History of Jhulta Minar
The history behind the construction of the minarets is conflicting between two stories. The first one states that Sultan Ahmed Shah had the mosque constructed by one of his slaves, Sidi Bashir, and that is where the name of the mosque originated. The construction of this mosque is believed to have completed by 1452 only to be later destroyed in 1753 during a war between Marathas and Khans of the Gujrat Sultanate.
The second story states that the minarets were built as a part of a mosque built by Malik Sarang, a noble in the court of Muhammed Begada who was anther Sultan of Gujrat. The style and material used to construct the minarets are close to that of Muhammed Bagada's reign thereby placing its construction sometime in 1511 or later. Unfortunately, during the demolishing of the mosque's main body all traces of its name and date have disappeared which makes it very difficult to trace the history of the minarets.
Architecture of Jhulta Minar
The Jhuta Minar showcase genuine architectural craftsmanship of medival India. They are constructed in the Gothic Muslim manner with Rajputana influences. The minar is 34 meters long and has three storeys. They include well-balanced balconies made of stone. The sole purpose of these balconies is to border the minaret. A stairway runs in the middle of the minaret.
The minaret was designed with such an intention that applying a small amount of force on the upper arch of the mosque will lead to the shaking of every minaret simultaneously. It is hence believed that the minarets were constructed with the main purpose of avoiding any damage to the mosque in the case of a natural catastrophe.
There are many mosques around the world that have such shaking bordering the compound or marking the entrance. One can be found near Ahmedabad's Railway Station. Although taller in height, these minarets are more damaged in nature. This is the Raj Bibi mosque. The other popular similar structure is in Isfahan, Iran known as the Monar Jonban which also translates to shaking minarets in Arabic.
How to Reach Jhulta Minar
The Minars are very close to the Kalupur Railway Station, the central railway station of Ahmedabad. Buses and shared autos very often frequent this area and can get easily found. Private auto rickshaws can also be hired from around the city.
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