Sarkhej Roza — Attraction in Gujarat

Located just 8 km from Ahmedabad, Sarkhej Roza is a majestic 15th-century architectural complex nestled in the quiet village of Sarkhej. Revered as the "Acropolis of Ahmedabad", this site draws parallels to the Parthenon in Athens, not just in scale but in spiritual and architectural grandeur.

Commissioned by Sultan Ahmed Shah for the esteemed Sufi saint Sheikh Ahmed Khattu Ganj Baksh, the complex houses his serene tomb along with royal mausoleums of Sultan Mahmud Begada, his queen Rani Rajabai, their sons, an open Jama Masjid, a historic water tank, and a library-museum preserving ancient coins and manuscripts.

The experience begins with a short walk from the parking area through arched stone gateways marked with history. Inside, one is greeted by massive sandstone pillars, cool marble flooring, and open courtyards. Despite the festive buzz of Eid, the complex retained a sense of calm and reverence.

What stands out are the stone-carved walls, intricately decorated with Arabic-Indo geometric patterns—symmetrical, artistic, and beautifully weathered. Each section holds its charm:

The royal tombs of Begada and his sons lie under richly carved domes, though sadly, some areas show signs of neglect.

The tomb of Sheikh Ganj Baksh was active with local devotees in prayer and Quran recitation.

A modest library and museum nearby, though disorganized, showcase old currency, documents, and artifacts.

The once-grand 17-acre water tank, visible through lattice balconies, now lies dry, used only during the monsoon. It was originally built to support gardens and local needs.

Unfortunately, the complex lacks signage and proper maintenance. Still, the place leaves a strong emotional and historical impression—a powerful reminder of Gujarat's rich spiritual and architectural heritage.

Sarkhej Roza is not just a monument—it is a silent, crumbling manuscript of history, faith, and...

A great place to visit. This is a peaceful place where the architecture is wonderful. There was hardly any one present when we went there . A compulsory place to visit in ahmedabad.

Sarkhej Roza is a mosque and tomb complex located in the village of Makarba, 7 km south-west of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, India.

Although there are many rozas across Gujarat, the Sarkhej Roza is the most revered. Sarkhej was once a prominent centre of Sufi culture in the country, where influential Sufi saint Shaikh Ahmed Ganj Baksh lived. It was on the saint's suggestion that Sultan Ahmed Shah set up his capital on the banks of the Sabarmati, a few miles away from Sarkhej.

Like many monuments built during that period, the Sarkhej Roza fused both non-Indian and Indian principles of architecture. While the ringed domes, the profusion of pillars and brackets can be claimed to follow the Islamic west Asian genre (even though they can also be found in Indian architecture itself since much before), much of the ornamentation and motifs have Indian Hindu designs. Most of the buildings do not have arches and depend on pierced stone trellises for stability. In its architecture, Sarkhej Roza is an example of the early Islamic architectural culture of the region, which fused Islamic stylistic influences from Persia with Indian Hindu and Jain features to form a composite Indo-Saracenic architectural style. The mosque, with its courtyard, creates a religious milieu; the royal connection is made through the tombs and palaces; the great tank, platforms and pavilions were used by the common man.

The complex is called "Acropolis of Ahmedabad", due to 20th century architect Le Corbusier's comparison of this complex's design to the...

The Sufi saint, Shaikh Ahmed Khattu Ganj Baksh was a friend and advisor to Sultan Ahmed I, who founded the city of Ahmedabad. When the saint died in 1445 at the age of 111 years, his mausoleum was built in the village Sarkhej (to which he had retired). Over the years, the Gujarat sultan Mahmood Begada built up the area around Ganj Baksh's dargah into a vast complex of palaces, gardens, a huge tank, and a country house.

Today, the entire complex is approached through a single gate. No entry fee is charged, and you can take photographs, but no selfies or modelling are allowed, and discreet clothing is required. In some spaces, women are allowed only till a certain point. There are suitable signs to this effect.

Among the important buildings to explore here are:

The tomb of Sultan Mahmood Begada, first on the left as you enter the complex. Beyond this are some tombs and graves of other royals, including a queen called Rajbai. Much of this has been now appropriated by the local administrative office, which also has a small shop here, selling religious pamphlets and the like. The Jami Masjid, which is a little bare, its courtyard large and unrelieved. On one side, though, it offers an excellent view of the huge tank that once extended all across this space; there are ruined palaces at the far end. The baradari, or pillared pavilion, standing in front of the saint's dargah. This looks oddly like the Acropolis in Athens! And, the dargah of Ganj Baksh, a large, relatively ornate building that is the spiritual and religious centre of...