Maqbars - the older complex offers some remarkable 18th century architecture with
vertical columns, delicate carved columns, arches, cornices & domes. The newer complex is a remarkable architectural work with four minarets & pirouetting spiral staircase, a facade rich in stone carvings, beautifull silver door & large size domes. A number of Haveli’s are known for their jharokhas & wood carving – specimens of Gujarat doemstic architecture.
Kutiyana in Junagadh
February 3rd, 2010 by admin
Bantva and Kutiyana – presently part of Indian province of Gujrat were the home towns
of the big business magnets of the Memon community in the sub-continent before its partition. When Muslim League decided to launch its own English Daily and constituted a Press Fund in 1940, Quaid-e-Azam visited Kathiawar which included Junagadh and Manavadar States to collect money for Press Fund. Bantva was a small town with a population about 20,000 peoples at that time but Quaid-e-Azam not only visited this town but stayed there for three days to collect funds from individual business magnets. It is said that the 90% of Muslim League Press Fund was contributed by Memon community of Kathiawar.
At the time of partition, Bantva was part of the princely state of Manavadar. The rulers of Manavadar were indecisive about joining either of the two newly created dominions. The Muslim residents of Bantva, who mainly belonged to Memon community organized a big public meeting in early September, 1947, demanding accession of Manavadar including Bantva with Pakistan and formed a delegation to meet the rulers of Bantva & Manavadar. The delegation consisting of dignitaries of Memon community met darbars of Bantva & Khan of Manavadar on 9th September, 1947.
Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh
February 3rd, 2010 by admin
Officials said the negotiations, under the wild animals exchange scheme, with a Singapore zoo
is in the final stages, and the big cats are expected to land here by the end of this year.
Sakkarbaug Zoo superintendent V J Rana said: “If things go smoothly, a pair may arrive here at the end of 2008. The animal will be accommodated in the zoo enclosure for public display.” According to Rana, at present, no zoo in India houses this animal.
Currently, the zoo is home to over 900 wild animals, including 42 lions and 48 leopards. Over eight lakh people visit it every year, he added.
Cheetah is said to have been last seen in the Saurashtra region over six decades ago. The animal assumes significance for the city as there is place named ‘Cheetah Khana Chowk’ located in the heart of the Junagadh city.
