Country: India

State: Gujarat

District: Ahmedabad

Area: 205 square kilometres (metro)

Elevation: 53 metres

Population: 5.2 millions (3.5 million in the area under the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation)

Pin code: 380—

Telephone Code: 079

Time Zone: GMT plus 5:30

Ahmedabad (locally known as Amdavad) is largest city of the state of Gujarat in India. It is located on the banks of River Sabarmati. Ahmedabad was the capital of Gujarat from 1960-70 after which, the capital was shifted to Gandhinagar. The city of Mehsana or Mahsena  is considered the twin city of Ahmedabad.

History:

The area in and around the present-day Ahmedabad was said to have inhabited since the 11th century. The region was known as Ashaval during that time. The Solanki ruler of Anhilwara, Karandev I, after defeating the Bhils of Ashaval, had established the city of Karnavati close to the Sabarmati River. The Solanki rule had come to an end in the 13th century when Gujarat came under the control of the Vaghela dynasty and Karnavati was conquered by the Delhi Sultanate. In 1411, Sultan Ahmed Shah of the Muzaffarid dynasty had founded Ahmedabad as the capital of the Gujarat Sultanate and the city was named Ahmedabad after him.

In 1487, Mahmud Shah Begada, one of Ahmed Shah’s successor fortified the city. The Muzzafarid rule over Ahmedabad continued till 1573 (it was restored to the Muzaffarids in 1534 to continue till 1583) when Gujarat was conquered by Mughal emperor Akbar. During the Mughal days, Ahmedabad flourished as an important centre of trade, particularly for its textile products, that were exported to as far as Europe. The city had witnessed major droughts in the 17th century. In 1758, the Mughals had surrendered the city to the Marathas and during this time, the Peshwas of Poona and the Gaekwads of Baroda got involved in squabble over the control of the city.

The British East India Company took control of Ahmedabad in 1818 and set up a military cantonment there in 1824. In 1864, a railway link was set up between Ahmedabad and Mumbai (then Bombay) hence making Ahmedabad an important junction in the traffic and transit between northern and southern India.

Ahmedabad was an important centre of activities during the Indian independence movement. Mahatma Gandhi had set up the Kochrab and the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad in 1917. In 1930, the Mahatma had started his famous Salt Satyagraha from Ahmedabad by embarking on the famous Dandi salt March. The city was majorly affected by the protests during the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement. Ahmedabad also has a bloody history of Hindu-Muslim riots, the latest instance being that of February 2002.

Ahmedabad became the capital of Gujarat after the latter was created in 1960 by bifurcating the state of Bombay in May 1960. The city evolved into a significant centre of education and research as well as in terms of industrialisation even though Gandhinagar was made the state capital later. However, the city had witnessed violence over political reasons in the 1970s and the 1980s. A devastating earthquake had badly impacted the city in 2001 while a series of seventeen bomb blasts had rocked the city in 2008.

Geography:

Ahmedabad is located in a sandy and dry terrain. Most part of the Sabarmati River that flows through the city also dries up during the summer. Extensive deforestation around the region has encouraged the expansion of the Rann of Kutch which would cause wider desertification. Ahmedabad is mostly flat barring the few hilly areas of Thaltej-Jodhpur Tekra. The city falls under high seismic zone. The older Ahmedabad city is located on the eastern bank while the expanded form is based on the western side of the river. The Ellis Bridge and the Nehru Bridge join the two banks. Khari, Meshvo, Bhogavo, Omkar, Bhadar, Nalika are some of the other rivers in this region apart from Sabarmati.

Climate:

Ahmedabad experiences tropical savanna climate with three major seasons, namely, summer (March to June), monsoon (June to September) and winter (October to February). The summer temperature can reach a maximum of 45 degree Celsius, while during winter the average maximum temperature is 30 degree Celsius. Winter is dry. Average precipitation is 93 cm. The city experiences heavy torrential rains at times, causing Sabarmati to spill over causing floods.

Economy:

Ahmdebad, as has been said earlier, is a major industrial centre in western India. Some of the major industries here are:

• Textiles and garments industry, the first Indian textile mill of India was set up in Ahmedabad in 1861 by R Chhotalal. Later, a series of textile mills were set up. The textile industry was largely benefited by Mahatma Gandhi’s Swadeshi Movement that stressed on use of indigenous clothes. The booming textile industry has earned Ahmedabad the sobriquet of ‘Manchester of the East’.
• Retail Industry is one of the largest employers in the city. Zydus cadila and Torrent Pharmaceuticals, two of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in India, are based in Ahmedabad.
• Chemical and pharmaceutical industries
• Detergent
• Foreign hydraulic firms, textile industries, pipe extrusion equipment units
• Gems and jewelleries
• Denim
• Information Technology:
  Ahmedabad is one of the top nine destinations in India when it comes to ITES infrastructure

Enterprising Labour force:

Ahmedabad attracted waves of workers and labourers from various parts of the state as well as of the country and they in turn enriched the commercial value of the city all the more. A majority of the people of Ahmedabad today belong to the enterprising business communities who have set up major guilds and corporate bodies that have left a serious legacy on the Gujarati economy.

Cuisine:

Besides typical thali including rice, roti, dal, pickles, shaag, Gujarati cuisines include: Chakli,  Daal Parantha, Dal Dhokli, Gujarati Kadhi,  Khandvi, Kakdi Nu Raitu,  Khajoor Na Ghugra, Osaman, Sukavni, Chhundo, Gunda, Lasaniya Batata, Makai Na Bharta,  Thepla, Dhokla and many others.

How to reach Ahmedabad:

• By air:
  Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport serves Ahmedabad and its adjacent cities like Surendranagar, Mehsana and Nadiad. The airport is connected with major cities of India as well as abroad.
• By rail:
  Ahmedabad is connected with major Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad and others by railway. Ahmedabad railway station (locally known as Kalupur railway station) is the city’s main railhead.
• By road:
  National Highway-8 linking Mumbai and New Delhi passes through Ahmedabad while NH-8A links Ahmedabad with Mandvi and National Expressway 1 links Ahmedabad with Baroda. NH-59 links Ahmedabad with Indore in Madhya Pradesh. In the city, auto rickshaws and buses are popular modes of transportation. Ahmedabad BRTS is a rapid transit system in Ahmedabad, maintained by the Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL).

Attractions:

• Gandhi Ashram
• Kamla Nehru Zoological Park housing endangered animal species like flamingoes, caracal cat, Asiatic wolf, chinkara and many others

• Kankaria Lake in the south-eastern part of the city was built by Qutabuddin Aibak in 1451.
• Vastrapur Lake in the western part of the city
• Sanskar Kendra:
  Museum reflecting on history, art, culture and architecture of Ahmedabad.
• Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial

• Calico Museum of Textiles
• Hazrat Pir Mohammad Shah Library has a collection of rare original manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Sindhi and Turkish languages.
• Shreyas Folk Art Museum.
• L.D. Institute of Indology, Navarangpura.
• N.C. Mehta Art Gallery
• Jama Masjid

• Ahmed Shah’s tomb
• Bhadra Fort and Darwaza
• Rani Rupmati Mosque
• Sarkhej Roza
• Sidi Sayiad Mosque
• Hathesing Temple
• Raj Babri Mosque
• Sidi Bashir Mosque
• Jhulta Minar
• Rani Sipri Mosque
• Kite Museum
• Veechar Utensil Museum, Vasna Tolnaka
• Natural History Museum, Kankaria
• Excursions to places like Adalaj Vav (19 km), Lothal (80 km), Patan (113 km), Nal Sarovar (71 km), Gandhinagar (25 km), Modhera (Sun Temple) (106 km).

Facts about Ahmedabad:

• Governance of city:
  Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has established the Sabarmati River-Front Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) to develop both banks of the Sabarmati River
• Police:
  Ahmedabad Police headed by Police Commissioner
• Urban planning:
  Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority
• Electricity:
  Torrent Power Group
• Court:
  Gujarat High Court
• Assembly representatives:
  Ahmedabad has two Members of Parliament and seven Members of the legislative Assembly of Gujarat
• People:
  Ahmedabad has a large concentration of Vanias (traders) who belong to the Vaishnava sect of Hinduism as well as Jains. Ahmedabad is mostly inhabited by native Gujaratis. There are also people from other states who reside in Ahmedabad like Punjabis, Marathis, Telugu, Tamils, Marwaris, Sindhis, Malayalis an also Parsis and Jews.
• Sex ratio:
  892 females for every 1,000 males
• Literacy rate:
  80 per cent
• Religion:
  Vaishnavite Hinduism, Jainism
• Language:
  Gujarati, Hindi
• Dress:
  Kurta (called zabbho) and pajama (called lehanghas).
• Dance:
  Garba

• Film and entertainment:
  Gollywood is the popular film industry
• Festivals:
  Popular celebrations include: Uttarayan (annual kite-flying day on 14 January), Navratri for nine nights before Dushera accompanied by Garba  dance, Diwali, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra), Eid ul-Fitr, Rath Yatra, Muharram and Christmas

• Newspaper:
  Herald Young Leader, Metro Herald, The Times of India, DNA, The Economic Times, Indian Express, The Financial Express, Divya Bhaskar, Gujarat Samachar, Sambhaav, Sandesh, Rajasthan Patrika  are major newspapers available in Ahmedabad. The historic Navajivan Publishing House set up by Mahatma Gandhi is also located in Ahmedabad.
• TV/radio channels:
  ETV Gujarati, TV9 Gujarati, DD Gujarati besides Radio Mirchi (98.3 MHz), Radio City (91.1 MHz), My fm (94.3 MHz), Radio One (95.0 MHz), Gyan Vaani (104.5 MHz) and S FM (93.51 MHz).
• Literary bodies:
  Gaujarat Vidya Sabha, Gujarat Sahitya Sabha, Gaujarat Sahitya Parishad
• Festival:
  Music festival held by Saptak School of Music every January
• Education:
  Gujarat University, Nirma University of Science & Technology and the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Gujarat Vidyapith, Indian Institute of Management, National Institute of Design, Mudra Institute of Communications, NHL Municipal Medical College, Indian Space Research Organisation, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad Management Association,  National Institute of Design and others
• Hospitals:
  Ahmedabad Civil Hospital (the biggest in Asia)
• Sports:
  Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Sports Club of Gujarat (cricket), Mithakhali Multi Sports Complex for indoor sports. Field hockey, badminton, tennis, squash, football, karting are among other popular sports in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is a participating team at the Indian Cricket League (ICL) called the Ahmedabad Rockets.

• Famous sports personalities:
  Geet Sethi (former world Billiards champion and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award), Jessu Patel and Parthiv Patel (cricketers), Anukal Yana and Rajesh Tadvi (footballers), Tejas Bakre (chess grandmaster)
• Handiwork:
  Embroidery work from Kutch and Saurashtra, bandhinis (dye work), Ganesha idols, mojri footwear, mirror work handicraft. These items are available in places like Paldi, Rangeela Pol, Madhupura, Gulbai Tekra and Law Garden areas.

Sister cities of Ahmedabad:

• Astrakhan, Russia
• Atlanta, the United States

Accommodation:

• Fortune Hotel Landmark
• Le Méridien
• Pride Hotel

• Cama Hotel
• Hotel Royal Highness
• Nalanda Hotel
• Marigold Hotel
• Taj Residency Ummed
• Hotel Sarovar Portico
• Country Inn & Suites
• Lemon Tree Hotel
• Cambay Sapphire Resort Hotel
• Comfort Inn President Hotel
• Hotel Comfort Inn Sunset
• Hotel Nalanda
• The Westend
• The Ritz Inn
• Epsilon the Hotel