The top attractions in Ahmedabad

From the tranquil charm of Sabarmati Ashram to the stately aura of Jama Masjid, these top places to visit in Ahmedabad will give you a glimpse of the city’s multi-cultural history. Ahmedabad is an erratic combination of the old and new, a bustling metropolis with a rich pre-Mughal heritage and a lively street food scene. However, its real heart lies in the old city located on the eastern bank of river Sabarmati, amongst the crowded lanes that are reminiscent of an era gone by. Our guide will help you navigate through the city’s topattractions and uncover its rich and lively past.

Calico Museum
Set up in 1949 to document the history of textiles in the country, the Calico Museum is a great place to absorb some information before going cloth shopping

Swami Narayan temple
Built back in 1850, the temple stands as a stunning testament to Maratha and Jain architecture. Replete with detailed carvings on the facade and interiors, don’t forget to pay attention to the beautifully crafted arch at the entrance.

Kankaria Lake
Offering Ahmedabad residents a much-needed respite from the hustle bustle of the streets, Kankaria Lake is one of the largest lakes in the city. Built in 1451 by Sultan Qutb-ud-Din, the polygon lake stretches to about a mile in circumference. At the centre of the lake there is an island with a garden summer palace known as Nagina Wadi.

Sarkhej Roza
A reminder of Ahmedabad’s majestic past, Sarkhej Roza is a mosque, tomb and palace complex dedicated to the memory of the famous sufi saint and Sultan Ahmed Shah’s spiritual advisor, Ahmed Khatti Ganj Baksh. The elegant yet dilapidated buildings cluster around a great tank and were often used as a retreat by several of Ahmedabad’s rulers.

Sabarmati Ashram
Nestled in peaceful, shady grounds on the western bank of the Sabarmati River, this tranquil Ashram was Gandhi’s headquarters from 1917 to 1930 during the long struggle for Indian independence. As you walk around this quiet ashram, you find yourself standing opposite the ‘Hriday Kun’, the humble cottage from where Gandhi directed the course of the independence movemen.

Shaking Minarets
Within close proximity to the city’s railway station, these minarets are part of the Sidi Bashir Mosque and have earned their name from the fact that they literally shake – If one of them is pushed, the other trembles after a gap of a few seconds. Each minaret stands about 70 metres high with carved stone balconies.

Teen Darwaza
This architectural marvel, made up of arched gateways, is one of the longest and oldest gateways in Ahmedabad.

Heritage walk
This is probably the best introduction to the city’s urban heritage. Conducted every morning by the Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad, the walk is preceded by a slideshow presentation, and begins from the Swami Narayan Mandir all the way through to Manek Chowk.

Sidi Saiyyed Mosque
The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, located near Khanpur Gate, is another place of worship which is worth checking out, just for its impressive architecture. Built in 1573 by Sidi Saiyyed, a slave of sultan Ahmed Shah, it is famous for its unique carved stone latticework windows. These often depict the branches and leaves of trees to stunning effect.

Jama Masjid
A smaller version of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, this Ahmedabad mosque displays brilliant construction and design