Ahmedabad is a town that gives us the impression of thrilled garba and dandiya in the brightest chaniya cholis and flavor of lip-licking gathiyas and dhoklas. Did you know, however, the city was devised of and established by Sultan Ahmed Shah? Nonetheless, it has still been the city of Baniyas.
It is also the first World Heritage City in the world, declared by the UNESCO and thus is a leading place of tourist attraction in India. The jovial lifestyle of the city, and its architectural marvels are the riches that the city is proud of at present. Explore the best places to visit in Ahmedabad and immerse yourself in its rich traditions, iconic landmarks, and lively atmosphere for a truly remarkable journey.
Table of Contents
Places to Visit in Ahmedabad
1. Jama Masjid, Old City
In 1424, Ahmed Shah constructed the mosque that has Hindu, Islamic, and Jain architectural features. The mosque compound consists of polished yellow sandstone, and has a vast paved court, which is colonnaded in three sides, and on the fourth is of the main prayer hall. The 260 columns which carry the 15 domes of the roof of the prayer hall are reminiscent of the Hindu influence. Decorative jalis windows made of geometric and floral patterns may be observed on the windows; the walls are decorated with black Arabic calligraphy in numerous places.
2. The Adalaj Stepwell
Adalaj Stepwell was built by a wife of Rana Veer Singh called Rudadevi. It is a terraced well on the village of Adalaj and it was made in the shape of an octagonal with a 5-story building. It is only 18 km distant to Ahmedabad and has 16 pillars that contribute to enhancing the beauty of it further.
3. Sabarmati Ashram
The Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati in Ahmedabad is a very intriguing place to visit in Indian history or any other person who is interested in spiritual concepts and views concerning nonviolence. The Indian freedom fighter belonged to Gujarat and he spent several years of his life in the ashram along with his wife. Today, a visitor can take a walk around the premises, visit the museum or even carry out some historical research in the archives that are housed here.
4. Akshardham Temple
Akshardham Temple is situated in Gandhinagar, 25kms away from Ahmedabad. Swaminarayan is the temple that is devoted to and which is the most significant example of modern architecture and style. Akshardham is regarded as an educational, enlightening and to some extent entertainment center. It is estimated that more than 2 million people visit the temple per year. Other key features of the temple include 10 story high golden idol of Swaminarayan; Mystic India, a film about an unbelievable journey of an 11 year old child yogi referred to as Neelkanth; the light and music show known as Sat Chit Anand Watershow and the audio animatronic shows.
5. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary is among the sites that ought to be included in the list of nature lovers when they want to have a destination that they can visit and which may take them not more than one day to hit Ahmedabad. This sanctuary is home to over 250 bird species and it has both migratory and endemic species. The sanctuary offers the most enjoyable time with boat tours that allow the visitor to be close to birds and experience a tranquil water with greenery around.
6. Calico Museum of Textiles
It possesses exclusive items of ancient fabrics and textiles that were in use between the 15 th and 19 th century. Calico Museum has costumes, carpets and other royal artifacts, ornamental elements of temple and miniature painting. Artefacts, handicrafts and paintings, also belong to the museum, although these were imported into the country.
7. Bhadra Fort
The builder of the city of Ahmedabad, Sultan Ahmad Shah constructed Bhadra Fort in 1411. The forts is currently a popular Ahmedabad tourist attraction where there are many stories in it. It contains a temple known as, Bhadra Kali Temple and this gave the fort its name. The story goes that Goddess Lakshmi at some point in time entered this fort to bestow her blessings on the Muslim Sultan that the city will never lack wealth. The magnificent fort boasts of a large courtyard and green lawns as well as a number of palaces.
8. Sabarmati Riverfront
The city is divided by a river which flows along its length. Projects started in the state in 1997 and its goal was sustainable development. Anyone who comes to the town must certainly visit the riverfront to enjoy the combination of the hectic life and the serenity of the river.
9. Lothal
Experience the ancient times at Lothal which was among the largest urban settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization. This site is 80km away and can be used to shed some light on the highly civil urban planning of our fore fathers.
10. Statue of Unity
The first thing that you should explore is the tallest statue in the world, namely, Statue of Unity. This place is a tribute to the great Indian freedom fighter, Sardar Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, also called the Iron Man of India and one can feel patriotism at every turn. This monument is a colossal structure consisting of bronze and it has a height of 182 metres and forms one of the best places to visit in Ahmedabad. The statue is overlooking the river basin of Narmada River, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam, which provides a good atmosphere.
11. Kankaria Lake
Kankaria Lake is a manmade lake located at Ahmedabad and is the biggest lake and is a bathing pool used by the kings as constructed by the Muslim ruler Sultan Qutbuddin in the 15 th century. The lake is disseminated in a circumference of 3 miles and was constructed in 34 sides of polygonal form having steps leading to the water. It would be the most appropriate to visit the lake during the Kankaria Carnival, a cultural and social festival during the last week of December and spans one week.
12. Jhulta Minar
One of the most distinctive monuments in the world is Jhulta Minar. Having the most interesting architecture style. When one of the minarets is shaken the other similar minarets also start vibrating after few seconds but the space in between the minars do not vibrate at all. This fact has puzzled numerous archeologists and other professionals. Even to this day there is no account to this phenomenon. The Minars are also of a fine architectural brilliance and portray Mughal and Rajputana architectural designs.
13. Auto World Vintage Car Museum
Auto world historic car Museum is a museum in Kathwad Dastan, in which there are more than 120 vintage cars, and they include old work trucks, motor vehicles, and old carriages. This museum is maintained and organised by the Vintage and Classic car Club of India. Auto world Vintage car Museum is a museum started by Shri Pranlal Bhogilal Patel who transformed his own collection of cars into a recognised museum. The museum too has on display a collection of royal cars and carriages in between 1900 as well as 1970s.
14. Sidi Saiyed Mosque, Old City
This 16 th -century mosque, also known locally as Sidi Saiyyid ni Jali, is among the greatest architectural achievements of the Sidis who are descendants of East Africans who settled in India as slaves.
15. Hutheesing Jain
Hutheesing Temple, which was built in 1848 is the most renowned temple not only to the Jain community, but to all other visitors of the country. This temple is dedicated to the lord Dharmanatha, the 15 th Jain Tirthankar. The key structure of this temple is a two-story structure containing 11 divinities: 5 of them in a three-bay sanctuary and 6 in the basement. It is situated in a natural place that is full of pleasure and beauty to the visitors.
16. Sarkhej Roza
Tourists with religious interests will find the Sarkhej Roza, a 15 th century mosque, palace and tomb complex built around an artificial water tank at Ahmedabad to be an interesting place to visit. The geometric screens at the entrance made of carved stone are also very beautiful and the entire complex is a mixture of Islamic and Hindu. The beauty and its architectural value were frequently noticed in Sarkhej Roza by Swiss-French modernist architect Le Corbusier who made the comparison with Acropolis in Athens.
17. Patan
Patan, some 125 kilometers away, is a site that exhibits the UNESCO World Heritage Site stepwell – Rani Ki Vav. Patan presents the fantastic blend of the ancient water saving skills of India and the rich ornamentation of the era. Exquisite artworks and ornate carvings are the hallmark of the stepwell and this reflects the unique cultural heritage of Gujarat. Patan is known to have acclaim over Patola sarees that are woven by artists with complete accuracy. Patan receives both visitors who have educational backgrounds and architectural sites hence it is one of the core destinations whenever he or she has been spending a day around Ahmedabad.
18. Modhera Sun Temple
Sun temple is situated close to Modhera at a distance of 100 kilometers of Ahmedabad. This temple is a form of worship to the Sun God and architects built this temple in the 11 th century as a form of architectural wonder. The temple complex is characterized by excessive decorations and the Surya Kund stepwell which reflects the rays of the sun. Visitors need to visit this temple at dawn to have a glimpse of the temple shinning under the early morning sun rays and creating a memorable picture. The historical Sun Temple is one of the best spots to see in the area of Ahmedabad in 1 day and enjoys the visits of historical and architectural enthusiasts.
19. Dada Hari ni Vav
Dada Hari ni Vav is seven storey spectacular stepwell in Ahmedabad. The style of architecture is the blend of Hindu and Islamic styles. Floral designs and other conventional designs are carved on columns, pillars and even walls. The walls are also covered in scriptures that are in Arabic and Sanskrit.
20. Sarkhej Roza
The beautiful complex of Sarkhej Roza is composed of a number of tombs and pillars. It bears a lot of beautiful lattice work as well as elaborate carving like most of the monuments in the city with Islamic architecture. This is one of the architectural Ahmedabad tourist attractions of the city built around an artificial water body known as Sarkhej Lake. Although it has Islamic brackets and pillars, most of the ornamental designs are unreservedly Hindu influences.
21. Law Garden
Law garden is a beautiful green plantation within the busy Ahmedabad city. It is one of the most fascinating sightseeing Places to Visit in Ahmedabad. It is a city garden that the residents and visitors love visiting the place to take a break of some recreational and leisure time. The Law Garden Night Market is highly exposed to the locals and visitors. Shopping in this market is also a unique experience because everything in this market is a hand crafted work of the local artisans. Cultural and music festivals and concerts are a few of the other events that can be witnessed in the Garden.
22. Science City and Park
The Hebatpur area has the Ahmedabad Science City and Science Park which occupy a 101-acre area. It also has an IMAX 3D theatre, Planet Earth, Amphitheatre, Energy Park, and a Hall of Science in addition to the knowledge of science. In addition, Dancing Musical Fountains and Life Science Park generate the excitement of paying a visit to this park. It can be a nice family holiday destination of students and children.
23. The Pols
Pols are the densely clustering cluster of houses, constructed to guarantee safety and security of the people. Ideally, there would be one or two entrances and secret exits, the secret exits having a limited scope to people living in the Pol. Pols are present in most areas in Gujarat but its best example is the Pols in the old city of Ahmedabad. The most popular Pol is located along the Manek Chowk.
24. Saputara
Saputara is the best hill station to be visited when considering the destinations that are near Ahmedabad. Saputara is 400 kilometers distant in Ahmedabad and it expresses itself in the form of a hill station with cool climate and scenic picturesque view of vegetation cover. The lake will provide you with the best chance of relaxation since you sail through the lake, make walks through nature, visit the Sunset point and have a glimpse of the beautiful scenes in Saputara. One day Bahmani at Saputara, presents Ahmedabad people with an opportunity to have mountain lodging, which is ideal as one day mountain vacation destinations.
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