General Information / History
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 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 it is famous for its textile mills and is often referred to as the 'Manchester of the East'.

Sightseeing

Juma Masjid
It is among the most popular sights in the city. Built of yellow sandstone this mosque stands on 260 pillars which support 15 domes at varying elevations. This monument is easily accessible as it stands in the centre of the old city.

Jhulta Minara
This is quite an unusual structure. Jhulta Minara or swaying minarets are a part of the mosque of Siddi Bashir and can be swayed by applying a little force at the topmost arch. One of the minarets was partly demolished by an Englishman in his endeavours to unravel the mystery of the swaying minarets.

Hathising Jain Temple
It's an impressive white structure. This Jain temple built of white marble and profusely carved is dedicated to Dharmanath - the 15th Jina or Jain Apostle. As all Jain temples, this one too is rich in the intricate carvings depicting among other things - musicians.

Bhadra Fort
To add to the varied sights of the city there is the Bhadra Fort, which once housed royal palaces and beautiful gardens. It has the temple of Bhadrakali and was built in 1411 during the Maratha rule.

Sidi Sayed Mosque
This mosque is unique for its immaculate screens, which are acclaimed for their splendid Jhali screen, framed, in the ten semi-circular windows.

Sabarmati Ashram
The ashram - which was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1915 - is arguably the biggest tourist attraction. It lies on the serene stretch of the Sabarmati river and was referred to as the Satyagraha Ashram during the lifetime of the Mahatma. The humble cottage where Gandhiji lived 'Hridaya Kunj' - is now a small museum displaying his few possessions. It is preserved as a National Monument.

Kankaria Lake
This is a circular lake constructed in 1451 by Sultan Qutub-ud-Din. In the centre of the lake is an island garden with a summer palace known as Nagina Wadi.

Hussain-Doshi's Gufa
This art gallery houses the collaborative effort of artiste M F Hussain and the architect B V Doshi. Here, art and architecture fuse to become a unique experience, both complementing each other magnificently. It is located in the campus of the Center for Environment Planning and Technology, opposite Gujarat University. The Gufa is a configuration of cave-like structures buried under the ground. This marvel of contemporary architecture was constructed using computer aided design and tribal initiative - a fusion of the modern and ancient ideas.

Calico Museum of Textiles
The textile industry is large in Gujarat and the Calico Museum depicts the importance of this industry. The Calico Museum of Textiles, widely regarded as one of the finest textile museums in the world was constructed in 1949. The museum has five centuries of the finest fabrics spun, woven, printed and painted in different parts of India. It also has a collection of marble, sandstone and bronze icons and busts split in two thematic section - galleries for religious textiles and historical textiles.

Other attractions
Gujarat is a state that is abundant in varied and exquisite handicrafts. With the influence of various cultures in the past and with the passage of time, the arts and crafts of this region cannot be ignored. For example the fine weaving are the Patola silk saris. Another important part of this industry is the zari (gold embroidery) that dates back to the Mughal period. The tie and dye and the bandhani styles - are very popular in silk and cotton. Hand-painted cloth is freely available and the interesting designs and colours used sell like hot cakes.

Excursion
Lothal ( 70 kms), Adalaj vav (step well), Akshardham Temple, Modhera (104 kms), Patan, Champaner (165 km), Nalsarovar ( 65 kms),