Exploring Danta Gujarat

A small town in Banaskantha, Danta is situated 150 km from Ahmedabad. It shares its boundaries with 2 States, Rajasthan & Gujarat. The estate was ruled by the Hindu Barad (Paramara) dynasty, & the head of the erstwhile ruling family of Danta is regarded as the head of the Paramara clan of Rajputs. Udaipur city is about 2 & a half hour to 3 hrs drive.

Majority of the population are Hindu, but also has substantial Muslim population & smaller ones of Christians & Jains. With the Hindu as majority population, city has reach to many famous and ancient temples. At the drive of 18 km it has, Ambaji temple, one of the Shakti Peetha. Kumbharia Jain Temple is just 22 km from the town. Koteshwar Shiv Temple, Tarang Jain Temple, Rani-ka-vav (Patna), Vaduagar Arches, Modhera Sun Temple and Mt. Abu are at easy approach. Patola weaving of Patna is very famous and nearby to the city. Monuments at Vadnagar, Marble mine, Dharoi Dam & Dantivada Agricultural University can also be added to list of places to visit. Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary is a habitat of Blue Bulls, variety of Birds, Jungle Fowl & Spur Fowl, Partidges, Wild Boar, Peacocks & etc.

Shopping of Pashmina stoles, Brassware Jewelry, Artefacts, Hand Painted Floral & traditional Paintings done on silk, Palm Leaf, Cultured Ivory Painting, Sandalwood as well as paper to Ceramic items & Indian Sarees can occupy a very nice place at your homes.
Treks, Drives, Adivasi Tribes, visit of Hamlets of the Rabari Tribe & village tours by jeep will add thrill to your trip. Horse riding and cycling are the famous activities performed.
AMBAJI
Another town in Banaskantha, Ambaji is famous for its Ambaji temple. 183 km from Ahmedabad witness millions of devotees visiting the temple. The Ambaji Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. The origin of the Shakti Peetha status temple is from the mythology of Daksha yaga & Sati’s self-immolation. Shakti Peetha were believed to have been formed when the body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi fell into different regions when Lord Shiva carried her corpse in sorrow after her death. “Shree Visa Yantra” is worshiped as main deity. No one can see the yantra with naked eyes.
Ambaji is situated at a distance of approximately 65 km from Palanpur, 45 km from Mt. Abu, @0 km from Abu Road, 185 Km from Ahmedabad & 50 km from Kadiyadra near the Gujarat & Rajasthan border. Facility of Volvo buses makes the city easily approachable.

The Mountain or Hill of Gabbar is the original seat of Ambaji Mata, near the origin of the famous Vedic Virgin River SARASWATI. There are 999 steps to go up to the mountain & reach this holy temple at the top of Gabbar Hill. A holy lamp is constantly burning on this hill temple facing exactly in front of the Ambaji Temple.

Kamakshi Temple, 1 km from Ambaji near Kumbharia Jain Temple on Khedbrahma Highway is a fruitful place to visit. All 51 Shakti Peetha are re-constructed & installed in a single complex so as to give total information to the visitors & devotees of the Great Shakti Sampradey about various incarnations of Adhya Shakti Mata.

There is a beautiful Shivalaya on the top of KAILASH TEKARI, where one can go only by climbing the steps & walking on a hilly area of Kailash Tekari. The sunset from Kailash hill is mesmerizing.
Behind the main Ambaji temple is a Mansarovar. It is surrounded by 2 temples on 2 sides of the holy tank, one is of Mahadev and another is Ajay Devi (sister of Ambaji). Devotees specially come to have holy bath in Mansarovar on the occasion of Purnima (Full moon).

Koteshwar, 8 km from Ambaji is an ancient temple of Shri Koteshwar Mahadev. It is attached with a Holy Kund. This place is a beautiful & peaceful in forest.

The 2 towns are full of ancient temple which is an important source of history. The tour is not complete until you witness the beauty of this place with the addition of love and affection of the local residents.