AHMEDABAD

GROUP HOTELS : CITIES : AHMEDABAD HOTELS : AHMEDABAD SIGHTSEEING

GENERAL INFO

The state is also home to the Mahatama's legacy-from Porbander, where he was born. A religious, cultural and historical panorama unfolds in Gujarat, where you can visit some of the most important pilgrimage site for the Hindus and Jains or where you could catch a glimpse into royal past at the many palaces that have now been converted into heritage hotels. A journey through Gujarat provides you a lot more....

SIGHTSEEING

SABARMATI ASHRAM
The beautiful ashram complex of Ahmedabad, with it's shady trees populated by thousands of parakeets, beeeaters, sunbirds and squirrels, offers a refuge from the loud streets of the city, and is one the foremost tourist attractions of Ahmedabad. Among all the monuments and memorials to Mahatma Gandhi, from Dehli to Maharashtra, this is easily the most moving.

This ashram was Gandhi's headquarters during the long struggle for Indian independence. His ashram was founded in 1915 and still makes handicraft, handmade paper and spinning wheels. Gandhi's Spartan living quarter are preserved as a small museum and there is a pictorial record of the major events in his life.

The ashram is open from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm (7 pm between April and September). Admission is free. There is a sound-and-light show for a small charge at 6:30 pm (in Gujarati) and 8:30 pm (in English on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday and in Hindi on the other nights

THE SHAKING MINARETS
To see the miracles of Ahmedabad architecture, called Shaking Minarets (Jhoolta Minar), you must head for Sidhi Bashir mosque, where when one minaret is moved with force, the other shakes in sympathy. Unfortunately, after the Qutab Minar tragedy during which many were crushed, climbing up the Minaret to feel the 'shaking' has been dis-allowed.

DADA HARI WAV
Dada Hari Vav (Stepped Well) - This well was built to provide cool resting place and water to the travellers. The stepped well is one the finest example of Gujarati architecture. Even on the hottest days the well is cool. This well was built in 1501. It has a flight of steps leading down to lower and lower platform terminating at a small, octagonal well.

The best time to visit and photograph the well is between 10 and 11 am; at other times the sun doesn't penetrate to the various levels. Entry is free. Behind the well is the equally neglected mosque and rauza (tomb) of Dada Hari. The mosque has a tree motif like the one on the window of Sidi Saiyad's Mosque.

RANI RUPMATI'S MOSQUE
Rani Rupmati Masjid named after the princess of Dhar who married the Sultan of Ahmedabad, is another fine example of the Indo-Saracenic blended style. A high central arch, 3 imposing domes, slim minarets, carved galleries and an exquisite Mihrab are the high points. Note how the dome is raised to allow light in around the base but cut out the glare of the sun. The tomb of Rani Rupmati is next to the mosque.

KANKARIA LAKE
South-east of the city, this artificial lake, complete with an island summer palace, was constructed in 1415 and has 34 sides, each 60m long. Once frequented by Emperor Jehangir and Empress Nur Jahan, it is now a local picnic spot. There's a huge zoo and children's park by the lake, and the Ghattamendal pavilion in the center houses an aquarium. 

JAMA MASJID
The Jama Masjid, built in 1423 by Ahmed Shah, is beside Mahatma Gandhi Rd, to the east of the Teen Darwaja. Although 260 columns support the roof, the two 'shaking' minarets lost half their height in the great earthquake of 1819, and another tremor in 1957 completed their demolition.
Much of this early Ahmedabad mosque was built using items salvaged from the demolished Hindu and Jain temples. It is said that a large black slab by the main arch is actually the base of a Jain idol, buried upside down for the Muslim faithful to tread on.

SHEREYAS FLOK MUSEUM
The Shereyas Folk Museum, about 2.5km west of the Sabarmati in the suburb of Ambavadi, display the folk arts and crafts of Gujarat, particularly textile and clothing. It's open 9 am to noon and 3 to 5 pm Thursday to Tuesday.

SARKHEJ ROZA
Travel south along the highway, and a short day tour will bring you to the Sarkhej complex, a cluster of monuments dating from the Sultanate. Sarkhej was the home of the Muslim religious leader Ahmed Shaik, who was a spiritual guide of Sultan Ahmed Shah. In 1411, he was one of the 4 Ahmeds who laid the foundation of the city. The Rauza or Maqbara (mausoleum) of Shaik Ahmed Gunj Baksh - 140 ft in area is one of the largest mausolea in India, rivalling the Taj Mahal.

N.C. METHA MUSEUM OF MINIATURES
The N.C Metha Museum of Miniatures west of Sardar Bridge has excellent examples of the various schools of Indian Miniature painting. It's open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 1:30 pm and 2 to 5:30 pm. The building was designed by Swiss-born architect Le Corbuiser who planned the city of Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab and Haryana states.

HATHEE SINGH JAIN TEMPLE
Hathee Singh Jain Temple was built outside Delhi Gate in 1850 by a rich Jain Merchant. This is the best known of Ahmedabad's many ornate Jain Temples. Built of pure white marble and profusely decorated with rich carvings, the Hathee Singh Temple is dedicated to Dharamanath, the 15th Jina or Jain apposite.

AHMED SHAH'S MOSQUE
Dating from 1414, this was one of the earliest Mosques in the city and was probably built on the site of a Hindu Temple using parts of that Temple in its construction. It is to the south-west of Bhadra Fort. The front of the Mosque is now a garden.

CALICO TEXTILE MUSEUM
This museum which is today widely regarded as one of the finest textiles museums in the world, started in Calico Textile Mill. The museum consists of two different sections, one of which is called the Haveli. The museum which was inaugurated by Pandit Nehru in 1948, is now managed by the Sarabhai foundation.
You can only enter on a free guided tour. Tours depart at 10:30 am and 2:45 pm, and the museum is closed on Wednesday. Photography is not allowed.

RANI SPIRIT MOSQUE
This small mosque outh-east of the city is also known as the Masjid-e-Nagira (Jewel of a Mosque) because of its extremely graceful and well-executed design. Its slender minarets again blend Hindu and Islamic style. The mosque is said to have been commissioned in 1514 by the wife of Sultan Mahmud Begada after he executed their son for some minor misdemeanour and she is in fact buried here.

MODHERA TEMPLE
The golden period for Gujarat came during the rule of the Solanki dynasty, with some splendid architectural wonders during the 9th - 12th centuries. These include the Sahastraling Talao and stepwells of Patan, and the Sun Temple at Modhera built in 1026 AD by Bhimadev of the Solanki Rajput clan.