About Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad one of the most prosperous cities of the country is also one of the liveliest city to be in. It has a long history, which perhaps starts from the eleventh century when Solanki King Karandev I, ruler of Anhilwara (modern Patan), established a city called Karnavati on the banks of Sabarmati at the site of modern Ahmedabad. In 1411 the city was given its present name Ahmedabad after it was founded by Sultan Ahmed Shah Abdali. From that time Ahmadabad till 1970 it served as the capital of Gujarat after which it was replaced by Gandhinagar.

The city was also chosen by Mahatma Gandhi to establish his ashram, which became the nerve center of India's freedom struggle movements. The city lives in its monuments and its people. It has a rich culture which can be seen in its rich folk art. The old and new can be found existing simultaneously in the city displaying an amazing harmony and variety. From the quite grandeur of the Shaking Minarets to the noisy prosperity of the country’s largest textile empires Ahmedabad has everything within itself. One can pay a visit to the city for its architectural marvels, folk art, shopping or for enjoying the array of festivals it holds. Various parts of Ahmedabad are famous for their folk art. Paldi area is famous for embroidery from Kutch and Saurashtra region. Rangeela pol is famous for bandhinis while Madhupura is famous for its traditional mojri footwear. Gulbai Tekra area is for making idols of Ganesha. Law Garden is famous for its mirror work handicraft As the city is always full of color and vigor one can plan a visit anytime in the year. Starting with Makar Sankranti's kite flying in January, the festive mood of Ahmedabad continues only to peak at the nine day long Navratri festival when people join together on these nine nights and dance away in reverence to the Devi. Competitions for traditional attire, dance form is awarded for dancing playing dandiya in the traditional Raas garba during these nights . It is followed by the dazzle and glitter of Diwali festivities which last a whole month.

Ahmedabad has also secured a prime place among places of higher learning in the country. The Indian Institute of Management here is the most prestigious among all the institutes of management studies in the country. The IIM, Ahmadabad is housed in a beautiful campus designed by the American architect Louis Kahn . The National Institute of Design is the leading institute in this field in India . For research on textile the Ahmedabad Textile Industry Research association is the premiere institution.

These different facades of the city have given Ahmadabad a unique place among different cities in India.

Weather of Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad has a very hot and humid climate with the temperature varying greatly between day and night. In summers, the temperature hovers around 45° C while in winters, it dips as low as of 5° C. July and August are the monsoon seasons when the city receives some rain.The best time to visit is during the months of October and March and also in mid-January when the International Kite Festival takes place.

How to reach Ahmedabad

By Air : The city of Ahmedabad is well connected by air to all major cities of India as well as to countries like to Muscat, London and New York. The airport lies 10km to the northeast of the city and auto rickshaws, taxis, rented car and tourist buses will take you to your hotel or the city centre.

By Train : Ahmedabad is well connected to most destinations in the country as well as to the different towns in Gujarat by a number of super fast, express and mail trains. The city’s Railway Station is located east of the old city and auto rickshaws, taxis and city buses available outside the station facilitate access to the city.

By Road : The state of Gujarat has one of the best road networks in the country. Most of the roads are either four-lane highways or two-lane highways with various motels, restaurants and gas stations located at regular intervals. Various inter-state bus services link Ahmedabad to cities located within the state and in India.