Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is Gujarat’s largest city, set on the banks of the Sabarmati River. Its historic centre, founded in the fifteenth century by Sultan Ahmad Shah, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Inside the old walls, gates, mosques, mausoleums and dense neighbourhoods of pol houses survive; these traditional homes cluster around courtyards and narrow streets. Sultanate-era landmarks include Bhadra Fort, Jama Masjid and Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, known for its carved stone screens. Sabarmati Ashram, associated with the life of Mahatma Gandhi, offers a different perspective on the city’s history. Southwest of the centre is Sarkhej Roza, a complex of a mosque, tombs and palace buildings arranged around a large tank. Modern Ahmedabad remains a business and industrial hub, so historic monuments sit alongside universities, museums and busy commercial districts. Set aside a separate day for the walled city and explore it on foot, with time for its courtyards and monuments; allow extra travel time for the ashram and Sarkhej Roza. Open squares can be very hot, so an early start makes walking more comfortable. The city’s architecture brings together Islamic, Hindu and Jain traditions, visible in stone carving, timber façades and the layout of its residential quarters.