Patan was founded by the
Vanraj Chavda in 746 AD. It enjoyed a privileged
status of capital of
Gujarat, for about 600 years
from 746 AD to 1411 AD.
The major Rajput clans of
Chavadas, Solankis and
Vaghelas ruled Gujarat from
Patan. The glory of Patan
reached its highest point
during the Solanki period.
During this period, the city
was a great place of
learning and a prosperous
trading center. The rulers
were great patrons of fine
arts and architecture and
thus constructed various
religious and historical
places in the city. This
town was sacked by Mahmud of
Ghazni in 1024 AD. Patan is
also described in the Jain
text "Kumarpala Rasa" as
a prosperous fortified town,
about 18 miles in
circumference with 84 town
squares, bazaars, well
laid out gardens with fountains
and trees, grammar school of
Sanskrit and Prakrit,
Hindu and Jain
temples. After last Vaghela
ruler, Karan Ghelo lost to
Ulugh Khan in 1289 AD, the
Muslims raided the town,
destroyed various temples
and ruined the entire city.
Today, one can barely find
the traces of such a
magnificent town. Since the
rule of King Kumarpal, Patan was the only
center of unique weaving
craft of ‘Patola’, but
even today, this traditional
weaving craft is practiced
by some of the families. |