Patan, the administrative headquarters of
Patan District, is a quaint town dotted with Jain temples and carved wooden houses, on the banks of Saraswati, in
Gujarat. It is about 50 km from Mehsana and 130 km from
Ahmedabad.
The origin of Patan dates back to 1796. Its earlier name was Anhil-Vad-Pattan and the town flourished during the Solanki dynasty. The narrow streets of this interesting town with its balconies, lintels of Muslim havelis, marble domes and the canopies of the Jain shrines dominating the sky line, exudes an old-world charm. Places of tourist interest include Ranaki Vav (step-well), Sahastralinga Talav and
Shamlaji. Patan is also renowned for its hand-woven
Patola Silk Sarees.
The nearest airport is Ahmedabad. Regular bus services connect Patan with Ahmedabad, Mehsana and Vadodara.
