Exploring the city of colorful chaniya cholis and bandhanis on foot is the best way to learn about Ahmedabad’s cultural roots. The city has a lot to offer, from mouth-watering delicacies that boasts its heritage to the architectural wonders that narrate its colorful history. And to make sure you get a perfect blend of everything, we have come up with the perfect 1 day walking tour of Ahmedabad. So come let’s take a look at what our walking tour would look like!
Places To Visit On A 1 Day Walking Tour Of Ahmedabad
Route: Shree Swaminarayan Mandir – The Calico Museum of Textiles – Doshivada No Pol – Rani No Hajiro & Badshah No Hajiro – Jama Masjid
Mumbai Walking Tour Distance: 6.1 km.
Tour Duration: 5 to 7 hours.
1. Shree Swaminarayan Mandir
The best way to start your walking tour would be by attending the high-spirited morning aarti at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir. Also known as Akshardham, this temple is dedicated to Narayan Dev. It was Swaminarayan, a spiritual leader who initiated the construction of this temple in the year 1822.
The temple’s architecture is simply exemplary as the whole temple is built out of Burma teak wood. The intricately carved designs on the temple make it a perfect example of 19th-century architecture. Inside the temple, all of the deities are beautifully laden with ornaments and colorful fabrics. What makes it more relevant to the visitors, are the medical clinic and multi-story guesthouse within the temple complex.
Shree Swaminarayan Mandir also has a really interesting history. After the completion of its construction in 1822, the statues were installed in the presence of around 50,000 devotees. Surprisingly, Sir Dunlop (a British officer) had an unlikely admiration for the temple. He was the one who allocated the land for its construction and later honored the edifice by ordering a 101-gun salute!
The temple has been a huge part of Ahmedabad’s rich heritage. To date, it attracts millions of devotees from all over the world a day after Diwali for darshan.
Things to do here: Seek blessings from the deities, go around the temple admiring its architecture, and learn about its history in detail.
How much time to spend here: 1 to 2 hours.
Entry Fee: No entry fee is required to visit the temple.
Timings: You can visit the temple Monday to Sunday, from 6 am to 7 pm.
In case you want to grab breakfast around the temple, you can try restaurants like Premvati Swaminarayan Vegetarian Restaurant and Sankalp Restaurant.
2. The Calico Museum of Textiles
The next stop on your tour is The Calico Museum of Textiles. This Haveli-style museum was founded by the renowned industrialist Gautam Sarabhai and his sister Gita Sarabhai. And it was the former Primer Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru who did the honors of inaugurating this museum.
At the Calico Museum of Textiles, you can find a palette of colorful and designer fabrics from across the nation, some even dating back to the 15th century! That’s right, name the state and you’ll find its fabric here. Along with the variety of fabrics, the museum also glorifies the cultural diversity of India. Not just this, you can also find furniture, miniature artifacts, temple hangings, South Indian bronze art, and Jain artifacts here.
Things to do here: There are two sections to this museum – the Chauk and Haveli. Of these, Chauk exhibits bronze, temple fabrics, and Jain artwork. The Haveli showcases royal goods like tents, furniture, and royal wear. So you can just walk around the museum admiring these items. Also, make sure to check out the library and gallery that the museum houses.
How much time to spend here: Around 2 hours.
Entry Fee: Surprisingly, there is no entrance fee to visit the Calico Museum.
Timings: Thursday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 5 pm. Its closed on Mondays.
After this, you can take a break on your walking tour and treat yourself to some Gujarati dishes by having lunch from nearby restaurants. Some of the restaurants you can consider going to are Chandravilas restaurant, Manek Chowk Food Market, and Jalaram restaurant.
3. Doshivada Ni Pol
Ahmedabad is known for its pols, a housing cluster sheltering many families of a particular caste, religion, or profession. Walking through these pols is like getting to know more about a newly found acquaintance. And if you want to get a taste of Ahmedabad’s true essence, then you have to walk through these narrow streets to know more about the culture and lifestyle of its locals.
Doshivada Ni Pol, is one of the most popular pols in Ahmedabad. This area mostly houses the goldsmith community, so it’s only natural to spot several jewelry shops here. There are several haveli-type houses with ornately decorated facades. Among the narrow lanes of this pol are beautifully constructed, colonial Chabutaras (bird feeders). And one of the most gorgeous Chabutaras sits at the end of the pol with stained glass windows and beautiful carvings.
Things to do here: Just walk through these lanes admiring the various features of these residential clusters. One of the prominent features is that at the beginning of each pol you’ll find a blackboard that has all the upcoming events of the area chalked out. And there are secret passages that let you go from one pol to another.
How much time to spend here: About 30 minutes or more.
Entry Fee: There is no entrance fee required to explore the pols.
Timings: The pols are open throughout the day.
4. Rani No Hajiro & Badshah No Hajiro
Walk further towards Manek Chowk and you’ll come across a lane with the Rani No Hajiro at one end and Badshah No Hajiro on the other. Rani No Hajiro is basically a vault for the tombs of the queens of Sultan Ahmed Shah. Its corridor opens to a square courtyard, where you’ll find eight marble graves of Ahmed Shah I’s queens and other Gujarat sultanates. Built with white marble, the structure houses the Muslim families who are the caretakers of these tombs.
If you explore the surrounding area, you’ll find a market specifically selling clothes, accessories, jewelry, and traditional Garba clothes.
Right across the street from Rani No Hajiro, is the Badshah No Hajiro or Ahmed Shah’s Tomb. Ahmed Shah was the founder of the city of Ahmedabad. The structure is a mosque that houses his tomb, the tombs of some of his ministers and his son Qutb-ud-din Ahmed Shah. There’s one dome in the center which is surrounded by four smaller domes. People often visit the tomb, and offer flowers.
Things to do here: Offer flowers at the tomb, go around admiring the detailed architecture, and learn about the history of Ahmed Shah and his queens.
How much time to spend here: Around 2 hours.
Entry Fee: There is no entrance fee at both – Rani No Hajiro and Badshah No Hajiro.
Timings: Monday to Sunday, 6 am to 9 pm (Rani No Hajiro) and 7 am to 6 pm (Badshah No Hajiro).
5. Jama Masjid
You can then end your walking tour by crediting the city founder, Sultan Ahmed Shah’s Jama Masjid. After all, it was he who built the biggest mosque in Ahmedabad. The mosque was originally built to be a personal place of worship of the royal Sultan family. Now, it houses the tombs of Sultan Shah and his family.
Initially, the mosque had two main minarets that stood tall near the entrance arch of the Masjid. However, over the years they were damaged and eventually collapsed. This stunning mosque boasts both Hindu and Muslim-style architecture and is built of yellow sandstone. The irony is that it was built out of the rubble and residues of demolished Jain and Hindu temples!
If you pass through the main entrance of the mosque, it will lead you to a gorgeous courtyard with a sunlight-filtering latticework. In the middle of the courtyard is a water tank, which is surrounded by tall columns on three sides. The columns are carved with delicate Arabic calligraphy. And on the fourth side is the main prayer hall. Just like many other mosques, this one too has lofty domes on its roof. But what makes it stand out, are the Hindu-style pillars that are carved like bells and the Jain-style lotus flower carvings.
Things to do here: Explore the stunning interiors of the mosque and clicking aesthetic pictures to post on your Instagram feed.
How much time to spend here: 1 to 2 hours.
Entry Fee: No entry fee required.
Timings: Monday to Sunday, 6 am to 8 pm. Though the mosque remains closed during the time of Azaan.
You can then end your tour by having a scrumptious Mughlai cuisine. Some of the restaurants to try are Rehmatullah Hotel, Qureshi Kabab Corner, and Haji Mohd. Hussain.
Summing Up
Several mind-blowing sights, colorful traditional wear, and lip-smacking delicacies await your arrival in Ahmedabad. So, get on that flight and get set to hit the roads of Ahmedabad and kick off your 1 day walking tour!
FAQs
How Many Days Are Enough For Ahmedabad?
There’s no right way to answer this question because once you step into the lively city of Ahmedabad you might not want to leave. But since everyone can’t afford to do this, you can go around exploring all the gorgeous sights to see in a period of at least 3 to 4 days.
What Are The Famous Items In Ahmedabad?
One of the popular things everyone gets from Ahmedabad is the colorful chaniya cholis and bandhanis. Other famous items to get from here are handicrafts, home decor, jholas, and jewelry.
What Is The Specialty Of Ahmedabad?
Some of the things Ahmedabad is known for are its mouth-watering snacks, cotton textiles, and diamond-cutting industry among others.
Which Is The Best Month To Visit Ahmedabad?
If you love to have a vacation in a pleasant and cool climate, you can visit here during the winter months of November to February. But if you want to get a glimpse of Ahmedabad in Gujarat during the summer, you can visit during the hot months of March to June. And if the monsoon is your favorite season, then arrive here between July to September.
What Snacks To Buy In Ahmedabad?
Some of the best snacks to try in Ahmedabad are dhokla, khakhra, khaman, undhiyo, and ghatiya among others.
Which Sweet Is Famous In Ahmedabad?
Ice halwa, mattho shrikhand, basundi, kaju dodha, badam katli, and patista are some of the must-try sweets in Ahmedabad.
Which Market Is Best In Ahmedabad?
Some of the best markets to explore in Ahmedabad are Law Garden night market, Sindhi market, Dhalgarwad, Manek Chowk, and Ramakada market, among others.
Which Saree Is Famous In Ahmedabad?
Without any doubt, the most popular saree in Ahmedabad is the colorful, tie-and-dye bandhani sarees.
