Ahmedabad is known for its diversified culture and the celebration of various festivals with great zeal, which transcends demographic and religious lines.

Facts At A Glance Built In In 1411 Sultan Ahmed Shah conquered Karnavati, and after his name Karnavati was renamed to Ahmedabad. STD Code 079

Description

It is one of the highly industrialised cities in India. It is a great textile and commercial centre, and is also known as the 'Manchester of India'. Ahmedabad is the second largest city in western India, after Mumbai. Ahmedabad, the city of Ahmed Shah (Medieval ruler of Gujarat), is known for its rich past and its association with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The city offers the traveler a unique style of architecture, which is a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles (Indo-Saracenic style of architecture). The monuments of Ahmedabad mainly date back to the 15th century. Ahmedabad has been known for its industry since medieval times. The old city of Ahmedabad is dotted with labyrinthine bylanes called pols.The exquisite carved wooden mansions and havelis are in no manner less than their stone counter parts in Rajasthan. The city is full of architectural delights. Though the capital of Gujarat was shifted from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, it is still the second largest industrial city in western India.

Location

Ahmedabad is located in the state of Gujarat, in the western part of India. It lies along the Sabarmati River. Ahmedabad is 440 km north of Mumbai.

Best time to visit

Ahmedabad has a very hot and humid type of climate. Winters are cool and pleasant (November-February) but summers (April-June) are extremely dry, hot and the temperature can be as high as 46'C at times. The city experiences good rainfall during the monsoon season (July-September). The best time to visit Ahmedabad is during winters.

How To Get There

Ahmedabad airport has both national and international flights. It is 10 km north of the city Ahmedabad is one of the major textile trading centers in India and is linked to all the major cities in India. The airport of Ahmedabad receives fights from all the major cities of India. Almost all the airlines operating in India have their services to this city. The railway provides its services to this city. Ahmedabad is connected with all parts of the country. Superfast and passenger trains terminate and start from the Ahmedabad railway station. Ahmedabad is connected by motorable roads with all parts of the state. There are bus services from Ahmedabad to other major places within the city as well as interstate services are also available. The state transport and private bus operators are serving the people in commuting from one place to other. Air: I.A. connect Ahmedabad with Bombay,Delhi,Bangalore,Madras,Jaipur,Indore, and Calcutta. East West Airlines also connects Ahmedabad with Bombay. Rail: Ahmedabad is directly connected to Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Trivandrum, Varanasi etc. Road: Ahmedabad to : Baroda (Vadodara) 113 km, Mt. Abu 228 km, Udaipur 252 km, Jaipur 657 km, Bombay 545 km, Delhi 1076 km, Gandhinagar 25 km, Modhera 110 km, Nal Sarovar 71 km and Lothal 80 km.

Attractions

Adalaj Situated 19 km north of Ahmedabad, Adalaj is one of the finest of the Gujarat step wells or baolis. Built by Queen Rudabai in 1499, it provided a cool and secluded retreat during the hot summer months. Lothal Lies about 80 km south of Ahmedabad towards Bhavnagar, and is of great interest to archaeologists as the city which stood here, 4500 years ago was closely related to the Indus Valley cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa. Nalsarovar From November to February this 116 square km lake is a home for vast flocks of indigenous and migratory birds-ducks, geese, pelicans, and flamingoes. Patan Situated about 120 km north-west of Ahmedabad, this was an ancient Hindu capital before being sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024. Now a pale shadow of its former glory, it still has over 100 Jain temples and is a centre for the manufacture of beautifully designed Patola silk saris. Pavagadh Is about 190 kms from Ahmedabad situated in Halol on Panchmahal district. The hills of Pavagadh rise in three stages from Champaner. The plateau at an altitude of 1471 feet is known as Machi Haveli. The two points on the hill are named after Goddess Bhadrakali and Mahakali. Sidi Sayed Mosque This elegant mosque is noted for its twin windows of pierced stone, worked in a style of a tree with palm leaves and curving tendrils. A superb and peerless example of delicate carving that transforms stone into. filigree. Akshardham Is a unique cultural complex built in Gandhinagar in memory of Lord Swaminarayan. It is an intricately carved, majestic monument built of 6000 tons of pink sand stones. The entire monument was built without the use of steel and consists of a 7 feet gold leafed idol of Lord Swaminarayan and his holy relics. Cambay The old sea port of Ahmedabad is situated to the south-west, at the northern end of the Gulf of Cambay. Gandhi `Ashram Known as Satyagraha Ashram during the lifetime of Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi Ashram is situated on a quiet stretch of the Sabarmati river. It was from here, in 1930, that the Mahatma began his famous `Dandi March` to the sea to protest against the Salt Tax imposed by the . British. `Hridaya Kunj`, a cottage where he lived, is preserved as a National Monument. Gandhinagar Is Gujarat's new capital city which rises on the west bank of the Sabarmati river, about 32 kms north east of Ahmedabad. Occupying an area of 57 sq. kms Gandhinagar presents a spacious, well designed look of an architecturally integrated city. Extensive planting of trees and large recreational areas along the river give the city a fresh, green garden city atmosphere. The famous temple of Swaminarayan is also built in Gandhinagar. Hatheesing Jain Temple Built outside Delhi Gate in 1850 by a rich Jain merchant, this temple is one of the best Jain Temples in Ahmedabad. Built of pure white marble and profusely decorated with rich carvings, the Hatheesing Temple is dedicated to Dharamnath, the 15th Jina or Jain apostle. Hussain-Doshi`s Gufa It is a gallery located in the campus of the Center for Environment Planning and Technology, housing the collaborative efforts of artist M.F.Hussain and architect B.V.Doshi where art and architecture fuse together and complement each other magnificently. Jama Masjid Is one of the finest mosques in India with 260 pillars supporting 15 domes at different elevations. Built by Ahmad Shah in 1423, the Masjid is located in the center of the old city. Kankaria Lake It is a circular lake constructed in 1451 by Sultan Qutub-ud-Din. In the center of the lake is an island garden with a summer palace known as Nagina Wadi.

Shopping

Ahmedabad, being an important center for textile industry, offers a range of textile products. One can buy traditional Patola silk saris as well as block-printed items here. Gurjari is the Gujarat state crafts emporium where one can find some of the best products from not only Ahmedabad but also from Gujarat. Ahmedabad is also a good place to look for traditional Jewellery. Look out for the Bandhej textiles. Premier shopping areas in Ahmedabad are C.G Road, Ashram Road, Law Garden and Relief Road. The Khadi Gramudyog Emporiums, Hastkala, Kapasi Handicrafts Emporium, Saurashtra Emporium and Bandhej are some of the places where one can look for the cotton wear, handicrafts and other things which can be purchased.

Excursions

There are many tourist spots near Ahmedabad. Lothal One of the important archaeological excavations, this Harappan city dates back to 2nd millennium B.C. Lothal in Gujarati means 'Mound of Dead' same as Mohenjodaro in means in Sindhi. Patan Established during the Solanki era, this town is famous for its architectural wonders. Patan is an important center for weaving. The Patan silk and printing is very popular among the ladies. The exclusive geometrical patterned Patola silk are in great demand among the Indian as well as among the foreign. This ancient Hindu capital is not even a pale shadow of its original. Patan lost its glory as a capital city after Mahmud of Ghazni it sacked in 1024. Patan is 130 kms from Ahmedabad. Adalaj Wav Wav in Gujarati means well. Adalaj wav is one of the most ancient wells in Gujarat. Built in 1499, this well has carvings and which depict flower and bird motifs. This well is preserved almost in its original form. The highly decorated arch ways, pavilions and corridors are the main attraction for any visitor to this place. Modhera Modhera is famous for the sun temple. This temple though not famous as those of Konark and Khajuraho but the Modhera temple has resemblance with these temples in architectural style. Modhera temple was built in 1026-27 by King Bhimdev but was partially damaged by Mahmud of Ghazni. The construction of this temple is such a manner that the sun shines in the sanctum sanctorum during sunrise and sunset. The sculptures on the walls of the temple resemble the Konark and the Khajuraho temples. Cambay During the Mughal era this whole region was called Cambay and the ruler was addressed as the ruler of Cambay. In those times this was one of the important port and trading centers in India. But when Surat was developed the decline of Cambay started and finally with the silting of the ports Cambay faded into history. It is 92 km from Ahmedabad. Gandhinagar Gujarat was initially part of the Mumbai state. When the state was divided into Maharashtra and Gujarat. Gujarat has its capital as Ahmedabad. But in 1960 a new capital of the state was designed. It was 32 kms from Ahmedabad and was named Gandhinagar. The secretariat of the state moved here in 1970. Gandhinagar is the second planned city in India after Chandigarh. Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary 60 km from Ahmedabad is a 116 sq. Kms lake. This lake is home to numerous migratory and indigenous birds. These birds flock here through the year. One can take a taxi or bus to watch the Ducks, Geese, Pelicans and Flamingos at the sanctuary.