Shrinking Greens: Travellers’ Account of the Heritage Gardens of Ahmedabad

Abstract

The sultans of Gujarat tried to transform the landscape by planting native and exotic trees and introducing gardens on the perceived Central-Asian Khorasan style to underpin their control over the acquired or conquered territory and its nature-landscape. After the founding of Ahmedabad, gardens within the religious and secular architecture came up all over the city. The foliage and gardens were hugely admired by the travellers passing by the city. Perusing their travelogues, we navigate the changing landscape and the green spaces of Ahmedabad over a period of time. While constructing the history of gardens in Ahmedabad, this article reflects on the future sustainability of the city if the culture of nature and environment-sensitive values are not inculcated and promoted.

Keywords

Urban ecology garden foliage Gujarat Ahmedabad landscape

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Shrinking Greens: Travellers’ Account of the Heritage Gardens of Ahmedabad—1400–2016

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