Visit Ahmedabad: India’s First Heritage City (2024)
Ahmedabad World Heritage City is the name given by UNESCO to the old city of Ahmedabad, which is of historical and cultural importance to India. The Ahmedabad World Heritage City is more than 600 years old. With this, Ahmedabad has become India’s first Heritage City.
The Ahmedabad World Heritage City Experience
Ahmedabad is a hub for tourists and businesses. It is famous for its handicrafts, unique fabric, and apparel design, so on and so forth. A walk through Ahmedabad city, the roads, and a visit to the different locations is an experience that will take you the most of the morning and afternoon.
Ahmedabad has several forts and other places of historical importance, like the Bhadra fort. While the city dates back to about the eighth century, the Bhadra fort dates back to the 11th century. Another structure of historical importance in the old city of Ahmedabad is the Manek Chowk, which also dates to the 11th century. You also have the Jama Masjid, which also dates back to the 14th century. 
But what’s possibly the most famous historical structure in Ahmedabad are the 12 gates of Ahmedabad. Experts concede that there might have been around 21 gates. However, today, eight of the gates of Ahmedabad are in Bhadra fort. The British built a couple of gates, the Premabhai, the Kalupur, and the Panchkuva.
Another destination of cultural and historical importance is the cluster of structures, the Pols, the cluster of houses that date back to about the 17th century. These houses have architecture and building styles that are more than 500 years old, and it makes for a mesmerizing experience for anyone interested in history and ancient architecture. A visit to the Pols is an experience because you see the carvings, the sculptures, and the architecture of an age gone that perseveres with modern living amenities, like shutters, ceiling fans, etc. The total number of structures in Ahmedabad Heritage City is twenty. Each of them is an architectural marvel, like the Jhulta Minars, two towers that both shake if one of them is shaken. While the demonstration of the shaking doesn’t happen any longer, you can still enjoy the intricate carvings and designs on the minars.
Other places of interest are the Huteesing Jain temple, the Dada Harir Vav, and of course, the Siddi Saiyed Masjid that has the iconic intricate work of the tree of life on the jaalis of the window.
The Ahmedabad city also has the tomb of the King who founded the city of Ahmedabad, King Ahmed Shah, that’s known as the Badshah no Hajiro.
While exploring the old City of Ahmedabad on your own is a formidable task and an inherently entertaining one, you can also take part in the heritage walks that the various organizations set up all the time. Taking part in these heritage walks ensures that you visit all the places that you must, to understand the grandeur that’s the old City of Ahmedabad.
Where To Stay At The Ahmedabad World Heritage City
The Old City of Ahmedabad has several hotels that offer you food and beverages. You can plan out your entire day and decide where to have your lunch and dinner. One good idea is to set up an itinerary for the whole morning and afternoon and towards the evening, including the places where you will stop for lunch and dinner.
While traveling through the Ahmedabad World Heritage is a one-of-a-kind experience, you should prepare for the harsh Gujarat weather. Pack your hats and sunglasses if you plan to take one of the heritages walks through the city of Ahmedabad.
Moving through the entire city of Ahmedabad will take at least the whole of the morning and the afternoon. If you are looking for accommodation in Ahmedabad, several hotels cater to all budgets. Ahmedabad is a busy tourist and business location. You will find hotels at dirt-cheap prices as well. Some of the hotels here are the Hotel Uttam Nivas, which is about half a kilometer away from the Ahmedabad Station, the Rajshree Hotel, again at half a kilometer away from the railway station. Ahmedabad cities, like Mumbai, Pune, and Bangalore, have warmed up to the dormitory system as well. If you are on a budget, make sure to check these out, which offer accommodation for a day for as less than 100 rupees.
How to Reach Ahmedabad World Heritage City?
Because Ahmedabad is such a popular destination for tourists as well as businesses, you will see that it is very accessible from all the major destinations in India. Ahmedabad has an airport, and you have consistent flights from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and other such places. Ahmedabad Railway Station is a busy port as well, and you will find many train routes passing through. Ahmedabad has excellent connectivity via roadways as well. You can board a private bus from places like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore towards Ahmedabad, and there are state buses that ply on this route.
