{Cite web | date=2023-12-09 |title=Long-pending completion of Patan's new bus port to take another 6 months |url=https://deshgujarat.com/2023/12/09/long-pending-completion-of-patans-new-bus-port-to-take-another-6-months/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=DeshGujarat |language=en-US}}

Patan Central GSRTC Bus Station is under construction and upon completion, it will be the largest bus station of Patan, Gujarat.{{when|date=February 2025}}

{{rws|Patan}} is 108 km from Ahmedabad Railway Station. Ahmedabad – Bhagat Ki Kothi (Jodhpur) is the 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 via the new BG Line.

The new train will{{when|date=February 2025}} start from Bandra to Bhagat Ki Kothi, with connectivity to Rajasthan, Delhi, and Mumbai.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

{{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=290|frame-height=300|frame-align=center|type=line|stroke-width=3

| id= Q25203072|title=National Highway 68|text= Map of National Highway 68 in red }}

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.

The nearest airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

Mehsana Airport is 51 km from Patan city.

Deesa Airport is 53 km from Patan city.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

• Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University
• Government Engineering College, Patan
• GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Dharpur-Patan
• M.K. University
• North Gujarat Education Society Mumbai (HNGU)

{{Bar box

|title=Religions in Patan city{{fact|date=May 2024}}

|titlebar=#Fcd116

|left1=Religion

|right1=Percent

|float=right

|bars=

{{bar percent|Hindus|orange|87.11}}

{{bar percent|Muslims|green|11.35}}

{{bar percent|Jains|pink|1.27}}

{{bar percent|Others|black|0.28}}

}}

{{update|inline|date=May 2024|reason=A newer census report is available}}

{{As of|2001}} India census,{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher=Census Commission of India}} 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).{{cite book|last=Cort|first=John E.|author-link=John E. Cort|title=Jains in the World|publisher=Oxford University Press, USA|publication-place=New York|date=2001|isbn=0-19-513234-3}}

• Kinjal Dave – Gujarati singer
• Maniraj Barot – Gujarati singer
• Anandiben Patel – former chief minister of Gujarat
• Karsanbhai Patel – businessman
• Naresh Kanodia – Gujarati film actor and singer
• Hitu Kanodia – Gujarati film actor and politician
• Mahesh Kanodia – Gujarati film singer and politician

• Kumarapala (Chaulukya dynasty)
• Hemachandra
• Siddhpur

{{Reflist}}

• Prof. K.A. Nizami, Foundation of the Delhi Sultanat, in A Comprehensive History of India, Volume V, Part 1.{{where|date=February 2025}}
• Chandler, Tertius. 1987. Four Thousand Years of Urban Growth: An Historical Census. St. David's University Press.
• {{cite book|last=Cort|first=John E.|author-link=John E. Cort|title=Jains in the World|publisher=Oxford University Press|publication-place=New York|date=2001|isbn=0-19-513234-3}}

{{Commons category|Patan}}

• [https://patandp.gujarat.gov.in/en/home Patan District Panchayat]

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Wikivoyage|Patan (Gujarat)}}

{{Patan district}}

{{Gujarat}}

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Category:Populated places established in the 8th century

Category:Former capital cities in India

Category:Cities and towns in Patan district