Pavagadh Hill, Champaner, Gujarat India

Pavagadh Hill is situated within a plain in Panchmahal district, Gujarat, western India. At its base is the historical city of Champaner, while the hill station of Pavagadh was built upon the volcanic cone itself. A volcanic eruption occurred here approximately 500 million years ago and the etymology of its name is associated with eruption: Pavgadh means "one fourth hill" or "fire-hill", though a legend surrounding its formation is that the right foot of Sati is believed to have fallen at Pavagadh and God "sent a large hill as per the request of Rishi Vishwamitra to fill up a deep valley so that the sage's cows do not fall into it." With Champaner, Pavagadh hill forms the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, which is spread over an area of more than 1,329 hectares (3,280 acres). The site is 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Baroda and 42 miles (68 km) south of Godhra.

Pavagadh is a historical and religious destination at the base town of Champaner. The hill of Pavagadh rises from Champaner in three stages and this plateau lies at an altitude of 1,471 feet.

A pilgrimage spot, called the Shakti Peeth, the Pavagadh hill leads to the hill top temple of the Goddess Kali, who is the incarnation of the Goddesses Parvati, Durga, and Sati as Shakti or power. The mythological belief makes the Pavagadh hill popular is the symbolic toe of the Goddess Sati, who happened to have fallen on earth as the grief-stricken Lord Shiva, Sati’s husband, carried her dead body on his shoulders. The myths and religious fervor attracts around 2.5 million pilgrims and tourists to Pavagadh each year.

Champaner-Pavagadh is promoted as World Heritage site with developments on move as modern tourism destination. GoG promotes tourism to Champaner-Pavagadh site along with other tour packages such as travel spots at Nimetabag, the Azwa lake, Jambughoda Sanctuary and Dhaboi. Pavagadh along with Champaner and Machi is a UNESCO world heritage site. This site reflects grand historical confluence, displaying 1,200 years of history and culture. It is believed to bear testimony to the Indian Puranic ages, the Rajput saga, the glory of the reign of the Marathas, the Islamic influences and finally lays proof to the British occupation within its remains.