Things to Do in Ahmedabad: Heritage Walks, Gandhi's Ashram, Stepwells & Street Food

Take the heritage walk

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's morning heritage walk starts at the Swaminarayan Temple in Kalupur and winds through the pols, past carved wooden house fronts, hidden temples, chabutras (bird feeders), secret passages and community wells, ending at the Jama Masjid. Private guides also run food and craft walks.

Start early; the walk takes about two and a half hours and is best before the lanes get busy.

Time needed

2.5 hours

Best time

Early morning

Good for

Everyone

See Sidi Saiyyed Mosque

Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, built in 1573, is famous for its jali windows carved from stone in the pattern of intertwined trees, often called the tree of life. The design has become a symbol of the city. Women may not be allowed inside the prayer hall; the windows can be seen from the courtyard.

Time needed

30 minutes

Visit the Jama Masjid and Bhadra Fort

The Jama Masjid, completed in 1424, has 260 pillars and blends Hindu, Jain and Islamic design. Bhadra Fort and the Teen Darwaza gateway nearby were part of the original citadel; the Bhadra Kali Temple and the lively streets around them are worth exploring. Rani no Hajiro, the tombs of the queens, is next to a busy market.

Visit the Hutheesing Jain Temple

The Hutheesing Jain Temple, built in 1848 in white marble, has intricately carved domes, pillars and 52 shrines around a courtyard.

The temple was built by a merchant family and completed by his widow, and its craftsmen came from the same guilds that built the city's pol houses. It is calm in the early morning, when worshippers perform puja.

Visit Sabarmati Ashram

Sabarmati Ashram, on the banks of the river, was Gandhi's home for over a decade. His simple cottage, Hriday Kunj, is preserved, and a museum designed by Charles Correa tells his story through photographs, letters and quotes. It was from here that he began the Dandi Salt March in 1930.

Time needed

1.5 hours

Good for

Everyone

Tour the Calico Museum of Textiles

The Calico Museum of Textiles, in the Sarabhai family's Shahibaug estate, has one of the world's finest collections of Indian textiles. Visits are by guided tour only, with limited places and specific timings; book in advance.

Good to know

Guided tours only; book ahead

Walk the Sabarmati Riverfront

The Sabarmati Riverfront has promenades, gardens and the Atal Bridge, a pedestrian bridge with a colourful canopy, lit up at night. Kankaria Lake, in the south of the city, has a promenade, a zoo, a toy train and a carnival in the last week of December.

Best time

Evening

See Adalaj stepwell

Adalaj stepwell (vav), about 18 km north, was built in 1499 and has five storeys of carved galleries descending to the water, cool even in summer. Its carvings blend Hindu, Jain and Islamic motifs.

Time needed

1 hour

See Sarkhej Roza and Auto World

Sarkhej Roza, a 15th-century complex of mosque, tombs and a tank on the city's edge, is a peaceful place at sunset. The Auto World Vintage Car Museum has a large collection of classic cars.

Eat at Manek Chowk

Manek Chowk, a jewellers' square in the old city by day, turns into a food market at night, with pav bhaji, sandwiches, kulfi and chocolate pizza. It stays busy until well after midnight.

Best time

9 p.m. onwards

Good for

Food lovers

Have a Gujarati thali

A Gujarati thali, with dal, kadhi, several vegetables, rotli, rice and sweets, is best eaten at one of the city's old thali restaurants. Try dhokla, khandvi, fafda-jalebi on Sunday mornings and undhiyu in winter.

Fly kites at Uttarayan

On 14 January, Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti), the whole city goes up to the rooftops to fly kites from dawn to dusk, and an International Kite Festival is held on the riverfront. In the evening, paper lanterns float into the sky.

Best time

14 January

Dance at Navratri

During Navratri, in September or October, the city dances garba and dandiya raas late into the night at community grounds and large venues. Visitors are welcome at many events.

Best time

September or October

See Rani ki Vav and Modhera

Rani ki Vav at Patan, about 125 km away, is a magnificent 11th-century stepwell with hundreds of sculptures, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Modhera Sun Temple, from the same period, has a stepped tank and exquisitely carved halls. Both make a full-day trip.

Patan guide

Visit Lothal and Nal Sarovar

Lothal, about 80 km south-west, is a Harappan port town with a dockyard and a museum. Nal Sarovar, a large lake about 60 km away, attracts flamingos and migratory birds in winter.

Best time

November to February for birds

Go to the Statue of Unity

The Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue at 182 metres, portrays Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and stands near the Sardar Sarovar Dam, about 200 km away. It is usually visited with an overnight stay.

Statue of Unity guide

What are the best things to do in Ahmedabad?

Take the old city heritage walk, visit Sabarmati Ashram, see Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, the Jama Masjid and Adalaj stepwell, visit the Hutheesing temple and the Calico Museum, walk the riverfront and eat at Manek Chowk.

When is the Ahmedabad heritage walk?

The municipal heritage walk runs every morning from the Swaminarayan Temple in Kalupur. Check the current start time and booking process.

How many days are enough for Ahmedabad?

Two to three days, plus a day for Rani ki Vav and Modhera.

What is the best time to visit Ahmedabad?

November to February, or January for Uttarayan and autumn for Navratri.

Is Ahmedabad a UNESCO World Heritage City?

Yes. The historic walled city of Ahmedabad was inscribed in 2017, the first Indian city to receive the status.