Champaner Archaeological Site

Panchmahal, Gujarat, India
15th--16th century
Medieval Champaner was an important stop on the military and trade route linking Malwa and Gujarat. Dominating the site was the 800-meter-high Pavagadh Hill, upon which a fortress was established in the seventh century. Champaner city developed below the hill, sprawling over six kilometers that came to be filled with secular, religious, and civic structures reflecting the various Hindu, Muslim, and Jain regimes that controlled the city. Mahmud Shah Begda, who made the city the prosperous capital of the state of Gujarat, established much of medieval Champaner. One single excavation by Amir Haveli reveals the sophisticated architectural and engineering planning of the late fifteenth century. The 69 standing monuments--of which 39 are protected by the state--point to the wealth that remains buried. These face the threat of dissolution from encroachment and unplanned development. Highways cutting across the site, industrial pollution, new construction, and blasting from nearby quarry operations undermine the foundations. Champaner's integrity and viability as a historic site is at risk; it desperately needs adequate designation and recognition on a national and international scale.