Ahmedabad, the political hub of Gujarat sports a cosmopolitan look. Swanky multiplexes, brilliantly-lit shopping malls, upmarket entertainment and fitness clubs, convention centres, bowling alleys and numerous eateries are mushrooming all over the city and the Amdavadis are letting their hair down like never before. Entrepreneurs, corporate houses and multinationals are homing in. An international terminal is being constructed to support all the flagship carriers that touch Ahmedabad on their routes.

Gujaratis, noted for their fastidious preference for their regional cuisine wherever they go, are acquiring new tastes. So Mexican fajita wraps are as popular as the old favourite pao bhaji. An ideal Sunday evening outing is shifting from the gas-lit Law Garden to the dazzling glow-signed multiplexes. ‘Kaka’s ‘ek cutting chai’ is slowly yielding to trendy coffee cafes like Barista. The petrol spewing autorickshaws and two-wheelers share space with the brand new cars. The labyrinthine bylanes of the old walled city have merged with the new National Expressway (NE-1) while the old havelis stand as tall as the several new high-rises in the city.

Sightseeing

Sabarmati Ashram
About 5 km from the main city, on the west bank of the Sabarmati river, is located Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram. Gandhi’s living quarters are preserved here and there is an excellent pictorial record of his life. There is also a bookshop that is worth a visit. Open: 8.30 am-6 pm.

Shaking Minarets, Kalupur
The shaking minarets of the Sidi Bashir‘s mosque have since last many centuries generated curiosity. The two minarets are designed in a way that if one is shaken the other also trembles. The minarets were damaged in the last earthquake.

Sidi Saiyad Mosque
The famous mosque built in 1571 AD is acclaimed for its splendid filigree screen, framed in the semi-circular windows.

Juma Masjid
Built in red sandstone the mosque is considered to be the most beautiful mosque in the Western part of the country. The mosque was built in 1423 AD and stands out for its grand scale and superb proportions and exquisite workmanship.

Calico Museum
Once called the Manchester of the East, the city has a museum dedicated to the textile industry that once flourished here. The museum showcases an impressive collection of old textiles with associated machinery and tools.

Hathee Singh Jain Temple
This temple is dedicated to the 15th Jain apostle Dharmnath. Built of white marble, it is embellished with intricate carvings.

Sarkhej Roza
Once the most elegant architectural complex in Ahmedabad, the buildings in the compound of the roza are remarkable for the complete absence of arches and the use of pierced stone trellises.

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