With ancient stepwells, 600 year old forts, Gandhi’s Ashram, and more – 📍Ahmedabad has a lot to offer for those interested in India’s history & culture.
So it’s a shame then that this city is often missed by those travelling the subcontinent, often being looked over in favour of more popular nearby destinations like Udaipur, Jodhpur or Mumbai.
On the surface, it’s understandable. Ahmedabad doesn’t have the same charm or fame as these other places. But if you are willing to stay for a couple of days you’ll find that Gujarat’s largest city has a rich history, which is alive and well through its many historical sites.
I visited this ancient city and spent days exploring all of its top historical sites, both the famous and the lesser known. And now I’ve put them all together into this detailed list of the 10 best historical places in Ahmedabad.
THE BEST HISTORICAL AHMEDABAD TOURS
⭐️ Best Overall: Private Temples and Religion Tour with Stepwell
⭐️ Best Walking Tour (cheapest): Ahmedabad Heritage Walking Tour
⭐️ Best Day Trip: Sun Temple of Modhera & Queen’s Stepwell Day Trip
Contents
Ahmedabad Historical Sites Map
Why visit Ahmedabad?
I think it’s fair to say that Ahmedabad is off the typical tourist route.
Despite being a UNESCO World Heritage city, and not far from other major tourist hotspots, you rarely see it included on people’s India travel itineraries.
If you were to Google the ‘top destinations in India’ or ‘India travel itinerary’, you’d be hard pressed to find Ahmedabad included in those results.
And that’s unusual, because there are so many amazing destinations across India. But if you’re a history buff, Ahmedabad somewhat of a hidden gem. The phrase ‘steeped in history’ has never been more applicable than when describing Ahmedabad.
The city was founded in the 15th century by a Ahmed Shah – a name you’ll hear a lot when visiting its historical sites. He commissioned some of its earliest historical sites like Bhadra Fort and the city walls.
Battling the extreme desert heat, the locals became experts at constructing stepwells, leading Ahmedabad to have some of the most spectacular stepwells on the subcontinent.
The city thrived under Mughal rule, becoming an economic centre specialising in textiles, which were sold as far away as Europe. It would continue to thrive under British rule from the early 19th century. The British dubbed it the ‘Manchester of the east’ for its textile industry.
In the early 20th Century the city found itself at the forefront of the independence movement as Mahatma Gandhi took up residence here upon his return to India. It was from Ahmedabad that Gandhi led his movement against British rule and began his famous ‘Salt March’.
All-in-all, the city has had a storied past, and all this heritage is alive and well through its many historical sites, making it one of the best destinations in India for those interested in history.
The 10 Best Historical Places in Ahmedabad
1 . The Stepwells
Without a doubt the best historical places in Ahmedabad are its iconic stepwells.
The city is situated in a dry, arid part of the subcontinent and for a thousand years these stepwells were the local’s answer to water scarcity.
They would dig large holes into the ground, as much as 5 stories deep, in search of groundwater to keep them going when the river dried up each year.
They would then line the walls with stone and from it build the most remarkable examples of stone-masonry & architecture within it. They believed that water was holy and that it deserved a holy place.
There are many stepwells around the city but the most popular 2 are 📍Adalaj Vav and 📍Dada Harir Vav. Not only are they among the best historical places in Ahmedabad, they some of the best in all of India.
Read More >>> Complete Guide to the Stepwells in Ahmedabad
The best Ahmedabad tours that include stepwells:
⭐️ Includes Adalaj Stepwell: Private Temples and Religion Tour with Stepwell
⭐️ Includes Dada Harir Stepwell: Private tour of city for cultural immersion
⭐️ Includes Rani Ki and Modehra Stepwells: Private Temples and Religion Tour with Stepwell
2. Jhulta Minara
Commonly known as the 📍Shaking Minarets (minaret is the term for the tower on a mosque used to call worshippers to prayer), this structure is all that remains of the old Sidi Bashir Mosque.
The mosque was a prominent place of worship built somewhere around the late 15th century, although the exact date is disputed.
The mosque was destroyed in 1753 when the Marathas conquered the city from the Mughals, a conflict which devastated the city.
What makes these minarets famous however is a very unusual quality they possess, one that has supposedly baffled architects & engineers for hundreds of years.
Supposedly (there are no demonstrations these days so you’ll have to take their word for it) when one of the minarets vibrates, so does the other a few seconds later despite the connecting structure between them being free of vibration.
No one is quite sure why this happens, which has given the structure an aura of mystery.
Today a new mosque has been built around the remaining structure but the mysterious minarets are still among the most popular historical places in Ahmedabad.
Location
Jhulta Minara is located in downtown Ahmedabad, near Kalupar Railway Station. Buses run through the city but your easiest option is just to grab a rickshaw or book an uber from wherever you’re located.
Opening Hours
Jhulta Minara is open from 5:30 to 9pm, daily.
Entrance Fee
Jhulta Minara is an active mosque, so its free to enter. Donations are encouraged.
3. Bhadra Fort
The walls of Ahmedabad are arguably the most significant legacy left behind by the city’s founder, Ahmed Shah.
Built in the early 15th century, the wall forms a ring around the city centre and you’ll likely pass it a lot while exploring downtown, but the best place to see the old structure is at 📍Bhadra Fort – the western gate.
The structure is the best maintained section of the wall and some parts of the structure are still in use today as government offices. You can enter the old fort and climb the stairs to the top for a great view of the old town.
There are a lot of old gates and walls scattered around the downtown area, but given the preserved state of Bhadra Fort it’s certainly among the best historical places in Ahmedabad.
The best Ahmedabad tour that includes Bhadra Fort:
Location
Bhadra Fort is located in downtown Ahmedabad, forming the western gate of the walled old city.
Opening Hours
You can view the exterior of Bhadra Fort at any time, but the interior is generally open from 9am to 5pm daily.
Entrance Fee
Bhadra Fort is free for visitors with no entrance fee.
4. Teen Darwaza
On the opposite side of the walled city to Bhadra Fort is 📍Teen Darwaza, the eastern gate.
Like Bhadra Fort, this gateway was commissioned by Ahmed Shah over 600 years ago and once played an important role in the city. It served as the entrance to the city’s royal square, which today has been swallowed up by the urban chaos.
These days the grand city entrance sees little more than traffic and congestion, rather than royal ceremonies.
Nonetheless it’s still an interesting piece of middle ages history right in. themiddle of the city.
Consider it a quick stop as you explore the best historical places in Ahmedabad.
The best Ahmedabad tour that includes Teen Darwaza:
Location
Teen Darwaza is located in owntown Ahmedabad, forming the western gate of the walled old city.
Opening Hours
There are no opening hours for Teen Darwaza. It’s the remains of the old walls standing in the middle of downtown Ahmedabad, and can be viewed at any time.
Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee for Teen Darwaza.
5. Jama Masjid
The 📍Jama Masjid (meaning Friday Mosque) is another beautiful historical site located in downtown Ahmedabad, within the walled city.
The mosque is quite stunning, made up of a large courtyard with a pool in the centre for cleansing, next to a massive prayer hall.
It was built during the reign of the aforementioned Ahmed Shah in 1423. It’s assumed that at the time it was the largest mosque on the whole of the subcontinent, and still today it’s one of the largest in India.
It’s an impressive structure, especially given that it’s 600 years old, and undoubtedly one of the best historical places in Ahmedabad.
The best Ahmedabad tour that includes Jama Masjid:
Location
Jama Masjid is located in downtown Ahmedabad, on Mahatma Gandhi road.
Opening Hours
Jama Masjid welcomes visitors 6am to 8pm, daily.
Entrance Fee
Jama Masjid is an active mosque, so its free to enter. Donations are encouraged.
6. Ahmed Shah’s Mosque
Similar to the Jama Masjid, there’s another mosque within the walled city that you’ll want to check out on your trip to Ahmedabad.
📍Shahi Jam-e-Masjif was built in 1414, making it the oldest mosque in the city. It’s more commonly just called Ahmed Shah’s mosque since it was used by the ruler and his family as their own private place of worship.
And just because it was for their own personal use doesn’t mean they held back. The mosque is almost equally as impressive as Jami Masjid from the outside and arguably even more impressive from the inside, with its mesmerising prayer hall and its stone pillars.
Location
Ahmed Shah’s Mosque is located in downtown Ahmedabad, within the walled old city.
Opening Hours
Ahmed Shah’s Mosque welcomes visitors 7am to 6pm, daily.
Entrance Fee
Ahmed Shah’s Mosque is an active mosque, so its free to enter. Donations are encouraged.
7. Hutheesing Jain Temple
📍Hutheesing Temple is a building you can’t stop staring at.
Its architecture is mesmerising even compared to the other fantastic examples on this list. It’ll instantly catch your eye when you see it.
Jainism, if you’re not familiar with it, it’s a very, very old religion in India (almost 3000 years old) that shares a lot of similarities with the other Dharmic religions (like Sikhism, Buddhism & Hinduism).
Their temples are relatively rare (since it’s a small religion by Indian standards), but are known for their unique style of architecture, which makes temples like this a must-visit.
The temple was constructed relatively recently compared to most entries on this list. It was built in 1848 by a rich Jain merchant. He paid for the temple from his own pocket and his family (the Hutheesing family) still owns the temple to this day.
The best Ahmedabad tour that includes Hutheesing Jain Temple:
Location
Hutheesing Jain Temple is located in just outside the Delhi Gate of the walled old city.
Opening Hours
Hutheesing Jain Temple is open to visitors from 8am to 5pm daily.
Entrance Fee
Hutheesing Jain Temple is an active temple, so its free to enter. Donations are encouraged.
8. Sabarmati Ashram
In 1915 Mahatma Gandhi returned to India after years of living & working as a lawyer in South Africa. He came back to his home state of Gujarat with a very clear purpose: the peaceful withdrawal of the British from India.
He set up residence in this very ashram, from which he and his followers practised their beliefs and began their non-violent resistance against the British.
It was from here that Ghandi and 78 of his followers began their famous Salt March, in which they walked 241 miles in protest of British salt taxes. This movement inspired hundreds of thousands of other protesters and caused the ashram to be seized.
Because of its significance, the Indian government has given the ashram the status of a national monument, and is now one of the most popular historical places in Ahmedabad.
You can visit the ashram for free any day of the week to explore its buildings & gardens, view the displays & artefacts from Gandhi’s life, and learn of a very significant period of India’s modern history.
📍Sabarmati Ashram may not have the grand scale and architecture that other spots on this list have, but its historical significance earns it a spot as one of the best historical places in Ahmedabad.
While they run tours and a small museum, this is still an operating ashram, which is considered a place of worship & meditation, so a certain etiquette is expected. Dress appropriately & speak softly.
The best Ahmedabad tour that includes Sabarmati Ashram:
Location
Sabarmati Ashram is located in downtown Ahmedabad, on Ashram road.
Opening Hours
Sabarmati Ashram welcomes visitors from 10am to 6pm daily.
Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee for Sabarmati Ashram.
9. Siddi Saiyed Mosque
If you’re in need of an escape from the city chaos and interested in seeing another centuries-old mosque, then visit 📍Sidi Saiyed and kill two birds with one stone.
The architecutre of this mosque, which was built in 1573, may look the same as other middle-age mosques in the city, but it was actionally built by the Sidi community.
The Sidis are the African diaspora in Ahmedabad and have played a major role in the city’s political and military affairs since it was founded.
Much smaller than the other mosques on this list, Sidi Saiyed has a certain tranquillity to it despite being surrounded by urban chaos.
Its courtyard is a great place to relax for a bit and to see its famous stone-carved windows which depict the ‘tree of life’ in remarkable detail.
The best Ahmedabad tour that includes Siddi Saiyed Mosque:
Location
Siddi Saiyed Mosque is located in downtown Ahmedabad, on Bhadra road.
Opening Hours
Siddi Saiyed Mosque welcomes visitors from 7am to 6pm daily.
Entrance Fee
Siddi Saiyed Mosque is an active mosque, so there’s no entrance fee. Donations are encouraged.
10. Sarkhej Roza
📍Sarkhej Roza (Roza being a Persian term for tomb) is considered the most important tomb in of all in Gujarat, housing the remains of several important figures from Ahmedabad’s first dynasty.
The oldest parts of the complex were built around 1450 to serve as the final resting place of one of Ahmedabad’s founders.
Over the next few generations, several of Ahmedabad’s Shahs built there own tombs here, where they would later be buried.
Today it’s considered a sacred site but despite essentially being a graveyard & a mosque, it’s used somewhat like a public park, with families picnicking by the lake. It’s a beautiful historical site to visit and a great excuse to get out of the city.
Location
Sarkhej Roza is located on the south-western outskirts of Ahmedabad. While there are buses, it’s easiest to just grab a taxi or book an uber.
Opening Hours
Sarkhej Roza is open to visitors from 9am to 6pm daily.
Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee to Sarkhej Roza.
Best time to visit Ahmedabad
India’s north-west region is the hottest part of the country, so choosing the right time of year to visit can make all the difference.
There are generally considered to be 3 seasons in Gujarat:
- November to February – the ‘winter’ months, when the weather is pleasant and the daytime temperature sits comfortably around 20 to 30 degrees.
- March to June – the region’s extremely hot summer, when daytime temperatures consistently stay above 40 degrees.
- July to October – the monsoon season, when daytime temperatures are slightly cooler but random spouts of rainfall are more common.
Overall the best time to visit Ahmedabad is between November to February.
How to get to Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad is located in the Indian state of Gujarat, in the country’s north-west region, and is a little off the typical tourist route.
Many travellers visit the neighbouring state of Rajasthan, or travel the ‘Golden Triangle’ (Delhi, Jaipur and Agra), but rarely does Ahmedabad ever get included in those plans.
However there are ways to fit this city neatly into your India travel itinerary.
Personally I visited Ahmedabad on the way from Mumbai to Rajasthan. Spending a few days in Ahmedabad along the way was a great way to break up the long journey.
Alternatively, Ahmedabad makes for a great addition to a Rajasthan travel itinerary, being only 1 overnight train/bus ride from Udaipur.
There are 3 main ways of reaching Ahmedabad:
Reaching Ahmedabad via Train
Depending on where you’re coming from, a train might be the most convenient way of reaching the city, with Ahmedabad being connected to other nearby tourist hotspots like Mumbai and Udaipur.
The journey from other nearby places like this is at least 8 hours. Thankfully, you can book an overnight sleeper ticket. That way you can combine your accommodation with your transport and wake up in Ahmedabad.
The main railway station in Ahmedabad, where you’ll likely get on and off, is Ahmedabad Junction, which is located in the city centre. From here it’s likely only a short tuk tuk ride to your accommodation.
The best place to buy train tickets to Ahmedabad is on 12Go Asia.
Reaching Ahmedabad via Bus
Where a train isn’t an option, you can always get a bus.
While the journey might be a little more bumpy, buses are just as cheap and convenient as trains. And just like trains, you also have the option of booking an overnight sleeper ticket to save time.
When you book a bus ticket on 12Go Asia, you’ll be given a pick up location somewhere central where you’ll find your bus and be on your way to Ahmedabad.
Reaching Ahmedabad via Flight
Of course, you can always just fly directly to Ahmedabad.
This is definitely the most convenient option if you’ve got the room in your budget, or if you’re coming directly from somewhere far away, like Delhi, Kolkata or Bangalore.
You’ll fly into Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport, which is located on the northern outskirts of the country and only about a 20min drive from the city centre.
Planning your trip to India
Now that you have all the information on visiting the Ellora and Ajanta Caves, it’s time to start planning your trip to India. Here are some resources to help you get started:
✈ Flights: Trip.com and Skyscanner are the best resources for finding cheap flights to India.
🚅 Transport: 12Go is the best online platform for booking trains and buses in India, and across Asia.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com is the best resource for finding amazing hotels in India, while Hostelworld is the best for finding hostels.
🏥 Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers all the essentials in India, including theft, medical and cancellations.
🛜 Internet: To stay connected in India, you can use Airalo. They offer an eSIM, meaning all you need is a smartphone and and the app.
🌐 VPN: To stay connected and access service that may not be available in India, use NordVPN.
🏄 Tours & Day Trips: Get Your Guide and Viator are the top platforms for tours and activities in India.
🎟 Tickets: Official websites to historical sites in India rarely sell tickets online. But often you can purchase them from Klook, allowing you to save time by booking in advance.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
Further reading on Ahmedabad
Here are more guides related to Ahmedabad, to help you plan your trip:
⬤ For more on the stepwells in Ahmedabad, check out: Complete Guide to the Stepwells in Ahmedabad.
⬤ Ahmedabad has some great stepwells, but there are many more across India. Check out: Complete Guide to Visiting Stepwells in India.
⬤ If you’re looking for more amazing historical sites in India, the historic state of Rajasthan is right next door. Check out: 2-Week Rajasthan Itinerary for History Buffs.
⬤ For more historical travel guides on India, visit our India page.
