View source for Siddhpur

{{Short description|City in Gujarat, India}}
{{Distinguish|text=Sidhpur, [[Himachal Pradesh]]}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2008}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Siddhpur
| native_name        =
| native_name_lang   =
| other_name         = Sidhpur
| settlement_type    = Town
| translit_lang1_info =
| image_skyline      = File:Rudra Mahalaya Temple in Siddhpur 06.jpg
| image_alt          =
| image_caption      = Ruins of Rudra Mahalaya temple
| nickname           =
| pushpin_map        = India Gujarat#India3
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt    =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Gujarat, India
| coordinates        = {{coord|23.9167|N|72.3833|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Gujarat]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Patan district|Patan]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of regions of India|Region]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[North Gujarat]]
| established_title  = <!-- Established -->
| established_date   =
| founder            =
| named_for          = [[Jayasimha Siddharaja]]
| government_type    =
| governing_body     =
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     =
| area_total_km2     = 20.26
| area_rank          =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m        =
| population_total   = 61867
| population_as_of   = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank    =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code        = 384151
| area_code          = 02767
| area_code_type     = Telephone code
| registration_plate = GJ-24
| demographics1_info1 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
}}
'''Siddhpur''', also spelled '''Sidhpur''', is a Town, [[municipality]] and headquarter of Sidhpur taluka in [[Patan district]], in the [[Indian state]] of [[Gujarat]]. It is a historical place located on the bank of the [[endorheic]] [[Saraswati River, Gujarat|Saraswati River]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Saraswati River|url=http://guj-nwrws.gujarat.gov.in/showpage.aspx?contentid=1541&lang=English|publisher=guj-nwrws.gujarat.gov.in, [[Government of Gujarat]]|access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref> which is probably a remaining of the ancient [[Sarasvati River]].
==History==
Siddhpur was historically known as ''Sristhal'',<ref name="Burgess1874">{{cite book|last1=Burgess|last2=Murray|title=Photographs of Architecture and Scenery in Gujarat and Rajputana|chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/photographsofarc00murr#page/n17/mode/2up|access-date=23 July 2016|year=1874|publisher=Bourne and Shepherd|page=19|chapter=The Rudra Mala at Siddhpur}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> literally "a pious place".
The bard sings of it,<ref name="Burgess1874"/>
{{Blockquote|''Tirath bhumipavan Siddhakshetra subhasar,''<br />''Nirmal nir vahe Sarasvati sada mokshko dwar, ...'' —<br />
<br />
"A ''Tirtha'', a place to make holy, is the good Siddha Kshetra,<br />
Where flows Sarasvati's pure stream — ever beatitude's door.<br />
A city three worlds to purify, by Siddhs ever worshipped,<br />
Gods, Rishis, and men cherish the desire to live there.<br />
And there dwell ''deva''s unnumbered, as a ''tirtha'' regarding it, —<br />
Of Kasi, Gaya, Godavari, and all other ''tirthas'', the best ;<br />
Where Kardam and Dehuti lived, and Kapila was born.<br />
Here is Bindusarovar's pure fount, and Matrugaya;<br />
Applied to the bodies of men degraded and fallen, it washes their myriads of sins.<br />
Here is Prachi Mahadev, whose renown by Veda and Purana is sung:<br />
Of all ''Tirthas'', the essence — it is named Kapilashram."}}
In tenth century (943 AD), [[Mularaja]], the founder of [[Chaulukya dynasty]], started constructing the [[Rudra Mahalaya Temple]].<ref name="Burgess1874"/> On completion of the temple, around 1140 AD, [[Jayasimha Siddharaja]] consecrated it and established the town as his capital. He changed its name to Siddhpur, literally Siddhraj's town.<ref name="Burgess1874"/> The temple was dismantled by an army under Almas Beg ([[Ulugh Khan]]) and [[Nusrat Khan Jalesari|Nusrat Khan]] sent by [[Alauddin Khalji]] in 1298–99.<ref name="Burgess1874"/>
During the [[Gujarat Sultanate]], the town was under the rule of local dynasty ruling from [[Palanpur]]. In the 15th century, the town was brought under the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] rule by [[Akbar]]. Under the Mughal rule the Hindu heritage of the town deteriorated further and the Rudramahalaya temple fell into ruins.
Asaita Thakar, traditionally credited for the origin of traditional folk theatre [[Bhavai]], in 14th century, lived in Siddhpur.<ref name="Datta1987">{{cite book|author=Amaresh Datta|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&pg=PA236|year=1987|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1803-1|page=236}}</ref>
== Architecture ==
The Dawoodi Bohras, a trading community, flourished in Sidhpur from the 1820s to the 1930s.<ref name="natgeotraveller.in">{{Cite web|url=http://www.natgeotraveller.in/sidhpur-waking-the-sleeping-beauty-of-gujarat/|title=Sidhpur: Waking the Sleeping Beauty of Gujarat|website=Your Site NAME Goes HERE|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref> They built monumental mansions, made of wood, with stuccoed facades, ornate pilasters, trellised balconies and gabled roofs which have become identifying features of the architecture of this town.<ref name="natgeotraveller.in"/> The façades of these houses are in a hue of pastel colours - pink, lilac, lime green, peach, lemon, beige and the like and every house façade has an intricate monogram with the initials of the owners (in Latin text).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://100cobbledroads.com/2018/02/08/have-you-heard-of-the-mysterious-mansions-of-sidhpur/|title=Have you heard of the mysterious mansions of Sidhpur?|last=100cobbledroads|date=2018-02-08|website=100cobbledroads.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref> Sebastian Cortés has captured detailed photographs of these architectural marvels which were displayed at an exhibition in Mumbai, India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.natgeotraveller.in/in-photos-the-magnificent-mansions-of-the-bohras-of-sidhpur/|title=In Photos: The Magnificent Mansions of the Bohras of Sidhpur|website=Your Site NAME Goes HERE|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref> On Sidhpur, Cortés said, "I would feel safe to say that it incorporates elements that span from neoclassical European, including art nouveau, and touching Indian Gothic. But if you begin to look closely, you can find other influences; this variety makes Sidhpur a marvel for the eye."<ref name="natgeotraveller.in"/>
==Demographics==
As of [[2001 census of India]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> Siddhpur had a population of 53,581, of which 52% were male and 48% female. Siddhpur had an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 77%, and female literacy was 64%. In Siddhpur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
==Places of interest==
<!---
{{Infobox
| title = [[Rudra Mahalaya Temple]]
| image =
{{image array|perrow=2|width=180|height=150
| image1 = Elevation of Kirtistambh Rudramahalaya Sidhpur Gujarat India.jpg|caption1=Elevation of Kirtistambh, Rudra Mahalaya.
| image2 = Plan one forth of Rudra Mahalaya Jami Mosque Sidhpur Gujarat India.jpg|caption2=Plan of Rudra Mahalaya with one-fourth of the surrounding structures, restored.
| image3 = Ruins of the Rudra Mala at Siddhpur, Gujarat, retouched.jpg|caption3=Main Portal of the Ruins of the Rudramala at Sidhpur in 1905.
| image4 = Architecture at the Rudra Mahalaya at Sidhpur, Gujarat.jpg|caption4=Carving
}}
}}
--->
<gallery>
File:રૂદ્રમહલ.jpg|Ruins of Rudramahal
File:Bindu Sarovar in Siddhpur 02 (Matrugaya).jpg|Bindu Sarovar (Matrugaya)
File:Havelis or medieval homes of Dawoodi Bohra at Siddhpur.jpg|Havelis (mansions) of Dawoodi Bohra community
File:Clock Tower Siddhpur 06.jpg|[[Mohamedally Tower]]
File:Shristhal Sangrahalay (Siddhpur Museum) Siddhpur 03.jpg|[[Shristhal Sangrahalay]] (Siddhpur Museum)
</gallery>
*Sidhpur has two protected national monument under [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) namely: Ruins of [[Rudra Mahalaya Temple]] and the Jami Masjid.<ref>[http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_gujarat.asp Alphabetical List of Monuments - Gujarat]. Rudra Mahalaya Temple is a unique place to visit to see the spectacular crafts on sandstones but as the issue is pending in court about the religious authority, the entry is restricted in the area of Rudra Mahalay. Archaeological Survey of India.</ref>
*Bindu Sarovar: It is a small artificial tank, even mentioned in Rig-veda and considered pious by Hindus. According to Hindu theology, there are five sacred lakes; collectively called ''Panch-Sarovar''; [[Mansarovar]], Bindu Sarovar, [[Narayan Sarovar]], [[Pampa Sarovar]] and [[Pushkar Lake|Pushkar Sarovar]].<ref name=w/> They are also mentioned in [[Shrimad Bhagavata Purana]].<ref name="w">[https://books.google.com/books?id=nxtnsT8CdZ4C&dq=narayan+sarovar&pg=PA112] Encyclopaedia of tourism resources in India, Volume 2 By Manohar Sajnani</ref> It is the only place where Matrushraddh, [[Śrāddha|Shraddh]] ritual for mothers, is performed thus thousands of people visit it annually to perform the rituals for their dead mothers, in [[Kartik (month)|Kartika]] month of Hindu calendar.
*Bohra [[haveli]]s (mansions) in European influenced architecture are largely belonging to [[Dawoodi Bohra]] trading community and spread over 18 [[mohalla]]s or neighbourhoods in Najampura and Hassanpura.<ref name=exp>{{cite news |title=Ghost town of Gujarat |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/26646/ |publisher=Indian Express |date=29 June 2003 |access-date=25 January 2013}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/47971/bohra-ghost-towns-of-gujarat|title=Bohra ghost towns of Gujarat|last=Burte|first=Himanshu|date=2014-08-26|website=Outlook Traveller|access-date=2019-10-21}}</ref> They are known for their wooden architecture and interior decoration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.natgeotraveller.in/in-photos-the-magnificent-mansions-of-the-bohras-of-sidhpur/|title=In Photos: The Magnificent Mansions of the Bohras of Sidhpur|last=Saumya|first=Ancheri|date=2015-03-20|website=National Geographic Traveller India|access-date=2019-10-21}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/photo-exhibition-wonder-world-of-sidhpur-s-bohra-mansions-115040200805_1.html|title = The wonder world of Sidhpur's Bohra mansions|newspaper = Business Standard India|date = 4 April 2015|last1 = Jacob|first1 = Rahul}}</ref>
*Arvadeswar Shiva temple is an ancient place of [[Natha Sampradaya]].
*SAIYED MURAD SHAHID DATAR DADA RA DARGAH NEAR GANVADA VILLAGE AT SIDHPUR DISTRICT
* [[Mohamedally Tower]], a clock tower, built by Bohra businessman Mohamedally Hararwala at the cost Rs. 15000, inaugurated on 4 April 1915,  during the [[Baroda State|rule of Gaekwad]].
* [[Shristhal Sangrahalay]] (Siddhpur Museum)
==Politics==
[[Sidhpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sidhpur]] is a constituency of the [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]] within the [[Patan (Lok Sabha constituency)]].<ref name="jpa">{{cite news | url=http://post.jagran.com/gujarat-election-results-list-of-winners-1355997738 | title=Gujarat election results: List of winners | work=Jagran Post | date=20 December 2012 | access-date=25 January 2013}}</ref>
==Transport==
* [[Siddhpur railway station]]
* Sidhpur Bus Station
==See also==
* [[Patan, Gujarat|Patan]]
{{wikivoyage}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Sidhpur}}
<!-- {{Coord|23.9167|N|72.3833|E|source:itwiki_region:IN|format=dms|display=title}} used in infobox-->
{{Patan district}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:History of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Patan district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Patan district]]
[[Category:Siddhpur]]