Ahmedabad, the city of Ahmed Shah (Medieval ruler of Gujarat), is known for its rich past and its

association with the Mahatma (Great Soul), also known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
Ahmedabad city offers the traveler a unique style of architecture, which is a blend of Hindu and
Islamic styles (Indo-Saracenic style of architecture). The monuments of Ahmedabad mainly date
back to the 15th century. Ahmedabad has been known for its industry since medieval times.
Presently Ahmedabad is famous for its textile mills and is often referred to as the ‘Manchester of the
East’.
Fast Facts
 
Population 5.49 million
Area 204.6 sq Km
Languages Gujarati,Hindi and English
Best Time to Visit Winters
STD Code 079
History
Ahmedabad has a chequered history. Ahmedabad has experienced a number of high points,
followed by declines. Sultan Ahmed Shah, the erstwhile ruler of Medieval Gujarat, founded
Ahmedabad in AD 1411. Ahmedabad city declined within a century of its being established. In 1572,
Emperor Akbar seized Ahmedabad and assimilated it within the great Mughal Empire. Ahmedabad
became an important business center during the Mughal period until the death of Aurangzeb in
1707, after which the Ahmedabad city again began to decline. The British seized Ahmedabad in
1818 and set up a number of textile mills here. Ahmedabad became the temporary capital of the
state of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970
Best Season, Climate and Clothing
Ahmedabad city is located in the state of Gujarat, in the western part of India. Ahmedabad lies along
the Sabarmati River. Ahmedabad is 440 km north of Mumbai. The climate of Ahmedabad is hot and
moist. Winters are cool and pleasant (November-February) but summers (April-June) are extremely
dry, hot in Ahmedabad and the temperature can be as high as 46°C at times. The city of
Ahmedabad experiences good rainfall during the monsoon season during the months from July to
September. As the city of Ahmedabad experiences a harsh summer season, and is lashed by the
southwestern monsoons, the best time to visit Ahmedabad is during winters. Cotton clothing is ideal
for most of the months in Ahmedabad. Light woolens clothes are required in the winter months of
Ahmedabad
FACTS
 
Population
:
5.49 million
Area
:
204.6 sq Km
Languages
:
Gujarati and Hindi
Best time to visit
:
Winters
STD Code
:
079
  
CITY OF THE MAHATMA
Ahmedabad, the city of Ahmed Shah (Medieval ruler of Gujarat), is known for its rich past and its
association with the Mahatma (Great Soul), also known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The city
offers the traveler a unique style of [...]
Features
Founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah in 1411 AD, Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, has grown into
one
of the most important modern cities of India. Straddling the Sabarmati river, this prosperous city of
six million is a delight for archeologists, anthropologists, architects, historians, sociologists, traders,
bargain hunters, and plain tourists.
The mosques and mausoleums in the once walled city blend Muslim and Hindu styles of
architecture.
The Sidi Bashir mosque, with its ‘Jhulta minars’ (shaking minarets) continues to amaze and puzzle
casual visitors and serious scholars alike. There are several stunning Hindu and Jain temples
in and around Ahmedabad. The step wells with their intricate carved stone pillars are exquisite.
At the 55-year old Calico Museum of Textiles, one of the best textile museums in the world, one
can see and marvel at samples of the finest fabrics and weaving machines produced in different
parts of India since early 16th century.
Ahmedabad is a vibrant city of people who work hard and play hard. During the Navratri celebrations
(September-October), for example, men and women in dazzling ethnic clothes dance through the
night for nine consecutive nights. The kite festival of mid-January fills the skies with kites of all
shapes.
Arguably, no other city in India can match the predominantly vegetarian Ahmedabad in the number
and variety of restaurants.
Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent satyagraha, which led to India’s Independence, was launched from
this city.
Gandhi’s Ashram, Hriday Kunj, is still preserved on the bank of the Sabarmati, and continues to
attract
and inspire visitors from all parts of the globe.
Ahmedabad is well-connected by rail and air to all the major cities in India. There are a large number
of extremely interesting places in the neighboring states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Goa
suitable
for weekend visits from here.
One can go on day-excursions from here to Akshardham (Swaminarayan Temple, Gandhinagar,
25 km), the sun temple (Modhera, 106 km), Nalsarovar (bird sanctuary that attracts tens of
thousands
of migratory birds from cold countries, 70 km), and Lothal (remnant of a 4500-year old city, 80 km).
Within easy reach is the Gir National Park, the only place in Asia you can encounter the Asiatic lion
in its natural habitat (400 km). The Little Rann of Kutchh sanctuary (100 km) protects the only
surviving population of Wild Ass (the Equus Hominus Khur Species) in the world. Surat, the
heart of the diamond industry in India, is just five hours away by road or rail (250 km).
Tourism problems in ahmedabad 1

Ahmedabad will get five new bridges early next year

The bridges that are under construction and are expected to be thrown open by February 2011 are
Parimal Underpass(on Parimal Crossing), Vadaj-Dudheshwar river bridge(connecting Shahibag-
Dudheshwar to Vadaj-Ashram road), Girdharnagar over bridge(connecting BAPS head quarter’s
backside road and Rajashthan hospital road), Jamalpur over bridge(connecting Jamalpur
agricultural produce market and S.T. bus-stand-AMTS head quarter road bypassing the busy traffic
junction), Soni ni chali over bridge, and Gota over bridge.

The new bridges will be named by Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The six bridge projects are worth
Rs. 189.31 crore. Each project is delayed and has overshot deadline. Project cost in Rs crore are –
Parimal:17.79, Vadaj-Dudheshwar:33.48, Girdharnagar:53.69, Soni ni chali:22.65, and Gota:40.15
crore Rs.

Tourism problems in ahmedabad 2

Hyderabad, Dec 5 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said his dream was to develop his
state as the globally-preferred place to live in and do business in and invited investors from Andhra Pradesh to
be part of this growth story.

Addressing industrialists at a meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Modi invited
investors to the "Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2011" Jan 12-13 at Ahmedabad.

The fourth such summit held in 2009 attracted an investment commitment of over $243 billion despite the
global recession, he said.

Describing Gujarat as the growth engine of India and listing out the strides it made in various sectors, he said
the state’s development model was unique.

"Gujarat’s growth is for India’s growth. We are committed to contribute immensely to India’s growth. The
Gujarat growth model is unique. With active participation of people, development is becoming a mass
movement," he said, amid thunderous applause.
Air
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is located 15 km from the city centre and 8 km from
Ahmedabad Railway station and Bus stand. It serves both domestic and international flights to and from
Ahmedabad and the neighboring cities of Surendranagar, Mehsana and Nadiad. The airport connects the
city with destinations across India and the world (Abu
Dhabi, Australia, Doha, Jeddah,Dubai, Bangkok, Frankfurt, Kabul, Kuwait, London, Muscat, Newark, Sing
apore, Sharjah, Dammam,Riyadh, Hongkong, Paris, Shanghai ).

It is the busiest airport in Gujarat, and the seventh busiest in India with an average of 250 aircraft
movements a day. In 2008 the airport served 5,372,259 passengers. [65] It is expected to handle six million
passengers in 2010 and nine million in 2012, including both domestic and international passengers.
Nearly all domestic airlines serve Ahmedabad, as do several international ones. A new international
terminal has been built to handle increased international air traffic.

19309 Ahmedabad - Indore Shanti Express departuring from Ahmedabad Railway Station (ADI), one of the busiest station in
the country, is a major station on Western Railway.

[edit]Rail

Ahmedabad is one of the six operating divisions of the Western Railway.[66] Railway lines connect the city
to all towns in Gujarat and other major Indian cities
like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune,Indore, Bhopal, Lucknow, Jaipur, Jabalpur, Vadodara, Surat, 
Rajkot, Trivendrum, Hyderabad, Nagpur etc. The Ahmedabad Railway Station, locally known as Kalupur
Railway Station is the city's main terminus; Ahmedabad's other stations are Maninagar, Vatva,
Gandhigram, Asarva, Chandlodia, Kali gam, Vastrapur, Sabarmati, Sarkhej, Naroda, Aamli. [67]

The state government has registered MetroLink Express Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad Company Ltd as
a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the metro rail project connecting Ahmedabad withGandhinagar. The
state government plans to use this SPV as a nodal agency to implement the metro and regional rail
project based on public-private partnership for Ahmedabad Region and GandhinagarCosmopolitan
Region.

[edit]Road

Nehru Nagar—Shivranjani Crossroad BRTS Corridor

National Highway 8, linking Delhi to Mumbai, passes though Ahmedabad connecting it

Ahmedabad's main traffic arteries are the Ashram Road, C. G. Road, Relief Road and SG Highway. The
SG Highway or Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway is also known as Ahmedabad's growth symbol.
Transportation For Gandhinagar is available for 24 hours from SG highway. Auto rickshaws, Share
Autos and buses are the most popular forms of public transport. The Ahmedabad Municipal Transport
Service (AMTS) runs the local bus service in the city. In 2005, AMTS began a drive to convert all of its
petrol and diesel engine buses to run on compressed natural gas engines to reduce the effects of air
pollution. AMTS runs 750 buses.[69] Bicycles and motorcycles are a popular medium of transport with the
city's young people and students.

In 2001, Ahmedabad was ranked as the topmost polluted city in India, out of 85 cities, by the Central
Pollution Control Board. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board gave auto rickshaw drivers an incentive of
Rs. 10,000 to convert all 37,733 auto rickshaws in Ahmedabad to cleaner burning compressed natural
gas to reduce pollution. As a result, in 2008, Ahmedabad was ranked as 50th most polluted city in India.
[70]

[edit]Ahmedabad BRTS
Main article:  Ahmedabad BRTS

Ahmedabad BRTS is a Bus rapid transit system for the city, maintained by the Ahmedabad Janmarg
Limited (AJL). A part of the first phase connecting R.T.O to Pirana was inaugurated by Chief
Minister Narendra Modi on 14 October 2009[71][72][73] and the second half of the first phase connecting
Chandranagar to Pushpa Kunj gate at Kankaria was inaugurated on 25 December 2009.[74] Remaining
phases are under construction and will be operational by mid 2010.

The BRTS is modelled on the International standards and proved to be highly affordable and effective in
operation. It has revolutionised the system of public transport in the city. The buses are comfortable and
technically advanced. The system has dedicated corridors running along the middle of the city roads in
which no other vehicles are allowed.
[edit]Ahmedabad Metro
Main article:  Ahmedabad Metro

Gujarat Government and Ahmedabad Mahanagar Sevasadan had initiated the Ahmedabad

As per latest development, the state government has proposed that 10.9 KM East-West metro line will be
shifted from Income Tax—Shahpur Darwaza—Delhi Darwaza—Prem Darwaza—Kalupur Line towards
Relief Road and wants it to be underground. Special Hydraulic platform with a small gradient that would
gradually take a stationary metro train to the tunnel level on Relief Road—Kalupur stretch is also being
proposed for this line.

Project details
Project is undertaken with a prime objective of environmental improvement and provision of housing for
the poor who living in life threatening conditions along river bed. The project has been planned as a self-
financing project. The revenues would be generated from the sale of proclaimed land.  1,200 crore
(US$ 272.4 million) project includes Walkway development, Road development along
River, Promenades,Garden, Construction of 4000 houses under slum rehabilitation, Amusement
Park, Golf Course, Water Sports park and Construction of Kotarpur Weir.[1]
Steps 4 development

Renovation
The inauguration ceremony for Rs 30 crore Kankaria lakefront [1] was held on December 25, 2008.[2] The
central garden and the walkway has recently been revamped.

Upon completion of the renovation the lake was officially inaugurated in a week long event known as
"Kankaria Carnival". It is the first of its kind in the history and is organised byAhmedabad Municipal
Corporation (AMC).[3][4]

A train named 'Atal Express'(Named after former prime-minister of India Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his
birthday 25 December 2008) is being imported from London, the train will circle the lake on a 4.5 km track
at a speed of 10 km/h.[5] The train will have the capacity to carry 150 passengers, including 36 adults. The
train is manufactured by Severn Lamb.[6] Kankaria is the biggest lake in the city of Ahmedabad. It was
built by sultan Ahmed Shah.

Present Honourable Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Narendra Modi has begun new development of the
area. The road on the periphery of the Lake is being reconstructed as a pedestrian zone, and a toy train
named the 'Atal Express' will circle the lake.

The place is enjoyed as a place for yoga, walking, and running, especially in the very early morning.
There are also other attractions like a zoo, Nagina Wadi, Balvatika, an aquarium and gardens. Kankaria
Zoo has also reords in breeding of rare species in Zoo which make them to feel that they are attached
with nature and not cages. Tourists/visitors will remember this place for years together