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Ahmedabad travel guide

Ahmedabad is Gujarat's biggest city and has been a trading centre for over six hundred years. Its walled old quarter earned it the title of India's first UNESCO World Heritage City. Travellers come for Sabarmati Ashram, carved stone mosques and gateways, excellent textile collections and busy food streets, and many time their trip for Navaratri or the January kite festival.

Sabarmati Ashram - Ahmedabad - Gujarat
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
Main railway station
Kalupur (Ahmedabad Junction)
Ideal time needed
2 days
Known for
UNESCO World Heritage City

A city shaped by many rulers

Founded in the early fifteenth century by Sultan Ahmad Shah, the city passed through several dynasties, and each left buildings behind. The result is a compact old town where Indo-Islamic monuments stand close to temples, pols (old residential lanes) and markets that are still in daily use.

What to see

Plan at least two full days to cover the main sights at a comfortable pace.

Shopping and festivals

Ahmedabad grew rich on textiles, and it is still a good place to buy Gujarati fabrics, handicrafts and clothing. Manek Chowk and the surrounding street stalls are the budget-friendly option, and the square turns into a food market after dark.

Navaratri brings nine nights of garba dancing across the city. Uttarayan, the kite festival in mid-January, fills the sky with colour and draws large crowds. Durga Puja is also celebrated.

Best time to visit

October to March is the most comfortable window, and it includes the kite festival. March to May is very hot. The monsoon months of July and August are cooler and suit a slower stay, and the Sabarmati River runs full at this time.

How to reach

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport connects the city with Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Goa. Kalupur (Ahmedabad Junction) is the main railway station on the Western Railway network. Good highways link the city by bus to Surat, Bhavnagar, Mumbai, Pune and Shirdi. We can combine Ahmedabad with a wider Gujarat itinerary.

Also nearby

Sabarmati AshramTeen DarwazaJhulta MinarRani Rupmati's MosqueCalico Museum of TextilesShreyas Folk Art MuseumManek Chowk

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