Adorable Ahmedabad

Today start early for a full sight-seeing day in Ahmedabad! Go to Sabarmati Ashram, located on the banks of River Sabarmati! Sabarmati Ashram gets its fame as being home to the Father of Nation for a good chunk of time during the Indian freedom struggle. Once you visit the place, you find many of his personal belongings including his glasses, slippers and books. There is an art gallery and a library with almost thirty-five thousand books in English, Hindi and Gujarati. In fact, Sabarmati Ashram gives a good peek into Gandhi’s life and ideals. This was the place from where the iconic Dandi March started. Then go to Bhadra Fort! Bhadra Fort was built in 1411 under the instruction of none other than the founder of the city of Ahmedabad, Sultan Ahmad Shah. The fort derives its name from a temple namely Bhadra Kali Temple which stands inside its premises. The imposing fort has a magnificent courtyard with lavish green lawns and many palaces around it. Located right next to Bhadra Fort, you get to see another super structure, Jama Masjid. It was Sultan Ahmed Shah again who got Jama Masjid constructed in 1423. The huge mosque was built for the Muslims of Ahmedabad to give them a shelter where they could congregate for their Friday prayers. The grand building is made up of yellow sand-stones and two hundred and sixty pillars with elaborate carvings. Its architecture symbolizes a blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. In the later afternoon, you get to visit Vastrapur Lake, a man-made lake, which still retains a serene ambiance in this bustling city. Spend some quality-time at the place, nestled in the luxuriant greenery all around! There is an open-air theatre here wherein many cultural shows are conducted round the year, giving the spectators insights into Gujarat’s vibrant culture and traditions. Come back to your hotel! In the late evening, get out to explore Manek Chowk! Named after Saint Maneknath who was an advisor to Emperor Ahmed Shah I, Manek Chowk is located in the heart of the old city of Ahmedabad, surrounded by iconic structures. It is the second-largest jewellery market in India, but in the nights, Manek Chowk turns into a huge vegetarian food hub, with a vast variety of sweets, fried savoury snacks and delicious street foods of Gujarat. You can also gorge on Kulfi, Pav Bhaji and varieties of Dosas and Sandwiches like Pineapple and Ghoogra Sandwich. People from distant places come here in nights to have Jamun Shots and Gwalior Dosas. Come back to your hotel! Overnight Stay at Ahmedabad

Today morning after Breakfast, visit ISKCON temple, located in the Sarkhej area on Satellite Road in Ahmedabad! You will be surely immersed in the grandeur of the temple and environs. It has a mesmerizing exterior, signifying a unified blend of Gujarat Sompura and Rajasthani Khamira architectural styles. The expansive 4-acre premises have the imposing temple, manicured gardens and attractive fountains. Apart from being primarily dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha, the temple also houses idols of other Hindu deities. Next you go to Hutheesing Jain Temple, located in Bardolpura area of the city! Built around 1850 by a Jain Merchant, namely Hutheesing Kesarsing, this temple is a quintessential Jain religious site, which pays reverence to Dharmanath, who was the fifteenth Jain Tirthankara. Made up of marble stones and decorated with fine carvings, the temple courtyard cemented with marbles has 52 cubicles that are the sanctum sanctorum for the various Tirthankaras. Later, go to see Jhulta Minar, often called the Shaking Minarets, located in the Laxmi Bazar area of the city! These minarets represent an architectural marvel. You touch one and the other starts vibrating after a few seconds, but amazingly despite their nearness to the railway station, they do not shake when trains pass by. Once a part of Sidi Bashir Mosque, these three-storeyed minarets had been constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style with Rajputana influence. They are narrow and are around 70 ft. tall, with delicately carved balconies around each level. Then go to Gujarat Science City, located in Hebatpur of Ahmedabad! Gujarat Science City is a part of Gujarat government's initiative to draw students towards education in science. This is a sprawling complex spanning over 107 hectares, dedicated to science education and entertainment. The centre is replete with a variety of educational and recreational activities, with a range of facilities like an IMAX 3D Theatre, an exhilarating Energy Park, a Life Science Park consisting of a walk-through the pre-historic dinosaur park and Botanical Gardens that display assortment of plants. It also conducts interactive and experiential displays related to varied streams of science and technology. Learning at the centre becomes an enjoyable activity for children and all. Come back to your hotel! Overnight Stay at Ahmedabad

Today get ready to explore places near by Ahmedabad! Start with Akshardham Temple, located 26 kms from Ahmedabad! One of the most beautiful Akshardham temples of India, this Akshardham Temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan. As an imposing structure in the centre of the 23-acre lawns, the temple has been built using six thousand tonnes of pink sand-stones, without the use of steel. Inside the temple, 1.2-tonne gold-plated idol of Lord Swaminarayan is placed with the right hand of the idol elevated in Abhay Mudra. Go to see Adalaj Stepwell, which is the most famous of all the stepwells in and around the city! Located 30 kms from Ahmedabad, the well was constructed in 1499 by Rudabai, who was the wife of one of the dominant lords of the city. Each floor of the stepwell has elaboratively carved platforms and galleries that hover over the depth of the octagonal well. Each floor has carvings of Hindu deities on its pillars. The shafts of the well are decorated with floral and geometric motifs which are interwoven in figurines that magnify the exquisiteness of the well. Don’t miss to visit Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, which is 60 kms away from Ahmedabad! Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary is one of the largest bird sanctuaries of India. Spread over an area of almost 115 sq. kms, the sanctuary is a natural habitat for many exotic bird species. Nal Lake and marshy land in the area sees over two hundred kinds of waterbirds like geese, pelicans, flamingos, cranes, spoonbills, storks and ibis. Migratory birds like the bluish-grey hued Demoiselle Crane from Siberia are sighted here in winters. Come back to Ahmedabad! Take rest in your hotel and later, go to explore local markets! Come back to your hotel! Overnight Stay at Ahmedabad

This day after morning Breakfast, you enjoy leisure or go to explore local markets. Later, we drop you off at the airport/railway station as per schedule. Ahmedabad means a collection of memories for you now.