Manchester of India, Ahmedabad

One of the largest cities and former capital of Gujarat, Ahmedabad is also known as Amdavad.

Ahmedabad is situated on the banks of the Sabarmati river, mostly known for its tourist attractions. It is famous for its cotton textiles, street food places, diamond cutting, and much more. If you are thinking of visiting Ahmedabad, here are some reasons to go.

Manchester in England is famous for its cotton textiles all over the world. The climate of Manchester is temperate that suits spinning of cotton thread.

Also, the water of Mersey River, along the banks of which Manchester is situated, is ideal for drying cotton threads.

In the same way, the water of the river Sabarmati is good for drying cotton threads. Climate conditions in and around Ahmedabad are ideal for the growing and spinning of cotton threads.

The number of textile mills has increased to about 33 by the year 1905. Slowly textile industry became a huge one that flourished well in Ahmedabad. This development in Ahmedabad has given the name to this city as Manchester of India. Due to immense industrialization, Ahmedabad is called Manchester of India.

Coimbatore in south India is also known as Manchester of India because a lot of textiles mills are present there. Kanpur also had the claim but now the textile industry is not flourishing and hence it has lost its claim of the name.

What Ahmedabad is Famous For?

Let me show you why UNESCO announced Ahmedabad as a "World Heritage City" in 2017. It must be a proud moment to stay in such a city.

1. Sabarmati Ashram

One of the places that is most famous in Ahmedabad city, Sabarmati Ashram is one of the residencies of Mahatma Gandhi. The Mahatma lived here for twelve long years during India’s freedom struggle. The ashram now has a museum, Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya. It has thousands of visitors every day and it is open every day of the year from morning 8 am to 7 pm IST.

2. Textile City

Ahmedabad is widely known as the textile hub of India. As a result, there are loads of great wholesale markets for clothing. Such is the dominance of textiles in this city, though, that there even is a textile museum. Here you can see a collection of all the different types and varieties of antique Indian textiles. If you want to know about India’s rich textile history then this place is for you. The textile museum is open in the morning hours.

3. A 600-Year-Old-Mosque

One of the oldest mosques in the city was built in the year 1414 and was named after the founder of the city, Ahmed Shah. It is said to have been used as the royal household’s private mosque. It is one of the popular tourist attractions in the city due to its architecture like the prayer hall with black and white marbles with a separate chamber for women.

It was the first attempt made by the Hindu artisans to build the mosque in Islamic style which lead to this architecturally beautiful mosque.

Disclaimer: Please note that here Hindu or Islam words are used but they are just to explore and show you the history, about why Ahmedabad City is so famous just like Taj Mahal.

4. Excellent Street Food at Manek Chowk

A busy shopping market in the morning and a yummy street food place at night, this place serves all the different types of snacks in the city. Some of the must-try items here are Paani Puri, Masala Dabeli, Jalebi, and much more. It is also open till late at night.

Location: Near Bhadra Fort

5. Lal Darwaja Market

One of the most famous and busiest markets in Ahmedabad. This place has different stalls selling clothes, electronic items, and handicrafts. Think of it as a budget shopping market. You can spend hours here just window shopping, so if you have some time to kill, here’s where to go. It can be visited along with family, friends, or solo. Open all days of the week, from 11 am to 10 pm.

6. Saree Shopping at Sindhi Market

Close to the main center of Ahmedabad, Sindhi Market is a great place to buy traditional clothing. If you have enough clothing, you can head here to buy bed sheets and other linen or even handicrafts and dress material at a reasonable/wholesale price.

7. Delicious Kharkra at InduBen Na Khakhra

Khakhra is a thin cracker common in the Gujarati cuisine of western India.

If you are craving some tasty khakhras and Gujarati snacks, this place is a must-visit. Famous for their khakhras, they also serve other items like fafda, papad, Mukhwas, and much more. If you want to have some good food that is also healthy, then this place is for you.

Location : CG Road, Navrangpura

8. Wedding Shopping at Dhalgarwad

One of the oldest markets in Ahmedabad, this place is known for its traditional fabrics, which is why many brides-to-be will do their wedding shopping here. It also offers a unique collection of cotton prints like Kalamkari, Mangalgiri, Jaipur prints, and much more. Famous for its traditional fabric Bandhej and silk patola sarees, this place is a must for family shopping. It even offers few household items too.

9. Law Garden

The famous public garden in the city. One side of the lush green garden is the market, full of stalls selling handicrafts, jewelry, dresses, accessories, and much more. It even has a few food stalls, selling delicious Chinese food, in particular. The place is best experienced at night when the place is all lit up and the smell of yummy food is in the air.

Timings – Mon-Sun (5:30 AM to 10:30 PM IST)

10. CG Road

If you are looking for both trendy and traditional clothing to buy at reasonable prices then this area is for you. It has many malls around, such as Super Mall and Iscon Mall, and many more. Some of the shops to head to for souvenirs to take back home include Khadi Gramudyog Emporiums, Kapasi Handicrafts Emporium, Gurjari, and Hastkala.

11. Kankaria Lake

One of the biggest lakes in Ahmedabad, initially known as Hauz-E-Qutub, Kankaria Lake was once a bathing place for the royals. There is now a garden in the center of the lake with a summer palace called Nagin Wadi. It has many food stalls around the corner and pathways for people to walk around and take in the scenery. A great romantic place for couples to visit, as you would expect. It is best experienced when visited in the evening as you can enjoy the sunset on a boat.

12. Kite Museum

Located in Paldi and established in the year 1985 by Mr. Bhanu Shah, it is an absolute delight to kite lovers. It has a rare and huge collection of different types of kites that are made and used all across the globe. As of now, the museum has 125 varieties of kites. If you want to learn the sport and relive your childhood days then this place is a must-visit for you.

13. Science City

It was set up by the Government of Gujarat in 1960 to let the students know the importance of science and how science has evolved and changed human life over the years. It is located in Hebatpur with an Imax 3D Theatre, an energy park, a life science park, a musical fountain, and much more. For a full day of fun that even educates the kids, the Science City is a must-visit.

Wrapping up...

Ahmedabad is wonderful if a crowded place with plenty to do and see. While textiles are what it is most famous for outside the city, within it, there’s plenty of activity, entertainment, and life. So head on over for a holiday and help us add to this list by narrating your experience in the comment section below or you may contact me directly.

I also belonged to Ahmedabad since when I was born in 1994. If you visit India, please visit my city for sure. I can offer you the food treat with 100+ types of different varieties of delicious vegetarian dishes.

Disclaimer: Please note that here "Hindu" or "Islam" words are used but they are just to explore and show you the history, about why Ahmedabad City is so famous just like Taj Mahal.

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Originally published on 9Mood.