Ahmedabad (અમદાવાદ), Gujarat

Ahmedabad, India


Ahmedabad (Gujarati: અમદાવાદ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat in India. It has a population of about 5.2 million people, placing it in sixth position among the biggest cities in India. Ahmedabad was the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970, when Gandhinagar was made the state capital. Within Gujarat, Ahmedabad is commonly known as Amdavad.

Ahmedabad was established in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah of the Muzaffarid Dynasty on the right bank of the Sabarmati river. It was fortified by Ahmed Shah's son, Mahmud Begada, in 1487 with a 10-kilometer city wall. The wall has twelve gates and 189 bastions.

Jama Masjid, Ahmedabad


Ahmedabad was conquered in 1573 by the Mughal emperor Akbar. Under Mughal rule, Ahmedabad became a center for the textile trade. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan - who built the Taj Mahal - spent much of the prime of his life in Ahmedabad.

In 1758 Ahmedabad fell to the Marathas. Two rival clans of the Marathas vied for control over the city. Then in 1818 it was taken over by the British East India Company. Under the British, Ahmedabad became a center for trade between northern and southern India.

Hatheesing Temple, Ahmedabad


Following Independence, Ahmedabad became the center of higher education and a manufacturing base for heavy and chemical industries. However the city suffers from violent clashes between the different castes and between religious groups. As recently as 26 July 2008, racial and religious violence flarred in the form of seventeen bomb blasts detonated around the city, killing many innocent civilians.

Ahmedabad is not a tourist city. That however works well for visitors looking to see a "real" Indian city.

Planning your trip to Ahmedabad

The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is located 15 km to the northeast of downtown Ahmedabad. There is a bus service between the airport and the city, but it is not very regular. A more practical option is to take a taxi. There is a prepaid taxi counter at the airport operated by the Taxi Drivers Association.

Planning your travel within Ahmedabad

The cheapest and most practical form of transport in Ahmedabad is the three-wheel taxicabs called auto-rickshaws - the same found in most cities in India. The auto-rickshaws of Ahmedabad is reasonably reliable and trustworthy, though few speak English.

Places of Interest in Ahmedabad

Outside the Old City

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Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

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