Jhulta Minar of Gujarat: Mystery of Shaking Minarets
Jhulta Minar of Gujarat: Sidi Bashir (Jhulta Minar) is a mosque in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. This mosque is believed to be constructed in the year 1511, during the reign of Mahmud Begada.
There also occurred a war between the Maratha and Mughal governors of Gujarat which destroyed the premise and what remain after the war was two arched minarets and a centralized gate known as Jhulta Minar.
Mystery of Jhulta Minar
What makes the Jhulta Minar marvellous is the fact that by pushing or pulling on any topmost arch results in the back-and-forth swaying of the other minaret.
This all happens without any effect on the connecting passage of the minarets. This phenomenon was first discovered by Sir Monier Monier-Williams, the Surveyor General of the Bombay Presidency when he visited the site after the great Kutch earthquake in 1819.
Why minarets Vibrate
How the minarets vibrate without affecting the corridors of the premise is still a mystery to solve. Many scientists have tried to research the architecture and what they found about the minarets is that they were built to protect from earthquakes.
An Englishman has tried to demolish one of the minarets to demonstrate the mechanics of the Jhulta Minar but failed miserably. The reason for the vibration given by the Englishman was regarding the way the surface of minarets is.
While most of the minarets have plain vertical grooves, Jhulta Minar has horizontal grooves.
Location of Sidi Bashir mosque
Sidi Bashir mosque is located in the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat at a distance of half a kilometre away from the railway station of the city.
Jhulta Minar of Gujarat: Best time to visit
The best time to visit Gujarat is between October and March, as the season during this time remains a little cold, which makes the trip a little cozy.
Major attraction near Jhulta Minar
Shahi Jam-e-Masjid
Ahmad Shah's Mosque, also known as Shahi Jam-e-Masjid was built in 1414 by Sultan Ahmed Shah. Ahmed Shah was the one who gave existence to the Ahmedabad city of Gujarat.
Apart from that, this place also has some beautifully carved stone pillars along with the jaali screens with brilliant symmetry.
Frequently asked questions
Who established the Ahmedabad city of Gujarat?
Sultan Ahmed Shah established Ahmedabad city as the capital of Gujarat state.
Why Jhulta Minar vibrates?
The reason for the vibration of the Jhulta Minar is the horizontal grooves at its base, which remain vertical in most of the monuments.