Top Places to visit in Mehsana, Gujarat

Mehsana also spelled Mahesana, is a city and municipality in Mehsana district, in the Indian state of Gujarat. Established in the 14th century, the town was under Gaekwads of Baroda State from the 18th century to the independence of India in 1947. The municipality was established in 1919–20. The town has a population of about 1,85,000. Dairy, oil and natural gas are major industries while there are several small and medium enterprises in the town.

Mehsana district (alternate spelling "Mahesana") is one of the 33 districts of Gujarat state in western India. Mehsana city is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district has a population of over 1.8 million and an area of over 4,500 km². There are over 600 villages in this district with a population of 1,837,892 of which 22.40% were urban as of 2001.

Mehsana district borders with Banaskantha district in the north, Patan and Surendranagar districts in west, Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad districts in south and Sabarkantha district in the east.

Major towns of the district are Mehsana, Vijapur, Bahucharaji, Satlasana, Modhera, Unjha, Vadnagar, Kalol, Kadi, Visnagar, Kherva, Jotana and Kheralu.

Places of worship

Simandhar Swami Jain Derasar is a temple located near Modhera crossroads. It is 49 metres (161 ft) long, 30 metres (97 ft) broad and 33 metres (107 ft) high. The central deity (moolnayak) of the temple is a 12 feet (3.7 m) white idol of Simandhar Swami in lotus position (padmansa).

Major Hindu temples include: Pushtimarg temples of Madanmohanlalji temple and Dwarkadhishji temple, Toranvali Mata temple, Brahmani Mata temple, Hinglaj Mata temple, Bahuchar Mata temple, Kalupur Gadi Swaminarayan temple, BAPS Swaminarayan temple, Gayatri temple, Ambika Mata temple and Somnath Mahadev temple.

There is a temple dedicated to Ayyappa established by the South Indian community and a Gurdwara Sahib established by the Sikh community near Radhanpur crossroads on State Highway 41.

Christian churches include Mar Gregorious Orthodox Syrian Church.

Places of interest

Persian and Devnagari inscriptions in Vav

Boter Kotha ni Vav, also known as Interi Vav, is a stepwell located opposite the crematorium in the Ambaipara area. Though folklore associates it to Lakha Vanzara, it was constructed of bricks and sandstone during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. An inscription dating from Samvat 1731 (1674 AD) in Persian and Devnagari scripts states that it was commissioned by Shah Gokaldas of Shrimali caste, Laghu Shakha, and his mother Manabai for public welfare. It is 14 to 15 metres (45 to 50 ft) long and eleven floors deep and has unique twin wells. Repaired during the Gaekwad era, it is now neglected and polluted.

There is another stepwell known as Badiyashi Vav in Biladi Baug.

Education

T. J. Highschool, established in 1889

Mehsana has several facilities offering education to graduation and post-graduation. The Municipal Arts and Urban Bank Science College is affiliated by Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University. Ganpat University, located in Kherva village which is 10 km (6.2 mi) from the city. Gujarat Power Engineering and Research Institute and Saffrony Institute of Technology offer courses in engineering and management. B. S. Patel College of Pharmacy offers courses in pharmacy, and is affiliated with Gujarat Technological University. Sarvajanik Kelvani Mandal Trust offers education in the fields of pharmacy, nursing, and homeopathy.

There are many primary and higher-secondary schools affiliated with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or Gujarat Board including: Kendriya Vidyalaya ONGC Mehsana, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) Vadnagar, and N.G. International School. T. J. Highschool operated by Nagrik Kelvani Mandal was established in 1889. Gurukul English Medium School started in 2012. Sarvajanik Kelvani Mandal Trust also runs many schools in north Gujarat. Other schools include Sabari Vidya Vihar, run by Dharma Sastha Seva Trust, and Bethany Mission School.

Transport

GSRTC central bus station in Mehsana

New Railway Station (MSH)

Road

Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) buses also connect Mehsana to other cities and villages. Auto rickshaws and taxis are available.

Mehsana is approximately 75 km (47 mi) away from Ahmedabad. It is connected to Gandhinagar, Patan, Unjha and Palanpur, Visnagar via state highways.

Rail

Mahesana railway station is on the Jaipur–Ahmedabad line with daily trains to and from Delhi and Mumbai, and direct weekly or bi-weekly trains connecting major cities in north and south India, including Bangalore.

Air

The nearest passenger airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad. Prepaid taxis and GSRTC bus are available to Mehsana from the airport.

Mehsana Airport is currently used for non-scheduled operation and as a civil aviation training centre, operated by Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics Ltd. It has an area covering 260,000 square metres (64 acres).

Education

Engineering colleges in Mehsana district are shown below:

Sankalchand Patel College of Engineering, Visnagar, Mehsana

S.P.B. Patel Engineering College, Saffrony Institute of Technology, Linch, Mehsana

U.V. Patel College of Engineering, Ganpat University, Kherva, Mehsana

Unjha Engineering College

L.C.I.T Institute of Technology, Bhandu

Marchant Institute of Technology, Basna, Mehsana

Government Engineering College, Katpur

Sardar Patel Institute of Technology, Piludara, Mehsana

Gujarat Power Energy Institute of Technology, Mevad, Mehsana

GMERS college,Vadnagar