Traveling to India is one of the greatest pleasures in the world. Ahmedabad is one of the fastest growing cities in India, located in the western state of Gujarat. We’ve assembled a short list of the top five things to do in Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad was ranked third in Forbes Magazine’s list of the fastest growing cities of the decade because business and jobs are expanding at a high rate. The city is considered one of India’s largest economic-industrial hubs.
Many reasons bring travelers to Ahmedabad. Financial firms, cotton trade (Ahmedabad is the second largest cotton producer in the country), sports (Sardar Patel Stadium, communications, and technology are all rapidly expanding sectors of the economy. Because of the strong economy, new commercial and residential construction is steadily expanding. For many reasons, travelers or new residents take advantage of short-term apartment rentals when they want to stay in Ahmedabad.
According to The Times of India, Ahmedabad is one of the best places to live in India. Ahmedabad has a population of more than seven million people (with a metropolitan area of more than eight million). Although there are many exciting things to do and see here, visitors most frequently comment upon the gorgeous historical architecture in the old city:
A walk through the walled city is a good way to get to know Ahmedabad. A wall of approximately ten kilometers in circumference was built in the fifteenth century to protect it from invaders. The wall had twelve gates and more than six thousand battlements to protect the city’s inhabitants as well as beautiful mosques, open markets, and manor homes.The city’s growth over the centuries can be measured by the walls and builders of the original city. Narrow streets, which predate any type of motor transport, and some of the original gates, such as Dariapur Gate, Shahpur Gate, and Delhi Gate, are a wonderful introduction to the city’s rich history.
Neighborhoods throughout the city have individual personalities. According to UNESCO, approximately twelve thousand homes in the old city pols (cluster of houses) are relevant Indian architectural examples. There are one hundred fifty-nine pols in the old city.
Festivals throughout India are a perfect way to get to know the country. In particular, residents of Ahmedabad say that festival time is one of the best times to visit. The city literally “comes alive” with song and dance, and people throughout India say that Ahmedabad’s residents embrace the festival more than any other city in the land. Navarati is the Sanskrit word for nine nights because the festival, dedicated to the Hindu god, Durga, lasts ten days. People begin the celebration with traditional dance in a circle: they whirl and twirl through the night. Flame sword dancers and other spectacles, seem to be everywhere at this time.
Throughout the centuries, residents of Ahmedabad have invented complex dances. The accompanying music was originally acoustic (using drums and singing), but people today dance to amplified modern sound systems or blend singing and drums with a live band. On the tenth day of the festival, Dashera (known as Vijayadashami in southern India), people celebrate by dancing and buying new vehicles! A crunchy, salty fried food, fafda, and jalebi, a fried sweet, are consumed on the tenth day.
Ahmedabad is known for beautiful, affordable jewelry. Artisans craft and sell their wares throughout the city, but larger scale jewelry manufacture is big business here. Ahmedabad continues to be one of the largest consumers of precious metals in a city economy that was estimated at approximately USD 119 billion in 2014.
Day trips to Adalaj Vav (an iconic Indian step-well) is approximately 19 km from the city. Step wells were used to collect rainwater. Modhera, about 105 km northwest, is an eleventh century sun temple that will thrill history enthusiasts. The Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, about 58 km southwest, is an ideal way to see some of the area’s spectacular flora and fauna. If you are looking to move & work in India check out Pancardseva to learn about the whole process and make things easier during the transition.
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Rozy says:
I enjoyed reading your post about things to do in Ahmedabad and trust me, it helped me to plan my trip during my last visit to this city. I enjoyed visiting most of the places mentioned here. Sadly, I could not visit all of these but yes, it was great trip.
I just want to make you aware about the Ahmedabad heritage walk which is a must do activity in Ahmedabad. I learned it from this post http://www.theindia.co.in/blog/ahmedabad-heritage-walk-384 and planned it without any issue.
If you need any information or photographs, let me know. I would love to share them with you.