Ahmedabad, India: travel guide
Walled-city havelis, stepwells and Gandhi's riverside ashram
India's first UNESCO World Heritage City — Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram, stunning stepwells, a vibrant textile heritage, and the exuberant Navratri festival.
About Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad is the largest city of Gujarat and a place where old and new sit side by side. Its walled city of carved wooden havelis and pols, or tight residential clusters, rewards slow exploration, and it has been recognised as a World Heritage City.
The Sabarmati Ashram, once Gandhi's base, is a quiet and moving stop on the riverbank, and the Sabarmati Riverfront gives room to stroll. Add the finely latticed Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, the Jama Masjid, Kankaria Lake and the intricate Adalaj Stepwell just outside town. Textiles and Gujarati vegetarian food are part of the character.
The best time to visit Ahmedabad is from October to February, and Navratri in autumn fills the evenings with garba dancing.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- AMD
Last updated
Top places to visit in Ahmedabad
Sabarmati Ashram
memorial · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · free entry
Mahatma Gandhi's riverside home from 1917-1930 and the launchpad of the Dandi March, now a moving museum of his life, writings and the freedom struggle.
Kankaria Lake
lake · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · entry ₹10
A grand 15th-century circular lake redeveloped into a lakefront with a toy train, zoo, balloon ride, kids' city and food stalls — a lively family hub.
Swaminarayan Akshardham
temple · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · free entry
A vast intricately carved pink-sandstone temple complex in Gandhinagar set in landscaped gardens, with exhibitions and an evening water-and-light show.
Adalaj Stepwell
stepwell · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · free entry
A breathtaking five-storey 1498 stepwell (vav) descending into cool depths, with intricately carved Indo-Islamic pillars, niches and platforms.
Sabarmati Riverfront
riverfront · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry
A modern landscaped riverfront promenade along the Sabarmati with gardens, boating, the flower park and Atal Bridge — a popular evening and sunset spot.
Manek Chowk
bazaar · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · free entry
A bustling old-city square that transforms from a daytime bullion-and-jewellery market into a famous late-night street-food bazaar of Gujarati delicacies.
Jama Masjid Ahmedabad
mosque · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · free entry
A magnificent 1424 yellow-sandstone mosque built by Sultan Ahmed Shah, with 260 carved pillars and a vast courtyard — a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture.
Sidi Saiyyed Mosque
mosque · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · free entry
A small 1573 mosque world-famous for its exquisite stone latticework jali, especially the intertwined "Tree of Life" window — the unofficial emblem of Ahmedabad.
Bhadra Fort & Teen Darwaza
citadel · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · free entry
The 1411 royal citadel founded by Ahmed Shah, with the Bhadrakali temple and the adjoining triple-arched Teen Darwaza gateway in the heart of the old city.
Hutheesing Jain Temple
jain-temple · 4.5 rating · about 0.7 h · free entry
An ornate 1848 white-marble Jain temple dedicated to Dharmanatha, with finely carved pillars, domes and a tall Manastambha column.
Calico Museum of Textiles
textiles · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry
One of the world's finest textile museums, displaying centuries of Indian fabrics, royal tents and religious textiles in a heritage haveli (guided tours only, advance booking).
Auto World Vintage Car Museum
automobile · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
A sprawling private museum of vintage and classic cars, carriages and motorcycles, with rides offered in some of the lovingly restored vehicles.
Things to do
- Sabarmati Ashram Visit Cultural · 1.5 h
- Old City Pols Heritage Walk Heritage · 2.5 h · from INR 500 per person
- Manek Chowk Night Food Walk Cultural · 2 h · from INR 700 per person
- Kankaria Lakefront Evening Activity · 2 h · from INR 50 per person
- Sabarmati Riverfront & Atal Bridge Activity · 1.5 h · from INR 30 per person
- Adalaj Stepwell & Akshardham Heritage · 5 h · from INR 1,500 per person
Day trips and tours
- Ahmedabad Heritage City Tour 8 h · from INR 1,800
- Modhera & Patan Day Trip 11 h · from INR 2,800
- Gandhinagar Akshardham & Adalaj 5 h · from INR 1,500
Where to stay in Ahmedabad
- Old City about INR 2,000 per night
Historic walled city with traditional bazaars and havelis
- CG Road about INR 3,500 per night
Modern commercial area with shopping and dining
Hotels
- The House of MG 5-star · INR 7,000 to INR 14,000 per night
- Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad 5-star · INR 7,000 to INR 13,000 per night
- Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad 5-star · INR 6,000 to INR 11,000 per night
- The Fern Ahmedabad 4-star · INR 5,000 to INR 9,000 per night
- Lemon Tree Premier Ahmedabad 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 8,000 per night
- Ginger Ahmedabad 3-star · INR 3,000 to INR 5,500 per night
Where to eat
- Manek Chowk Street Food Street Food, Gujarati, Fast Food · about INR 250 per person
- Gordhan Thal Gujarati, Rajasthani, Thali · about INR 500 per person
- Vishalla Gujarati, Thali, Vegetarian · about INR 900 per person
- Swati Snacks Gujarati, Street Food, Vegetarian · about INR 450 per person
- Agashiye (House of MG) Gujarati, Thali, Vegetarian · about INR 1,200 per person
- Huber & Holly Cafe, Desserts, Bakery · about INR 450 per person
- Das Khaman Gujarati, Street Food, Vegetarian · about INR 150 per person
- Tomato's Continental, Italian, Mexican · about INR 600 per person
Getting to Ahmedabad
Airport: Ahmedabad (AMD)
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Metro
- Ride Hail
- Walking
More in India
Frequently asked questions about Ahmedabad
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Ahmedabad?
- The highest-rated places in our Ahmedabad guide are Swaminarayan Akshardham, Sabarmati Ashram, Adalaj Stepwell, Calico Museum of Textiles, Jama Masjid Ahmedabad.
- Where should I stay in Ahmedabad?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Ahmedabad: Old City, CG Road.
- How do I get around Ahmedabad?
- Ways to get around Ahmedabad covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Ahmedabad?
- The nearest airport to Ahmedabad has the code AMD.