Ahmedabad District, situated in central
Gujarat, was formerly known as the Manchester of India for its textile industry. It covers an area of 8,707 sq km, and its headquarters is
Ahmedabad city. The region is well known for its old architecture.
Sultan Ahmed Shah, the early ruler of medieval Gujarat, founded Ahmedabad in 1411. It was in the year 1572 that Emperor
Akbar captured Ahmedabad and merged it with the
Mughal Empire. During the Mughal period Ahmedabad grew in prominence as a trading center till the death of
Aurangzeb in 1707. The British seized Ahmedabad in 1818 and set up a number of textile mills.
The major crops include rice, bajra, wheat, jowar and tobacco. Ahmedabad is famous for sacred places to various religions. One of the major attractions is the Sabarmati Ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi on the banks of the Sabarmati river.
Jama Masjid of Ahmedabad is one of the biggest mosques in India.
Kankariya lake, Dada Hari Vav, Hatheesingh Jain Temple, Dandi bridge, Bhadra Fort, Camp Hanuman temple, Shreyas folk art museum, and the room in Sabarmati Jail where Gandhiji was imprisoned are some of the attractions. The famous Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary attracts myriads of migratory birds.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, which is 8 km north of Ahmedabad city, has both national and international flights. Ahmedabad is well connected by trains to
Delhi, Mumbai, Vadodra and Udaipur. The ideal season to visit Ahmedabad is winter.
