Why is Ahmedabad called Amdavad?
Ahmedabad is named after Sultan Ahmed Shah of the Gujarat Sultanate, who founded the city on the east bank of the Sabarmati in 1411. Amdavad is simply how Gujarati speakers say it — the everyday, affectionate name you will hear on every street, and the one we use in Aapnu Amdavad (“our Amdavad”).
Before Ahmed Shah, the area was home to the town of Ashaval and later Karnavati, associated with the Chaulukya (Solanki) king Karna in the 11th century — which is why Karnavati is still used as a historic name for the city.
A short history of Ahmedabad
The walled city grew around Bhadra Fort and Teen Darwaza into a great trading centre famous for textiles, gold and its pols — gated neighbourhoods of carved wooden homes. Under the Mughals it was one of the richest cities in India.
From the late 1800s its cotton mills earned it the title “Manchester of the East”. In 1917 Mahatma Gandhi set up the Sabarmati Ashram here, and in 1930 he began the Dandi Salt March from its gates. Ahmedabad was Gujarat’s first capital after the state was formed in 1960, before the capital moved to neighbouring Gandhinagar.
In July 2017 the historic walled city became India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City. Today Ahmedabad is Gujarat’s largest city and one of India’s fastest-growing metros.
Ahmedabad’s neighbourhoods at a glance
Old City (east of the river): the walled city — Manek Chowk, Bhadra, Kalupur, Relief Road and the pols. Best for heritage, street food and markets.
West Ahmedabad: Ellisbridge, Navrangpura, CG Road, Vastrapur, Bodakdev, Satellite, Prahlad Nagar, Thaltej and the SG Highway — malls, cafés, colleges and offices.
East & North: Maninagar and Kankaria Lake, Nikol, Naroda, Chandkheda and Motera, home to the Narendra Modi Stadium — the largest cricket stadium in the world.
Gandhinagar & GIFT City: the state capital and India’s international finance hub sit just north, forming a twin-city region with Ahmedabad.
Top things to do in Ahmedabad
Walk the heritage pols and monuments — Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Jama Masjid, Bhadra Fort and the Adalaj Stepwell. Visit Sabarmati Ashram, stroll the Sabarmati Riverfront and Atal Bridge at sunset, spend an evening at Kankaria Lake and a day at Science City. See our full list of things to do in Ahmedabad, or book a guided Amdavad Darshan city tour.
What to eat in Amdavad
Amdavad is a vegetarian food paradise: the Gujarati thali, dhokla, khaman, fafda-jalebi, khandvi, handvo and dabeli, plus late-night pav bhaji and sandwiches at Manek Chowk. Start with our Ahmedabad food guide and late-night food & nightlife picks.
Festivals of Ahmedabad
Uttarayan (14 January) fills the sky with kites; Navratri brings nine nights of garba in September/October; the Rath Yatra leaves the Jagannath Temple in June/July; and the Kankaria Carnival runs from 25 to 31 December. Ahmedabad is also the host city of the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
See what’s on right now in events in Ahmedabad.
Getting to and around Ahmedabad
By air: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, about 9 km from the city centre. By rail: Ahmedabad Junction (Kalupur) and Sabarmati, with the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail line under construction. In the city: the Ahmedabad Metro, BRTS Janmarg, AMTS buses, metered autos and app cabs — see Getting Around Ahmedabad.
Business, education & weather
Ahmedabad is a major centre for textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, diamonds and start-ups, and home to institutions such as IIM Ahmedabad, NID, CEPT University and ISRO’s Space Applications Centre. Follow local business on our Ahmedabad business hub and the latest Ahmedabad news.
The climate is hot and semi-arid: summers (April–June) regularly cross 40°C, the monsoon arrives from July to September, and winters (November–February) are mild and pleasant — the best season to explore.