Arrival
Arrive Ahmedabad and transfer to your hotel.
Ahmedabad is Located on the banks of the river Sabarmati; the city was founded by Sultan
Ahmad Shah in 1411. Today it is one of the fastest growing cities of India and is an immense
repository of tradition, history & culture. Its famous walled area is one of the finest examples of
community living & the city thrived as the textile capital & was nicknamed âManchester of the
East' in 1888. This multicultural city is home to some of the finest Indo-Saracenic mosques &
Jain temples.
The old city of Ahmedabad is dotted with labyrinthine by-lanes called 'polls'. The exquisite
carved wooden mansions and havelis are marvelous. The city also offers a rich architectural
legacy that blends Hindu and Muslim schools of architecture, stone and brick with arches,
domes and vaults, carved pillars, trefoil designs besides the modern buildings designed by the
famous French architect, Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn.
Later proceed for city tour of Ahmedabad.
Gandhi Ashram: On a quiet peaceful stretch of the Sabarmati River, Mahatma Gandhi set up a
simple retreat in 1915. This was his Satyagrah Ashram and for many years it was the nerve
centre of Indiaâs freedom movement. It was from here, in 1930, that Mahatma began his famous
Dandi March to the sea to protest the Salt Tax imposed by the British. Hridaya Kunj, the simple
cottage where he lived, is now a national monument and preserved as it was during the
Mahatmaâs lifetime. Must pick gifts and souvenirs from the Ashram shop. Spend a little time
here by the river watching the parrots and the squirrels. Peace and tranquility prevail here.
Sidi Sayed Mosque: One part of the wall in the old citadel of the mosque built by Ahmed Shahâs
slave, Sidi Sayed, is celebrated the world over for its exquisite stone window tracery â a superb
& peerless example of delicate carving that transforms stone into filigree.
Hutheesingh Jain Temple: Built outside the Delhi Gate in 1850 by a rich Jain merchant, the
Hutheesingh Temple is the best known of Ahmedabadâs many ornate Jain temples.
Adalaj Step-well: Step wells were built in olden times to serve the man purposes of - holding
rainwater for later use, a resting place for the travellers, a watering hole for the travellers who
had caravans and animals with them. Best examples of rainwater harvesting! The Adalaj step
well is situated 17kms north of Ahmedabad. The step well at the village of Adalaj is another fine
example of this magnificent architectural form. Adalaj Vav is richly carved, every pillar and wall
surface covered with leaves and flowers, birds and fishes and friezes of ornamental designs.
Akshardham: Lord Swaminarayan, born in Chapaya in Uttar Pradesh, took a seven-year
pilgrimage in Gujarat to preach his religion. He built six temples, the first being at Kalupur in
Ahmedabad. Akshardham, the Swaminarayan temple of Gandhinagar, is a modern complex,
built in traditional Indian architectural style from 6,000 metric tons of pink Rajasthan
sandstone, carved by expert artisans from Bansipahadpur. The temple is set in a multi-acre
garden called Sahajanand Van, with intricate sculptures of Hindu Gods. There is a gold leaf
copper sculpture of Lord Swaminarayan that faces similar sculptures of Gunatinand Swami. The
interiors have beautiful columns in rosewood that rise up to a high dome. Akshardham remains
closed on Mondays.
Overnight at hotel