 Ahmedabad Travel Guide, India
Ahmedabad, India
Author: Aksi great, Dipan Shukla (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)
Ahmedabad is the largest city in the state of Gujarat in India. It has a population of about 5.2 million people, placing it in sixth position among the biggest cities in India. Ahmedabad was the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970, when Gandhinagar was made the state capital. Within Gujarat, Ahmedabad is commonly known as Amdavad.
Guide to Ahmedabad Hotels
It's never easy finding the hotel that's just right for your stay. Still, by taking a little time to do your research, you increase your chance of getting a good hotel at the best price. Go through the list of hotels in Ahmedabad which we've put together, with full description, star rating, address, location map and evaluation. Pick the hotel of your choice and view the rates offered by different booking sites. Yes, we show you prices from different websites, so you don't have to visit them one by one.
Jama Masjid, Ahmedabad
Author: Saad.Akhtar (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
More on Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad was established in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah of the Muzaffarid Dynasty on the right bank of the Sabarmati river. It was fortified by Ahmed Shah's son, Mahmud Begada, in 1487 with a 10-kilometer city wall. The wall has twelve gates and 189 bastions.
Ahmedabad was conquered in 1573 by the Mughal emperor Akbar. Under Mughal rule, Ahmedabad became a center for the textile trade. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan - who built the Taj Mahal - spent much of the prime of his life in Ahmedabad.
In 1758 Ahmedabad fell to the Marathas. Two rival clans of the Marathas vied for control over the city. Then in 1818 it was taken over by the British East India Company. Under the British, Ahmedabad became a center for trade between northern and southern India.
Hatheesing Temple, Ahmedabad
Author: Honzasoukup (public domain)
Following Independence, Ahmedabad became the center of higher education and a manufacturing base for heavy and chemical industries. However the city suffers from violent clashes between the different castes and between religious groups. As recently as 26 July 2008, racial and religious violence flarred in the form of seventeen bomb blasts detonated around the city, killing many innocent civilians.
Ahmedabad is not a tourist city. That however works well for visitors looking to see a "real" Indian city.
Budget Travel to Ahmedabad
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is located 15 km to the northeast of downtown Ahmedabad. There is a bus service between the airport and the city, but it is not very regular. A more practical option is to take a taxi. There is a prepaid taxi counter at the airport operated by the Taxi Drivers Association.
Budget Travel within Ahmedabad
The cheapest and most practical form of transport in Ahmedabad is the three-wheel taxicabs called auto-rickshaws - the same found in most cities in India. The auto-rickshaws of Ahmedabad is reasonably reliable and trustworthy, though few speak English.
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Places of Interest in Ahmedabad
- Old City
A wonderful place to explore and admire the sights in the bazaar. Sights here includes Bhadra Fort and Ahmed Shah's Mosque.
- Siddi Saiyad's Mosque
A landmark of Ahmedabad, this mosque is famous for its yellow stone latticework.
- Teen Darwaza (Triple Gate)
A medieval gate along a busy shop-lined road.
- Jama Masjid
Mosque built by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1423.
- Jhulta Minara (Swaying Minaret)
One of the most unusual structures in Ahmedabad (unfortunately not open to visitors), the minarets sway when a small force is applied.
- Tomb of Ahmed Shah
Burial place for the founder of Ahmedabad, with mausoleum for his son and grandson.
- Rani-ka-Hazira
Tomb of the many queens of Ahmed Shah.
- Rani Sipri's Mosque
An elegant mosque also known as Masjid-e-Nagina.
- Rani Rupmati's Mosque
Mosque dedicated to the sultan's Hindu wife.
Outside the Old City
- Hatheesing Temple
Jain temple built in 1850.
- Dada Harir Vav
A Gujarat stepwell built in 1500.
- New Ahmedabad
Modern part of town on the western part of the Sabarmati river.
- Sanskar Kendra
Organisation with collection of rare miniature paintings.
- LD Institute of Technology
Institute that holds ancient manuscripts and paintings.
- Calico Textile Museum
Museum with outstanding collection of Gujarat textiles.
- Sabarmati Ashram
The second home of Mahatma Gandhi. He organised the final struggle for India's independence from here.
- Akshardham Temple
A temple with ornate architecture in Gandhinagar, 20 km from Ahmedabad.
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