Ahmedabad Sightseeing

Services

State

Gujarat


		Introduction

		Transport

		Sight Seeing

		Accommodation

		Shopping

		Eating Out

		Entertaining Ahmedabad

		Travel Essentials

		Ahmedabad Airport

State	Gujarat

City	Ahmedabad

Airports	Ahmedabad International and Domestic Airport

Distance from City Centre	10 Km/ 6 Mile

Railway Junctions	Ahmedabad

Local Languages	Gujarati

Ahmedabad Sightseeing

Jewels of Ahmedabad

Under a veneer of modernity hides 600 years of eventful history. History immortalised by the magnificient architecture of Ahmedabad’s monuments ranging from the grand Havelis to the majestic mosques. The HAVELIS ( wooden Mansions ) of Ahmedabad are a window to the lofty life styles of the rich of early 19^th century Ahmedabad. Exquisitely worked wooden facaded Havelis jostle for space in the narrow Pols of walled Ahmedabad. But no sooner do you cross the columned verandahs the Havelis open into the Otlo (courtyards), the divankhanu (formal drawing room), the service areas and other rooms. In the mosques and mausolea of Ahmedabad you will discover the contribution Gujarat made to Islamic architecture in India. They embody a fusion of the austere Islamic principles of design with the traditional Hindu art of sculpted ornamentation. See fusion architecture at its best in the stone tracery on the windows of SIDDI SAYED MOSQUE (1571) and the elegant JUMMA MASJID (1424). The delicate tracery, the ornamented minarets and rich detail of SARKHEJ ROJA (1445-51), is yet another example of this splendid style. So are the RANI ROOPMATI MOSQUE (1430-40) and RANI SIPRI MOSQUE (1514). SHAH ALAM ROZA built by Empress Noorjehan’s brother also reflects the same elegance in its carved marble architecture.

The SHAKING MINARETS of Sidi Bashir’s Mosque remain a mystery till today. Shake one minaret and the other resonates in harmony while the interconnecting terrace stands still. The Jain temples of Ahmedabad present yet another distinctly different style of architecture of which the HATHEESING JAIN TEMPLE is most representative. A grandiose structure built in marble that cost a whopping Rs. 10 lakhs way back in 1848. Next is the 300 year old DUTCH CEMETERY near Kankaria lake. These tombs dating back to the 17^th and 18^th centuries were in memory of the Dutch and English pioneers who established their factories in Surat and Ahmedabad. Now on to the museums and art galleries of Ahmedabad. The CALICO TEXTILE MUSEUM one of the finest textile museums in the world displays an impressive collection of rare textiles and costumes that date back to the early 17^th century. At the UTENSILS MUSEUM more than 2000 varieties of traditional Indian utensils in curious shapes and sizes are on display. SHREYAS FOLK ART MUSEUM with its collection of folk culture from Gujarat as well as the L . D. MUSEUM and INSTITUTE OF INDOLOGY are unique. AMDAVAD NI GUFA designed by the renowned architect Balkrishna Doshi houses a collection of M . F. Hussain’s paintings and adjoining this is the Herwitz art gallery. And finally the crown jewel, SABARMATI ASHRAM . Mahatma Gandhi’s home from 1918-1930, the Ashram is tucked away in a quiet corner by the river Sabarmati. It served as Mahatma Gandhi’s base for his Dandi Satyagraha, that triggered the nonviolent agitation against the British.

Excursions from Ahmedabad LOTHAL a 70 km (2 hour) drive from Ahmedabad is a full fledged Harappan settlement dating back to 2^nd millennium BC. You can see the fairly well preserved 4000 year old dockyard here. The elaborately carved, ornamented, three stories high ADALAJ VAV (step well) with windows and terraces is 20 km from Ahmedabad. If you drive ahead from Adalaj Vav towards Gandhinagar you will reach AKSHARDAM TEMPLE. The grandeur of this temple built in 1993, in pink sandstone is breathtaking.

Next is the 900 year old Sun Temple at MODHERA, 104 km away from Ahmedabad. On the days of the solar equinoxes sun rays bathe the deity facing the east in the pitch dark inner sanctum. The best time to visit this temple is in January when the Gujarat Tourism Corporation organises a classical dance festival at this temple. 140 km from Ahmedabad is PATAN, the town renowned for the 1000 year old, seven storied Rana ki vav and exquisite Patola Sarees. The Patolas range from seventy thousand to one lakh rupees because there are only three families in the world who can produce the double ikkat patolas !

CHAMPANER, about 165 km from Ahmedabad would interest you with its fabulous Islamic monuments as well as the famous fort which withstood Humayun’s onslaught in 1535 A . D.

NALSAROVAR 65 km from Ahmedabad is for the ecotourist in you. It is a seasonal lake spread over an area of 115 sq. km and harbours more than 250 species of birds. Thousands of migratory birds flock to Nalsarovar from as far as Siberia during winter.

Wind up your excursions from Ahmedabad with a visit to BALASINORE FOSSIL PARK 85 kms from Ahmedabad, one of those rare natural parks where you can see fossilised Dinosaur eggs.