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Lothal

Situated at a distance of 80 km from Ahmedabad. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in India. In the dialect of the local people`s language, Lothal means `the mound of the dead`. The site was discovered in the year 1957, followed by excavations done by the Archaeological Survey of India. It was concluded from the excavations that the ruins of the settlement belonged to the Harappan Era, dating back to the 2nd millennium BC. It is an exquisite example of Harrappan town planning. One of the most interesting sites here is the dockyard which reveals the fact that Lothal was once one of the major ports in the region. Then, there is the citadel that is divided into two parts, an acropolis and the lower town. The acropolis contains paved baths, while lower town stands laced with residential quarters, coppersmith workshops, sheds and bead factories. Apart from this, the most fascinating feature is the excellent sanitary drainage system of the town. Lothal was an important trade destination till 1900 BC.
Towards west of the archaeological excavations, there is the site museum, where there are plans, plaster of Paris models and paintings by archaeologists. All this, put together in an attempt to reconstruct what Lothal must have looked like 4000 years ago. In glass showcases, mirrors of bronze and copper, and objects made from stone, shell and bone are enclosed. In the museum are perforated and painted potteries, toy bullock carts, beads and jewelry. Throwing light on the trade prevalent with ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia, there are also a number of seals. An altar has been found here, which suggests, according to archaeologists that people believed in animal sacrifice. Lothal provides an insight into the Indus Valley civilization.

Rani ki Vav

Situated in Patan town in Gujarat. The shaft of the well is highly ornamented with intricate carvings. The wall projects the large vertical brackets in pairs which supported the different galleries of the well. The brackets are arranged in tiers. Has a stepped corridor compartmented at regular intervals with pillared multi-storeyed pavilions. The four pavilions which demarcate the stages along the descent have multiple storeys, two, four, six and seven respectively. Constructed during the period of the Solanki or Chalukya (11th-12th century). The full size sculptures of the stepwell are taken from the entire Hindu pantheon, for example, Vishnu, Shiva and their various aspects appear with or without their consorts.

Sun Temple Modhera

Located in Modhera, Gujarat, it is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati. The temple comprises three separate but axially-aligned and integrated elements. Religious gatherings are held in a magnificent pillared hall that is open from all sides and it has 52 intricately carved pillars. 108 miniature shrines are carved in between the steps inside the tank. The carvings depict various scenes from the Hindu epics of Ramayan, Mahabharat and Krishna Lila. It was built in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty. It is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God. Modhera is now the site of several dance and cultural festivals.