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Solanki king of Gujarat, Karna Vaghela, and fora century, Karnavati passed through chaos andconfusion. 7At the end of the 14th century, the DelhiSultanate’s last subo, Muzaffar Shah, becameindependent and acquired the throne at Patan.His grandson, Ahmadshah, inherited the thronein 1410 and found the climate of Karnavati-Ashaval to his liking. So, he decided to take upresidence in the northwest of Ashaval-Karnavati.On 17 April 1411 ce (Vaishakh sud 7, VikramSamvat 1468), during the pushya nakshatra,the stone of the rajgadh (fort of the kingdom)of Ahmedabad was ceremoniously laid inaccordance with scripturally specified rituals. 8The new fort was called Bhadra, after the onein Anhilvad-Patan. With the setting of the firststone, Manek Buraj developed, which today islocated on the east side of the Vivekanand (Ellis)Bridge in the southern direction of Ahmedabad. 9This fort covered 43 acres, had 14 burajs(watchtowers), and over time new suburbs wereestablished around it. 10The Muhurt Pol in Manek Chowk wasthe first pol to be established in Ahmedabad.Thereafter, over time the amirs of the Sultanatebegan to reside in suburbs named afterthemselves. Slowly, Karnavati and Ahmedabadmerged into one.Within a hundred years, Ahmedabad’s famehad been established.The 15th century historian and author of thechronicle Tarikhe Ahmad-Shahi, Hulvi Shiraz,wrote that the city was resplendent like a uniqueand beautiful birthmark on the face of the earth. 11Author of Tarikhe Firishta, MohammedKashi, wrote, “Overall, in the whole of7. Ahmedabad Sarvasangraha. 1948, p. 2.8. Prabandh Chintamani. p. 55; G.R.S.I., Vol. 5. p. 59;Ahmedabad Sarvasangraha. 1948, p. 2.9. G.R.S.I., Vol. 5. 1977, p. 59.10. Ibid. p.61.11. Jot, Ratnamanirao Bhimrao. Gujaratnu PatnagarAhmedabad, 1929; G.R.S.I., Vol. 5. 1977, p. 62.Hindustan, Ahmedabad is the most beautifulcity. And maybe even in the whole world. Itsmain roads are so wide that ten carts can passat a time.” 12Ahmedabad was famous throughout the worldfor its trade. Kinkhab (high grade silk), mashru(soft cloth made from mixture of cotton and silk)and sutrao (cotton) cloths were exported abroadfrom Khambhat. They were in high demandfrom Cairo to Peking. On the African coast, thecloth was sold in place of gold and was valuedone hundred times more. Every ten days, 200carts of expensive merchandise were sent fromAhmedabad to the port in Khambhat. 13In 1588 a traveller named Caesar Frederichwrote, “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, Iwould not have believed that Ahmedabad hadsuch a large trade.” In 1638, Mendelslow, aEuropean, noted, “There are only a few peoplesand goods from the whole of Asia that you donot see in Ahmedabad.” 14In 1695, Jemil Carreri noted, “Ahmedabadis a leading centre for trade. It is the biggestcity in Hind. And for its variety of birds andflowers it is in no way inferior to Venice.” 15Another historian recorded, “At one time, inAhmedabad there were a hundred crorepatis.There were moneylending cloth merchants ofAhmedahad in every big city of Asia and Europe.So, promissory notes from Ahmedabad could beencashed in any city.” 16Ahmedabad was renowned for its sutar(cotton), resham (silk) and kinkhab. Tevernier, aEuropean writer, who came to Ahmedabad duringthe reign of Aurangzeb, noted, “Ahmedabad isone of the biggest cities in Hindustan. There is12. Firishta, Mohammed Kasim, Tarikhe Firishta, Parts1-2. Pune, 1831-32; Gujarati trans., A.M. Diwanji,1917, Firishta Krut Gujaratana Mussalmani SamaynoItihas; G.R.S.I., Vol. 5. 1977, p. 68.13. Jot, Ratnamanirao Bhimrao, Gujaratnu PatnagarAhmedabad, 1929; G.R.S.I., Vol. 5, 1977, p. 68.14. Ibid.15. Ibid. p. 69.16. Ibid.10 Swaminarayan Bliss u May-June 2013