Ahmedabad, streched across the either side of river Sabarmati and Gandhinagar, the capital city collects the places of historical importance, besides serving to the modern Indian taste.
If you’ve read my last post about Sabarmati Ashram, you already know that it’s the place that decides which conference or workshop to attend. You have to love the place first before loving the nature of the conference. I visited Gujarat in early October to attend a 5-day-long workshop at PDEU, Gandhinagar. My visit was special because of the ‘two’ things happening for the first time. It was my first time in Gujarat, and for the first time, I’ll be attending a 5-day-long workshop. While the first aspect excited me, the second scared me. Since the organisers warned of attendance, sustaining your interest in all the sessions for five days is highly unlikely. Moreover, it wasn’t on theatre. However, there were other things in my favour. When I attend a conference on theatre, I seldom meet the people I know, but in this translation-based workshop, 3 of the 25 people whose abstracts got selected were acquainted with me. This takes me to the ‘third’ special thing. Unlike other academic visits, where I am mostly alone, I got beautiful company here as two of the juniors from my institute, and one of the batchmates from my previous college would also be attending. And the best part–they were equally enthusiastic to explore Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Who knows, their choice might have been governed by the place! The idea was to utilise whatever time was available before and after the workshop to explore the places around. Since we all reached a day before, we settled on visiting Ahmedabad on that very day.
Day 1 (Ahmedabad): Sabarmati Ashram, Dandi Kutir, Adalaj, Tri Mandir, Kankariya Lake, Atal Bridge, Gordhan Thal (for exquisite Gujarati thali), Induben Khakre Wali (Gujarati snacks), Ratanpol-Sindhi market-Lal Darwaja-Naranpura, etc., for clothing.
Day 2 (Gandhinagar): Indroda Nature Park, Sarita Udyan, Gift City, Akshardham
How to explore: Ola, Uber and Rapido are readily available and cheaper than in other cities. Metro option available (apps available), BRTS, GSRTC and AMTS (Bus services). Gandhinagar is 20 km away from Ahmedabad and is well-connected by cab, bus or metro.
Note: The metro is not as frequent as in Delhi. Check before boarding.
When to Visit: Winters to avoid scorching heat. We were there at the start of October and were travelling with AC on.
The first on the list was Sabarmati Ashram.
1. Sabarmati Ashram
Timings: 10 AM- 6 PM, Open all days of the week
After visiting Sabarmati Ashram, I felt that this place needs to be discussed at length. Hence, I’ve prepared a separate and detailed blog on it. Click here for a complete guide to this place.
2. Dandi Kutir
Timings: 10:30 AM- 5 PM, Monday Closed, Entry Fee: Rs 10/-, Luggage facility available
Unlike other museums, Dandi Kutir provides an immersive experience since you’ll be given a Walkman and headphones when you start the tour, which narrates the events whenever you pass through an aspect related to Gandhi ji. This historic museum collects the life and contributions of Gandhi ji, especially the historic Dandi March, through audio-visual elements, enabling you to experience it in real time. You have to move in batches of 15-20 people through different floors. The entire tour lasts for 1 hr. You can find a souvenir shop, a Khadi shop and a couple of eateries in front of the entrance.
3. The Adalaj Stepwell
Timings: 8 AM- 6 PM, Open all days of the week, Entry fee: 20/-
I was, at once, reminded of my visit to Agrasen ki Baoli of Delhi after visiting here. It’s a reservoir of historical importance. However, I found it to be ill-managed. The water was also dirty. Recently, I watched a move The Storyteller, which featured this well. Felt glad that I’ve been there. Click here to know more about the place. You can find a couple of eateries, fruit, and coconut water shops at the entrance to its gate.
4. Adalaj Trimandir
Timings: 7 AM- 10 PM
A quiet and heavenly place where you can rest, meditate, and contemplate for some time before moving to your next destination. The architecture, as you can see in the picture, appears divine. As the name symbolises, the temple is a centre for the three multi-faith concepts and is dedicated to Krishna, Shiva and Mahavir. There is a small auditorium which showcases the history of the temple with a video of 15 minutes. The temple has a bookshop, a restaurant, and an outlet serving snacks. There is also a children’s section at the entrance. The temple organises bhandara for the people who are in need. There is also a memorial in front of the temple. Click here to know more about it.
You can cover these places till dawn. The remaining places should be covered after the evening for an alluring view.
5. Kankaria Lake/River Front
Timings: 9 AM- 10 PM, Monday Closed
It’s a big oval-shaped lake (also visibile at google maps) at the heart of Ahmedabad city. There is a temple in its complex. People generally sit on the edges or take a walk around it. However, it’s a centre for various activities such as Snow Park (₹450), Flying Theatre (₹200), Boating (₹60-₹160), Mirror Maze (₹80), Dinosaur Park (₹100), and much more. A carnival is also organised around this place. Click here to make the most of it.
6. Atal Bridge/Sabarmati River Front
Timings: 9 AM- 9 PM, Open all days of the week, Entry fee: 50/- (additional for parks and shows)
It’s a bridge across the river Sabarmati, where only pedestrians are allowed, but no vehicles. What makes the bridge unique is its shape and lighting, which changes after some time. On either end of the bridge, a pathway is constructed for people to walk and enjoy the scenic view of Ahmedabad. A couple of eateries are there at the centre of the bridge. Click here for various activities around this place.
7. Gordhan Thal
Timings: Lunch (11 AM-2:45 PM) and Dinner (7 AM-10:30 PM); Gujarati Thali @425/-
Gujarat jake Gujarati thali nhi khaye to kya Gujarat gye! Do this taste thali at this place that not only collects Gujarati dishes but also the dishes from other regions as well. You can ask for unlimited refillings but the only condition is that you can’t share the thali with your friends. You have to purchase a thali equivalent to the number of people. Believe me, it was really yummy. Half of your stomach gets full only after seeing these many items.
A day trip to Ahmedabad ends here. You can go shopping at the places mentioned in the beginning if you have free time. The list of places doesn’t end here. There are many more places to explore. For that, you have to extend the trip.
Day 2: Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar has fewer places to explore than Ahmedabad. If you missed some of the places on day 1, you can explore them in the morning and travel to Gandhinagar till afternoon. It’s 20 km away and connected by cab, metro and bus.
1. Indroda Nature Park
Timings: 8 AM- 6 PM, Monday closed, Entry fee: 30/- (adults)
The workshop would begin at 9 AM and end at 5:30 PM, which is the closing time for the park. Due to this reason, I couldn’t visit even when I stayed for 5 days in Gandhinagar. The park offers a botanical garden and a zoo, amidst nature. Click here to know more about it.
2. Sarita Udyan
Timings: 9 AM- 7 PM, Open all days of the week
Due to the above reason, I couldn’t visit Sarita Udyan, either. You can click here for details about this place.
3. Akshardham
Timings: 10 AM and closes after the Light and Sound Show (Starts at 8 PM, Entry fee: 100/-)
This was my second visit to any Akshardham temple after Delhi’s. Gandhinagar’s one is less crowded and a quiet place. You have to deposit your cell phones before entering the temple premises. The show, which runs for 30-35 minutes, is a must-watch. It’s different from Delhi and uses several techniques to create an immersive experience. The tickets are available inside the temple. A souvenir shop is also there. Local stalls are there serving snacks.
4. Gift City
Most of the outlets are open till 11 PM.
Gift City is like the cyber hub of Delhi. There are several tall, glass buildings occupied by corporate and government institutions. Amidst them, a complex with different cafe outlets is there. Visit this place for the ambience and the dinner. I must say, I had a great time at this place.
Day 2 at Gandhinagar ends here. If you want to travel further, you can visit the Statue of Unity (SOU). I kept a day for SOU after my workshop, and guess what- my trip would have been incomplete, had I not visited there. Here is a detailed guide to this place. After my trip to Gujarat, I must say that tourism is well-managed here. There is a website for almost every major place. The accessibility and amenities are also good. The other states can take it as a model to develop tourism in their state.
©Shashank
P.S. With this post, I wrap up my 2025 travel diaries. I am hoping for another set of exciting places in the coming year. I would like to thank Harsh, Tulsi and Jagriti for making the trip to Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad memorable. Jags need a special mention for collecting info about shopping, clicking and sharing pictures selflessly. I also extend my thanks to Ishika, my eyes and ears to these places.
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