Shahibaug is a neighborhood in the city of Ahmedabad, India. It is primarily inhabited by the Marwadi and Jain communities, while the Dudheshwar area in the west of Shahibaug has sizeable populations of Muslims and migrants from other states. One of the wealthiest districts of the city, Shahibaug is known for its gastronomy, particularly Rajasthani cuisine.
History Shahibaug, or the Royal Garden Palace, was built in 1622 by Shah Jahan, Viceroy of Ahmedabad (1616-1622), to provide work for the poor during a period of scarcity. The palace is now known as Moti Shahi Mahal. The Shahibaug gardens were a noted resort in the 17th century.
In around 1835, two large wings and several rooms and terraces were added to the original centre saloon by Mr. Williams of the Civil Service. A short distance from the royal mansion, on the bank of the Sabarmati River, was the zanana or ladies' palace, with separate gardens, baths and fountains. The apartments for the officers and attendants of the court were slightly further away.
In 1856, Alexander Kinloch Forbes described the palace thus:Ras Mala, 199. A Forbes' Oriental Memoir. IIL 136,138.
The solid stone wall preventing the river from passing south towards the city was damaged during severe flooding in 1875, and sand was washed over it, covering and destroying the garden beds. Since then, the water has been much deeper along the wall, and the current much stronger than previously.
Rabindranath Tagore stayed in the Moti Shahi Mahal in Shahibaug during his visit to Gujarat, where he found inspiration for his short story "Hungry Stones".
Education Schools in Shahibaug include:
Rachana School Earth English School Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1 - affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education Kendriya Vidyalaya No 2 - Second Kendriya Vidyalaya school Near Hanuman Camp Rosery School Amrut High School The H.B.Kapadia New High School Aryan Gurukul Rajasthan Hindi High School
Politics Shahibaug is part of the Asarwa constituency of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, and part of the Ahmedabad East constituency of the Lok Sabha.
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