Ahmedabad is one of those cities that carries its history with quiet confidence. It does not announce itself the way Mumbai or Delhi does. But spend a day walking through its old lanes, standing in Gandhi’s ashram, and watching the Sabarmati river catch the evening light — and you begin to understand why it became India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City in 2017.
This was not my first visit to Ahmedabad. I had been here before for work, but had seen nothing of the city beyond office buildings and hotels. This time, with the family and three full days as our base before heading deeper into Gujarat, we finally did justice to it.
Arriving in Ahmedabad
We landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at around 10 AM, having flown in from Bengaluru. We drove to our hotel — Le Grande Residency — freshened up after the flight, and headed out for the first day of sightseeing.
Ahmedabad has a certain pace to it — busy but not overwhelming, modern in places and deeply old in others. The contrast between the wide new roads and the narrow lanes of the heritage old city is striking and very much part of its character.
Sabarmati Ashram — Where the Calmness Surprised Me
The first thing that strikes you about the Sabarmati Ashram is not any particular exhibit or monument. It is the silence.
You drive through the noise of Ahmedabad, turn in through the ashram gates, and the city disappears. What takes its place is an extraordinary stillness — simple buildings, the view of the Sabarmati river flowing alongside the compound, and the sense of being in a place where something important happened.
Gandhi lived and worked here from 1917 to 1930, and it was from this ashram that he launched the Dandi March — the 241-mile walk to the sea to protest the British salt tax — one of the defining acts of India’s independence movement.
We spent about an hour and a half here, which honestly felt too short. I wished we had more time.
The highlights for me were:
The Charkha — Gandhi’s iconic spinning wheel, set in the simple room where he lived and worked. There is something almost unbearably moving about standing in front of it. The room is tiny. The charkha is modest. The history attached to both is enormous.
The Sabarmati River — The ashram sits right on the bank of the river, and the view from the compound — the wide river, the trees, the quiet — is one of the most unexpectedly peaceful sights in any Indian city.
The other quarters — Several other leaders of the independence movement stayed at the ashram at various times. Walking through their small, simply furnished rooms gives you a sense of the community that formed around Gandhi here and the collective spirit of the movement.
If you have children, this is a wonderful place to bring them — the space is calm enough to hold their attention, and the stories are accessible even for young visitors.
Akshardham Temple, Gandhinagar — Scale That Silences You
A short drive from Ahmedabad takes you to Gandhinagar, the state capital, where the Akshardham Temple stands — one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in the world.
I had visited the Akshardham Temple in Delhi before this trip, so I arrived with a sense of what to expect. It did not disappoint.
The scale is simply immense. The carved sandstone structure, the intricate detailing across every surface, the sheer size of the main complex — it is the kind of architecture that makes you stop and simply look. The crowd was light when we visited, which made the experience even more enjoyable — we could move through the complex at our own pace and take in the architecture without jostling.
What cannot be avoided when visiting this temple is the memory of the terrorist attack in September 2002, when two armed attackers entered the complex and opened fire, killing 29 people and injuring around 80 before being stopped by security forces. The temple was rebuilt and reopened, and standing there today is, in a quiet way, its own statement.
Cameras and mobile phones are strictly not permitted inside the Akshardham complex. This is worth knowing in advance — make arrangements to leave your devices in your vehicle or at the counter before entering.
Kankaria Lake — An Evening Stroll with Snacks and a Zoo
On our first evening in Ahmedabad, after a long day of travel and sightseeing, we headed to Kankaria Lake for a relaxed walk.
Kankaria is a 15th century artificial lake in the heart of the city, surrounded by a wide promenade that is one of Ahmedabad’s favourite evening destinations. The atmosphere was lively and family-friendly — couples, families with young children, groups of friends, street food vendors — the kind of pleasant urban evening scene that makes you feel good about a city.
We walked along the promenade, stopped for snacks at one of the stalls — the kind of simple, delicious food that tastes exactly right after a long day — and then wandered into the Kankaria Zoo, which is attached to the lake complex. It was a gentle, unhurried ending to the first day.
Sabarmati Riverfront and Atal Bridge — A Modern Ahmedabad Evening
On our third evening in Ahmedabad — after returning from the day trip to Modhera and Rani Ki Vav — we walked along the Sabarmati Riverfront.
The riverfront development has transformed what was once a neglected stretch of the Sabarmati into a clean, well-designed public promenade along both banks of the river. Walking along it in the evening, with the city reflected in the water and the light fading slowly, is one of Ahmedabad’s most pleasant experiences.
We crossed the Atal Bridge — a cable-stayed pedestrian walkway over the Sabarmati — and watched the sunset from the bridge. The view of the river with the city on both sides, caught in the golden light of early evening, is the kind of moment that makes you glad you walked rather than drove.
Sidi Saiyeed Mosque — A Glimpse from Afar
We passed the Sidi Saiyeed Mosque on our way through the city. Since it was a Friday, many devotees were gathered for prayers and we did not go inside — but even from the road, the mosque’s famous stone lattice windows (jalis) are visible, and the building itself is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Ahmedabad’s architectural heritage.
The jalis — intricately carved stone screens depicting a tree with intertwining branches — are considered among the finest examples of stone latticework in India. If you have more time in Ahmedabad than we did, the mosque is well worth a proper visit.
Food in Ahmedabad — Thali, Dhokla and Thepla
No visit to Ahmedabad is complete without a proper Gujarati thali. We had one during our stay and it was exactly what a thali should be — a seemingly endless parade of small portions arriving at the table, a balance of sweet, salty, and spiced, with roti, dal, sabzi, kadhi, and more.
We also had dhokla and thepla — two Gujarati staples that are worth going out of your way for. Dhokla is a soft, steamed savoury cake made from fermented chickpea batter, served with a tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves. Thepla is a spiced flatbread made with fenugreek leaves — excellent for breakfast or as a snack.
Ahmedabad is almost entirely vegetarian and the quality of the food, particularly the street food, is outstanding.
Practical Tips
- Visit Sabarmati Ashram early in the morning — the light is beautiful and the crowds are thinner
- Akshardham Temple is in Gandhinagar, not Ahmedabad — factor in the drive (about 30 minutes)
- No cameras at Akshardham — leave devices in your vehicle before entering
- Kankaria Lake is best in the evening — the promenade comes alive after 5 PM
- The Sabarmati Riverfront and Atal Bridge are worth an evening walk, especially at sunset
- Try a proper Gujarati thali at a local restaurant — not the hotel buffet
- Friday visits to Sidi Saiyeed Mosque may limit access due to prayers — plan accordingly
Visitor Information
| Detail | Sabarmati Ashram | Akshardham Temple |
| Location | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | Gandhinagar, Gujarat |
| Distance from city centre | 5 km from city centre | ~30 km from Ahmedabad |
| Timings | 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM | 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM (closed Mondays) |
| Entry Fee | Free | Free |
| Mobile Phones | Permitted | Not permitted |
| UNESCO Status | Ahmedabad — India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City (2017) | |
| Best Time to Visit | October to March | October to March |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ahmedabad a UNESCO World Heritage City? Yes. Ahmedabad was inscribed as India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City in 2017, recognised for its rich architectural heritage spanning six centuries — from its medieval old city and mosques to its Gandhian institutions and modern developments.
What is the Sabarmati Ashram and why is it significant? The Sabarmati Ashram is where Mahatma Gandhi lived and worked from 1917 to 1930. It was from here that he launched the historic Dandi March in 1930 to protest the British salt tax — a pivotal moment in India’s independence movement. The ashram is now a national heritage site open to visitors.
Is the Akshardham Temple in Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar? The Akshardham Temple is in Gandhinagar, the state capital of Gujarat, approximately 30 kilometres from Ahmedabad. It is easily visited as a day trip from Ahmedabad.
Are cameras allowed inside Akshardham Temple? No. Cameras and mobile phones are strictly not permitted inside the Akshardham Temple complex. Make arrangements to leave your devices in your vehicle before entering.
What is the best food to try in Ahmedabad? A proper Gujarati thali is essential. Beyond that, dhokla, thepla, fafda-jalebi, and khakhra are all must-tries. Ahmedabad is almost entirely vegetarian and the quality of street food in the city is excellent.
What is Kankaria Lake known for? Kankaria Lake is a 15th century artificial lake in central Ahmedabad, surrounded by a wide promenade that is one of the city’s most popular evening destinations. It has a zoo, amusement rides, food stalls, and pleasant walking paths — ideal for a relaxed family evening.
What is the Sidi Saiyeed Mosque famous for? The Sidi Saiyeed Mosque is famous for its intricately carved stone lattice windows known as jalis, which depict a tree with intertwining branches and are considered among the finest examples of stone latticework in India. The mosque dates from 1573 and is one of Ahmedabad’s most recognisable landmarks.
This post is part of our Gujarat family road trip series. Read the complete itinerary here: Gujarat in 8 Days – A Family Road Trip Across the Land of Legends
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