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History of Ahmedabad

The history of Ahmedabad begins in the eleventh century with the Solanki King Karandev I, ruler of Anhilwara (modern Patan). He waged a war against the Bhil King Ashapall or Ashaval, and after his victory established a city called Karnavati on the banks of the Sabarmati at site of modern Ahmedabad. Solanki rule lasted until the thirteenth century, when Gujarat came under the control of the Vaghela dynasty of Dwarka . Gujarat was conquered by the Sultanate of Delhi at the end of the thirteenth century. At the beginning of the fifteenth century an independent sultanate ruled by the Muslim Muzaffarid dynasty was established in Gujarat, and in 1411 Sultan Ahmed Shah renamed Karnavati Ahmedabad and established it as his capital. Ahmedabad was the capital of the sultanate for 162 years ( 1411 - 1573 ).

Ahmedabad is a one of the fastest devloping cities in India with large roads and notable architecture. This city was originally built on the banks of the river Sabarmati, but it has expanded since. In 1487 Mahmud Begada , the grandson of Ahmed Shah, enclosed the city with a fort of six miles in circumference and consisting of 12 gates , 189 bastions and over 6,000 battlements to protect it from outside invaders.

Conditions in the city were chaotic by the time of the last Sultan, Muzaffar III, and Gujarat was conquered by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1573 . During the Mughal reign, Ahmedabad became one of the empire's thriving centres of trade, especially in textiles, which were exported as far as Europe. A famine in 1630 devastated the city. In 1753 , the armies of the Maratha generals Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad captured the city and ended Mughal rule in Ahmedabad.

The famine of 1630 and the rule of the Peshwa and the Gaekwad virtually destroyed the city. The British East India Company took over the city in 1818 . A military cantonment was established in 1824 , a municipal government in 1858 , and a railway link between Ahmedabad and Bombay ( Mumbai ) in 1864 . Ahmedabad grew rapidly, becoming an important center of trade and textile manufacturing.

In 1915 , Mahatma Gandhi came from South Africa and established an ashram on the banks of Sabarmati. He started the salt satyagraha in 1930. He and many followers marched from his ashram to the coastal village of Dandi, Gujarat , to protest against the British imposing a tax on salt. Before he left the ashram, he vowed not to return to the ashram until India became independent.

Ahmedabad   Airport

The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at  Ahmedabad is  well connected by air with the rest of the country by the major scheduled airline operators. Flights operate between Ahmedabad and the metropolitan and other major cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa and Jaipur.

Air India, Indian Airlines, Alliance Air, Jet Airways and Sahara Air provide scheduled air services to Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad has direct international connections to the middle-east towns of Sharjah, Kuwait and Muscat and also Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. It is also connected to Europe and USA through an aircraft change at Delhi or Mumbai.

Shopping at Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is a shopper’s paradise especially if you like fabric such as exclusive saris, bedspreads, bandanas and other handicrafts, such as the city’s famous Zari embriodery. After all, the city is known as the Textile hub of India and shopping for cloth here certainly makes sense. The Khadi Gramudyog Emporiums, Hastkala, Kapasi Handicrafts Emporium, Saurashtra Emporium and Bandhej are some of the places where one can look for the cotton wear, handicrafts and other items to take back home.

Antiques The POIs as well Teen Darwaja in the old city are great places for antique shopping if you have the time and inclination for bargaining and don’t mind the heat and dust of the crowded old city.

Arts and Crafts are available throughout the city. Bargaining is a must, as everywhere in the country.

Handicrafts Gurjari State Crafts Emporium is where one can look for some of the best products from not only Ahmedabad but also from Gujarat. Take your time here as all sorts of treasures await your discovery.

Handmade Paper can be bought from Sabarmati Ashram and you will be amazed by the selection available. It’s well worth visiting.

Hand Printed Fabrics The SEWA or the self employed women's association offers hand printed fabrics and other textiles.

Jewellery Ahmedabad is also a good place to look for traditional jewellery.

Textiles The Law Garden area is the best place where one can shop for colourful bed-spreads, cushion covers table cloths, etc. One also gets colourful Ghagara-Cholis designed in Rabari style with mirror work. Bandhani Duppatas and lovely dress materials are available here too.

Transportation at Ahmedabad City

Railway Station Information at Ahmedabad

1)Ahmedabad Railway Station is the primary terminus which provides access to different parts of Gujarat as well as the country. It is the major station in the city for trains from different parts of the country halt here. In order to reach some of the getaway destinations from Ahmedabad, you can board trains from here. The railway enquiry Phonenumbers have been listed below:

Railway General Enquiry - 131
Railway Reservation Enquiry - 132
Railway Arrival and Departure - 133

The reservation and enquiry office is open from Monday to Saturday between 8 A.M. and 8 P.M. On Sundays, the office works from 8 A.M. to 2 P.M.

Bus Transportation

There are several bus stands spread across the city which will take you to different parts of the city. The major station at Ahmedabad is Idgah Station. You can take inter state transport buses from here. Gujarat State Transport Corporation maintains and runs buses in Ahmedabad. Private buses/coaches can also be hired.

For using these buses you must either know some Gujarati or ask local people to help you read numbers on the State Transport Buses as they are written in local language. Since buses are used by all, they remain overcrowded most of the times. Take care of your belongings while travelling.