At Sejakpur or Sejathpur, about 18km from
Sayla, the Navlakha Temple has high quality
carvings on its sandstone walls. The temple
has a square plan but its chamfered walls
makes the shrine look circular. This is
one of the exquisite temples built by
the Chalukyan Solanki dynasty that ruled
over Gujarat in the 11th and 12th century.
The walled city of Wadhwan, 37km from
Sayla, has a number of historical monuments
built by the Solankis in the 11th-13th
century period and the Jhala Rajputs from
the mid-16th to the early-20th century.
There are two 13th century stepwells,
the Madha Vav and the Ganga Vav, with
pyramidal roofs and a high water level.
The Ranak Devi Temple also dates from
this period. The Jhala Rajput rulers of
Wadhwan built the Hawa Mahal which presents
a magnificent sight.
There are two important stepwells near
Sayla, Matri Ma Ne Vav and Dhandalpar
Vav, which are good examples of the water
harvesting wells created in drought-prone
areas of Gujarat.
Muli, 12km from Sayla, was a princely
state ruled by Parmar Rajputs. It has
the old palace called Darbargadh and a
new palaces called the Rajmahal. Other
historical buildings include Mandawravji
Temple of the royal, the Swaminarayan
Temple whose building was ordered by Lord
Swaminarayan
himself, Sadawadi, Shaligram haveli temple
and royal cenotaphs. The Swaminarayan
temple is worth a visit to see its woodcarvings.
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