Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad (??????? in Gujarati) or Ahmadābād is the largest city in Gujarat and the sixth largest city in India with a population of almost 5 million. The city is also sometimes called Karnavati, an older name and as Amdavad in colloquial Gujarati. Ahmedabad is the administrative center of Ahmedabad District, and was the former capital of Gujarat State from 1960 to 1970, when Gandhinagar replaced it.

Places of Interest

The places of interest in Ahmedabad include the Kankaria Lake, Law Garden, Jama Masjid, Sidi Saiyad's Mosque, Rani ni Vav, Adalaj Stepwell, Sidi Bashirs mosque(Shaking minarets), Bhadra Fort and Teen Darwaja, Sabarmati Ashram, Shahi Bag, Hussain-Doshi's Gufa, and the IMAX theater.

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Kankaria is an artificial lake, developed by Qutub-Ud-Din in 1451. It also has an aquarium and zoo. In the middle of the lake is an island palace, built during the Mughal period. It is now a local picnic spot. A new lake has also been opened recently in Vastrapur area, and it is expected to get lots of visitors.

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Gandhiji's Sabarmati Ashram is situated on banks of river Sabarmati River.

Related Topics:
Sabarmati Ashram - Sabarmati River

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Law Garden is a local recreational spot for the people of Ahmedabad. It is common to see the more fitness-conscious residents jogging or walking here in the mornings and evenings. Also, in the evening you will find a market for traditional Gujarati dresses worn during various festivals, especially Navratri.

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The famous Indian Institute of Management is located here. This institute has been rated as the best in Asia by Asiaweek in 2002 and one of the best in the world. Another famous institute, National Institute of Design is India's best design-education institute. Moreover, Ahmedabad hosts Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology - a reputed urban and regional planning, architecture and engineering education institute, Gujarat University, Nirma University, Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT), Gandhi Labour Institute, SPIPA, MICA, etc. Apart from the great educational institutions, centers of national importance such as the Indian Space Research Organization, Physical Research Laboratory, Nehru Foundation - CEE, etc also have their establishments in the city.

Related Topics:
Indian Institute of Management - Asia - Asiaweek - National Institute of Design - Urban and regional planning - Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology - DA-IICT - Indian Space Research Organization - Physical Research Laboratory

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The ISKCON temple on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway draws many visitors. It is a newly built huge structure with gardens around it. Krishna devotees perform puja at designated hours and the Maha Aarti in the evening is attended by thousands of devotees as well as visitors.

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The city has many multiplex theatres and is sometimes referred to as the "multiplex capital" of India. The C.G. Road is commercially important and especially popular with the youth. The Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway has also become a popular destination these days with new shops, restaurants, clubs and multiplexes being developed there. Several multinational fast-food chains have opened outlets in Ahmedabad in the last few years and have been generally popular amongst the people.

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The Darpana Academy of Performing Arts is a must see for all art lovers or people interested in dance, music, theatre, and new media.

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