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The city was founded by King Karandev 1 in the 11th century and originally called "Karnavati". The Hindu kingdom of Karnavati ruled for more than 400 years until 1411 when Sultan Ahmed Shah conquered Gujarat and the city was renamed Ahmedabad after him.
The city was built in open and spacious plains to the East of Sabarmati. It was comprised of a little known installation known as Bhadra Fort. The city fort wall was enclosed containing 12 Gates. The city of Ahmedabad went on expanding in every direction by the addition of new areas on the sides of the river, with well laid out beautiful buildings, lakes and mosques.
In 1753 the combined armies of Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad took the fort, which resulted into end of Mughal Rule in Ahmedabad. In 64 years during the rule of Gaekwad and Peshwa, city became cleaner. In 1818 the British annexed Ahmedabad via cunning. During this period the municipality committee was founded and a railway link was established.
The British restricted themselves to the cantonment area and didn’t take much interest in the city. Nor did they get around to colonizing Ahmedabad culturally; they didn't set up schools, churches and clubs all over the city, the way they did in other cities they integrated to their way of life.
So, unlike most other large Indian cities, Ahmedabad is not an English speaking city by nature - but language is never a problem as it has emerged as an international trading hub of Gujarat and almost everybody speaks English. The local language is Gujarati. You can get around by using Hindi or English with most people. The locals are by and large a friendly folk so you’ll get by, even if you don't speak any Indian languages.
Ahmedabad was a cradle of the non-violent movement for India's independence, being host to the Sabarmati ashram of Mahatma Gandhi. Ahmedabad poses a mixture of rich tradition and modern feel. Ahmedabad is famous for the Navaratri festival. It's considered to be the longest dance festival on earth. Navratri rocks Ahmedabadi people and their guests too.
The Gujarati community is largely known for its hospitality and for being shrewd businessmen. Ahmedabad is a big industrial city long reputed for its textile industry, and today more so for its chemical, petroleum, international trade & IT industries. It is also well known for the Finance Wizards and as the modern hub of Jain Religion. The city has been put on world map by institutions like Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, National Institute of Design, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information & Communication Technology, IHM, MICA, EDI, Nirma University, Gujarat Law society, Swaminarayan Gurukul, CEPT (Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology) University, NIFT and a few others. The place has become a landmark for good education practices.
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Climate
Ahmedabad is by and large a hot place. Summer starts by Mid-March and lasts up to Mid-June. The typical temperature here on a hot sunny day in May would be between 34-44°C (93.2-111.2 degrees Fahreneheit). It is advisable not to visit this place during summer. With arrival of Monsoon by Mid-June, the city is a fun place. You will be able to enjoy various Monsoon specialties of the city like Boiled or Roasted Corn Dishes on road - side stalls or some special local dishes like Khichu during this season. There are also some famous Hindu festivals like Rakshabandhan (or Rakhi) and Janmastami - the birth date of Lord Krishna fall during this season. You may sometimes end up in a water logging problem though. Winter is the best season to visit the city. The typical temperature in the city during winter is between 5-20°C (41-68°F). It's fun visiting various open-air restaurants and road-side stalls in winter.
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By plane
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) International Airport (ICAO: VAAH) airport is in the area of Hansol, just 15 km north-east from the city-centre. The airport is expanding with permissions for many international air lines being given and development of new terminals. [http://www.ahmedabadairport.com/]
There is international direct flight to New York / New Jersey (Newark) via Mumbai served by Air India. Non-stop connections are available for Muscat, Kuwait (Kuwait Airways), Dubai (Emirates), Doha [wiki=7cc7ef17c45527cf90fcf27516794d21]Qatar[/wiki] (Qatar Airways), [wiki=a38fc5ae75908cd961d5a00b1a0cef85]Sharjah[/wiki]([wiki=3afcf53fcbcf05bc4e995f886cf4742f]Air Arabia[/wiki]) and [wiki=458e4cbc78201c1aec5fc53a31c59378]Singapore[/wiki] (Singapore Airlines).
Ahmedabad is well-connected domestically via daily flights from [wiki=8ebaad59980c95ade797c903761fa815]Mumbai[/wiki], [wiki=9baaebe1759ba1a6365a2b0539081516]Delhi[/wiki], [wiki=bc43f7e60bccbed2408a5abf46870ea5]Indore[/wiki], [wiki=361961d900d8171b305cb8f79b1aabc2]Chennai[/wiki], [wiki=1bc99cb2f4153c2d0d8025ee5575b2a0]Bangalore[/wiki], [wiki=904848bc2d46b8dcd2e90e5a025f726e]Goa[/wiki], [wiki=44bef2ee415c62f0ce01fbe6c5566250]Kolkata[/wiki], [wiki=e4b769db2a42d92d7311b02c3545d07d]Jaipur[/wiki], [wiki=76d62042b96824bfa5e72053e947a478]Pune[/wiki], [wiki=0516e11882b5424bd2ec45545bf06d4f]Coimbatore[/wiki], [wiki=02a342794409deaf5f29216201d9da30]Hyderabad[/wiki] and Nagpur with connections to several other Indian cities and towns. Recently, flights to Kandla and Surat have also been launched. Most domestic airlines have a flight in and out of Ahmedabad.
Travelers hoping to arrive at the airport early should be advised that the international terminal is not open 24 hours, and may not open until the late afternoon. Similarly, as at other Indian airports, you will likely be denied entry until approximately three hours before your scheduled flight even if the terminal is open. Therefore, connecting between a domestic and an international flight will often involve waiting outside the airport with the throngs of touts for several hours.
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By train
Indian Railways has a very wide network all over India and Ahmedabad Railway Station (Station code: ADI) is connected with Mumbai(500 km), Vadodara Jaipur, Jodhpur and Delhi with trains several times a day. Daily connections (or multiple weekly connections) are also available to several other major cities including Bikaner, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara, Udaipur, Indore, Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata, Nagpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Chennai, Nagarcoil, [wiki=5168e3bb838748f9814af910183641ed]Trivendram[/wiki], Bangaluru, and Coimbatore. Direct trains are also available for Jammu, Patna, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Kolhapur, Goa, Mangalore, Cochin, [wiki=dfd0b29810a446984927482de4a205be]Trivandrum[/wiki], Hyderabad and Bangalore.
Ahmedabad Railway Station (Station code: ADI), the main railway station serving the city is located in Kalupur (Central Ahmedabad). The other stations serving Ahmedabad are Maninagar, Vatva, Gandhigram, Asarva, Chandlodia, Chandkheda, Saij, Kalol Jn, Kali Gam, Vastrapur, Sabarmati, Sarkhej, Naroda, Gandhinagar, Khodiyar, Aamli. Although the important and well-connected ones are only Sabarmati Junction (Station code: SBI) located in the suburb of Sabarmati (North Ahmedabad) and Maninagar Railway Station (Station code: MAN) located in Maninagar (South Ahmedabad).
The website of [url=http://www.indianrail.gov.in]Indian Railways[/url] will show you trains from a particular station to your destination along with days, timings, fares and availability. This will help you find trains from individual stations of Ahmedabad (separate searches) as NOT all trains stop at all stations except ofcourse, the main Ahmedabad Railway Station (Station code: ADI) where each train halts (and for longer durations than any other station). Booking can be done through the website of [url=https://www.irctc.co.in]IRCTC[/url], a subsidiary of Indian Railways or through any of the railway reservation centres throughout India.
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By bus
Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) [http://www.gsrtc.in] has buses from all the parts of the Gujarat state entering into the city with the central bus terminus at Geeta Mandir along with other terminals at Subhash Bridge and Naroda; some minor stops are Paldi and Sabarmati Tollnaka, etc. It is advisable to pre-book seats due to the major possibility of crowding.
From bus terminals/stops to city:
The GSRTC Central Bus Terminus located at Geeta Mandir (Central Ahmedabad) is served by BRTS buses through the BRTS station of Aastodia Darwaja on the Line no. 9 (towards RTO Circle (North Ahmedabad) and towards Ellisbridge (West Ahmedabad)) and AMTS buses serve through the stop of Astodia Darwaja.
The GSRTC stop of Sabarmati Tollnaka is accessible through the BRTS station of Sabarmati Police station, both on Line no. 8 (towards Maninagar (South Ahmedabad) and towards Visat Junction (serving the suburb of Chandkheda)). AMTS buses also have a stop nearby.
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Note: The services of AMTS and BRTS close down after 11 PM and resume at 6 AM in the morning.
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By AMTS bus
The local city buses are run by Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) since 1947, forming a wide network covering almost all the points of Ahmedabad. Any destination in the city can be reached from anywhere in the city by AMTS.
To identify them and distinguish them from the state transport GSRTC buses or the private luxury buses here is the key: The older buses in this service are painted in red and white or in red and yellow, whereas new bright red ones put up under JnNURM are having electronic display boards. You may easily ask around the people esp. those waiting at one of the AMTS stops about the route, time, etc. as the information displayed is in Gujarati. Also, Public Transit option on Google Maps will show you the nearest AMTS stop while searching directions from your location to the destination and it also gives information about the bus numbers, transfer points, etc. though timings might not be reliable. Also you may install an unofficial App named 'Ahmedabad AMTS Info', available on Google Play Store for Android devices, which guides you regarding travel routes, transfers, etc.
The terminals are located at Lal Darwaja, Kalupur, Sarangpur, Old Vadaj (Juna Vadaj), Maninagar, Akhbarnagar (Nava Vadaj), Vasna and Naroda and the depots at Jamalpur, Memco (Naroda Patiya) and Memnagar. In total, AMTS has around 1200 stops with 210 routes.
It is mandatory to board the bus from the rear end door and alight from the front end one. The conductor on the bus will issue you a ticket according to your destination stop. Keep handy some notes of ₹ 10/20/50 denominations rather than the higher ones as the fares are very low (these buses are the cheapest means to travel in the city). A pay - per - ride fare will cost you a minimum fare of ₹ 3, while the maximum fare is only ₹ 25). You may also opt to buy a Man Pasand ticket worth ₹ 45 (available from the bus conductor) which entitles you to unlimited rides for a single day. Though, as buses are the most common transport facility for the common people in the city, they are overcrowded at times.
During the journey you may request your co-passengers or the conductor to inform you when the destination arrives/is about to arrive so that you don't miss getting off at your stop and then have to take a reverse trip. Also keep moving towards the front end door as the bus will be crowded with people standing in the corridor between seats and it might be difficult to quickly rush to the door and get off, when your destination arrives (the bus won't halt at a stop more than 10-12 sec, unless it's the AMTS Central Terminus at Lal Darwaja or the last stop of the journey).
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By BRTS bus
Another city bus service, run by Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL), is the famous Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) [url=http://www.ahmedabadbrts.com]]introduced in 2009. These buses are silver-coloured and run on dedicated corridors in the centre portion of the roads. As this service is relatively new in comparison to AMTS, all places cannot be accessed but wherever available, it is the best way to commute as it is remarkably faster than other modes (as no other vehicle can ply on BRTS corridor) and all the stations are marked well, in both English and Hindi. One can also travel using a combination of BRTS, AMTS and/or auto rickshaw, although it must be noted that the ticketing systems of BRTS and AMTS are not integrated. The fares are only slightly higher than AMTS (min. fare ₹ 4, max. fare ₹ 36)
The BRTS stations are elevated shelters in the dedicated central corridor of the city roads, from where you can purchase your ticket. Keep the ticket with you till you don't alight at the destination, where you show the ticket to the checker and then leave the station on to the road. For boarding/alighting, the buses are equipped with central automatic doors that open up automatically when the bus halts at a station. While the bus is about to arrive at a station, there are announcements with name of the station along with display on the electronic board inside the bus. Inside the stations, there will be boards displaying real-time information about arrivals or upcoming buses along with the routes and estimated time remaining for the arrivals. The name of the station will be printed in white letters on blue strips on the sides (horizontal) and on the roof of the station (vertical).
Note: All the BRTS buses and the stations are wheel-chair accessible, as the floor of the gate of the bus is of the same level as the platform of the stations, and there are ramps from road to the elevated platforms on the stations; EXCEPT those of RTO Circle and Kalupur Railway Station, which are road side shelters unlike the standard BRTS stations.
For information on all the BRTS stations, one may visit the above-linked website, which shows them according to the line, or install an unofficial App of BRTS Ahmedabad available on Google Play Store for Android devices, which provides information such as travel options, routes, fare, time, station names, etc. (Note: The Public Transit option on Google Maps doesn't show BRTS services, only the AMTS ones)
In total up till now, there are over 100 BRTS stations, and new ones will be launched in phases as the construction work goes on. Following are the routes:
Line no. 1 RTO Circle - Maninagar
Line no. 2 Anjali (Vasna) - Naroda
Line no. 3 RTO Circle - Naroda
Line no. 4 RTO Circle - Sarkari Litho Press (Delhi Darwaja)
Line no. 5 Iskcon - Maninagar
Line no. 6 Soni ni chali - Odhav
Line no. 7 Sarkari Litho Press (Delhi Darwaja) - Science City Approach
Line no. 8 Visat Junction - Maninagar
Line no. 9 RTO Circle - Town Hall (Ellisbridge)
Line no. 10 Anjali (Vasna) - Kalupur Railway Station
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By auto rickshaw
You'll spot on the streets, the yellow and green three-wheeled noise machines known as the auto-rickshaws or simply rickshaws. These are always cheaper than taxis and much costlier than AMTS or BRTS when distance is longer than 3 kms. They are not very comfortable and spacious. The drivers might ride very roughly, in which case you might request him to drive smoothly and slowly.
Hollering 'auto' or 'rickshaw' at a passing rickshaw should be enough to catch the drivers attention, if you need to--after all, if you don't look Indian, it is likely that if you step outside you will be followed at all times by at least one rickshaw driver pestering you to take a ride. In most cases, the drivers will be able to understand Hindi and maybe even a few words of English. They are normally quite helpful and are not known to cheat tourists. As always, agree on a fare before getting in. Day and night fares are different. If you look a out-of-the-town person, you may end up getting overcharged. For example, he might insist on a fare based on meter and take you to your destination through a longer route. Having a pre-requisite knowledge about the distances through Maps can be helpful in such instances.
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By taxi
Since auto rickshaws are the dominant travel mode apart from BRTS and AMTS, there is no taxi culture in Ahmedabad. So you will hardly find a taxi on the roads to hail whenever needed, though you may either book a taxi from a hotel or directly book one outside the railway station. There is a government authorized taxi stand. ₹ 950 per day for 12 hours. It may be more costly to book through hotels, and it is better to negotiate with the driver directly. Online bookings are also possible at various websites.
* in 2015 Taxis can be conviently booked with Ola Cabs, Taxi for sure or meru cabs. Prices for a Mini taxi are comparable with Rickshaws, but much more comfortable, especially in Summer and during monsun. Also Airport pick ups are easy to organize.
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The local language is [wiki=b45b07f77b65d28f7388c94714815c46]Gujarati[/wiki]. Hindi is understood by almost everyone and English is prevalent amongst educated people. The education ratio is improving at a much faster pace though as the city is developing as an education centre with some great institutions. English is at least partially understood by most people in the tourist industry.
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[url=://www.vaarso.com
*Akshardham Temple, Rich and Wonderful architecture. Located in Gandhinagar, about 20 km from Ahmedabad. Temple will be closed on Monday. Otherdays you can visit from 10 to 6
*Science City, Newly built Science City is one latest happening place in the city
*Vaishnodevi Temple, Replica of famous Vaishnodevi temple located at Sola Gandhinagar Highway.
*Amar dham, This religious site is known for its architectural grandeur.
*International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple, This hindu temple depicts Krishna, and his lover, Radha, who is regarded as the personification of love.
*Kankaria Lake. A circular lake built in 1451 by Sultan Qutub-ud-Din. In the centre of the lake is an island garden with a summer palace known as Nagina Wadi. It has a very beautiful Musical Fountain show (although the music isn't too good, the lights and fountain are worth a trip). The lake is a popular recreation centre surrounded by parks, 'Bal Vatika' - an aquarium, a boat club, a natural history museum and a zoo.
*Kamla Nehru Zoo This is near to Kankaria Lake and one of the best zoos in India.
*Vastrapur Lake. Newly constructed artificial lake.
*Law Garden, Considered the main centre of activity in Ahmedabad, one can purchase handcrafts and traditional Gujarati outfits, amongst other things.
*Sarkhej Roja, This is a small city located 10km southwest of Ahmedabad. It is widely known for its architectural complexes.
*Hathisingh Jain Temple, Shahibaug Road. An impressive white structure, the Jain temple built of white marble and elaborately carved is dedicated to Dharmanath - the 15th Jina or Jain Apostle. Similar to all Jain temples, this temple to is rich in intricate carvings displaying, among other things, musicians.[[Image:HathiSinghJainTemple.jpg|thumb|350px|Hathi Singh Jain Temple][Image:GandhiAshram.JPG|thumb|350px|Gandhi Ashram]]
Ahmedabad has several floridly carved historic monuments including the Stepwell at Adalaj and the Rani Mosques (dedicated to Rani Sipri and Rani Rupmati). It is also home to many fine museums and art galleries. Modern office buildings and malls dot the more recently developed areas.
Important places to see include:
*Gandhi Aashram Located near Vadaj, the Sabarmati Aashram was once house of Mahatma Gandhi. The ashram was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1915, and today without doubt, it is the biggest tourist attraction in Ahmedabad. It lies on the tranquil stretch of the Sabarmati river and was referred to as the Satyagraha Ashram during the lifetime of the Mahatma. It was from here, that the Mahatma began his famous 'Dandi March' in 1930 to protest against the Salt Tax imposed by the British. One can see the three wise monkeys and many more of Gandhiji's teachings at the ashram premises. The ashram today continues the work started by Mahatma and houses a handicrafts centre, a handmade paper factory and a spinning wheel factory. Besides, there are several other attractions for the tourist.
*Sidi Sayed Mosque, Sidi Sayed Mosque is unique for its exquisite screens, which are praised for their amazing Jhali screen, framed, in the ten semi-circular windows. The screen carved out of one rock is just exceptional. A visit to this superb and outstanding example of delicate carving is an absolute must.
*Bhadra Fort, To add special charm to the varied sights of the city there is the Bhadra Fort, which once housed royal palaces and well-laid gardens. It boasts the temple of Bhadrakali and was built in 1411 during the Maratha rule.
* Heritage Houses of poles, A living heritage, the structures are 100-600 years old and the people living in there are original ahmedabadi traditional families. Must visit pol's 1 - Dhobini pol haveli no:1765 2 - Desai ni pol row of houses 3 - sutharwada ni pol 4 - Jethabhai ni pol 5 - wagheswar ni pol 6 - Sankadi sheri. for more details visit[/url]]
*Calico Textile Museum. One of the finest textile museums in the world in one of Gujarat's famous carved wooden havelis. The museum displays a magnificent collection of rare textiles dating back to the 17th century. There is also an excellent reference library on textiles. Located in the Sarabhai Foundation, in Shahibagh the Calico Museum of Textiles, widely regarded as one of the finest textile museums in the world was constructed in 1949. It has the finest collection of not just textiles and clothes but also furniture, temple artifacts and crafts in the country. It has no less than five centuries of the finest fabrics spun, woven, printed and painted in different parts of India. It has a collection of marble, sandstone and bronze icons and busts split in two thematic sections- gallery for religious textiles and historical textiles. An excellent reference library on textiles is found here.
*Juma Masjid, (mosque). It is amongst the most popular tourist sights in the city. Built of yellow sandstone this mosque stands on 260 pillars which support 15 domes at varying elevations. The mosque was built by Ahmad Shah in 1423. It is easily accessible as it stands in the centre of the old city. This imposing structure reflects the Muslim architecture of that period.
*Jhulta Minara, Quite an unusual structure, Jhulta Minara or swaying minarets are a part of the mosque of Siddi Bashir and can be moved back and forth by applying a little force at the topmost arch. One of the minarets was partly demolished by an Englishman in his endeavors to unravel the mystery of the swaying minarets. The mosque was built by master craftsmen and the crucial mechanism that leads to the vibration is still a mystery. The other interesting fact here is that these minars stand the test of the rumbling trains that pass not very far away from them.
*Indian Institute of Management (IIM)[url=http://www.iimahd.ernet.in/],]in Vastrapur, one of the best B-School of Management in India was built by Louis Kahn and is a wonderful architectural creation.
*Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) [url=http://gnlu.ac.in/index.aspx[/url],]is a statutory university established by the Govt. of Gujarat through the Gujarat National Law University Act, 2003. This University is based in the city of Gandhinagar, which is the capital of Gujarat and is located 30 kilometres north of Ahmedabad.
*Darpana Academy of Performing Arts[url=http://www.darpana.com/[/url],]is one of the oldest performing arts academies in the city. Its amphitheatre Natarani has a fabulous performance venue overlooking the Sabarmati river and is one of the few places to bring internationally acclaimed performing artists to the city.
*Ahmedabad Metal Scene[url=http://www.metalabad.com/[/url],]One of the best underground metal scene, unknown to residents of gujarat.
*Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, It is one of the best arts displaying museum in city. It has a wide collection of Indian miniature paintings, stone sculptures, terracotta, paintings of Tagore, art of Nepal and Tibet, bronzes, textiles, wood work, cloth paintings, metal sculptures, coins.
*L. D. Institute of Indology, Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology was established in Ahmedabad by Muni Shri Punyavijayji and Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai. The museum houses priceless collection of books, manuscripts and other reference material from ancient India.The museum is a treasure trove of manuscripts relating to Jainism. In all there are about 45,000 printed books with 75,000 manuscripts including out of which 500 are illustrated ones. These documents from the past cover a wide range of subjects like Vedas, Agamas, Buddhism, Tantras, Jain Darshana, System of Indian Philoshy, Jaina Philoshpy, Grammer and Poetics etc.The institute has also published seven volumes of catalogues in languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, Old Gujrati, Prakrit and Rajasthani. The institute also conducts periodical workshops on manuscriptology and paleography. It can be learning experience if you get to attend these workshop.
*Nirma University, It is a private university developed by the legendary businessman Mr. Karsanbhai Patel, founder of one of the biggest Indian FMCG house Nirma. The campus of the university, which is spread in about 100 acres is worth a visit. You would also like to see the internal infrastructure and the overall administration of the university, that puts it in line with any international university. It is located at S. G. Highway about 20 km distance from the heart of the city - C. G. Road. [http://www.nirmauni.ac.in[/url]
*Swaminarayan Gurukul, It is a residential and day boarding school run by the Swaminarayan faith of Hinduism. The infrastructure and the education systems are worth watching. On the first look of the main school building, you may feel that you are visiting some ancient palace of a powerful king. The school teaches not only formal education but also provides training in horse-riding, archery, dairy development, Yoga, Ayurveda, etc.
*S. G. Highway, or Sarkhej - Gandhinagar Highway, the recently developed hub of entertainment in Ahmedabad, is worth putting in couple of evening for. From fun and movies at Fun Republic and Wide Angle or R-World to temples like Mini Vaishnow Devi Temple and ISKON temple, you will find almost everything that you need for entertainment. A few min walk straight from Vaishnow Devi temple you'll find 'Boot camp' Ahmedabad's first and only outdoor recreational facility that has activities like Paint Ball shooting, Archery, Dirt biking etc. The same highway leads you to Gandhinagar as well, where you can visit Akshardham temple and many other places of interest.
*Dada Hari ni Vav (step well) in Asarwa. Next to this there is Mataji ni Vav (also a step well). Vavs are the thing that can be experienced when days get hotter, it is cooler inside a step well... yet to be filled with water and waiting for rain... whether it rains or not it is cool in there.. It is a small rikshaw ride in a narrow lane right next to behind Hutheesingh Jain Temple.
*Veechar Utensil Museum, the only museum in the country showcasing over 3,000 utensils used by the various households in India. It's a personal collection of Mr. Surendra Patel who has curated and designed the museum. The museum is a part of Vishalla, a restaurant serving ethnic Gujarati Food. It's a magnificent museum showcasing a very different culture of India.
*National Insitute of Design, India's Premier Design Institute with over 16 disciplines of Design.
*Husain Doshi Gufa, called Amdavad ni Gufa. Time s 4 to 10 pm evening. There s a Kanoria Gallery of Art and Vikram Sarabhai Science Musuem for children in one walkable area (Say Gujarat University area). Best of all there s no Entry fee. This place has some fantastic open air eatables in makeshift vans especially around Navrangpura Commerce Six Roads L D Arts Lane.
*Auto World Vintage Car Museum, Shri Pranlal Bhogilal is a connoisseur of vintage cars. He has converted his private collection of vintage cars into a museum named Auto World Vintage Car Museum at Dastan Farm House. The Museum has a collection of more than 100 cars. The cars are amazing and lovely. One could find all the best cars of the world - Rolls Royce, Bentley, Maybach, Jaguar, Cadillacs, Austin, Chrysler, Lincoln, Ford and many many more. Each car is in a perfect driving condition. In fact, you can even drive them by paying a hefty fee - Rs 500 for 3.5 km drive in a historic car.
*Trimandir in Adalaj is glorious temple to visit along famous stepwell. The temple contains the lords of 3 main sects of hinduism : Jainisam, Vaishanav & Shaiv. Along temple there are museum, a theatre showing 10 minute show, play area for children, an exhibition for kids & youth - "Store Of Happiness", gardens, food court, book stall, bhojan shala, pujya niruma's memorial etc. An perfect picnic place & tourist attraction. This is a worldly headquater of spiritual organisation Dada Bhagwan Pariwar. One can feel neverbefore peace here.
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Adventure Sports
Zipline built across the Sabarmati River within Sabarmati Riverfront to cross the river near Sardar Bridge. It's a 350 meters long ride and nearly 6 meters high from the river. The ride is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate.
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Festivals
Diwali - Diwali is one of the popular festival in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Its called the festival of Light. People make many sweet and meet each others on this day. Its a festival of Lord Rama and belongs to Ramayana.
* Makar Sankranti or festival of kites or "Uttarayan", 14th January, in the festival of Makar Sankranti or festival of kites or "Utarayan". The festival marks the end of winter and return of the sun to northern hemisphere and hence is named "Uttar ayan". On this particular day, everybody in the city start the day through kite flying and continues into night with the flying of lamps (Tukkal) attached to kites in the sky. The sky remains dotted with colourful kites through out the day.
* RakshaBandhan - A festival celebrated by sisters and brothers. The festival consists of a sister tying a rakhi on the brother's hand. They ask to be by their side forever and also save them from all the problems they might face in the future. The festival is generally celebrated in the month of August.
* Holi - Better know as festival of colours, where people apply colour on their beloved very well known as 'gulaal', which was ideally made of 'Kesuda' a flowering plant. But, now people use the powdered form. People gather at one place forgetting all their problems and have fun in this festival. It is also very well associated with myth or Holika - Phrlad & Hirnayakashyapu.
* Navratri (festival of nine nights), Navratri or the festival of nine nights is devoted to Goddess Shakti. The festival also has the famous folk dance of Gujarat "Garba". The festival continues for nine nights, everybody takes part into it with same emphasis. Each night starts with ceremonial "Aarti" and is followed by Garba until midnight. The Garba dance is carried out around the statue of Goddess Shakti. Garba is also played with Dandiyas in hand. During these nights, city is been beautifully decorated and nights become short.
* Eid-Ul-Fitr OR Ramdhan Eid EID-UL-FITR is celebrated on the first day of Shaw'waal, at the completion of Ramadan. Shaw'waal is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. The Eid-al-Fitr is a very joyous day; it is a true Thanksgiving Day for the believing men and women. On this day, Muslims show their real joy for the health, strength and the opportunities of life.
The Muslims of Ahmedeabad and surrounding villages come to Eidgah (a holy place to perform Eids' Namaz (prayer) and Shahi Jam-E-Masjid. The people decorate their homes, shops, buildings, greet each other etc.
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Ahmedabad is well known for its textile industries. Be sure to look at the traditional hand embroidered and tie & dye clothes, and if you are buying from the roadside shops be prepared to [wiki=5723c92270b3a6333fe517fc0a34c906]haggle[/wiki]. It would not be advisable to try these without a local guide. The city's main market area is situated at Thron Darwaja, Dhalgarwad, Ratan Pole, Manek Chowk(old areas)near Lal Darwaja and newer markets like C.G.Road and Sarkhej - Gandhinagar highway near Vastrapur. It is generally a crowded area, but you get a better variety of clothes (it is very crowded during festival seasons). The street side shops near Law Garden also offers good choices. Some shops such as Bandhej and Sanskruti offer these traditional items at fixed (and maybe overpriced) rates. But now the big shopping malls are offering almost all the things at a very cheap rate. You would also love to visit some of the local sweet shops, where traditional Gujarati sweets will catch your attention. Some of the famous shops are Bhogilal Mulchand Kandoi, Jai Hind, Ras Ranjan, etc.
The 10 Acres Shopping Mall is quite dead, although it offers 120 rupee movies to get out of the heat and into air conditioning while you wait for a bus at the very close Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation bus station.
The newly opened Alpha One Mall has plenty of shopping places and tons of eating joins as well. Try a few other malls like Reliance/ISKON, Himalaya Mall etc. Visit a few multiplexes and enjoy the luxury seats which turn into a couch-almost nowhere found in the world. You can enjoy this at ebony lounge in Big Cinemas at Himalaya Mall and other multiplexes as well.
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Ahmedabad is a gastronomic paradise. You will find at least one restaurant in every nook and corner, anywhere in Ahmedabad. Gujarati people are fond of eating and the food generally tends to be on the sweeter side. Gujaratis are mostly vegetarians hence most local fare consists of vegetarian fare. However, with the advent of international and domestic food chains non-vegetarian fare has become popular in recent times. Ahmedabad is famous for its ice-creams because of abundance of dairy products in the state and Gujaratis' penchant for sweets as well. Gujarati specialties include Dhokla, Khandvi, Srikhand, Haandvo, Bhajiya amongst others.
There are lots of Gujarati dining halls where you can get unlimited "thali" meals within US$4. A thali consists of variety of concoctions including salads, appetizers, snacks, breads, pulses, vegetable curries and sweets. This is a very unique experience in terms of not only taste and quality but also the way the items are served.
If you have not stayed in India for long, select a food place which is famous and well organized (hotels, big restaurants). Otherwise, its fun to eat at one of the road side stalls, especially at the Khau Galli in Law Garden area and Khan Pan Bazaar in Manekchawk. Various stalls start operating in both these places in the evening and run late in the night. You will enjoy the food like Paani - Puri (Gol Gappa), Indian Chat, Indian Sandwiches, North Indian, Indian-Chinese and some continental cuisines, amazingly at road-side stalls and for a very reasonable price of less than a US$1 per item. Recently, SG Road in the western part of city has transformed into an restaurant strip. It has no less than 100 restaurants in a five-mile stretch offering most varieties in all price ranges.
You can find almost all the best restaurants from [http://ahmedabad.burrp.com/]
Some of the notable restaurants in the city are:
* Silver Dine at Hotel Platinum Inn : Multi Cuisine restaurant serving authentic Indian, Chinese and Mexican food. With dessert as one of its specialities, this hotel is bound to leave you wanting for more. Open from 12am-12pm, come visit Silver Dine with your family and friends for an exquisite meal. Call +91 - 79 - 2664 2494 or visit Besides Gujarat Gram Haat, Near Anjali Cross Roads, Vasna, Ahmedabad - 380007, Gujarat - India
* Max Kitchen - Indulge In Food,
GF - 9 Sur Mount Complex Opp Iscon - Reliance Mart S G Road Ahmedabad - 380 015.
An Authentic Destination for Kababs ,Tikkas , Biryanis , Tawa & More.
They serve Indian / Chinese / Sea Food / Egg Preparations.
Their services specialize in outdoor catering, kitty - birthday parties, corporate parties, barbecue parties and so on.
* Dairy Den CTF (Chills - Thrills - Frills), Municipal Market, C. G. Road, Navrangpura, Delizio, Parhladnagar, Rambaug, Maninagar. One of the finest Soft Ice Creams, Artisan Scoop Ice Creams & Thick Milk Shakes.
*Amazo Restaurant / Geleteria / Cafeteria (Area: Prahladnagar, St. Xavier's College crossroads, Paldi): Specialized in various vegetarian cuisines, the restaurant has expertise and specializes in serving Italian and Mexican food.
*Vishala (Area: Vasna Toll Naka): Best Dish: Thali Meals. This restaurant is a must-visit for any tourist visiting the city. Not only does it serve delectable Gujarati fare, but it is most famous for its village-like decor and an utensils museum. It has several pre-dinner activities like puppet-show for kids, folk music and dance, snake-charmers, etc. Of late, many restaurants have sprouted over the city especially providing a similar experience, but for less than $8, Vishala is truly amazing.
*Tadka Punjabi (Area: Opp. Vastrapur Lake, Vastrapur) Serves authentic Punjabi food specialties like Amritsari Kulcha, Bathure-chhole, stuffed parathas, lassi, etc. If you want to try pure Punjabi taste, give this place a visit.
*Sankalp (Area: CG Road, SG Road) One of the famous institutions of Ahmedabad specializing in South Indian fare. It is in various parts of the city and provides excellent South Indian variety along with other items. It set an Guinness World Record for the "longest dosa (thin-crepe) in the World" (25 feet)
*Havmor (Area: Panchwati, Stadium Circle) Famous for its Chola Bhatura a famous north Indian dish. Some of the novelty ice creams like Raja Rani, Cassata Roll Cut, Tall Beauty, etc. are Havmor's own creations and specialities
*Choice Snacks (Area: CG Road) Excellent Chaat items including Bhel, Indian-style pizza and sandwiches.
*Bardo(Area: C.G Road , Near Choice) Excellent Kathiyawadi Food with good staff and value for money.
*Honest (Area: Panchwati, SG Road, etc.) Another well-known fast-food chain in Ahmedabad that started as road-side joint serving Pav-Bhaji and Pulav in Law Garden area and now a fledging restaurant chain
*Asarfi Kulfi (Area: Panchwati & Law Garden) They only serve dessert. Try any of the kulfis
*Bhagwati Chat (Area: Panchwati) The best dish by far is the paneer tikka. Try the gulab jamun or jabeli for dessert.
*Oswal (Area: Ashram Road Nr. Statue of Mahatma Gandhi) Snack shop specializing in gujarati snacks and sweets like Jalebis (sweet-syrup filled pretzels), Fafda (flat chick-pea biscuits served with spicy papaya chutney). Quality can be an issue for unacclimatized tourists hence, insist of fresh Fafda and Jalebis.
*Raipur Bhajia House (Area: Raipur Darwaja) Famous for Bhajias (much better taste & quality than the Astodia Bhajia)
* Cafe Upper Crust (Area: Vijay Char Rasta, Vastrapur) A popular cafe amongst the younger crowd. It serves continental fare including veg/non-vegetarian sizzlers, pastas, sandwiches, etc. The bakery has breads, cakes and desserts that are also worth trying. Look out for their special food festivals.
*Mirch Masala (Area: CG Road, SG Road) Serves North-Indian fare in a typical highway "dhaba" setting. Excellent food but more interesting for its decor.
*King's Food Factory (Area: Panchwati cross road, CG Road) It is new restaurant chain. They serve indian cuisine as well as some spanish, italian, chinese and american food. Very nice dessert are available in the coffee parlour and there is a possibility to play some scrabble or uno upstairs. It is very clean place, all staff speak english, menu includes desciption concerning how spicy the given dishes are; wi-fi, air-con and two plasma.
* ZK(Area: Relief Road). One of the best and oldest non-veg restaurant in the city
*Ras Ranjan (Area: Vijay Char Rasta). Great place for sweets, Bislari Paani Puri, Paneer Tikka w/famous chutney, vaada pav.
*Pudding Great place for veg and non-veg food. Very good Hydrabadi Biryani.
*Buttercupp (backside of Advait Mall, west of AlphaOne Mall). Small cupcake shop with various sorts and amazing taste. Advisable only on 'splurge' Sunday.
Other than these that are several other restaurants that serve excellent food for example (Swati Snacks, House of MG both famous for Gujarati food in chic setting, Bawarchi for Punjabi food, etc.) For western palates, a good way to find new restaurants is to ask a local, especially someone young who would certainly know about such places. International chains such as Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Subway are present throughout the city.
Asia Kitchen Restaurant, Holiday Inn Express, Ashram road, Wadaj, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad.
For some street food following places are quite famous:
*R. K. Vadapau,Vijay Char Rasta, Vada Pau at it's best, it is also known as Anna's Vada Pau
*Karnavati Dabeli,Opp. Hirabhai Tower, Uttam Nagar, Maninagar, Best Kachhi Dabeli
*Jay Bhavani Vadapau,Opp. Vastrapur Lake, Satellite, best vadapau in town along with a a host of other dishes from chinese bhel to a wide variety of sandwiches
*Chamunda Pan Corder,JodhPur Char rasta, N/R Patel Trawels, Ahmedabad, Best Singola Pan ever in Ahmedabad - Devendra (Devu na Special Singola Pan), Hottest place of town.. to get 135 rajkot style masala & pan.
*... Moti Mahal Hotel Walkable distance from Ahmedabad junction railway station taste the Biryani there, breakfast also with non-veg items
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Gujarat is one of the few Indian states where alcohol is prohibited. But this applies only to Indians. If you have a non-Indian passport / green card holder/ PR status, you can get an alcohol permit valid for one month by going to a liquor shop large hotel and purchasing one at their liquor shop. Hotels that have liquor shops include: Cama Hotel in Khanpur, Hotel Inder Residency, Opp. to Gujarat College, Comfort Inn President Hotel at CG Road among others open from 12 noon to 8PM Monday to Saturday ph no. +91 79 26467575. Many local people will be able to direct you because they can purchase alcohol on a 'health' license. If you are non-resident of Gujarat, then one can get liquor permits issued at liquor shop on showing proof of travel to Ahmedabad like (1) Air/Train/Bus ticket,(2)any Identity proof by Govt. with Photo, Address & birthdate preferably driving licence and (3a)your Ahmedabad Local address proof like Residence Address of Local friend/relatives electric/telephone bill/ driving licence or (3b)Proof of stay at hotel
However, if you are staying longer you will need a non-resident permit. For that, you will need: a photocopy of passport including your entry stamps, a photocopy of visa, a photocopy of a local resident’s ID card (drivers license will probably be easiest). As of January 3rd 2009, 1000 INR (although the person may ask for Rs. 50 extra as a bribe but should not be given). Note: If you can get a local person to go with you, the entire experience will be a lot easier.
Directions
1 Get your copies notarized as ‘true’ copies. If you don’t have easy access to someone who can do this, the Prohibition and Excise Department will direct you to a nearby office. This will cost about 10INR per copy.
2. Go to Prohibition and Excise Department which is just off the Ellis bridge on the Victoria garden side of old city .
3. Pick up the bank payment form, and get copies notarized if you haven’t already done this.
4. Fill in the name and local address for the permit holder
5. Get a rickshaw and go to the State Bank of India which is very near by. If a rickshaw is not available, the bank is in walking distance.
6. Pay 1050 (or the asked fee) at the State Bank of India
7. Get an ink stamp on form from bank
8. Take your copies, your payment slip and your forms back to the Prohibition and Excise Department.
9. The Department office will provide you with form F.L. /A-1. Fill out form and ask for more than the maximum allowed (ask for about 6 units) to ensure you get the maximum.
10. Pay 2 rupees at the Department office. Receive two stamps which are to be stuck onto get form F.L. / A-1 form to show you have paid.
You will either be able to pick up the license immediately, or in a few days. Once you have your license, you take it to a large hotel where they have a liquor shop, and make your purchases.
Bootlegging is rampant, but it carries a risk as well. Amazingly, most Indian made brands cost less here than they do in Mumbai. Decent brands of Indian whisky starts just around Rs.200 as do rum, vodka and gin. Premium brands range from Rs.600 to 1800 (for 12 year old scotch).
Beer is difficult to come by (this is where your permit comes in handy) as is wine/vodka/gin/brandy/scotch/champagne/rum.
But booze is strictly a private affair and don't expect to order a drink at a restaurant (obviously there are no bars here) and you will have to drink in your hotel room or at someone's home. If someone invites you to a party, there is a good chance you will be offered a drink there. Under a new amendment to the law prohibiting alcohol, you cannot be arrested or detained for consuming alcohol illegally unless you misbehave under influence or indulge in bootlegging. However, it is best to consume alcohol at your hotel room or at a very close friends place. Majority of the guests staying at a hotel consume it in their rooms and there is always an implied consent from the hotel who will serve you ice, soda and glasses.
Many small shops sell lassi (a yogurt drink). Lassi choices include: sweet, salty, with almonds. Farki, Girish Cold Drinks and Krishna Dairy are some of the famous ones. Apart from this, Janta Ice Cream and Cold Drinks offers a delicious drink cold Chocolate Coco, a chocolate flavoured thick - shake. Janta has its shops across Ahmedabad. There is also a very wide variety of fruit juices available. Most large places like HavMor are reputable and use good water, you should exercise care when drinking at smaller places. Besides, Ahmedabad is a place where most ice cream is consumed in the world. You would love to test many of the local brands like Havmore, Chills Thrills & Frills, Rajsthan Ice Cream, etc.
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Budget
Cheaper hotels are available on the Eastern side of the Sabarmati in the old town area.
More expensive and newer hotels are available in the more affluent Navrangpura area.
In case you don't have an idea where to go when you arrive to the city, you could ask a rickshaw driver to take you to Relief Road which has plenty of budget accommodation available and is pretty close to the main train station.
*Ginger Hotel [url=http://www.gingerhotels.com/ahmedabad/hotel_profile.aspx]]is located off Drive-in road, close to the SG Road Business district. Expect a no-frills, business class hotel experience, similar to the other Gingers. From Rs 1000/night
* Formule1 Hotel - The French discount major is opening in Prahladnagar 380015, in July 2012.[http://www.hotelformule1.com/gb/hotel-7533-formule-1-ahmedabad-opening-july-2012/index.shtml[/url]
* Tune Hotel Ahmedabad - Comfort and convenience with value in mind. Located in Motera. Open for bookings! [http://www.tunehotels.com/my/en/our-hotels/ahmedabad-gujarat/]
*Hotel Nest [http://www.hotelnest.in/] Located Off CG road , in the busy shopping area of ahmedabad, close to universities and colleges(IIM , AMA , HL COLLEGE , etc) Free wifi facilites and value for money
From 1300/night
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Mid range
a business hotel located centrally in one of the greenest areas of the city with connectivity to the airport/ railway station, commercial zone and shopping hub.
*Lemon Tree Hotel, Ahmedabad Located in the central shopping and commercial area of CG Road in Navrangpura, this attractive and airy hotel is walking distance from Hazira LNG, Adani House, Vadilal Industries, Suzlon Energy, HDFC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Reliance Capital, Bank of Baroda and more. [http://www.lemontreehotels.com/lemon-tree-hotel-ahmedabad-57/home-page-ahmedabad.aspx]
*Hotel Royal Highness is located centrally in the heart of business and shopping areas at Lal Darwaja. This hotel charges a premium mid range hotel tariff, with around 50 rooms and 8 conference rooms. Reports of newly renovated rooms with mordern bathroom and furniture.
*Hotel Cama Park Plaza is a landmark of culture and comfort in the city of Ahmedabad, suited for both business visitors and tourists. It is located centrally in the heart of business and shopping areas.
*Hotel Comfort Inn Sunset is a beautiful hotel with its unique architectural design. Hotel enthralls guests with a relaxing lounge and a warm welcome. Its close proximity from Airport is another advantage. It provides a high standard of hygiene & comfortable living for the business traveller as well as tourists.
*Hotel Fortune is a leading economy hotel of Ahmedabad located in the heart of the city's business centre, located around 10 km from the Airport. It offers its guests a complete range of amenities, including large meeting rooms and business facilities. Its close proximity to the city, government houses and major business centre in the city is its location advantage.
*Hotel Comfort Inn President is a known for its delicious food at multi-cuisine "Princess" restaurant and hospitality and luxury, style, and comfort they offer to the guests. This Hotel is situated at the prime location of C.G.Road which is one of the most posh and prime commercial areas in Ahmedabad. Hotel is situated in the very heart of the Ahmedabad city. Do not forget to look up the friendly Manager - Mr Chandrakant. Visit hotel's liquor shop and buy liquor bottles from wide range of brands of whiskies, wines,beers etc. against liqour permit issued in the liquor shop to non-residents of Gujarat and foreigners against their recognised photo identity proof with address e.g. passport, election card, motor driving licence,etc.
*Hotel Westend provides its guests with all the modern amenities available in a friendly and homely atmosphere. Hotel is conveniently situated in the commercial area of Ahmedabad.
* One of the finest hotels from Fortune Hotels Chain.
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Splurge
Ista Ahmedabad[url=http://www.istahotels.com/hotels-ahmedabad.aspx]]- Opening in March 2012. A contemporary and trendy 5 Star hotel is the 5th Ista Hotel after Ista Hotels in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Amritsar and Pune. Located in the heart of this historic city adjacent to the Vastrapur Lake, Ista is set in natural surroundings and beautiful landscaping and adjoins a Mall and Multiplex, the signs of a fast-developing Ahmedabad.
*Gateway Hotel (formerly Taj Residency)[url=http://www.thegatewayhotels.com/TAMDTR_cityfacts.htm[/url]]offers warm hospitable service with distinct charm. Conveniently located guests are only a few minutes away from Ahmedabad’s international and domestic airports, and 15 minute drive from the central business district and state capital, Gandhinagar.
*Hotel Le Meridien is in middle part of the city, with a beautiful view of the Sabarmati river. Hotel is spread into six floors. In terms of its location and elegant interiors both, this sixty three rooms property is one of its kind in the city of Ahmedabad. The lobby has granite pillars and marble floors which enhance the atrium view of the hotel. The Rooms are well equipped and aesthetically designed. From Rs 3750/night
*Hotel Pride is in the Judge's Bungalows area by Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway.
*Hotel Fortune Landmark is located at Ashram Road, an ITC group of hotel offering luxurious stays and best restaurants of the city.
*Hotel Inder Residency is situated in calm and quiet western suburbs of Ahmedabad close to main commercial roads: C.G & Ashram road. Easy accessibility to the Railway Station and Airport, and it's close location to main Ahmedabad, and other business areas makes the hotel more convenient.
* Hotel Courtyard by Marriott [url=http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/amdcy-courtyard-ahmedabad/[/url],]located on Satellite Road.
* Royal Orchid Central - Near Gujarat College [http://www.royalorchidhotels.com/royal-orchid-central-ahmedabad/overview.asp[/url]
* House of MG - located in the old historic city is a 5 star Heritage Hotel
* The Grand Bhagwati - Bodakdev, SG Road [http://thegrandbhagwati.com/hotelinahmedabad/]
*Cambay Grand - Thaltej, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway
*Regenta by Royal Orchid erstwhile St.Laurn Towers is in the city centre, Ashram Road
* Radisson , Park Plaza , The Lalit , Aloft , Crowne Plaza - Hotel's Coming up Mid/late 2011
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The local area code is 79.
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The railway reservation office, and tourist booking window, are in an air conditioned building just outside and to the right (when looking from the street) of the Kalupur Railway station. Other railways stations are able to book tourist quota, but often refuse to serve you and refer you to Kalupur Railway station after a lengthy wait in line.
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Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar - a 35 km ride from Ahmedabad is not to be missed.
They have various shows throughout the day showing the rich Indian heritage and the legend of Lord Swaminarayan.
The water show in the evening is one of the best you will find in India.
Adalaj Step-Well Adalaj is a village 18km to the north of Ahmedabad. The Vav (step-well) at Adalaj derives its name from the lady patron, Ruda, wife of the Vaghela chief, Virsinh; who built it in the 15th or 16th century A.D. The Vav, laid out in the north-south direction, the well in the north and in the south, have a total length of 75.3 metres. It is the only major monument of its kind, which has three entrance stairs leading to the stepped corridor. These three entrances meet in the first storey, underground, in a huge square platform, which has, to the top, an octagonal opening. The platform rests on 16 pillars, on the corners, and two in front of each side. The four corners of the platform are marked by four built-in shrines, with doors, windows, balconies. The stepped corridor begins from this square platform. The corridor is entirely surrounded by a one-metre high parapet with a rounded topping. It descends with four pavilion towers for five storeys. The walls of the Vav are veritable show cases of sculptures and ornamentation. the sculptures range from a king sitting on a stool under a parasol, to erotic scenes; and buttermilk churning girls. The door frames around the entrances of the spiral staircases to the octagonal shaft are surrounded by a parikrama, which is an enlarged version of the frames around the niches. String-courses running along the side walls embellish all parts of the structure, sometimes dividing the wall into horizontal sections. They also appear on the walls of the octagonal shaft, depicting floral or leaf patterns, or rows of animals. The five-storied, step-well located in the sleepy village of Adlaj is a marvel of architecture. This unique water work is an excellent blend of Hindu and Islamic styles. The intricately carved monument served religious and utilitarian purposes of the people around though its origin is marred by tragedy.
The Indo-Islamic style of architecture, which developed in India in the early centuries of the medieval period, is neither a local variant of Islamic art, nor a modification of Hindu art, but it is an assimilation of both the styles, though not always to an equal degree. It is so because each region in India has its own form of Indo-Islamic architecture, which varies from place to place and there is no standardization. On the other hand, Islamic art itself was a composite style, which had various Muslims influences-Turkish, Persian, and Arabic. Rulers from different parts of the Muslim world, who came to India and settle here, brought with them the artistic traditions of their regions. The intermingling of such traditions with local Indian practices resulted in various examples of Indo-Islamic art.Though both the Indian and Islamic styles have their own distinctive features, there are some common characteristics, which made fusion and adaptation easy. Both the styles favor ornamentation and buildings of both styles are marked by the presence of an open court encompassed by chambers or colonnades. The Adlaj Vav (step-well) is a classic example of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture and has features of both the styles. The intricate floral patterns, which are a part of the Islamic style, can be seen in harmony with Hindu symbolism, which includes depiction of animal and human forms. The profusely carved pillars on different levels of this step-well show strong Hindu and Jain influences, while the ornamentation at a number of places in this monument are influenced by mosques and mausoleum halls of the 15th-16th century Gujarat Sultans.
Built entirely of sandstone, one can enter into this step-well from three sides, which consist of octagonal landings with huge carved colonnades and intricately carved niches. The architecture of this well also shows the influence of the earlier Solanki rulers of Gujarat. Carvings of leafy creepers-typical adornment of Islamic architecture-co-exist with Hindu symbolism. Among the other carvings on the panels are a king sitting on a stool with two bearers, a scene depicting women churning buttermilk, musicians accompanying dancing women apart from abstract representations of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses. One can also see a few Buddhist and Jain influences on some of the pillars and walls.
This stupendous structure with its elaborate and heavily ornamented temple-like finish and surrounding structures is a synthesis of various elements-earth, rock and water. On one story is a little Hindu shrine secretly hidden in an obscure corner. The step-well served both ritualistic as well as utilitarian needs. People from the nearby villages used to take water from the well and considered it holy. In the semi arid climate of Gujarat, the cool water from the vav provided a welcome break, particularly in the harsh summer months. Water from the vav was also used for irrigation. Openings in the ceilings above the landing enable light and air to enter the well. However, direct sunlight never reaches the flight of steps or landings except for a brief period at noon as the inner ceilings are arranged to receive the sunlight through these openings. According to a research, there was a total difference of six degrees between the outside and inside of the well, thus making it a veritable air-conditioner.
Innumerable strong and exquisitely carved pillars support each story of the vav and each available stone surface is profusely covered with carvings. Each landing has wide space suggesting that people, especially travellers, rested there while on journey. The main attraction of this step-well is the pool of water at the lowest level. Besides this, there is a niche here that houses an ami khumb or a pot that contains the water of life and a kalpa vriksha or a tree of life made out of a single stone slab. These sites attract the villagers on religious and auspicious occasions like marriages, sacred thread ceremonies (a ritual performed by Hindus) etc. In the vicinity of the well are graves of the six masons who were instrumental in erecting it. It is believed when Mohammed Begda asked them if another vav was possible, they replied in the affirmative. This proved to be their undoing and they were instantly put to death. Perhaps that is why the Adlaj step-well stands unrivalled till today.
The legend behind the origin of this step-well is as interesting as its architecture and is shrouded in beauty, romance and tragedy. In AD 1499, the area around Adlaj was known as Dandai Desh and was ruled by Rana Veer Singh of the Vaghela dynasty. Around this time, Mohammed Begda, a Muslim ruler of a neighboring state attacked Dandai Desh and killed Rana Veer Singh. The beauty of the slain king's widow, Rani Roopba, enamored Mohammed Begda who sent her a proposal of marriage. The heartbroken but determined queen agreed to the proposal on the condition that he complete a five-storied step-well (vav) for her. The Muslim ruler, enticed by the charm of the queen, readily agreed.
The construction of this well had begun years ago under Rana Veer Singh but had to be stopped later. Begda resumed this project with great enthusiasm and got the well completed in record time. When this five-storied edifice was completed but for the dome, Begda renewed his proposal. The next day, Roopba took a round of the well and saying a final prayer, flung herself into the water and drowned. Mohammed Begda immediately stopped further construction but did not get the monument demolished probably because Roopba had employed Muslim masons who had decorated it with Islamic motifs. The incidents, which led to the erection of this unique well, are detailed on the walls and pillars of the vav in Sanskrit and Pali (an ancient language).
The small village of Adlaj is at a distance of 19 km from Ahmedabad and 5 km from Gandhinagar. It can be reached from either of the two cities by road. Travellers can take taxi or hire cars from these cities to reach Adlaj.
Shaking Minarets Just south of the railway station, outside the Sarangpur Gate, the Sidi Bashir Mosque is famed for its shaking minarets, or jhulta minars. When one minaret is shaken, the other rocks in sympathy. This is said to be a protection against earthquake damage. It's a fairly fanciful proposition, and one which you'll be unable to verify, unless of course you happen to be on the spot during an earthquake, however it did survive the devastating 2001 earthquake when many other condominiums and apartments collapsed all over Ahmedabad.
Nal Sarovar - Bird Sanctuary About 65 km from Ahmedabad, spread over 120 sq. kms, the lake - Nal Sarovar - the extensive reed beds and marshes are an ideal habitat for aquatic plants and animals. The lake attracts a large variety of birds like plovers, sandpipers, stints, cormorants, grebes and openbill storks among others. The best season to visit the sanctuary is November to February.
Thol Bird Sanctuary This sanctuary is about 30 km west of the city centre. Just as Nal Sarovar, this lake attracts a large variety of bird species. It has become more preferable for the amdavadis to take a early morning trip here. Although it does not have any facilities like boating, it has turned out more favorable as this is a lesser known place. It will be best to rent a taxi for a morning as there is no public transport available here. November to March is the best time to visit Thol Sanctuary.
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