Jhulta Minara - ( Shaking Minara ) Ahmedabad-gujrat
Two minaretes of ruined mosque, now in Ahmedabad railway station, 1866
Two minaretes of ruined mosque, now in Ahmedabad railway station, 1866
Sidi Bashir Mosque was located in the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Due to its unique construction, the minarates of mosque are also called Jhulta Minar or Shaking Minarets.
Ahmedabad is well known for its swaying minarets, more commonly known as Jhulta Minar. A classic example of superb craftsmanship, Jhulta Minar is actually a part of the mosque Siddi Bashir. The mosque has been constructed in such a manner that, if you apply a little force on its upper arc, the Minar tends to sway.
The Bibiji mosque faces east and it stands in front of the Bibiji dargah, which was built a few years before the minarets were created.
There are two well known pairs of Shaking Minarets in Ahmedabad, one located opposite the Sarangpur Darwaja and the other near the Kalupur Railways Station Area. The one near Sarangpur Darwaja is within the vicinity of the Sidi Basir Mosque built in 1452 AD by Sidi Bashir, a slave of Sultan Ahmed Shah. They are three storeys talls with carved balconies where visitors were once allowed to climb all the way up.The other set of minarets near the Railway Station is taller in height. However, these are not in a very good condition as it is believed that the British had dismanteld them to understand the cause of vibrations. They could not resolve the engineering add it was not possible to put them back in their original condition. Demonstration of the minarets shaking or vibrating are not carried out anymore.
The construction of the mosque started in 1430 and work on it completed in 1454; 24 years hence.
CARVINGS IN JHULTA MINAR
The mosque with 154 pillars, five domes, five doors, and five tiblas has intricate designs of superb craftsmanship. Indian monuments and historical sites have always being known for great artistic work and jhulta minar is one of it. Sultan Ahmed Shah built the memorial for his mother Bibiji at Rajpur- Hirpur. It is said, he wanted the mosque to bear special features, so that it would be known not just for its looks, but also for its startling novelty.
Mohammad Khwaja Moinuddin, a Local Resident explains, “This monument is known as Bibiji’s Masjid and its tower shake. Till now nobody knows why it shakes. Earlier there were 2 towers and when one shook one of them, the other one also moved. It is told that British had broken one tower to find out the reason why it shakes but they could not crack the secret to the mystery of the Jhulta Minar. At that time there was no government here and the tower was not repaired and since then only one tower exists. But that too shakes.”
Close up
Mohammad Khwaja Moinuddin, a Local Resident explains, “In a 2002 earthquake, 2 floors of the Minar had collapsed. The archaeological department repaired the minaret but while repairing also they did not get the reason behind the shaking of the tower.”
Mohammad Khwaja Moinuddin further adds, “We have given an application for the renovation and restoration of this minaret to the ASI but have not received any reply from them. The administration has also been informed of the monuments plight. They had said that they will repair it but did not do so, while giving the alibi that the budget had not come from Delhi.
Tip of the Minar
How to get there
By road: Gujarat has one of the better developed road networks in India. Ahmedabad is well connected with all major cities and towns by road. Prominent bus stops are located at Gitamandir near Kalupur Railway Station and Paldi. Regular bus services are available by Gujarat state transport buses and private operators to all the major destinations of the state.
By rail: The main railway station is located in Kalupur area. This station falls under the prominent national railway circuit and is connected to all major cities of India. If you are on the western side of the Sabarmati river, then you can go to the Gandhigram station near Ashram road to buy your railway tickets easily.
By air: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport at Ahmedabad is an international airport with direct flights to USA, UK, Singapore, Dubai and other international hubs. Numerous domestic flights are also operational from here
Conclusion
After 10 years of neglect and facing the tests of time, the only thing that is needed is a way of getting the shaking minarets of Bibiji Mosque alive. With over six hundred years of existence and more than ten years of neglect people in the area feel a revival plan is a must.
Photographer review
It was a great experience at the jhulta minar and it is a wonder due to its specialty of swinging. The place is a must visit for those people who are interested in historical sites and for those who wish to see something new and special.
