Mohamedally Tower Explained

Shaikh Mohammad Ali Tower
Alternate Names:Muhammad Ali Tower, Shaikh Sharafali Tower, Siddhpur Tower
Building Type:Clock tower
Architectural Style:Indo-Saracenic architecture
Location:Siddhpur, Gujarat
Client:G. M. Mohamedally & Co.
Owner:Siddhpur Municipality
Location Country:India
Coordinates:23.9193°N 72.37°W
Height:60feet

Mohamedally Tower (also spelled Muhammad Ali Tower), also known as Juna Tower or Shaikh Sharafali Tower, is a clock tower in Siddhpur, Gujarat, India. It was inaugurated on 4 April 1915.

History

Mohamedally Sheikh Sharafally Hararwalla was a Dawoodi Bohra merchant from Siddhpur who owned the G. M. Mohamedally & Co. in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). In 1914, on the occasion of marriage of his daughter, he illuminated Siddhpur for three months. The Gaekwad rulers of Siddhpur had gifted him an elephant. The Devdi gate of town was demolished for entry of that elephant for the marriage procession. As a compensation of the demolition, the clock tower was erected at the cost of .[1] [2] It was inaugurated on 4 April 1915[1] by prince Jayasingrao Sayajirao Gaekwad.

In 2018, the Siddhpur municipality has proposed to develop the tower as a monument.[1]

The inscription on the tower reads:

Architecture

The tower is 60 feet high and has clocks imported from Europe on its four sides.[1] It is built in the British colonial architectural style with imperial crown on the top. It is considered as one of the most notable landmarks in the town.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018-10-14. સિદ્ધપુરના ઐતિહાસિક હરહરવાલા ટાવરની 100 વર્ષની સફર પૂર્ણ. 2021-03-13. NavGujarat Samay. gu.
  2. Book: Kadi, Zoyab A.. The Birth and Death of a Style: The Vohrawaads of Sidhpur. 2019-12-02. Notion Press. 978-1-64587-749-3. 155. en.
  3. Book: Kadi, Zoyab A.. Sidhpur and Its Dawoodi Bohra Houses. Minerva Press. 2000. 978-81-7662-087-1. 35–36. en.