Ahmedabad, the largest city and former capital of Gujarat, nurtures a striking blend of the glorious past and a vibrant present. Named after a Sultan who founded it in 1411, the city is associated with Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, whose simple ashram on the banks of river Sabarmati is now a site of national pilgrimage. Ahmedabad is a great textile and commercial centre and known as the "Manchester of India". The city is today the second largest prosperous city in Western India and a place where tradition and modernity coexist in perfect harmony

The beautiful ashram complex of Ahmedabad, with it's shady trees populated by thousands of parakeets, beeeaters, sunbirds and squirrels, offers a refuge from the loud streets of the city, and is one the foremost tourist attractions of Ahmedabad. This ashram was Gandhi's headquarters during the long struggle for Indian independence. His ashram was founded in 1915 and still makes handicraft, handmade paper and spinning wheels. Gandhi's Spartan living quarter are preserved as a small museum and there is a pictorial record of the major events in his life.

To see the miracles of Ahmedabad architecture, called Shaking Minarets (Jhoolta Minar), you must head for Sidhi Bashir mosque, where when one minaret is moved with force, the other shakes in sympathy. Unfortunately, after the Qutab Minar tragedy during which many were crushed, climbing up the Minaret to feel the 'shaking' has been dis-allowed.

mosque was built between 1430 to 1440 A. D. Rani Rupmati Masjid named after the princess of Dhar who married the Sultan of Ahmedabad, is another fine example of the Indo-Saracenic blended style. A high central arch, 3 imposing domes, slim minarets, carved galleries and an exquisite Mihrab are the high points. Note how the dome is raised to allow light in around the base but cut out the glare of the sun. The tomb of Rani Rupmati is next to the mosque.

Hathee Singh Jain Temple was built outside Delhi Gate in 1850 by a rich Jain Merchant. This is the best known of Ahmedabad's many ornate Jain Temples. Built of pure white marble and profusely decorated with rich carvings. The temple is a two storied structure with elaborate porches on three sides and front porch crowned by a large dome. The Hathee Singh Temple is dedicated to Dharamanath, the 15th Jina or Jain apposite.

The Calico Museum of Textiles, widely regarded as one of the finest textile museums in the world was constructed in 1949. The Museum houses no less than five centuries of the finest fabrics spun, woven, printed and painted in different parts of India. It also has a collection of marble, sandstone and bronze icons and busts split in two thematic sections-gallery for religious textiles and historical textiles.

The golden period for Gujarat came during the rule of the Solanki dynasty, with some splendid architectural wonders during the 9th - 12th centuries. These include the Sahastraling Talao and stepwells of Patan, and the Sun Temple at Modhera built in 1026 AD by Bhimadev of the Solanki Rajput clan.

Built by Ahmad Shah in 1423, Jama Masjid is the principal mosque of the Islamic era, situated at the heart of the city. The mosque was built in the Indo- Saracenic architectural era and is said to be the most beautiful mosque in the East. The mosque has 260 pillars supporting 15 domes arranged symmetrically. A special feature of the mosque is the Muluk-Khana, or the Royal Gallery, which is a platform standing on pillars and enclosed upto the roof with beautiful stone work.