Idar, town in Sabarkantha district, Gujarat, India
Idar is a small town in northern Gujarat that sits on the southern edge of the Aravalli Range. The town is surrounded by hills with rounded gray or red rocks on which old temples and historic buildings stand.
The town was known by the name Ilvadurg and is mentioned in ancient texts like the Mahabharata, suggesting an existence spanning over a thousand years. After rule by various dynasties including the Bhil and later the Rathod Rajputs, the town became a princely state under Raja Anand Singh around 1728.
The name Idar comes from the ancient name Ilvadurg, meaning fortress of Ilvan. The town remains a center for handmade crafts, where locals make colorful wooden toys and patterned tiles that are sold in the streets and markets.
The best time to visit is during the cooler months, as summers are extremely hot and dry with temperatures near 50 degrees Celsius. The terrain is hilly with steep paths, so bring comfortable walking shoes and plan to carry plenty of water.
The town is the birthplace or home of several well-known personalities, including actor Arvind Trivedi, known for his role in the television series Ramayan. Poet Umashankar Joshi, who grew up in the area, is counted among the major writers of Gujarati literature.
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