Ahmedabad

Known as the Manchester of the East because of textile mills located in the city, Ahmedabad is the biggest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh largest metropolitan city in India. It has become a popular tourist destination with many places of interest in and around the city.

Ahmedabad is the most thriving city in west India after Mumbai. Ahmedabad, also known as Karnavati or Amdavad, is located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, about 30 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat. The city is an excellent balance between the old and the new. There are many world class educational institutions, industries and a refreshing take on art and culture in the city.

The exquisite architecture based on Hindu and Islamic styles, is a major attraction in Ahmedabad. In recent years, the city has become a hotspot for medical tourism with medical facilities available at low cost.

Gandhi Ashram is probably the most important social and cultural place in Ahmedabad. A place of pilgrimage for Gandhians and pacifists, the Ashram was set up by Gandhiji in 1917. It was the headquarters of Indian freedom struggle.

The Bhadra Fort is probably the most popular attraction in Ahmedabad. The royal fort was built in 1411 by Sultan Ahmad Shah. The tricolour is hoisted during Republic Day and Independence Day atop the fort.

There are many religious places of worship in Ahmedabad like the Swaminarayan Temple in Dariapur along with many mosques like the Ahmed Shah Mosque and the Jama Masjid.

There are some popular gardens in Ahmedabad which are worth a visit like the Law Garden, Bal Vatika and Victoria Garden. The Kamla Nehru Zoological Park is a good place for a day trip.

There are a few lakes in Ahmedabad like the man-made Kankaria Lake located in Maninagar, the biggest lake in Ahmedabad. The lake is lit up beautifully during the annual week-long Kankaria Carnival.

Ahmedabad is a paradise for vegetarian food lovers. Most of the restaurants serve vegetarian fare as Gujaratis are mostly vegetarians. Gujarati ‘thalis’ cooked in authentic Gujarati style offer a mouthwatering variety of rice, rotli, vegetable curry called ‘shaak’. There is an assortment of Indian bread in the form of rotli, thepla, puri, bhakri and puran-pohli. Gujarati is also a street-food paradise. Snacks like dhokla, khaman, fafda and undiyu are worth trying.