Champaner is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in India. It is ranked by historians to be of the same significance as the two other important medieval capitals of Fatehpur – Sikri and Hampi – Vijayanagar, all World Heritage Sites. Champaner has several notable monuments, which includes fortifications, palaces, religious buildings, residential precincts and water installations. The Jami Masjid, featured in the Encyclopedia of World Architecture, is considered to be one of the most important monuments in India in the development of mosque architecture of the world. Champaner is perhaps the most authentic Islamic, pre-Mughal medieval city in India as all the information about the original city, without any transformation, is available below the ground. Located 45 kilometers from Baroda, Champaner is a priceless gem in the rich cultural and architectural heritage of India.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Varun Maira
An alumni of St. Stephen’s College and Delhi School of Economics, Varun Maira completed his M.Phil in Economic Planning from University of Glasgow, U.K. He has held thirteen exhibitions of his photographs in Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Baroda and Panjim. “Maira’s World†series of exhibitions have been extremely popular with viewers and have earned considerable critical acclaim as well as media attention. Varun Maira is a keen landscape photographer. With his highly acclaimed Mandu exhibition, he coined a new terminology of “cultural landscapesâ€. With Champaner, he has taken this concept further to promote better awareness of India’s rich heritage. Actively involved with theatre during college days, he co-founded Playcart, Ahmedabad’s oldest English language theatre group. He regularly directs and acts in plays and holds theatre workshops. An IAS Officer, Varun Maira is currently working as the Principal Secretary in the Department of Culture in Government of Gujarat. Photography and theatre constitute important forms of artistic expression of a highly creative and sensitive person. It is not surprising that he is often described as being more than just a bureaucrat.
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