The largest city in Gujarat, Ahmedabad (also called Amdavad) mixes old and new on the banks of the Sabarmati river. The 15th-century old city—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is a maze of bazaars, heritage architecture, and traditional homes called pols, best explored on foot. Farther afield, travelers flock to the modern riverfront, to the much older Adalaj Stepwell, and to pay respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram, where the “father of modern India” lived. Come January, the international kite festival is one of the best things to do in Ahmedabad.
Those with an interest in Mahatma Gandhi won't want to miss a stop at his former ashram-turned-museum, where the Father of Modern India lived with his family for many years. The ashram is full of paintings, photos, and documents related to the Mahatma and houses a large library for those interested in deepening their research.
Located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, the five-story-deep Adalaj Stepwell is considered a masterpiece of West Indian temple architecture and engineering. Like other stepwells found across the subcontinent, it was constructed as a means to collect and harvest monsoon rainwater for residents to use during dry times of the year.
Snow is a rare sight in India (outside the Himalayas), but Maniar’s Wonderland Snow Park in Ahmedabad provides a wintery experience the whole year round. Kids and adults will enjoy playing in the park, riding the roller coasters and zip lines, and even having snowball fights—a particularly enticing option when it’s hot outside.
