Ahmedabad’s Top 05 Gems: A Guide to the City’s Best Spots

• Ahmedabad, also spelled as Amdavad Gujarat  is the most popular city in the Indian state of  It is also the Heart of Gujarat.  Ahmedabad is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad’s population of 5,570,585 per the 2011 population census makes it the fifth-most populous city in India, and the encompassing urban agglomeration population estimated at 6,357,693 is the seventh-most popular in India. Ahmedabad’s 2024 population is now estimated at 8,854,444. Ahmedabad is located near the banks of the Sabarmati River, 25 km (16 mi) from the capital of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, also known as its twin city.

Ahmedabad’s Top 10 Gems:-

1.    Mahatma Gandhi Sabarmati Ashram:

• Sabarmati Ashram is located in the Sabarmati area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, along the peaceful banks of the Sabarmati River. It is situated near Ashram Road, about 4 miles from the city’s Town Hall.
• This historic place was one of the homes of freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. He lived here during the times when he wasn’t traveling across India or imprisoned for his role in the freedom struggle. Gandhi also spent time at another ashram in Sevagram, but Sabarmati Ashram remains one of the most significant landmarks in his life. He lived in Sabarmati or Wardha for a total of twelve years with his wife Kasturba Gandhi and followers, including Vinoba Bhave.

• Sabarmati Ashram is home to a museum called the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya. Originally, this museum was located in Hridaya Kunj, the cottage where Mahatma Gandhi lived within the ashram.
• In 1963, a new museum building was designed by the renowned architect Charles Correa. The museum was then relocated to this modern, well-designed space. It was officially inaugurated on May 10, 1963, by India’s Prime Minister at the time, Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Since then, the museum has been a centre for preserving Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and continuing memorial activities. It is also the historical place of Ahmedabad. It offers visitors a chance to learn more about his life, principles, and role in Mahatma Gandhi India’s freedom struggle.

2.  Sidi Saiyyed Mosque:

• The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, popularly known locally as Sidi Saiyyid Ni Jali, is a Sunni mosque, located in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat,  The mosque was built by Sidi Sayyad, a Habshi nobleman, in AH 980 1572/1573 CE. The structure is a Monument of National Importance.
• The mosque is built entirely using an arch-based (arcuated) design and is famous for its ten beautifully carved stone latticework windows, known as jalis, located on its sides and rear arches. The rear wall features square stone panels with intricate geometric patterns.

• Two sections on either side of the central aisle (Passage) showcase stunning stone carvings of intertwined trees, foliage, and a palm motif. One of the most famous carvings, known as the Sidi Saiyyed Jali, is a masterpiece of latticework. It is an iconic symbol of Ahmedabad and even inspired the logo of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
• Interestingly, the central arch of the mosque, which you might expect to feature another intricate jali, is instead blocked by plain stone. This could be because the mosque was left incomplete when the Mughals enter with an army in order to attack and take control of Gujarat.

3. Kankaria Lake:

• The actual origin for the name Kankaria is unknown, yet various stories roam about. One of them says that the name Kankaria was chosen due to the huge piles of limestone that was dug out during its excavation for formation of the artificial lake.
• The construction of the lake was done by some of the finest Mughal architects of the time as evident from the different cuttings and designs in the stones that have been employed to construct the polygonal shaped reservoir that resides right in the middle of this lake.
• Kankaria Lake consists of an island that is also known as Nagina Wadi, which is a garden, right in the middle of it. This place in itself is a beautiful tourist spot here. Nagina means jewel here. The garden further consists of a summer palace which goes by the name of Ghattamandal.
• A bridge connects with the bank that was originally 48 arches long. Many have mentioned this kind of architecture as a magnificent piece of the Mughal era, and just like a Centre piece in jewellery, it is also known as the center jewel of the lake.

Things to do at Kankaria Lake

• The Kankaria Zoo is easily one of the top most visited tourist destinations in Kankaria lake. Some may wonder what’s so special about this just-another zoo. Well, this zoo was once the best rated zoo in the whole of Asia. It cages various varieties and species of animals including reptiles, mammals, carnivores and predators. Children and adults alike are sure to learn many things about the animals present here through the tour that’s available in the zoo.
• Another famous attraction, especially for the kids, is the Balvatika. Bal means a child and vatika translates to a garden, hence balvatika means a child’s garden. It is essentially a child’s park with many activities for kids. There are planetariums and toy houses to satisfy the children while the parents can satiate their hunger for fun in mirror houses or by simply taking a walk in this peaceful park.
• For the tourist who’s looking for some adventure, the amusement park has a myriad of rides. From roller coasters to merry go rounds, this park has a ride for everybody that is guaranteed to shoot up their adrenaline to sky high levels.
• For the kids, there is a dedicated place known as Kids city. This city has many real life models in small sizes to that of a real life city such as schools, government offices, hospitals and much more to name a few. There is a virtual currency here that has been designed to work in the miniature city just like real currencies do in real life cities. It is a really clever idea to introduce kids to the concept of money and how it works.
• Toy train in Kankaria Lake is another major tourist attraction. It encompasses the lake and is one of the most successful rides of all time. This toy train ride is very useful for tourists who want to travel round the lake completely in a short period of time and cover the maximum ground.

4. Ahmadabad Ni Gufa:

• Ahmedabad ni Gufais an underground art gallery in Ahmedabad, India. Designed by the architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi, it exhibits works of the Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain. The gallery has a cave-like structure with a roof made up of several interconnected domes, decorated with colorful mosaic tiles. Inside, the domes are supported by tree-shaped columns, giving the space an organic and artistic feel. Previously called Husain-Doshi ni Gufa, the gallery also features spaces for special painting exhibitions and film screenings. Above ground, visitors can enjoy a peaceful garden and a café, making it a great spot for art and relaxation.
• The gallery at Amdavad ni Gufa is located underground, creating a unique and immersive experience. A partially hidden staircase leads to a circular door, which opens into a cave-like space. Instead of straight walls, the interior features curved surfaces that flow seamlessly from the domed roof to the floor, giving the space an organic feel.

• The domes are supported by slanted, irregularly shaped columns that look like natural cave formations or tree trunks. The entire structure is based on circular and elliptical designs, adding to its distinctive style.

• Natural light enters the gallery through small openings, called snouts, which cast moving patterns of light on the floor throughout the day. This dynamic play of light enhances the mystical and artistic atmosphere of the space.

5. Bhadra fort:

• Bhadra Fortis situated in the heart city of Gujarat in Ahmedabad,  It was built by Ahmad Shah I in 1411. With its well carved royal palaces, mosques, gates and open spaces, it was renovated in 2014 by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a cultural center for the city.
• Bhadra Fort is believed to have gotten its name from the Bhadra Kali Temple, a form of Goddess Laxmi, which was established during the Maratha rule. However, a plaque near the fort offers a different story.
• According to the plaque, the Bhadra Gate was built around 1411 as the main eastern entrance to a palace constructed by Sultan Ahmad Shah I (1411-1442), the founder of Ahmedabad. The palace was named “Bhadra” after the ancient Rajput citadel of the same name in Anhilwada-Patan (in present-day Baroda State), which had been under the control of the first three rulers of the Gujarat Sultanate before Ahmedabad became their capital.
• The fort’s walls feature three inscribed slabs, though they are now almost completely destroyed. One of these inscriptions appears to date back to the reign of Emperor Jahangir (1605-1627). This blend of history reflects the fort’s deep-rooted cultural and architectural significance.