Ahmedabad - Gujarat

Climate :

Ahmedabad has a very hot and humid climate with summer temperatures soaring up to 45° C. In the winters, temperatures may touch a low of 5° C. But it is the frequent rains that send the relative humidity levels zooming up through out the year.

Significance :

An Industrial City, textile being the most prominent sector.

Ahmedabad - Manchester of the East :

Ahmedabad is one of the most prominent cities of western Indian state of Gujarat. A highly industrialised city, Ahmedabad is also called 'Manchester of the East' . The city is well known for its textile industries. In spite of massive industrialisation, Ahmedabad has well preserved most of its earlier heritage. Ahmedabad is also a centre for the study of Indo-Saracenic architecture.

History :

Ahmedabad was named after Sultan Ahmed Shah, who built the city in 1411. Ahmedabad holds an important place in India's struggle for freedom. It was a major base of freedom fighters during the freedom movement. Gandhiji had built the Sabarmati Ashram on the outskirts of the city from where he had guided the freedom movement.

Famous For - the Textile Industry :

Known as the 'Manchester of the East', Ahmedabad is the textile city of India. The textile from Ahmedabad are in good demand world over.

Connectivity :

• By Air - Ahmedabad figures prominently in the air map of the country. There are regular flights to Ahmedabad from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Goa and Chennai.
• By Rail - Trains are available to Ahmedabad from most major destinations of India.
• By Road - Ahmedabad is well connected to the rest of Gujarat through the road network. Inter-state buses also connect Ahmedabad with neighbouring states.

Additional Highlights of the City :

• Sabarmati Ashram - Sabarmati Ashram is the biggest tourist attraction of Ahmedabad. The Ashram was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in the year 1915. The Ashram lies on the banks of Sabarmati river in the most serene ambience. Gandhiji had set out on the famous Dandi March to protest against the imposition of salt tax by the British from Sabarmati Ashram itself. The Ashram has a handicrafts centre, a handmade paper factory and a spinning wheel factory. There is also a small museum inside Sabarmati Ashram displaying the belongings of Mahatma Gandhi. The Ashram also houses a library. Many books, journals and articles written by Gandhiji are kept in the library. A Sound-and-Light show is also held in the Ashram which depicts the Mahatma's life and teachings in a most interesting manner.
• Jama Masjid - Built by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1423, the mosque is one of the oldest and biggest in India. An example of fine architecture, the mosque has 260 pillars supporting 15 domes at different elevations. There is also a spacious courtyard in marble.
• Rani Rupmati Masjid - Rani Rupmati's mosque gets its name from the Hindu wife of Sultan Mahmud Begado. Built during the 15th century, the mosque architecture is a harmonious fusion of Hindu and Muslim styles. It has three domes supported by pillars with the central domes slightly elevated in order to allow natural light to enter the mosque.
• Huthising Temple - Of the many big and small temples dotting the Ahmedabad landscape, Huthising Jain temple is the most prominent. The temple was constructed by Shri Kesarising Huthising in 1848 and is dedicated to Dharmanath, the 15th Jain Tirtankra. The main temple is surrounded by 52 small temples.
• Calico Museum - Calico is one of the best textile museum anywhere in the world. Constructed in the year 1949, the museum houses some of the finest fabrics spun, woven, printed and painted in different parts of India after independence. Many old weaving machines are also kept for display.

Things to Buy in Ahmedabad :

The arts and crafts of Gujrat are among the best buys of Ahmedabad. The Patola silk sarees of Ahmedabad which take almost a year to complete is among the priority list of shoppers. The gold embroidery on the sarees is most exquisitely done. Other items worth buying are mirror worked colorful gypsy styled ghagras (long skirts), waistcoats and blouses .

Shopping Areas in Ahmedabad :

The best place to buy the art works of Ahmedabad is the Law Garden area . In the evening, the area transforms into an open market selling all kinds of handicrafts and other items. The prices initially quoted are always high as the place is popular for some hard bargaining.