A rapidly growing metropolis, an industrial hub, an educational hotspot, and a city with a magnificent past – Ahmedabad is one of the most important cities in Gujarat. Located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, Ahmedabad is the former capital of Gujarat, and its delicious food, colourful culture is making it a fast-growing tourist destination. The historic city of Ahmedabad or the old part of the city was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Home to a plethora of remarkable temples like Swaminarayan Temple, intriguing museums and classy markets, with a little bit of colonial history attached to it, Ahmedabad is an excellent example of how a city can still retain every bit of its old-world charm while still rapidly progressing on the path of globalisation.
Ahmedabad is famous for its textiles and its tie-dye bandhani handloom technique, which makes it a great place to shop. From bandhani sarees, dupattas to traditionally embroidered dress materials, and other local handicrafts.
Sabarmati Ashram, situated directly beside the Sabarmati river, is a quaint and peaceful ashram built by Mahatma Gandhi after he returned from South Africa. To this date, Gandhiji’s living quarters are preserved here and is now used as a museum where visitors can learn all about his life and his teachings. The infamous Dandi Salt March, which was a crucial point in India’s independence struggle, originated from this ashram.
Places to Visit
Swaminarayan Temple
Located in the Kalupur area of Ahmedabad, Shri Swaminarayan Temple (also known as Akshardham Temple) is a shrine dedicated to Narayan Dev. This splendid temple was built in the year 1822 on the instructions of Swaminarayan, who was the founder of the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism.
Embellished with vivid colours and intricate carvings, Swaminarayan temple is a marvellous example of the architecture of the nineteenth century. Inside the sanctum, the deities are decorated with ostentatious ornamentations and beautiful fabrics. The temple attracts a million people on the day after Diwali for darshan.
The personal artefacts of Swami Narayan are also preserved for safekeeping here. The temple is also quite well known for its morning ‘Aarti’ or prayer service. The temple complex also has a multi-storey guesthouse and a medical clinic within its compound for the convenience of the visitors. This temple is also the headquarter of the Nar Narayan Gadi, which makes it an even more revered temple among believers. Beautifully carved out of Burma Teak wood, the intricate detailing in the carvings of this temple makes it an engineering masterpiece.
Dada Hari Wav
Situated in Asarwa, 15 km from Ahmedabad, the Dada Harir Wav, initially known as the Bal Harir Stepwell is among the two famous step-wells of the region. Established during the Mehmud Begda era, this octagonal step well designed in sandstone is a remnant of the Solanki style of architecture. It is a space of respite for the locals during the summers.
The seven-levels of the stepwell, which is a great source of water conservation, can also accommodate several visitors at the same time. Located right behind the Dada Hari grave, this unique construction showcases three stairways to the bottom of the well from the first storey. The whole structure of the Dada Harir Wav is a masterpiece of Gujarati design and intricate artistry in stone.
Sabarmati Ashram
Once the residence of Mahatma Gandhi and his wife Kasturba, Sabarmati Ashram is the site where Gandhiji started the famous Dandi March from. Situated in the 5km north of Ahmedabad’s centre, it is located on the tranquil and serene stretch of Sabarmati River. Also referred to as the ‘Gandhi Ashram’, ‘Mahatma Gandhi Ashram’ and most importantly, ‘Satyagraha Ashram’, it is believed that Mahatma Gandhi chose this site for it is located between a prison and a cemetery and a Satyagrahi is likely to end up in one of these.
In gratitude of the substantial impact Dandi march had on the Indian independence movement, the Indian government has recognised the Sabarmati Ashram as a national monument. The Mahatma Gandhi Ashram has a number of other establishments within its bounds. The most famous among them is the museum ‘Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya’ which has some of Gandhi’s personal letters and photographs on display.
World Vintage Car Museum
Located in the Dastan of Kathwad, the Auto World Vintage Car Museum is a connoisseur of over 120 vintage cars including old utility vehicles, motor vehicles and ancient carriages. It is organised and maintained by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India. The museum also houses a cafe and a museum shop with ample parking space and toilet facilities.
Started by Shri Pranlal Bhogilal Patel who transformed his private collection into a renowned museum, the Auto World Vintage Car Museum is presently managed by the Director, Mr Nitin Dosin. The museum also houses an array of royal cars and carriers ranging between 1900 to the 1970s.
Most of them belonged to some of the most prominent Kings or Maharajas of the time and some notable colonisers of the country as well. The signature exhibits include the 1949 Rolls Royce, 1906 Minerva, 1927 Phantom I and the 1923 Silver Ghost including the iconic French Hotchkiss cars. The oldest antique here is the 1903-model of Fiat.
Kankaria Lake
Kankaria Lake is the second largest lake of Ahmedabad, formerly known as Hauz-e-Qutub. Located near the Maninagar area, the lakefront is popular for the balloon safari, zoo, toy trains and the amusement park.
The pristine lake is perfect for evening strolls with multi-coloured lights glowing all around its periphery. For adventure buffs, Kankaria Lake lays down a plethora of options like archery, gymnastics and water rides. The most beguiling festival – Kankaria carnival is celebrated with immense vim and vigour. Kankaria Lake is a place where entertainment, culture, knowledge and talent perfectly blend with each other.
Adalaj Stepwell
Adalaj Stepwell is a magnificent structure built brilliantly to curb water crisis in and around Adalaj Village. The stepwell is located at a distance of 3 to 4 kilometres to the south-west of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat. The Adalaj Stepwell was built in 1498 and is one of the many step wells built in India to provide access to groundwater. The entire architecture is an excellent illustration of the intelligence of the engineers and architects India had even at that time. Walk in, and you will witness a sudden yet soothing drop in temperature. Breathe in the tranquillity, absorb the beauty of the intricate carvings, make a silent wish and rest for a while before you proceed with your plan for the day.
The entire architecture is an excellent illustration of the intelligence of the engineers and architects India had even at that time. Traces of their brilliance can be seen in the strength of the structure, the layout, the designs and the intricate work. From the deities carved on the walls and pillars, one gets an idea of how vital Indian mythology has been for the locals. Walk in, and you will witness a sudden yet soothing drop in temperature.
When it was built, the Adalaj stepwell served as a serene spiritual refuge and a place for resting for exhausted pilgrims. It is a marvellous work of Indian architecture very well preserved in Gujarat. The villagers would fill water every morning here and offer prayers to the deities exquisitely carved into the walls. The place also served as a venue to socialise and celebrate local festivals. One has to experience it for oneself to know how mesmerising this work of architecture is.
Craftsmen Village
Set behind the Sabarmati river and popular for its Bandhani Sarees, the Craftsman Village in Gandhinagar is visited by hundreds of tourists and shoppers every day. Sarees and dresses are hand printed and decorated with wooden printing blocks in vivacious colours. The cloths available here are carefully worked on by skilled craftsman and are quite economical too.
Trimandir
Spanning over more than 40000 sq ft, the Trimandir in Gandhinagar celebrates Jainism, Shaivism and Vaishnavism under one roof. The entire temple is surrounded by a lush green garden, classic wooden benches and a beautiful towering fountain. The premises of the temple also include an informative museum and a mini-theatre that plays shows about the history of these cultures.
Sabarmati River Front
Sabarmati Riverfront is a waterfront developed on the banks of river Sabarmati in Ahmedabad. Started with an objective for sustainable development and environmental improvement, the pace has now become a major tourist attraction owing to its lush green promenades, beautiful parks and plazas and an all-around soothing ambience.
Jhulta Minar
Located in Ahmedabad, Jhuta Minar is one of the most intriguing architectural wonders that the world has ever seen. They are still an unsolvable mystery. What makes the minarets unique is if one of the minarets is shaken then the other minaret shakes within a few seconds, while the connecting passage doesn’t transmit any movements or vibrations. Many architects and historians have tried to understand the physics and logic behind the unrelated movements of the minarets. It is these movements that have led to its name, Jhulta Minar which translates to swinging minaret.
The 500-year-old structure is located in the Sakar Bazar of Ahmedabad. It was initially a part of the Sidi Bashir Mosque which was later torn down during a Gujrat Sultanate war. The minarets were to be the entrance of the mosque. The minarets have a striking architecture that makes them stand out and leave the visitors in awe. The curiosity behind the movement of these minarets is not new, many British men during the Raj have tried to understand the reason for their movement. One Englishman almost had the minarets taken down to understand why they tend to move the way they do.
Must Try Food in Ahmedabad
1. Manekchowk Food Market for fast food
2. Swati Snacks for traditional food
3. Rajwadu for Gujarati and Indian dishes
4. Revolving Restaurant Neelkanth Patang for Continental, Chinese food
5. Vishalla village styled restaurant
6. Thali at Gordhan Thal
7. Jassi de Paranthe
8. Food Truck Park9. Shawarma, rolls, grilled chicken & other Lebanese-style dishes at Magic Chicken
10. Thai & Mexican at Epitome Restaurant
How To Get Here
By Air
The Ahmedabad Airport (Sardar Vallabbhai Patel International Airport) is well linked to major cities – Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Goa, Pune and Hyderabad through regular Air India, GoAir, SpiceJet and Indigo flights. Though there are regular flights, direct flights are very few in number. Autos, taxis, and cabs are easily available from the airport.
By Road
The Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service connect the city to nearby cities like Bhavnagar, Surat, Mumbai, Pune and Shirdi via NH 8.F
By Train
The city is connected to all other cities via the Western Railways through the Ahmedabad Station, also called Kalupur Station. A number of express and super fast trains connect Ahmedabad to other major cities. Local transport like buses, autos and taxis are easily available from the station.