Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad(/ˈɑːmədəbæd,-bɑːd/AH-mə-də-ba(h)d), also spelled asAmdavad(Gujarati:[ˈəmd̪ɑʋɑd̪]), is the most populous city in the IndianstateofGujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of theAhmedabad districtand the seat of theGujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per the 2011 population census) makes it thefifth-most populous cityin India,and the encompassingurban agglomerationpopulation estimated at 6,357,693 is theseventh-most populousin India. Ahmedabad's population in 2024 is estimated to be 8,854,444.Ahmedabad is located near the banks of theSabarmati River,25 km (16 mi)from the capital ofGujarat,Gandhinagar, also known as its twin city.
Ahmedabad has emerged as an important economic and industrial hub in India. It is the second-largest producer ofcottonin India, due to which it was known as the 'Manchesterof India' along withKanpur. Ahmedabad'sstock exchange(before it was shut down in 2018) was the country's second oldest.Cricketis a popular sport in Ahmedabad; a newly built stadium, calledNarendra Modi Stadium, atMoteracan accommodate 132,000 spectators, making it thelargest stadium in the world. The world-classSardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclaveis currently under construction and once complete, it will be one of the biggest sports centers (Sports City) in India. The effects of theliberalisation of the Indian economyhave energised the city's economy towardstertiary sectoractivities such as commerce, communication and construction.Ahmedabad's increasing population has resulted in an increase in the construction and housing industries, resulting in the development of skyscrapers.
In 2010, Ahmedabad was ranked third inForbes's list of fastest growing cities of the decade.In 2012,The Times of Indiachose Ahmedabad as India's best city to live in.The gross domestic product of Ahmedabad metro was estimated at $136.1 billion in 2023.In 2020, Ahmedabad was ranked as the third-best city in India to live by the Ease of Living Index.In July 2022,Timemagazine included Ahmedabad in its list of world's 50 greatest places of 2022.
Ahmedabad has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as asmart cityunder theGovernment of India's flagshipSmart Cities Mission.In July 2017, thehistoric city of Ahmedabad, or Old Ahmedabad, was declared aUNESCO World Heritage City.
Based on relics found in several neighbourhoods of the old city and on writings of the Persian historianal-Biruni, it is surmised that an earlyBhiltribal group settlement was known asAshaval.
According toMerutunga,Karna, theChaulukya(Solanki) ruler of Anhilvada (modernPatan), successfully launched a military campaign against Ashaval and founded a city nearby called Karnavati.The location of Karnavati is not definitively known.References from the 14th and 15th centuries mention Ashaval but do not mention Karnavati.
Ahmad Shah Iof theGujarat Sultanatetransferred its capital from Anhilvada to Ashaval in 1411 CE; as was custom, the city was subsequently renamed Ahmedabad after the Sultan.
The area around Ahmedabad has been inhabited since the 11th century, when it was known asAshaval.At that time,Karna, theChaulukya(Solanki) ruler of Anhilwara (modernPatan), waged a successful war against theBhilking of Ashaval,and established a city calledKarnavation the banks of the Sabarmati.Solanki rule lasted until the 13th century, when Gujarat came under the control of theVaghela dynastyofDholka. Gujarat subsequently came under the control of theDelhi Sultanatein the 14th century. However, by the earlier 15th century, the local Muslim governor Zafar Khan Muzaffar established his independence from the Delhi Sultanate and crowned himselfSultan of GujaratasMuzaffar Shah I, thereby founding theMuzaffarid dynasty.In 1411, the area came under the control of his grandson, SultanAhmed Shah, who selected the forested area along the banks of the Sabarmati river for his new capital. He laid the foundation of a new walled city near Karnavati and named it Ahmedabad after himself.According to other versions, he named the city after four Muslim saints in the area who all had the name Ahmed.Ahmed Shah I laid the foundation of the city on 26 February 1411(at 1.20 pm, Thursday, the second day ofDhu al-Qi'dah,Hijri year813) atManek Burj. Manek Burj is named after the legendary 15th-century Hindu saint,Maneknath, who intervened to helpAhmed Shah IbuildBhadra Fortin 1411.Ahmed Shah I chose it as the new capital on 4 March 1411.Chandan and Rajesh Nath, 13th generation descendants of Saint Maneknath, performpujaand hoist the flag on Manek Burj on Ahmedabad's foundation day and for theVijayadashamifestival every year.
In 1487,Mahmud Begada, the grandson of Ahmed Shah, fortified the city with an outer wall 10 km (6.2 mi) in circumference and consisting oftwelve gates, 189 bastions, and over 6,000 battlements.In 1535Humayunbriefly occupied Ahmedabad after capturingChampanerwhen the ruler of Gujarat,Bahadur Shah, fled toDiu.Ahmedabad was then reoccupied by the Muzaffarid dynasty until 1573 when Gujarat was conquered by theMughalemperorAkbar. During the Mughal reign, Ahmedabad became one of the Empire's thriving centres of trade, mainly in textiles, which were exported as far as Europe. The Mughal rulerShah Jahanspent the prime of his life in the city, sponsoring the construction of theMoti Shahi MahalinShahibaug. TheDeccan Famine of 1630–32affected the city, as did famines in 1650 and 1686.Ahmedabad remained the provincial headquarters of the Mughals until 1758, when they surrendered the city to theMarathas.
During the period of Maratha governance, the city became the centre of a conflict between thePeshwaofPoonaand theGaekwadofBaroda.In 1780, during theFirst Anglo-Maratha War, a British force underJames Hartleystormed and captured Ahmedabad, but it was handed back to the Marathas at the end of the war. TheBritish East India Companytook over the city in 1818 during theThird Anglo-Maratha War.A military cantonment was established in 1824 and a municipal government in 1858.Incorporated into theBombay PresidencyduringBritish rule, Ahmedabad became one of the most important cities in the Gujarat region. In 1864, a railway link between Ahmedabad andMumbai(then Bombay) was established by theBombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway(BB&CI), enabling traffic and trade betweennorthernandsouthern Indiavia the city.Over time, the city established itself as the home of a developing textile industry, which earned it the nickname "Manchesterof the East".
TheIndian independence movementdeveloped roots in the city whenMahatma Gandhiestablished twoashrams– theKochrab AshramnearPaldiin 1915 and the Satyagraha Ashram (nowSabarmati Ashram) on the banks of the Sabarmati in 1917 – which would become centres of nationalist activities.During themass protestsagainst theRowlatt Actin 1919, textile workers burned down 51 government buildings across the city in protest at a British attempt to extend wartime regulations after theFirst World War. In the 1920s, textile workers and teachers went on strike, demanding civil rights and better pay and working conditions. In 1930, Gandhi initiated theSalt Satyagrahafrom Ahmedabad by embarking from his ashram on theDandi Salt March. The city's administration and economic institutions were rendered inoperative in the early 1930s by the large numbers of people who took to the streets in peaceful protests, and again in 1942 during theQuit India Movement.
Following independence and thepartition of Indiain 1947, the city was scarred by the intense communal violence that broke out betweenHindusandMuslimsin 1947. Ahmedabad was the focus of settlement by Hindu migrants from Pakistan,who expanded the city's population and transformed its demographics and economy.
By 1960, Ahmedabad had become a metropolis with a population of slightly under half a million people, with classical and colonial European-style buildings lining the city's thoroughfares.It was chosen as the capital of Gujarat after the partition of theState of Bombayon 1 May 1960.During this period, a large number of educational and research institutions were founded in the city, making it a centre forhigher education, science, and technology.Ahmedabad's economic base became more diverse with the establishment of heavy and chemical industry during the same period. Many countries sought to emulate India's economic planning strategy and one of them,South Korea, copied Ahmedabad's second "Five-Year Plan".Post independence Ahmedabad has seen development in manufacturing and infrastructure.
In the late 1970s, the capital shifted to the newly built city ofGandhinagar. This marked the start of a long period of decline in Ahmedabad, marked by a lack of development. The 1974Navnirmanagitation – a protest against a 20% hike in the hostel food fees at theL.D. College of Engineeringin Ahmedabad – snowballed into a movement to removeChimanbhai Patel, then chief minister of Gujarat.In the 1980s, areservation policywas introduced in the country, which led to anti-reservation protests in 1981 and 1985. The protests witnessed violent clashes between people belonging to variouscastes.The city was considerably impacted by the2001 Gujarat earthquake; up to 50 multi-storey buildings collapsed, killing 752 people and causing much damage.The following year, a three-day period of violence between Hindus and Muslims in the western Indian state of Gujarat, known as the2002 Gujarat riots, spread to Ahmedabad; in easternChamanpura, 69 people were killed in theGulbarg Society massacreon 28 February 2002.Refugee camps were set up around the city, housing 50,000 Muslims, as well as some small Hindu camps.
The2008 Ahmedabad bombings, a series of seventeen bomb blasts, killed and injured several people.The terrorist groupHarkat-ul-Jihadclaimed responsibility for the attacks.
Ahmedabad is one of few cities in India that has hosted the premiers of major economies such as the US, China, and Canada. On 24 February 2020, President Donald Trump became the first US president to visit the city. The event was namedNamaste Trump. Earlier,President Xi Jinpingand Prime MinisterJustin Trudeauvisited the city.
City population increased by 23.43% from 4,519,000 as of the2001 census of Indiato 5,577,940 (2,938,985 males and 2,638,955 females resulting in a sex ratio of 898 females per 1,000 males) as of the2011 census of Indiamaking Ahmedabad thefifth most populous cityin India.Theurban agglomerationcentred upon Ahmedabad had a population of 6,352,254 and was theseventh most populous urban agglomerationin India as of the2011 census of India.The population of children aged 0 to 6 was 621,034 (336,063 males and 284,971 females resulting in a child sex ratio of 848 females per 1,000 males) as of the2011 census of India.The city had an averageliteracy rateof 88.29%, a male literacy rate of 92.30%, and a female literacy rate of 83.85%.
Estimated population of Ahmedabad city is 7,692,000 while that of the urban agglomeration area is 8,772,000 as of 2023.The2021 census of Indiahas been delayed to 2024-25 and the deadline to freeze administrative boundaries has been extended to 1 January 2024.
In the mid-1970s and early 1980s, the textile mills that were responsible for much of Ahmedabad's wealth faced competition from automation and domestic specialty looms. Several mills closed down, leaving between 40,000 and 50,000 people without a source of income, and many moved into informal settlements in the city centre. TheAhmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC), the governing and administrative body of the city, simultaneously lost much of its tax base and saw an increased demand for services. In the 1990s, newly emerging pharmaceutical, chemical, and automobile manufacturing industries required skilled labor, so many migrants seeking work ended up in the informal sector and settled in slums.
Ahmedabad has made efforts to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of poor residents. The urban poverty rate has declined from 28% in 1993–1994 to 10% in 2011–2012.This is partly due to the strengthening of the AMC and its partnership with several civil society organizations (CSOs) representing poor residents. Through projects and programs, the AMC has provided utilities and basic services to slums. However, some challenges remain, and there are still many residents who lack access to sanitation, clean running water, and electricity. Riots, often rooted in religious tensions, threaten the stability of neighborhoods and have caused spatial segregation across religious and caste lines. There remains to be seen a concerted effort to balance pro-poor, inclusive development with national initiatives that aim to create 'global cities' that are the focus of capital investment and technological innovation.
As of 2011, about 66% of the population lives in formal housing, with the other 34% living in slums orchawls, which are tenements for industrial workers. There are approximately 700 slum settlements in Ahmedabad and 11% of the total housing stock is public housing. The population of Ahmedabad has increased while the housing stock has remained generally constant, and this has led to a rise in density of both formal and informal housing and a more economical usage of existing space. The Indian census estimates that the Ahmedabad slum population was 25.6% of the total population in 1991 and had decreased to 4.5% in 2011, but these numbers are contested and local entities maintain that the census underestimates informal populations. There is a consensus that there has been a reduction in the percentage of the population that lives in slum settlements, and that there has also been a general improvement in living conditions for slum residents.
In the 1990s, the AMC faced increased slum populations. They found that residents were willing and able to pay for legal connections to water, sewage, and electricity, but because of tenure issues, they were paying higher prices for low-quality, informal connections. To address this, beginning in 1995, the AMC partnered with civil society organizations to create the Slum Networking Project (SNP) to improve basic services in 60 slums, benefitting approximately 13,000 households.This project, also known asParivartan (Change), involvedparticipatory planningin which slum residents were partners alongsideAMC, private institutions, microfinance lenders, and local NGOs. The goal of the program was to provide both physical infrastructure (including water supply, sewers, individual toilets, paved roads, storm drainage, and tree planting) and community development (i.e. the formation of resident associations, women's groups, community health interventions, and vocational training).In addition, participating households were granted a minimum de facto tenure of ten years. The project cost a total of₹4,350 million. Community members and the private sector each contributed₹600 million, NGOs provided₹90 million, and the AMC paid for the rest of the project.Each slum household was responsible for no more than 12% of the cost of upgrading their home.
This project has generally been regarded as a success. Having access to basic services increased the residents' working hours, since most work out of their homes. It also reduced the incidence of illness, particularly water-borne illness, and increased children's rates of school attendance.The SNP received the 2006UNHABITATDubai International Award for Best Practice to Improve the Living Environment.However, concerns remain about the community's responsibility and capacity for the maintenance of the new infrastructure. Additionally, trust was weakened when the AMC demolished two of slums that were upgraded as part of SNP to create recreational parks.
According to the 2011 census,Hindusare the predominant religious community in the city comprising 81.56% of the population followed byMuslims(13.51%),Jains(3.62%), Christians (0.85%) andSikhs(0.24%).Buddhists, people following other religions and those who did not state any religion make up the remainder.
Most of the residents of Ahmedabad are nativeGujaratis, but there is a large population with origins outside the state who speak a variety of languages, mainly Hindi and Urdu (among Muslims). There is a Sindhi community dating from Partition, and a Marathi community dating back to Maratha rule over Gujarat. The city is home to some 2,000Parsis(Zoroastrians),and some 125 members of theBene IsraelJewishcommunity.There is also one synagogue in the city.
At the time of the 2011 census, 68.44% of the population spokeGujarati, 19.49%Hindi, 3.47%Urdu, 2.24%Sindhi, 2.02%Marathiand 1.90%Marwarias their first language.
Ahmedabad lies inwestern Indiaat 53 metres (174 ft) above sea level on the banks of theSabarmatiriver, in north-central Gujarat. It covers an area of 505 km(195 sq mi).The Sabarmati frequently dried up in the summer, leaving only a small stream of water, and the city is in a sandy and dry area. However, with the execution of theSabarmati River FrontProject and Embankment, the waters from theNarmadariver have been diverted to the Sabarmati to keep the river flowing throughout the year, thereby eliminating Ahmedabad's water problems. The steady expansion of theRann of Kutchthreatened to increase desertification around the city area and much of the state; however, the Narmada Canal network is expected to alleviate this problem. Except for the small hills ofThaltej-Jodhpur Tekra, the city is almost flat. Three lakes lie within the city's limits—Kankaria,Vastrapurand Chandola. Kankaria, in the neighbourhood ofManinagar, is an artificial lake developed by the Sultan of Gujarat, Qutb-ud-din, in 1451.
According to theBureau of Indian Standards, the town falls underseismic zone 3, in a scale of 2 to 5 (in order of increasing vulnerability to earthquakes).
Ahmedabad is divided by the Sabarmati into two physically distinct eastern and western regions. The eastern bank of the river houses the old city, which includes the central town ofBhadra. This part of Ahmedabad is characterised by packedbazaars, thepolsystem of closely clustered buildings, and numerous places of worship.A pol (pronounced as pole) is a housing cluster which comprises many families of a particular group, linked bycaste,profession, or religion.This is a list of polsin theold walled cityof Ahmedabad inGujarat, India. Heritage of these polshas helped Ahmedabad gain a place inUNESCO's Tentative Lists, inselection criteriaII, III and IV.The secretary-general of EuroIndia Centre quoted that if 12,000homesof Ahmedabad are restored they could be very helpful in promoting heritage tourism and its allied businesses.TheArt ReverieinMoto SutharvadoisRes Artiscenter. The first pol in Ahmedabad was namedMahurat Pol.The old city also houses the main railway station, the main post office, and some buildings of the Muzaffarid and British eras. The colonial period saw the expansion of the city to the western side of the Sabarmati river, facilitated by the construction ofEllis Bridgein 1875 (and later the modernNehru Bridge). The western part of the city houses educational institutions, modern buildings, residential areas, shopping malls, multiplexes and new business districts centred around roads such asAshram Road,C. G. Road, andSarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway.
TheSabarmati Riverfrontis a waterfront area being developed along the banks of the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad, India. Proposed in the 1960s, its construction began in 2005, and it opened in 2012.
Ahmedabad has ahot semi-arid climate(Köppen climate classification:BSh), with marginally less rain than required for atropical savanna climate. There are three main seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter. Aside from the monsoon season, the climate is extremely dry. The weather is hot from March to June; the average summer maximum is 43 °C (109 °F), and the average minimum is 24 °C (75 °F). From November to February, the average maximum temperature is 30 °C (86 °F), and the average minimum is 13 °C (55 °F). Cold winds from the north are responsible for a mild chill in January. The southwest monsoon brings a humid climate from mid-June to mid-September. The average annual rainfall is about 800 millimetres (31 in), but infrequent heavy torrential rains cause local rivers to flood and it is not uncommon for droughts to occur when the monsoon does not extend as far west as usual. The highest temperature in the city was recorded on 20 May 2016, with it reaching 48 °C (118 °F).
Following aheat wavein May 2010, which reached 46.8 °C (116.2 °F) and claimed hundreds of lives,theAhmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC), in partnership with an international coalition of health and academic groups and with support from theClimate & Development Knowledge Network, developed the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan.Aimed at increasing awareness, sharing information and coordinating responses to reduce the health effects of heat on vulnerable populations, the action plan is the first comprehensive plan in Asia to address the threat of adverse heat on health.It also focuses on community participation, building public awareness of the risks ofextreme heat, training medical and community workers to respond to and help prevent heat-related illnesses, and coordinating an interagency emergency response effort when heat waves hit.
Ahmedabad has been ranked 7th best “National Clean Air City” (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India according to 'Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 Results'
Early in Ahmedabad's history, underAhmed Shah, builders fused Hindu craftsmanship withPersian architecture, giving rise to theIndo-Saracenicstyle.Many mosques in the city were built in this fashion.Sidi Saiyyed Mosquewas built in the last year of the Sultanate of Gujarat. It is entirely arched and has ten stone latticework windows orjalion the side and rear arches. Private mansions orhavelifrom this era have carvings.Apolis a typical housing cluster ofOld Ahmedabad.
After independence, modern buildings appeared in Ahmedabad. Architects given commissions in the city includedLouis Kahn, who designed theIIM-A;Le Corbusier, who designed theShodhanandSarabhai Villas, theSanskar Kendraand theMill Owners' Association Building, andFrank Lloyd Wright, who designed the administrative building ofCalico Millsand theCalico Dome.B. V. Doshicame to the city from Paris to supervise Le Corbusier's works and later set up theSchool of Architecture(now CEPT). His local works include Sangath,Amdavad ni Gufa,Tagore Memorial Halland the School of Architecture.Charles Correa, who became a partner of Doshi's, designed theGandhi AshramandAchyut Kanvinde, and theAhmedabad Textile Industry's Research Associationcomplex.Christopher Charles Benninger's first work, the Alliance Française, is located in the Ellis Bridge area.Anant Rajedesigned major additions toLouis Kahn'sIIM-Acampus, namely the Ravi Mathai Auditorium and KLMD.
Some of the most visited gardens in the city includeLaw Garden, Victoria Garden, and Bal Vatika. Law Garden was named after the College of Law located nearby. Victoria Garden is located at the southern edge of the Bhadra Fort and contains a statue ofQueen Victoria. Bal Vatika is a children's park situated on the grounds ofKankaria Lakeand houses an amusement park. Other gardens in the city includeParimal Garden, Usmanpura Garden, Prahlad Nagar Garden, and Lal Darwaja Garden.Ahmedabad's Kamla Nehru Zoological Park houses a number of endangered species including flamingoes,caracals,Asiatic wolves, andchinkara.
TheKankariaLake, built in 1451 CE, is one of the biggest lakes in Ahmedabad.In earlier days, it was known by the nameQutub HojorHauj-e-Kutub.Lal Bahadur Shastri lake in Bapunagar is almost 136,000 square metres. In 2010, another 34 lakes were planned in and around Ahmedabad of which five lakes will be developed by AMC; the other 29 will be developed by theAhmedabad Urban Development Authority(AUDA).Vastrapur Lakeis a small artificial lake located in the western part of Ahmedabad. Beautified by local authorities in 2002, it is surrounded by greenery and paved walkways and has become a popular leisure spot for the citizens.Chandola Lakecovers an area of 1200 hectares. It is home tocormorants,painted storks, andspoonbills.During the evening time, many people visit this place and take a leisurely stroll.There is a recently developed lake inNaroda,and there is also the world's largest collection of antique cars in Kathwada at IB farm (Dastan Farm).AMC has also developed theSabarmati Riverfront.
Looking at the health of traffic police staff deployed near the Pirana dump site, theAhmedabad City Policeis going to install outdoorair purifiersat traffic points so that the deployed staff can breathe fresh air.
Ahmedabad is the administrative headquarters ofAhmedabad districtand is administered by theAhmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC). The AMC was established in July 1950 under the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act of 1949. The AMC commissioner is anIndian Administrative Service(IAS) officer appointed by thestate governmentwho reserves the administrative executive powers, whereas the corporation is headed by themayor of Ahmedabad. The city residents elect the 192municipal councillorsby popular vote and the elected councillors select the deputy mayor and mayor of the city. The mayor, Bijal Patel, was appointed on 14 June 2018.The administrative responsibilities of the AMC are water and sewerage services, primary education, health services, fire services, public transport and the city's infrastructure.AMC was ranked 9th out of 21 cities for "the best governance & administrative practices in India in 2014. It scored 3.4 out of 10 compared to the national average of 3.3."Ahmedabad registers two accidents per hour.
The city is divided into seven zones constituting 48 wards.The city's urban and suburban areas are administered by theAhmedabad Urban Development Authority(AUDA).
Ahmedabad is known for its rich architecture, traditional housing designs, community-oriented settlement patterns, urban structure, as well as its unique crafts and mercantile culture.The people of Ahmedabad celebrate a vast range of festivals. Celebrations and observances includeUttarayan, a harvest festival which involves kite-flying on 14 and 15 January. The nine nights ofNavratriare celebrated with people performingGarba, the most popular folk dance of Gujarat, at venues across the city. The annualRath Yatraprocession takes place on theAshadh-sud-bijdate of theHindu calendarat theJagannath Temple. Festivals like Diwali, Holi, Christmas, and Muharram (pan-Indian festivals) are also celebrated.
One of the most popular dishes in Ahmedabad is the Gujaratithali, which was first served commercially by Chandvilas Hotel in 1900.It consists ofroti(chapati),dal, rice, andshaak(cooked vegetables, sometimes withcurry), with accompaniments ofpicklesand roastedpapads. Sweet dishes includeladdoo,mango, andvedhmi.Dhoklas,theplas, anddhebrasare other popularly consumed dishes in Ahmedabad.Beverages includebuttermilkand tea. Drinking alcohol is legally banned in Ahmedabad as Gujarat is a 'dry' state.
There are many restaurants, which serve Indian and international cuisines. Most of food outlets serve only vegetarian food, as there exists a strong tradition of vegetarianism that has been maintained by the city's Jain and Hindu communities over centuries.The first all-vegetarianPizza Hutin the world opened in Ahmedabad.KFC has a separate staff uniform for serving vegetarian items and prepares vegetarian food in a separate kitchen,as does McDonald's.Ahmedabad has a number of restaurants serving typicalMughlainon-vegetarian food in older areas like Bhatiyar Gali,KalupurandJamalpur.Manek Chowkis an open square near the centre of the city that functions as a vegetable market in the morning and a jewellery market in the afternoon. However, it is best known for becoming a vast congregation of food stalls in the evening, which sell localstreet food. It is named after the Hindu saint BabaManeknath.
The city has diverse food options for vegan community as well,Peta Indiahas named Ahmedabad as India's most vegan friendly city of 2024.
Parts of Ahmedabad are known for theirfolk art. The artisans of Rangeelapolmaketie-dyedbandhinis, while the cobbler shops of Madhupura sell traditionalmojdi(also known asmojri) footwear. Idols of the Hindu deityGaneshaand other religious icons are made in large numbers by artisans in the Gulbai Tekra area. In 2019, there was a surge in demand for eco-friendly idols due to increased awareness surrounding the effects of submerging the traditional plaster-of-paris idols in the Sabarmati river.The shops at theLaw Gardensell mirrorwork handicrafts.
Three main literary institutions were established in Ahmedabad for the promotion ofGujarati literature:Gujarat Vidhya Sabha,Gujarati Sahitya ParishadandGujarat Sahitya Sabha.Saptak School of Musicfestival is held in the first week of the new year. This event was inaugurated byRavi Shankar.
TheSanskar Kendra, one of the several buildings in Ahmedabad designed byLe Corbusier, is a museum displaying the city's history, art, culture, and architecture. TheGandhi Smarak Sangrahalayaand theSardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorialhave permanent displays of photographs, documents, and other articles relating to the Gujarat-born Indian independence movement leadersMahatma GandhiandSardar Vallabhbhai Patel. TheCalico Museum of Textileshas a large collection of Indian and international fabrics, garments, and textiles.TheHazrat Pir Mohammad Shah Libraryhas a collection of rare original manuscripts in Arabic,Persian,Urdu,Sindhi, andTurkish.The Vechaar Utensils Museum has stainless steel, glass, brass, copper, bronze, zinc, and German silver tools on display.TheConflictoriumis an interactive installation space that explores conflict in society through art.
The Shreyas Foundation has four museums on its campus. The Shreyas Folk Museum (Lokayatan Museum) has art forms and artefacts from various Gujarati communities. TheKalpana Mangaldas Children's Museumhas a collection of toys, puppets, dance and drama costumes, coins, and a repository of recorded music from traditional shows from all over the world. Kahani houses photographs of fairs and festivals ofGujarat. Sangeeta Vadyakhand is a gallery of musical instruments from India and other countries.
The L. D. Institute of Indology houses 76,000 hand-written Jain manuscripts with 500 illustrated versions and 45,000 printed books, making it the largest collection of Jain scripts, Indian sculptures, terracottas, miniature paintings, cloth paintings, painted scrolls, bronzes, woodwork, Indian coins, textiles and decorative art, paintings ofRabindranath Tagore, and art of Nepal and Tibet.The N. C. Mehta Gallery of Miniature Paintings has a collection of ornate miniature paintings and manuscripts from all over India.
In 1949, theDarpana Academy of Performing Artswas established by the scientistDr. Vikram Sarabhaiand his wife,Bharat NatyamdancerMrinalini Sarabhai. Its influence has led Ahmedabad to become a centre ofIndian classical dance.
Schools in Ahmedabad are either run publicly by the AMC, or privately by entities, trusts, and corporations. The majority of schools are affiliated with theGujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, although some are affiliated with theCentral Board for Secondary Education,Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations,International Baccalaureate, andNational Institute of Open School.
Several institutions of higher education with a focus on engineering, management, and design are located in Ahmedabad.The oldest higher educational institution isGujarat College.Among theuniversities in Ahmedabad,Gujarat Universityis acollegiate universityestablished in 1949and has 286 affiliated colleges, 22 recognized institutions, and 36 postgraduate departments.Indira Gandhi National Open University, commonly known as IGNOU is a public university in India and having an active regional centre in Ahmedabad region to offer 290 ODL programs and 40+ online programs to the students lives in the city.Other state universities in the city includeDr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University,Gujarat Technological University,andKaushalya Skill University.Gujarat Vidyapith, located near theSardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, was founded byMahatma Gandhiin 1920 and became adeemed universityin 1963.
Private universities located in the city includeAhmedabad University,CEPT University(formerly Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology),Indus University,Nirma University,GLS University,andSilver Oak University.TwoInstitutes of National Importanceare located in the city—Indian Institute of Management, AhmedabadandNational Institute of Design.
Other institutions located in the city include thePhysical Research Laboratory, which was established in 1947 by the physicist and astronomerVikram Sarabhai.It is an autonomous research institute under theDepartment of Spacewith a focus on research inastronomy, experimental andtheoretical physics, andearth sciences.TheAhmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA), registered in 1947, is an autonomous, non-profit association engaged in operational and applied research in the textile industry.
Newspapers in Ahmedabad include English dailies such asThe Times of India,Indian Express,DNA,The Economic Times,The Financial Express,Ahmedabad Mirror,andMetro.Newspapers in other languages includeDivya Bhaskar,Gujarat Samachar,Sandesh,Rajasthan Patrika,Sambhaav, andAankhodekhi.The city is home to the historicNavajivan Publishing House, which was founded in 1919 by Mahatma Gandhi.
The state-ownedAll India RadioAhmedabad is broadcast both onmedium wave bandsand FM bands (96.7 MHz) in the city.It competes with five private local FM stations:Radio City(91.1 MHz),Red FM(93.5 MHz), My FM (94.3 MHz),Radio One(95.0 MHz),Radio Mirchi(98.3 MHz) and Mirchi Love (104 MHz).Gyan Vani(104.5 MHz) is an educational FM radio station run under the media co-operation model.In March 2012,Gujarat Universitystarted a campus radio service on 90.8 MHz, which was the first of its kind in the state and the fifth in India.
The state-owned television broadcasterDoordarshanprovides free terrestrial channels, while threemulti system operators—InCablenet,Siti Cable, and GTPL—provide a mix of Gujarati, Hindi, English, and other regional channels viacable.Telephone services are provided by landline and mobile operators such asJio,BSNL Mobile,Airtel, andVodafone Idea.
The gross domestic product of Ahmedabad was estimated at $64 billion in 2014.The RBI ranked Ahmedabad as the seventh largest deposit centre and seventh largest credit centre nationwide as of June 2012.In the 19th century, the textile and garments industry received strong capital investment. On 30 May 1861Ranchhodlal Chhotalalfounded the first Indian textile mill, theAhmedabad Spinning and Weaving Company Limited,followed by the establishment of a series of textile mills such asCalico Mills, Bagicha Mills andArvind Mills. By 1905 there were about 33 textile mills in the city.The textile industry underwent rapid expansion during theFirst World Warand benefited from the influence of Mahatma Gandhi'sSwadeshi movement, which promoted the purchase of Indian-made goods.Ahmedabad was known as the "Manchester of the East" for its textile industry.The city is the largest supplier of denim and one of the largest exporters ofgemstonesand jewellery in India.Theautomobile industryis also important to the city; afterTata'sNanoproject,Ford,SuzukiandPeugeothave established engine and vehicle manufacturing plants near Ahmedabad.
TheAhmedabad Stock Exchange, located in the Ambavadi area of the city, is India's second oldest stock exchange. It is now defunct.Two of the biggestpharmaceutical companies of India—Zydus LifesciencesandTorrent Pharmaceuticals—are based in the city. TheNirmagroup of industries, which runs detergent and chemical industrial units, has its corporate headquarters in the city. The city houses the corporate headquarters of theAdani Group, a multinational trading and infrastructure development company.TheSardar Sarovar Projectof dams and canals has improved the supply of potable water and electricity for the city.Theinformation technologyindustry has developed significantly in Ahmedabad, with companies such asTata Consultancy Servicesopening offices in the city.ANASSCOMsurvey in 2002 on the "Super Nine Indian Destinations" for IT-enabled services ranked Ahmedabad fifth among the top nine most competitive cities in the country.The city's educational and industrial institutions have attracted students and young skilled workers from the rest of India.Ahmedabad houses other major Indian corporates such asCadila Healthcare,Rasna,Wagh Bakri,Cadila Pharmaceuticals, andIntas Biopharmaceuticals. Ahmedabad is the second largest cotton textile centre in India after Mumbai and the largest in Gujarat.Many cotton manufacturing units operate in and around Ahmedabad.Textiles are one of the major industries of the city.Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation has acquired land inSanandtaluka of Ahmedabad to set up three new industrial estates.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, located in Hansol and operated by theAdani Group, is Ahmedabad's principal airport.TheDholera International Airport, located 110 km southwest of central Ahmedabad in Navagam village, is currently under construction and expects completion of its first phase by 2025.
TheAhmedabad railway division, an operating division under theWestern Railway zoneofIndian Railways, is headquartered in the city.Ahmedabad Junction railway station, locally known as Kalupur railway station,is Ahmedabad's primary and Gujarat's busiest railway hub.Other major railway stations that service the city includeChandlodiya,Gandhigram,Maninagar,andSabarmati Junction.
Public transit includes theAhmedabad Metro, arapid transit systeminaugurated in March 2019 with 40 km of track on two lines (East-West and North-South) and a daily ridership of 90,000.Phase 2 of the Ahmedabad Metro—connecting Motera Stadium northwards to Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar—began construction in February 2021 and is expected to be complete by 2026.Other public transit options include theAhmedabad BRTS, also known asJanmarg(people's way), a bus rapid transit system inaugurated in October 2009 with a total fleet of 325 buses over 19 routes and a daily ridership of 190,000.Bus transportation is also provided byAhmedabad Municipal Transport Service(AMTS) with 700 buses over 149 routes.Both the Ahmedabad BRTS and the AMTS are overseen by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.Ahmedabad also has self drive car rental service provided by private companies like Just Drive Self Drive Cars.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation introduced "AmdaBike," a public bicycle sharing system, in December 2019 to improve last mile connectivity.MYBYKis the main service provider for AmdaBike with 300 bicycle stations—including at Ahmedabad BRTS stations—and 4,000 bicycles.
National Highway 48passes through Ahmedabad and connects it withNew DelhiandMumbai. TheNational Highway 147also links Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar. It is connected toVadodarathroughNational Expressway 1, a 94 km (58 mi)-long expressway with two exits. This expressway is part of theGolden Quadrilateralproject.
In 2001, Ahmedabad was ranked as the most-polluted city in India out of 85 cities by the Central Pollution Control Board. TheGujarat Pollution Control Boardgave auto rickshaw drivers an incentive of₹10,000 to convert the fuel of all 37,733 auto rickshaws in Ahmedabad to cleaner-burningcompressed natural gasto reduce pollution. As a result, in 2008, Ahmedabad was ranked as the 50th most-polluted city in India.
Cricketis one of the most popular sports in the city.Narendra Modi Stadium, also known as theMoteraStadium, originallySardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadiumbuilt in 1982, hosts bothone day internationalsandtest matches. It is thelargest stadium in the world by capacity, with a seating capacity of 132,000 spectators.It hosted the 1987, 1996, 2011, and 2023Cricket World Cups.It is the home ground of theGujarat cricket team, afirst-classteam, which competes in domestic tournaments. Ahmedabad has a second cricket stadium at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation'sSports Club of Gujarat.The final of 2023 Cricket World cup was held at the Narendra Modi Stadium.Ahmedabad is also home to the IPL team Gujarat Titans, who won its first title in 2022 in front of its home crowd.
Other popular sports includefield hockey,badminton,tennis,squashandgolf. Ahmedabad has ninegolf courses.Mithakhali Multi Sports Complexis being developed by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to promote various indoor sports.Ahmedabad has also hosted national level games forroller skatingand table tennis.Kart racingis gaining popularity in the city, with the introduction of a 380 metre long track based onFormula Onedesign concepts.
Sabarmati Marathonhas been organized every year December–January since 2011; it has categories like a full and half-marathon, a 7 km dream run, a 5 km run for the visually disabled, and a 5 km wheelchair run.In 2007, Ahmedabad hosted the 51st national levelshootinggames.The2016 Kabaddi World Cupwas held in Ahmedabad atThe Arena by Transtadia(a renovated Kankaria football ground).Geet Sethi, a five-time winner of theWorld Professional Billiards Championshipand a recipient of India's highest sporting award, theRajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, was raised in Ahmedabad.
TheAdani Ahmedabad Marathonhas been organized by theAdani Groupevery year since 2017; it attracted 8,000 participants in its first edition and also hosted its first virtual marathon in 2020 in compliance withCOVID-19guidelines.
Ahmedabad has been identified as a potential host city for the2036 Summer Olympics. TheGujarat governmenthas identified 33 sites in and around Ahmedabad for the development of infrastructure to support the Olympic bid.The city's bid is also being shaped with international expertise, including Australian consultants.A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is being set up by the Gujarat government to manage Ahmedabad's bid for the games.The fate of theSardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadiumis under consideration as part of the city's preparation for the Olympics.