India Travel

Around Ahmedabad

Related Properties from Gurgaon

The City in Ahmedabad

The historic heart of Ahmedabad is the old city, an area of about three square kilometres on the east bank of the river, dissected by the main thoroughfares Relief Road and Gandhi Road and reaching its northern limits at Delhi Gate. It's the best place to start any exploration, taking in the squat buildings of the original citadel. Bhadra. the mosques and tombs of Ahmedabad s Muslim rulers, vibrant bazaars and pok - labyrinths of high wooden havelis and narrow cul-de-sacs that still house families all belonging to the same caste or trade.

Nal Sarovar reserve in Ahmedabad

A visit to Nal Sarovar, set in 121 square kilometres of wet grasslands some 50km southwest of Ahmedabad, is best between November and February, when the reserve attracts colonies of flamingoes, cranes, storks, pelicans, ducks and geese. Nal Sarovar is seen as a valuable asset by conservationists campaigning for a reduction in road building and industrial pollution, both fast drying out Gujarat's remaining expanses of wetland.

Mosque and Tomb of Rani Sipri in Ahmedabad

Near Astodia Darwaja in the south of the city, the small and elegant mosque of Rani Sipri was built in 1514 at the queen's orders. Her grave lies in front, sheltered by a pillared mausoleum. The stylish mosque shows more Hindu influence than any other in Ahmedabad, with several Hindu carvings and an absence of arches. Its pillared sanctuary has an open facade to the east and fine tracery work on the west wall.

Dholka in Ahmedabad

A 35-kilometre journey southwest of Ahmedabad by bus or train brings you to DHOLKA, and its three majestic ruined mosques. The modestly proportioned Masjid of Hilal Khan Qazi (1333), featuring detailed tracery work, and the Tanka Masjid (1361), decorated with elaborate Hindu carvings, are both unaffected by Islamic design. More dilapidated, the Mosque of Alif Khan (1453) is distinctively Persian, dominated by solid square towers on either side of the facade. Dholka village is famous for its pomegranate and guava orchards, and also has a stunning wooden haveli temple.

Shaking minarets in Ahmedabad

South of the railway station, opposite the large gate of Sarangpur Darwaja, Sidl Bashir's minars are all that remain of the mosque popularly named after one of Ahmed Shah's favourite slaves. Over 21m high, these are the best existing example of the "shaking minarets"- built on a foundation of flexible sandstone, probably to protect them from earthquake damage - that were once a common sight on Ahmedabad s skyline. At least two European visitors, Robert Grindlay (1826) and Henry Cousens (1905), reported climbing to the top storey of one minaret, shaking it hard, and causing its twin to shake, but

Travel details in Gujarat

Trains Ahmedabad to: Abu Road (6-9 daily; 3hr 30mirMhr 30mm): Ajmer (3-6 daily: 7hr 5min—10hr 55min); Bangalore (3 weekly; 35hr 55min-37hr 40min); Bhavnagar (3 daily; 5hr25min-7hr|; Calcutta (1 daily; 44hr 10min); Chennai (1 daily; 37hr 30min); Delhi (3-5 daily; 14hr 15min-33hr 35min); Dwarka (1-2 daily; lOhr 50min); Jaipur (3-5 daily; 9hr 5min-13hr 30min); Jamnagar (4-5 daily; 5hr 55mm-7hr 55mm): Jodhpur (2-3 daily; 9hr 5min-9hr 55min); Junagadh (2 nightly; 8hr 20min-9hr 55min); Mumbai (7-8 daily; 7hr 10min-12hr 20min);porbandar (1-2 daily; lOhr 25min]; Raikot (5-7daily; 4hr 5min-5hr 35min); Surat (11-14 daily; 3hr 30min-4hr 30min): Trivandrum (2 weekly;42hr 25min); Udaipur (1 nightly; 8hr 45min); Vadodara (14-17 daily; 1hr

Mehsana in Norhtern Gujarat

The crowded residential city of MEHSANA. less than 100km north of Ahmedabad, doesn't merit a visit in its own right - the one building of any interest is the old Rajmahal palace, now used as government offices. As the only place in the area to offer a choice of accommodation, it does, however, make an obvious base for visiting any of the towns in northern Gujarat. The centre of town is compact, with the train and bus stations only 500m apart. Avon Guest House (02762/51394) is the best of the four cheapies opposite the former, while the Hatel Apsara (02762/51027)

Lothal in Ahmedabad

Remains of the Harappan (Indus Valley) civilization that once spread across what are now western India and eastern Pakistan have been discovered in over fifty places in Gujarat.The largest excavated site is at Lothal (daily dawn-dusk; free), close to the mouth of the River Sabarmati, roughly 100km south of Ahmedabad, and an easy journey by bus (change at Dholka) or train (3hr).The only decent accommodation is 7km away at Utelia in the shape of the impressive Palace Utelia, bookable through North West Safaris in Ahmedabad (079/630 2019, 630 0692). Foundations, platforms, crumbling walls and paved floors are all that remain of

Details of Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD, a mass of factories, mosques, temples and high-rise offices, sprawls along the banks of the River Sabarmari some 90km from its mouth in the Bay of Cambay. First impressions can be poor: Gujarat's largest city is a dirty, polluted place, noisy with a grumbling flow of traffic. Give it a little time, however, and the mix of ancient and modern - along with the combination of thriving Hindu, Muslim and Jain communities - lends the city an appealing character that can be hard to resist. Although it suffered quite badly in the 2001 earthquake, damage was sustained more in

Travel details in the Rajasthan

Trains Jaipur to: Agra (2 daily; 7hr); Ahmedabad (2 daily; 14hr); Ajmer (5 daily; 2-3hr); Alwar (7 daily; 2hr 35min-4hr); Bikaner (3 daily; 6hr 30min-1 Ohr); Calcutta (2 daily: 29hr); Chittaurgarh (2 daily; 7hr 40min-8hr 15min); Chum (3 daily: 5hr 20min); Delhi (8 daily; 4hr 20min-6hr 30]; Jhunjhunu (3 daily; 4hr 40min-6hr); Jodhpur (4-5 daily; 5hr-6hr iOmin); Kota (3 daily; 3hr 45min); Mount Abu (3 daily; 8-9hr); Mumbai (2 daily; 16hr 30min-22hr); Sawai Madhopur (2-3 daily; 2hr-3hr 20min); Sikar (5 daily; 3hr); Udaipur (2 daily; 10-12hr). Jodhpur to: Abu Road (3 daily: 5hr); Agra (2 daily; 13hr); Ahmedabad (3 daily; 10hr);

Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad

At the northern end of Ashram Road, set beside sublime gardens, Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram (daily 7am-8.30pm; free) displays the Mahanna's letters and possessions, along with a powerful collection of photographs of his years of fighting for freedom. It was here that Gandhi lived in humble apartments from 1917 until 1930 and held meetings with weavers and Harijans as he helped them find security and re-establish the manual textile industry in Ahmedabad. In keeping with the man's uncluttered lifestyle, the collection of his personal property is modest but poignant - wooden shoes, white seamless clothes and a pair of round spectacles.

Moving on from Mount Abu in Rajasthan

Buses leave Mount Abu for Abu Road every hour until 9pm; Jeeps leave when full (from opposite the bus stand), and taxis are available on request (from the junction at the southeastern corner of the polo ground; Rs200 for a full car). For train travellers, there's an information and booking office, or "Out Agency" (Mon-Sat 9am-1pm S 2-4pm) directly opposite the police station, next to the bus stand. It has quotas for services to Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, but not Jodhpur, so if you're heading northeast towards Jaisalmer, you'll have to head back down to Abu Road railway station

Moving on from Junagadh in Gujarat

Trains to Rajkot, Ahmedabad and the south coast call at Junagadh. The Down #352 leaves at 6am every morning for Sasan Gir (2hr 30min) and Delvada (6hr) for connections to Diu. It's slow, but more comfortable than the bus. Of the services to Rajkot, the afternoon Veraval-Rajkot Mail #9837 is the best; for Ahmedabad the overnight Girnar Express #9945 is the most convenient. There are two morning expresses to Veraval. Buses from the long-distance bus stand, just west of Chittakhana Chowk, serve destinations around the state, although you'll have to change at Una for Diu. Bus #4 for Girnar (7 daily;

Travel details in Mumbai

Trains Direct services to: Agra (4 daily: 23hr 15min-27hr): Ahmedabad (4 daily; 7hr 10min-12hr); Aurangabad {2 daily: 7hr 20mim: Bangalore (3 daily: 24hr 30min); Bhopal (4 daily: 14hr); Calcutta (4 daily; 33-40hr); Chennai (3 daily; 24-29hr); Coimbatore (1 daily; 10hr); Delhi (11 daily; 17-33hr); Hyderabad (2 daily; 15-17hr); Indore (1 daily: 14hr 35min); Jaipur (2 daily: 18-23hr|; Jodhpur (1 daily; 22hr; change at Ahmedabad); Kolhapur (3 daily; 11 -12hr): Nagpur (4 daily; 14-15hr): Nasik (15 daily: 4hr); Pune (25 daily: 3hr 15min-5hr): Thiruvananthapuram (2 daily; 42tir); Udaipur (1 daily; 25hr: change at Ahmedabad); Ujjain (1 daily; 12hr 25 min): Varanasi (2 daily;

Adalaj Vav in Ahmedabad

One of Gujarat's most spectacular step-wells, or vavs, Adalaj Vav (daily Sam—6pm; free), stands in lovingly tended gardens about lkm from a bus stop on the route between Ahmedabad, 19km away, and Gandhinagar. Once a Hindu sanctuary, the well is now totally out of use; local women wash clothes and cooking utensils at modern water taps nearby. The monument is best seen around noon, when sunlight penetrates to the bottom of the five-storey octagonal well shaft. Steps lead down to the cool depths through a series of platforms raised on pillars. Alive with exquisite sculptures, the walls, pillars, cornices and niches

Calico Museum of Textiles in Ahmedabad

Nobody should leave Ahmedabad without visiting the Calico Museum of Textiles (daily except Wed 10.30-11.30am & 2.45-3.45pm; free), in the Sarabhai Foundation, in Shahibagh, 3km north of Delhi Gate (bus #101, #101/1 &r #103); it's simply the finest collection of textiles, clothes, furniture, temple artefacts and crafts in the country. It's best to arrive early so you can take your time; once inside, you'll be shown round by a guide. Colourful embroidered wall-hangings depicting Krishna legends hang from the second floor right down to ground level. Cloth decorated with tie-dye bandhani), glinting mirror-work, screen prints, block prints and intricate embroidery

Dada Harini Vav in Ahmedabad

Northern Gujarat abounds in remarkable step-wells - deep, with elaborately carved walls and broad flights of covered steps leading to the shaft - but Dada Harini Vav, in the northeast of the city just outside the old boundaries, is among the very finest. It can be reached by taking bus #111 to Asarwa; ask to be dropped nearby, and either walk or take an auto-rickshaw to the well. While it's a Muslim construction, built in 1500 for Bai Harir Sultani, superintendent of the royal harem, the craftsmen were Hindu, and their influence is clear in the lavish and sensuous carvings

Sarkhej in Ahmedabad

Just under 10km southwest of Ahmedabad (bus #31 from Lai Darwaja), in the suburb of Sarkhej, is a complex of beautifully fashioned monuments arranged around an artificial lake. The square tomb of the revered saint Sheikh Ahmed Khattu, the spiritual mentor of Ahmed Shah, who died in 1445, is the largest mausoleum in Gujarat, with scores of pillars inside supporting the domed roof. Tracery work and inlaid marble decorates the upper walls and the outer wall supports rows of arched wooden doors and brass screens. The mausoleum was constructed by Ahmed Shah's successor, Mohammed Shah, in 1446. The later Sultan

Listings Domestic Indian Airlines in Ahmedabad

Airlines, Domestic Indian Airlines, on the road from Sidi Sayyid's Mosque to Nehru Bridge 079/550 3061; Jet Airways. Ashram Road opposite Gujarat Vidyapith 079/754 3304.

Ahmed Shah’s mosque in Ahmedabad

West of Bhadra citadel, not far from Victoria Gardens, Ahmed Shah's small and attractively simple mosque was the private place of worship for the royal household. Sections an old Hindu temple, perhaps dating back to 1250 AD, were used in its construction — hence the incongruous Sanskrit inscriptions on some of the pillars in the sanctuary. The mihrabs are particularly ornate.