If you’re looking for a curated list of the best historical places in Ahmedabad, you’ve come to the right place.
With ancient stepwells, 600 year old forts, countless old mosques & temples, Gandhi’s Ashram – Ahmedabad has a lot to offer for those interested in India’s history & culture.
So it’s a shame then that this city is often missed by those travelling the subcontinent, or is simply passed through on the way to more popular nearby destinations like Udaipur, Jodhpur or Mumbai.
On the surface, it’s understandable. Ahmedabad doesn’t have the same charm or fame as these other places. But if you are willing to stay for a couple of days you’ll find that Gujarat’s largest city has a rich history, with many historical sites where you can experience it.
In this article I give you a quick rundown on this city’s long history and a list of the best 10 historical places in Ahmedabad so you can see for yourself.
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A Brief History of Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad has had a storied history and has seen multiple great empires come and go. Its location has put it in the crosshairs of many great events in India’s history and there is way too much to cover in this article. So here’s a very brief rundown to help you grasp the significance of the historical sites you’ll see on this list.
The region was inhabited relatively late (by Indian standards) due to its arid climate, with people first moving to the area in the 11th century, when it was under the rule of the Chaulukya Dynasty.
The city itself was formally founded in 1411 by Ahmed Shah, who humbly named it after himself. Ahmed, whose name you’ll hear a lot as you visit historical sites around Ahmedabad, developed the city’s foundations, building the Bhadra fort and the walled city. His descendants ruled over the region for the next 150 years.
The next phase in its history began when it was conquered (then lost & reconquered) by the emerging Mughal Empire. Under their rule the city entered a golden age of economic prosperity and became known for producing textiles found as far away as Europe.
This golden age came to an abrupt end when the city was, after years of back & forth, surrendered to the Maratha Empire (the arch rivals of the Mughals) in 1758.
The next 60 years was a dark time for Ahmedabad, full of endless conflict. It was caught up in a civil war, and was conquered twice by the British during a time when the continent was slowly being swallowed up by the British East Empire Company.
From 1818 the city saw stability again as it formally came under British rule. The British continued developing the city’s economy and dubbed it the ‘Manchester of the East’ for its textile industry.
In the early 20th Century the city found itself at the forefront of the independence movement as Mahatma Gandhi took up residence here upon his return to India. It was from Ahmedabad that Ghandi led his movement against British rule and began his famous ‘Salt March’.
Today Ahmedabad is a rapidly-growing metropolis of 8 million people, an important economic centre in North-west India, and was ranked 3rd in Forbes list of fastest growing cities of the 2000s. But underneath all this modernity (or rather urban chaos), the city’s interesting history can still be seen through its many historical sites.
Now that you know a bit about how this city came to be, let’s dive in to the best historical places in Ahmedabad.
The 10 Best Historical Sites in Ahmedabad
1 | The Stepwells
Without a doubt the highlight of Ahmedabad, whether you’re a history buff or not, are the stepwells.
The city is situated in a dry, arid part of the subcontinent and for a thousand years these stepwells were the local’s answer to water scarcity.
They would dig large holes into the ground, as much as 5 stories deep, in search of groundwater to keep them going when the river dried up each year.
They would then line the walls with stone and from it build the most remarkable examples of stone-masonry & architecture within it. They believed that water was holy and that it deserved a holy place.
There are many stepwells around the city but the most popular 2 are Adalaj Vav and Dada Harir Vav. Not only are they among the best historical places in Ahmedabad, they some of the best in all of India.
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2 | Jhulta Minara (Sidi Bashir Mosque)
Commonly known as the Shaking Minarets (minaret is the term for the tower on a mosque used to call worshippers to prayer), this structure is all that remains of the old Sidi Bashir Mosque.
The mosque was a prominent place of worship built somewhere around the late 15th century, although the exact date is disputed.
The mosque was destroyed in 1753 when the Marathas conquered the city from the Mughals, a conflict which devastated the city.
What makes these minarets famous however is a very unusual quality they possess, one that has baffled architects & engineers for hundreds of years.
Supposedly (there are no demonstrations these days so you’ll have to take their word for it) when one of the minarets vibrates, so does the other a few seconds later despite the connecting structure between them being free of vibration.
No one is quite sure why this happens, which has given the structure an aura of mystery.
Today a new mosque has been built around the remaining structure but the mysterious minarets are still among the most popular historical places in Ahmedabad.
Location | Downtown Ahmedabad, near Kalupar Railway Station. Buses run through the city but your easiest option is just to grab a rickshaw or book an uber from wherever you’re located. Opening Hours | 5:30 to 9pm, 7 days. Entry Fee | Free *Mosque etiquette applies, wear covered clothing and remove your shoes before entry. |
3 | Bhadra Fort
The walled city of Ahmedabad is arguably the most significant legacy left behind by the city’s founder, Ahmed Shah. It was built in 1411 and for a long time was the main entrance to the city.
The wall forms a ring around the city centre and you’ll likely pass it a lot while exploring downtown, but the best place to see the old structure is without a doubt Bhadra Fort, which makes up the western gate.
The structure is the best maintained section of the wall and some parts of it are still in use today as government offices. You can enter the old fort and climb the stairs to the top for a great view of the old town.
There are a lot of old gates and walls scattered around the downtown area, but given the preserved state of Bhadra Fort it’s certainly among the best historical places in Ahmedabad.
Location | Downtown Ahmedabad, western gate of the walled city. Opening Hours | 9am to 5pm Fees | Free |
4 | Teen Darwaza
On the opposite side of the walled city to Bhadra Fort is Teen Darwaza, the eastern gate.
Like Bhadra Fort, this gateway was commissioned as part of the walled city by Ahmed Shah over 600 years old and once played an important role in the city as it served as the entrance to the royal square where all kinds of ceremonies & events were held.
These days it’s a little different. The structure has truly been swallowed up by the city and now its 3 archways see little more than traffic & congestions flow underneath it.
Nonetheless it’s still an interesting piece of middle ages history that’s hard to miss in downtown Ahmedabad. Don’t expect much to explore like with Bhadra Fort, but rather make Teen Darwaza a quick stop over as you explore downtown.
Location | Eastern gate of the walled city, on Gandhi Road. Opening Hours | 24hrs, 7 days. Fees | Free |
5 | Jama Masjid
The Jama Masjid (meaning Friday Mosque) is another beautiful historical site located in downtown Ahmedabad, within the walled city itself.
The mosque is quite stunning, made up of a large courtyard with a pool in the centre for cleansing, next to a massive prayer hall.
It was built during the reign of the aforementioned Ahmed Shah in 1423. It’s assumed that at the time it was the largest mosque on the whole of the subcontinent, and still today it’s one of the largest in India.
It’s an impressive structure, especially given that it’s 600 years old, and undoubtedly one of the best historical places in Ahmedabad.
Location | Downtown Ahmedabad, on Mahatma Gandhi road. Opening Hours | 6am to 8pm, 7 days. Fees | Free *Mosque etiquette applies. Wear covered clothing and remove your shoes before entering. |
6 | Ahmed Shah’s Mosque
Similar to the Jama Masjid, there’s another mosque within the walled city that you’ll want to check out on your trip to Ahmedabad.
Shahi Jam-e-Masjif was built in 1414, making it the oldest mosque in the city. It’s more commonly just called Ahmed Shah’s mosque since it was used by the ruler and his family as their own private place of worship.
And just because it was for their own personal use doesn’t mean they held back. The mosque is almost equally as impressive as Jami Masjid from the outside and arguably even more impressive from the inside, with its mesmerising prayer hall and its stone pillars.
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Location | Downtown Ahmedabad, within the walled city. Opening Hours | 7am to 6pm, 7 days. Fees | Free |
7 | Hathisingh Jain Temple
Hutheesing Temple is a building you can’t stop staring at. Its architecture is mesmerising even compared to the other fantastic examples on this list. It’ll instantly catch your eye when you see it.
Jainism, if you’re not familiar with it, it’s a very, very old religion in India (almost 3000 years old) that shares a lot of similarities with the other Dharmic religions (Sikhism, Buddhism & Hinduism).
Their temples are relatively rare (since it’s a small religion by Indian standards), but are known for their unique style of architecture, which makes this site a must-visit.
The temple was constructed relatively recently compared to most entries on this list. It was built in 1848 by a rich merchant who practised Jainism. He paid for the temple from his own pocket and his family (the Hutheesing family) still owns the temple to this day.
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Location | Downtown Ahmedabad, just outside the Delhi Gate of the walled city. Opening Hours | 8am to 5pm Fees | Free |
8 | Sabarmati Ashram
In 1915 Mahatma Gandhi returned to India after years of living & working as a lawyer in South Africa. He came back to his home state of Gujarat with a very clear purpose: the peaceful withdrawal of the British from India.
He set up residence in this very ashram, from which he and his followers practised their beliefs and began their non-violent resistance against their occupiers.
It was from here that he and 78 followers began their famous Dandi Salt March, in which they marched 241 miles in protest of British salt taxes and subsequently inspired hundreds of thousands of other protesters and caused the ashram to be seized.
Because of its significance, the Indian government has given the ashram the status of a national monument, and is now one of the most popular historical places in Ahmedabad.
You can visit the ashram for free any day of the week to explore its buildings & gardens, view the displays & artefacts from Gandhi’s life, and learn of a very significant period of India’s modern history.
Sabarmati Ashram may not have the grand scale and architecture that other spots on this list have, but it’s religious significance earns it a spot as one of the best historical places in Ahmedabad.
While they run tours and a small museum, this is still an operating ashram, which is considered a place of worship & meditation, so a certain etiquette is expected. Dress appropriately & speak softly.
Location | Downtown Ahmedabad, Ashram road. Opening Hours | 10am to 6pm, 7 days. Fees | Free |
9 | Siddi Saiyed Mosque
If you’re in need of an escape from the city chaos and interested in seeing another centuries-old mosque, then visit Sidi Saiyed and kill two birds with one stone.
This mosque was built in 1573 in the same year that Ahmed Shah’s dynasty was ended by the Mughals, who conquered the city on their path to dominating the entire subcontinent.
Its architecture may be similar to other middle-age structures in the city but it was actually built by the Sidi community, who make up the African diaspora in Ahmedabad and who played a major role in the city’s political & military affairs as far back as Ahmed Shah’s reign.
Much smaller than the other mosques on this list, Sidi Saiyed has a certain tranquillity to it despite being surrounded by urban chaos.
Its courtyard is a great place to relax for a bit and to see its famous stone-carved windows which depict the ‘tree of life’ in remarkable detail.
Location | Downtown Ahmedabad, Badhra road. Opening Hours | 7am to 6pm, 7 days. Fees | Free |
10 | Sarkhej Roza
Roza is an old Persian term for tomb, and Sarkhej Roza is considered the most significant of all in Gujarat, housing the remains of several important figures from Ahmedabad’s first dynasty.
The oldest parts of the complex were built around 1450 to serve as the final resting place of influential Sufi saint, Shaikh Ahmed Ganj Baksh, who was known as the person who convinced Ahmed Shah to found the city of Ahmedabad.
A generation later Mahmud Begada, the grandson of Ahmed Shah and one of the dynasty’s most important rulers, expanded the complex and built a mausoleum for himself. His son, the next Sultan of Gujarat was also buried here.
Today it’s considered a sacred site but despite essentially being a graveyard & a mosque, it’s used somewhat like a public park, with families picnicking by the lake. It’s a beautiful historical site to visit and a great excuse to get out of the city.
Location | Sarkhej Roza is located on the south-western outskirts of Ahmedabad. While there are buses, it’s easiest to just grab a taxi or book an uber. Opening Hours | 9am to 6pm Fees | Free |
