page_title: Vadnagar
section_title: Places of interest
hierarchical_section_title: Vadnagar / Places of interest
caption_attribution_description: English: Hathi Derasar ( Jain Temple )
context_page_description: Vadnagar is a town and a municipality in Mehsana district in the Indian state of Gujarat.
context_section_description: The town is also blessed with a magnificent lake named as "Sharmistha Lake" which has a small island like place amidst it. It is connected with a 7 km long inlet canal. The government is developing this island into a beautiful garden.
  Vadnagar also has various public architectures like a Museum and Library, government hospital and a government court. It also has unearthed remains of Buddhist monastery which belongs to 7th century AD.
  There are scores of temples dedicated to almost every God: Shiva (Daaneshwar Mahadev Temple, Somnath Mahadev Temple and ancient Kashi Vishveshvara temple), Vishnupuri, Chhabila, Hanuman, Ashapuri Mata, Ambaji Mata, Sitla mata, Bhuvaneshpuri Temple, Amther Mata, Gauri kund, Swaminarayan Temple, two Jain derasars, to name just a few. 
  Of the numerous Shiva shrines, the 15th-century "Hatkeshver Mahadev" is the most important. He is the family deity of the Nagar Brahmins. Facing the east, it is enclosed by a high wall surmounted by three circular domes. From the roof of the sanctum rises a massive pinnacle, which soars high above in the sky. A massive congregation hall leads to the sanctum which houses a shivling said to have self-emerged or as it is said -"Swayambhu"(self emerged). The exterior of the temple is exquisitely and profusely ornamented with figures of the nine planets, regent deities, the chief gods of the Hindu pantheon, scenes from the life of Krishna and Pandava princes, besides the varied animal and floral motifs. 
  Renovated twice or thrice is the "Sitla Mata" Temple ornately carved with figures of celestial beings. Its door frames and ceilings depict the Rasmandala (Krishna dancing with milkmaids). The most striking pieces of architecture in Vadnagar, however, are the two magnificent Kirtistambhas or triumphal arches. Built of red sandstone they are both identical in size and style. Only, one lies in pieces on the ground (now re-erected) and the other stand erect. Its pillars and arches are decorated with lozenges at the base and geometric and floral designs-leaves, creepers, lotus, animal motifs, human figures engaged in various activities and divine figures in different poses. The top bears an image of a seated god Kartikeya flanked by Ganesh and Makara (griffin) from which spring arches.  A number of standing female figures also ornament the top.  Vadnagar is also known as Skandhpur after Kartikeya, who is identified with Murugan.
  Temple of Hatkeshwar Mahadev
  Lake Sharmista - Renovation done in 2009 which includes stadium construction in island in the Lake
  Tana Riri garden and shrine
  Jain temples
  Khokha Ganapati
  Ancient Library
  Gauri Kund
  Well of Pancham Mehta
  Janjanio well
  Temple of Ashapuri Mata
  Temple of Amther Mata
  Kirti Toran or Narsinh Mehta’s Chori - Toran is dated 12th century and in Solanki style although Marsinh Mehta was born in 15th century.
  Nag Dharo and Nag Temple
  Amarkund and Mahakaleshwar Mahadev temple
  Baithakji of Gusaiji
  Saptrushi Kund
  Amarthol Gate
  Remains of newly discovered Solanki era (directional stone)
caption: Hathi Jain Temple
exif: {"Image Make": "Apple", "Image Model": "iPhone 11 Pro Max", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "13.3", "Image DateTime": "2020:01:20 12:54:06", "Image TileWidth": "512", "Image TileLength": "512", "Image ExifOffset": "212", "GPS GPSLatitudeRef": "N", "GPS GPSLatitude": "[23, 47, 51/100]", "GPS GPSLongitudeRef": "E", "GPS GPSLongitude": "[72, 38, 1057/50]", "GPS GPSAltitudeRef": "0", "GPS GPSAltitude": "566859/3301", "GPS GPSSpeedRef": "K", "GPS GPSSpeed": "7150/116469", "GPS GPSImgDirectionRef": "T", "GPS GPSImgDirection": "144112/5349", "GPS GPSDestBearingRef": "T", "GPS GPSDestBearing": "144112/5349", "GPS Tag 0x001F": "57993/12041", "Image GPSInfo": "1994", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/10526", "EXIF FNumber": "9/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "32", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0231", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2020:01:20 12:54:06", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2020:01:20 12:54:06", "EXIF OffsetTime": "+05:30", "EXIF OffsetTimeOriginal": "+05:30", "EXIF OffsetTimeDigitized": "+05:30", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "131359/9831", "EXIF ApertureValue": "54823/32325", "EXIF BrightnessValue": "208817/17383", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "17/4", "EXIF SubjectArea": "[2002, 1505, 2213, 1324]", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "687", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "687", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "2268", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "4032", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "26", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF LensSpecification": "[807365/524263, 6, 9/5, 12/5]", "EXIF LensMake": "Apple", "EXIF LensModel": "iPhone 11 Pro Max back triple camera 4.25mm f/1.8", "EXIF Tag 0xA460": "2"}