Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant's wedding is being talked about and how. From the staggering 2500 dishes on the menu to the 14 new temples the Ambanis are building in Jamnagar where the celebrations will take place - there's much show going on. In fact, The Reliance Foundation had also posted a clip-on YouTube and had written, “Ushering in Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s much-awaited wedding, the Ambani family has facilitated the construction of new temples within a sprawling temple complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat.”
Have you ever been to Jamnagar? It's one of Gujarat's hidden treasures, with stunning visuals of Rajput architecture, not to mention being a prominent pearl fishing centre. Situated around Lakhota lake, the city was the capital for the for the former state of Nawanagar, which was established by Jam Raval back in 1540 AD near the confluence of Nagamati River and Rangmati River. It was then called as Jamnagar.
In ancient times, Jamnagar was known as the Brass City of India because of its primary profession of making brass utensils. You should visit this gem of India as it is the starting point for exploring the majestic coastline that extends towards Dwarka, which is one of the most sacred and important Hindu pilgrimage sites. Often called as Chhoti Kashi, Jamnagar has many Hindu as well as Jain temples among which Sun Temple and Bal Hanuman Temple holds a lot of importance. This culture and religious infused richness make Jamnagar a buck stop destination for those who want to experience spiritual and historical side of the region.
According to legends, it is believed that the area where the city stands once was the abode of Lord Krishna. He used to reside there after leaving Mathura. If you want to see classic Rajput style architecture, then head to Darbargadh Palace and Pratap Vilas Palace. The city has preserved its history, has well maintained palaces and forts that are a testament to the past. You need to visit the notable places like the Lakhota Palace and Museum, the intriguing Bhujio Khoto that showcases a glimpse of the historic past that the city holds.
If you love culture and history, then Jamnagar is for you. It is interesting to also note that the Ambanis who are constructing 14 brand new temples in Jamnagar, Gujarat, will garner the attention of religious folks who would love to visit the city with a past. The temples will be adorned with minutely carved pillars, will have sculptures of varied deities and also will have colourful fresco-style paintings.
Jamnagar is also called Chhoti Kashi, Paris of Saurashtra, Liverpool of Saurashtra, city of temples and Kasi of Cricketers.
And here's a bit of trivia on Jamnagar. In 2020, filmmaker Vikash Verma set out to make ‘The Good Maharaja’, starring Sanjay Dutt in the title role of Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, who was the Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, now known as Jamnagar. This Indo-Polish collaboration would tell the story of the king who was known to have given refuge to Jewish people during World War II and had also helped to educate Polish children during that time. In fact, the Jamsaheb Digvijaysinh Jadeja School in Warsaw was established to honour this legacy. The film ran into some controversy and wasn't released. However, there is news that 2024 might be a lucky year for the film.