Ahmedabad is one of those cities in the Indian state of Gujarat that has its own history, economy, and way of working, which is both inspirational and tantalizing. While the nukaads are filled with stalls of light Gujarati breakfast, one of the most famous ones being Khakra, a nudge towards the main road will introduce you to the industrial giant this city has built itself into, and when you will look straight up in the sky to catch a glimpse of the sun, you will see it covered with unorganized rainbows made up with colorful kites, that will fill your heart with a feeling of freedom and happiness, two words that can be used for briefly defining Ahmedabad.
Below are some fun facts about this city, check them out and let us know how many of these you knew. The highest scorer can self-proclaim the trophy of being a true Amdavadi.
● Gallant Geography
❖ Located in Gujarat, the western-most state of India, the borders of Ahmedabad collide with that of the Sabarmati River.
❖ Two magnificent lakes are a part of the Ahmedabad geography called, Kankaria and Vastrapur. The Kankaria Lake is mostly artificial in nature, created long back in the era of Qutb-ud-din Aybak.
❖ Lake Kanarika’s peripheral structure has been used to construct the official logo of the State Bank of India and you can visit the place to see it for yourself. Also, the lake has a palace called Naginwadi right in the middle of the lake, a zoo, and an aquarium to keep you entertained.
❖ The Sabarmati River divides Ahmedabad into two parts and in order to connect them five bridges have been built since India got independence.
❖ Ahmedabad is placed on completely flat land but has a little bit of hilly area known as Thaltej-Jodhpur Tekra.
● Harmonized History
❖ The city of Ahmedabad’s history is as rich as the flavors in a ‘Khandvi’. While in the 11th century, the outskirts of it were known as Ashaval, inhabited by local rulers, soon it was attacked by a king named Karna, ruler of Anhilwara, as described on Wikipedia, who defeated the Bhil king of Ashaval only to establish the city of Karnavati on the riverside of Sabarmati.
❖ It was in 1411 A.D. when the mainland on which Ahmedabad has been established was taken under the wings of the grandson of Sultan Ahmed Shah and named Ahmedabad, after the four saints in the area, all of whom had the name, Ahmed.
❖ Ahmedabad served as the capital of Gujarat from 1960-1970, after which all the crucial offices and work were shifted to its twin city Gandhinagar, the current capital of Gujarat state.
❖ The relation between Ahmedabad and Gandhi Ji goes way back in the times when he had just freshly returned from South Africa in 1915. From the Salt March to Sabarmati Ashram, this side of modern history is still fresh in the sir of Ahmedabad, which only gushes through those who are truly seeking it.
❖ Due to its high monumental reportage, in 2017, Ahmedabad was declared as the first Indian UNESCO World Heritage City. Be it because of the walls surrounding it or the architecture that displays a fusion between Indo, Persian, Mughal, and many other forms of work, the city has never shied away from making India feel proud of its history.
❖ Another title that has been given to Ahmedabad for being blessed with so many enchanting buildings and structures is ‘Boston of India’.
● Ebullient Economy
❖ ‘Manchester City of India’ is another title acquired by this city for its flourishing textile industry which has assisted India a lot in establishing a strong foot in the economy department.
❖ 73 out of 118 cotton mills of Gujarat are located in Ahmedabad which turns it into a cotton textile hub and also the second-largest cotton producer of India.
❖ In 2010, Forbes listed Ahmedabad as the world’s third-fastest growing city.
❖ BRTS or Bus Rapid Transit System of Ahmedabad is considered to be one of the best in the country. It has also won several national and international awards for its implementation and design.
● Emboldened Education
❖ Ahmedabad was the second city in India to build an IIM. Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad has rightfully made its way into the holy IIM ABC trinity. It has set records in producing professionals that can effortlessly handle their respective fields and has produced magnificent leaders like Raghuram Ranjan, Rashmi Bansal, Chetan Bahgat, and many more.
❖ The National Institute of Design (NID), which acts as a supporting pillar in mixing Indian culture and modern art together to compete with international brands, had its foundation laid on the soil of Ahmedabad by the Sarabhai family and the Ford Foundation. This establishment defies the traditional ways of teaching and presents a nuanced pedagogic approach to learning which is experiential and practical.
● Colorful Culture
❖ Kites are one of the easiest ways to fill colors in the boring blue and white sky. So to show some love to the beautiful sports of kite flying and to create a place that holds the essence of Makar Sankranti in which kite flying is played all across Gujarat with great enthusiasm, a Kite Museum is present in Ahmedabad.
❖ If ghosts and burial grounds don’t scare you much, then how about a brunch right next to them. The reason why The New Lucky Restaurant has been mentioned in this list is because of the unique setting it is nestled in. The whole eatery has been built around a burial ground where some gravestones are exposed here and there in the joint. So if you are looking for dinner with the dead then you can be their guest.
❖ It would be a crime not to mention Manek Chowk in this list, as it is a fact that if you want to have a scrumptious haul in Ahmedabad then all you need to do is visit this chowk in the evening or nighttime. Whether you want to fill your mouth with some pani puri or khakra, they have got it all, along with some fusion and fission to satiate your taste buds with the most flavor-filled bomb dishes.
❖ Ahmedabad is home to the biggest stadiums in the world. Narendra Modi Stadium or Motera Stadium has a seating capacity of 132,000 people. Wow! Talk about being spacious.
❖ You might be able to find Kokum juice or some lemonade to get rid of your parched throat but you will surely not find any alcohol for that as Ahmedabad is a dry state.
If in the above list we have missed out on a fact about our beloved Ahmedabad then do share it with us and help us all turn into true amdavadis, shouting ‘Chalo Jamva’ to all our non-Gujarati friends, introducing them to our culture in proper amdavadi style.