I am pleased to say that finally I have moved to our own domain. the new web address is http://www.vibrantahmedabad.com/
I will not be posting any more posts on this blog so may request you to kinldy update your Bookmarks.

Also keep on visiting www.vibrantahmedabad.com for new articles.

Amdavadis love watching movies. There are not many discos or pubs as the club culture is not much famous here. The best means of entertainment in Cinema. People have great taste for Bollywood movies, various multiplexes and cinema halls are located in the city which are visited by hoards of people. You can choose the one which suits your pocket best. Entertainment Productions of drama and music are held regularly at the Kankaria Lake theater and are well worth attending.The mutiplex theatre concept started in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad boasts of Drive in Cinema which is also a very good option in Winters specially with small kids.

You can log on to http://yellowpages.sulekha.com/ahmedabad/arts-entertainment/movie-theaters/163.htm for addresses and telephone nos for theatres in Ahmedabad.

You can also lon onto http://www.google.com/movies?hl=en&near=ahmedabad&dq=cinema+theatres+in+ahmedabad&sa=X&oi=showtimes
&ct=title&cd=1 for for show timings.

Gujarat International Finance Tech-City is India’s biggest major planned skyscraper being built in Gandhinagar which is 32 kms approx from Ahmedabad. It is Gujarat’s first major commercial skyscraper, and one of the biggest single megaprojects in India!
Boasting 17 high rise commercial buildings — the tallest being the signature 80-storey, 400m “Diamond Tower” — as well as an artificial island, integrated mass transit and dedicated expressways, residential townships, and dedicated power supply, the 500 acre GIFT aims to be Global Financial Services hub.
For more details log onto http://indianskyscraperblog.wordpress.com/2007/12/09/gandhinagar-gujarat-international-finance-tec-city-gift-400m-80-fl-310m-x-2-200m-x-10-app/

Gem and diamond testing laboratories are to be set up by the Gujarat government across the state in anticipation of the 2009 Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit. The state is planning to establish cooperation with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which offers grading services to gem, diamond and jewelry merchants all over the world. The GIA will now hallmark products of the jewelry industry in the state.
The General Manager of Projects and Technology at the Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb), Chandan Chatterjee, stated: "The state already has a jewelry testing laboratory and grading system through some private companies and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Since we are hoping to attract investments worth over Rs 500 crore during Vibrant Gujarat, an international standard of grading is imperative to lure foreign buyers. We are looking to set up a gem testing laboratory in collaboration with domestic players."
The laboratories will be established at an investment of around Rs 1 crore each, with the partial financial support of the state government. Surat, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar and Rajkot are likely to house these laboratory centers.
With the aim of developing inclusive manpower in the jewelry sector, the government plans to create more gem and jewelry parks all over the state. Plans also include upgrading training institutes in cities such as Rajkot and Ahmedabad.

Gujarat is the only Indian state where alcohol is prohibited. You are allowed to drink only if you have a non-Indian passport, you can get an alcohol permit from the government that allows you to buy and consume alcohol legally from licensed liquor shop at specified hotels.
Bootlegging is rampant but it carries a risk as well. Amazingly but almost all brands are available though you have have to pay a slightly higher price and buy from a know source. Beer is difficult to come by (this is where your permit comes in handy) as is wine.
But booze is strictly a private affair and don't expect to order a drink at a restaurant (obviously there are no bars here) and you will have to drink in your hotel room or at someone's home. If someone invites you to a party, there is a good chance you will be offered a drink there. You can be arrested or detained for consuming alcohol illegally. However it is best to consume alcohol at your hotel room or at a very close friends place. Majority of the guests staying at a hotel consume it in their rooms and there is always an implied consent from the hotel who will serve you ice, soda and glasses.
Many small shops sell lassis and chaach which is made out of yogurt. You have a lot of choice: sweet, salty, with almonds. Farki, Jalaram, Girish Cold Drinks and Krishna Dairy are some of the famous ones. Apart from this, Janta Ice Cream and Cold Drinks offers cold Chocolate Coco, a chocolate flavored thick - shake. Shambhu is very popular for coffee. Most of the small shops on roadside along with food offer Cold coffee for just Rs. 15/. There is also a very wide variety of fresh fruit juice available. You have lot of roadside lorries selling fresh coconut water. Besides, Ahmedabad is a place where most Ice Cream is consumed in the world. You would love to test many of the local brands like Havmore, Patels, Chills Thrills & Frills, Rajsthan Ice Cream, etc.

The Water in Ahmedabad is hard and generally everybody uses RO system to purify water. You can either install a RO machine or buy 20 ltr cans of water. Normally all localities have water cans supplied to your home by local suppliers which can be consumed for drinking.Mostly all resturants serve bootled but you should exercise care when drinking at smaller places.

The World Bank has included Ahmedabad in the list of Indian cities for a ranking on 'Doing Business in India - 2009'. The World Bank, which brings out the report in association with the International Finance Corporation, agreed to include Ahmedabad after the Gujarat government made a strong representation for including the city in this survey to determine the investment climate across India. The World Bank's earlier report 'Doing Business in India - 2007' did not take into account Ahmedabad while it covered Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Patna and Ranchi. The survey for the 2009 report too by passed Ahmedabad, even as it listed cities like Jaipur, Hyderabad and Bangalore. When officials in Gandhinagar came to know of it, they fought for its inclusion and have finally succeeded. World Bank officials will be coming to Gujarat next month to make an initial survey, talking to businesses based in Ahmedabad. The state government has quickly moved in to do some window-dressing. A state-level committee has been put in place under the chairmanship of chief secretary Manjula Subramaniam, with state industries commissioner Sujit Gulati as member-secretary, to improve procedures to meet the 10 parameters. (see box) A notification issued on Friday also instructed all state departments and agencies to identify critical areas of public interface and device a roadmap to reduce time and cost. The departments are expected to study best practices within the country and abroad, and suggest improvement mainly through e-governance. The objective is to introduce greater accountability within the system to eliminate red-tape and bring about greater efficiency.

Amdavadi people love to cook and eat! Their variety of cuisine is famous all around. During the weekends, most of the people eat outside, and there is a big wait list. If you are not eating, you can see families and youngsters hanging around ice-cream. One thing is for sure that everyone enjoys Sunday evening out.
Some of the famous food joints are Honest, Sankalp, Mirch Masala, Ras Ranjan, Sheeba Vishala, Rajwadu, and Goverdhan Thal. You have Dairy Don, Vadlilal, or Havmor for ice-cream delicacies, and Pizza Huts, US Pizza, Domino's or Greens for salad and pizzas. Try Upper Crust and Barista for baked goods/coffee delights. But nothing can beat the small roadside mobile lorry/vans that serve hot/spicy pav bhaji, bhel dabeli, gotas, bhajias, or the yummy pani puri. Gathiya Jalebi of Gathiya Rath is yum.
I think each day of the year you could eat at a different joint in Ahmedabad.
For Fast food Pav vada of Jai Bhavani on CG Road, Pavbhaji of honest, Dalvada of Gujarat Dalvada at Parimal crossing, Dabeli at Karnavati Dabeli, the 6 flavoured panipuris at any of the vans, pani puri at Ras ranjan, tea at the tea stall outside IIM gate, Bhajia outisde Ahmedabad and Raipur Bhajia House at Raipur Darwaja , Bhelpuri and Sev puri at any of the roadside guys, pastries at TGB bakery, paneer chilly puff at Reliance Mega mart.
For Continental vegetarian food I think TGB is the best place. For South indian food Sankalp, Dasaprakash and Murugan express. Swati Snacks on Law garden serves gujrati snacks. Panki and Dalkhichda are few of my favourite dieshes. Tomato's offers good continental veg and non veg with a list of mocktails to choose from. For vegetarian Punjabi food Epicurian Alley at Ashram Road and Jungle book a theme restaurant are worth trying. Gormoh on Judges bungalow Road also serves great punjabi food. Mirch Masala on SG highway is very popular for its veg and no veg cuisines. Dhuaan open restaurant on the terrace of The Grand Bhagwati hotels has a very good ambience and lovely vegetarian food. Please do try the juices there. For Veg and non veg sizzlers, Ikobo near Drive in Cinema is really good. Round the corner - Upper Crust at Vastrapur also serves sizzlers which are worth trying. Chavla,Curries and Flavours are famous for Nonvegetarian indian dishes. Sanjha Chula on the way to Gandhinagar serves excellent punjabhi food. Barbeque Nation near Drive in Cinema offers the concept of Live Grills at the covers where guests can barbecue food themselves to get an authentic feel. One can choose from Mediterranean, American and pan-Asian cuisines.A household name for ice-creams is Patel and for kulfis the indisputable market leader is Asharfi.

Ahmedabad is no longer away from latest fashion trends. From traditional wear to latest fashion wear everything is available.

Ahmedabad specialities include jewellery, handloom and handicrafts and artifacts. The main areas for shopping would be Gandhi Road and Relief Road in Old Ahmedabad . In the new city, C.G Road and Law Garden are noted for its‘ethnic fashion street’. In Bandhej and Gurjari, you get a good mix of traditional and latest stuff. All the brands from Pantaloons, Pyramid, Lifestyle, Globus, Lilliput, Gini & Jony, Maxx, Loot Mart, Westside etc are available. Fashion designers like Ritukumars have their boutique in Ahmedabad.

Bib Bazaar, Magnet, Star Bazaar, Reliance Hypermarket, Reliance fresh, Subhiksha, Aditya Birlas more, India Bulls, Tru Mart by Godrej have number of outlets all over Ahmedabad.

For Shoes you have Mochi, Regal, Metro, Shoe Factory, Bata, Liberty, Khadims etc. You have exclusive Reebok, Adidas and Woodland shoe stores. You the local market where you get a huge variety which is know as Pagarkha in Gujarati.

You have exclusive Croma Electonic megastore stores branches throughout Ahmedabad. 'Home Town' a Future Bazaar group intitaitive on 1.30 lakh sq. ft. of floor space offer all that is required to build a house and everything that is required to convert a house into a ‘Home.’. HomeTown offers a wide variety of goods and services under one roof. Apart from home improvement products, HomeTown also offers services like electrical, plumbing, interior decoration, painting, etc.

Hospitality and real estate conglomerate Phoenix Group has announced plans to develop a luxury-class business hotel in Ahmedabad. The group has identified land in the city and work on the project is expected to begin by the end of this year.

They plan to invest Rs 1,500 crore over a span of six years in hospitality and real estate projects. Hotels targeting business travellers will be developed in Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam and Chennai. Their focus is on unexplored potential in these business centres” said Priti Chand, director, communications. “The Ahmedabad project has been designed as a hotel with more than 150 rooms.

It is a new system — Wealth Out of Waste (WOW) —the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is planning to work out a unique system to keep the city clean. The AMC is looking towards engaging agencies that would come to your doorstep and pay you by the kilo for the garbage that you give them. This system is prevalent in many cities across the US and a huge money-minting business in Frankfurt, Germany.
The idea was generated by an NGO, formed by a group of retired officers of a leading corporate house, who approached the AMC with an action plan last week. Residents would be provided with three specially-designed containers for segregation of waste. The agency would collect the segregated waste from your home and pay you for the collection.
Garbage primarily does not interest us much, but if there is an incentive tagged with it, I think implementaion will not be a problem.

Gujarat Institute of Housing and Estate Developers (GIHED) has joined hands with the Association of Indian Americans in North America (AIANA) to host their first international property show at the second ‘Chaalo Gujarat: World Gujarati Conference' to be held at New Jersey in August 2008. The three-day conference-cum-exposition, in which nearly 50,000 NRGs are expected to participate, will primarily see Ahmedabad-based realtors pitch Ahmedabad as well as upcoming residential and commercial property projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore to Non Resident Gujaratis. The property fair will also showcase a glitzy Ahmedabad of tomorrow, replete with mega projects like Gujarat International Financial Tec-City, Sabarmati riverfront project, Bus Rapid Transit System, new international airport as well as a 3-D colour laser show and special film.

Mount Abu , Rajasthan (250 kms)
Located at 3500 ft above sea level this is the only hill station near Ahmedabad. Mount abu enjoys pleasant weather all through the year and is a preferred getaway from Ahmedabad. The Nakki lake is beautiful. Wondrously carved in marble, the Dilwara temples enshrine various Jain tirthankaras, saints.

Jaisamand Island Resort, Rajasthan ( 220 kms)
This is a lakeside Island Retreat with AC Rooms and facilities like Swimming Pool, boating and Indoor/outdoor games. There is a conference Hall for corporates and trips to nearby sanctuary for birders and wildlife enthusiasts can be arranged.

Udaipur , Rajasthan (250 kms)
Udaipur is a world renowned destination, known for its lakes ( Lake Pichola , Swaroopsagar and Fatehsagar). While in Udaipur you can take a boat ride in Lake Pichola or visit the nearby Ranakpur (60 kms), Eklingji (25 kms) and Srinathji (42 kms) Temples .

Kumbalgarh (300 kms)
It is a wildlife retreat in the aravalli hill. Aodhi heritage hotel is a good retreat offering swimming pool and cottage type accommodation and can arrange for a jeep Safari in the park. Winter and Summer Weekend Packages are quite popular with Ahmedabad Guests.

Gir Forest (360kms)
Sasan Gir is home to the world renowned Gir Forest, the natural habitat of the Asiatic Lion. The Gir National Park and Sanctuary has a scenic charm and covers an area of 1412 square km of dry deciduous forest. The tranquility of the Gir Forest, with its splendid flora and fauna, is a nature lover’s delight. Apart from the leopard, jungle cat and rusty spotted cat, the Gir Forest also is home to the cheetal, sambhar, four-horned antelope, wild boar and hare. A bird watcher’s paradise, Gir has over 200 species of avi-fauna, including peacocks and parakeets. The lakes and perennial rivers enhance the serene surroundings of Gir. Lion Safari Camp is a good riverside retreat. Amidhara Resorts offers a swimming pool. The Gir lodge of Taj hotels is avery good option. Resorts offer park safaris by Jeep. The Kamleshwar dam in the middle of the sanctuary is home to a record population of marsh crocodiles.
Best period to visit the Gir Sanctuary is between the months of November and June.

Diu / Ahmedpur Mandvi (400 kms)

Diu , a union territory is the one of the best beach retreat from Ahmedabad. It is an island retreat gently rocked by the wind and the wave from the Arabian Sea. It offers you undisturbed peace and an unusual holiday. There are many option where one can stay.

Dasada
Dasada is located on the edge of little Rann of Kutch which is an extension of the Rann of Kutch onto Saurashtra. It is located just 90 kms north-west of Ahmedabad and thus making it an ideal weekend getaway. It is visited for the Wild Ass, which is a rarely found in the wild and also for migratory birds that are spotted in nearby swamps and marshlands. The Little Rann of kutch is a birdwatcher's paradise in winter. Houbara bustard, sandgrouse, desert chat, desert wheatear, nine species of larks, quails, gray francolin etc are seen in the saline desert wilderness. Eagles, vultures, harriers and falcons can be seen hunting in the Rann. Rann Riders provides quality accommodation in ethnic huts (AC) with an ethnic decor and meals This alongwith jeep safaris make a good relaxing getaway. Best Season to visit – October - March
http://www.rannriders.com/

Shankus Waterworld resort
It is a destination by itself at just 60 kms north of Ahmedabad. It started as a Waterpark and now a complete resort with Cottages, Tents, Private Lake , large outdoor Area and off course the waterpark. It provides cool relief on a summer day, but also combines the thrills of an amusement park with the relaxation of a day at the pool. In the 10 years since the water park opened, these watery playgrounds have become enormously popular-It has dozens of slick attractions, from towering slides and twisting rides to Aqua Tubes and rollicking wave pools.
http://www.waterworldresort.com/

Balsainore
A Royal Retreat, a heritage Hotel located at 86 kms of East of Ahmedabad. Balasinore is a family retreat and prefers to host well-informed guests who appreciate the heritage nature of the stay. The royal family resides here and is known for its delicious Veg and Non Veg. cuisine. Best Season to visit – October - March
Activities around here comprise visit to Dinosaur excavation site (considered to be one of the third largest sites in the world), a dam and Sulphur Springs, the 13th century Shiv temple, the Laliya Lavhar fort ore, the Krishna temple of Dakore, the Shiv temple at Galteshwar, the havelis of Kapadvanj, the scenic reservior of Vanakbori and the tribal areas of Panchamahals.

Cambay resorts
It is the first SPA Resort of Gujarat, situated in 20 minutes driving distance from the Ahmedabad airport. Cambay Spa & Resort has a Nine hole Executive Golf Course, complete with 30 driving stations, putting & chipping area, Academy, Pro-shop, Coffeshop etc. It offers many customised spa and rejuvination packages.
http://www.cambayholidays.com/gandhinagar.html

Balaram Palace resort
It is the best of its kind in Gujarat and a popular weekend getaway and corporate get-together retreat. Balaram Palace is an ex-Ahmedabad Weekend Getaway Resort and access point for the nearby Balaram Sanctuary. The palace has a neo-classical architecture, with 13 acres of private woodlands and formally landscaped gardens with Mexican lawns, exotic flower beds, modern fountains and well consoled music system. Inside the palace are some beautiful marble galleries, wooden staircases and well appointed public areas. The terrace has views of the Arravali hills, especially during the sunset.Best Season to visit – October - March.
http://www.balarampalace.com/

Dungarpur
Udai bilas palace is a lakeside heritage retreat in Dugarpur and a recommended weekend getaway from Ahmedabad. One can indulge in boating or bird watching. Facilites here include Swimming Pool, Gym and Jacuzzi. It is just a 30 kms detour on the Udaipur Road just ahead of Shamlaji (A Krishna Temple) which can be visited as a part of the plan.
Nestled in idyllic splendour, with the blue waters of Gaibsagar lake on one side and a cove of private reserve forest on the other, Udai Bilas Palace is the embodiment of the old world charm of princely India. Best Season to visit – October – March.
http://www.udaibilaspalace.com/

Gujarat Science City is a bold initiative of the Government of Gujarat to realize this priority. The Government is creating a sprawling center at Ahmedabad which aims to provide a perfect blend of education and entertainment. It will showcase contemporary and imaginative exhibits, minds on experiences, working models, virtual reality, activity corners, labs and live demonstrations to provide an understanding of science and technology to the common man.

Current Attractions are Imax 3D theatre, Hall of Science, Thrill Rider, Musical dancing fountain, Energy Education park, Life science park etc.

Opening Time - 2.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Location : Science City, Village Hebatpur, Sola-Santej Road, Off Sarkhej Gandhinagar Highway,

Ahmedabad – 380 060

For more information log onto http://www.scity.org

Sarkhej Roza
About 8 kms. from the city, Sarkhej comprises one of the most elegant architectural complexes of Ahmedabad. Grouped around a great stepped tank is the tomb to the saint, Ahmed Khattu Ganj Baksh (1445), the mosque, the tombs of Mehmud Shah Begada and his queen, and the palace and pavilions. The buildings are remarkable for the complete absence of arches and the use of pierced stone trellises throughout.

Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
About 60 kms from Ahmedabad, is the delightful bird sanctuary visited by millions of magnificently coloured birds in winter and spring. It harbours over 250 species of wetland birds. Winter migrants from the north including Rosy Pelicans, Flamingoes, White Storks, Brahminy Ducks and Herons visit Nal Sarovar. Between November and February, this 116 sq km lake, is home to vast flocks of indigenous and migratory birds. Ducks, geese, pelicans and flamingos are best seen early in the morning and in the evening and the sanctuary is best visited as a day excursion by taxi, as buses are infrequent and there is no convenient accommodation. Migrating Bharwad shepherds populates the islands of the lake and on the banks are the Padhars, who are excellent folk dancers, artisans and boatmen. One can hire country boats on the lake for bird viewing, and picnic at shacks the on the islands. If you are making the trip to Nalsarovar you can lunch at the KP farm at Sanand, which has a swimming pool, children's amusement park and other facilities, and enjoy the Goyal waterpark. It tends to get crowded on Sundays. The sanctuary mainly comprises a huge lake and ambient marshes.

Adalaj Wav
About 19 kms north of Ahmedabad this stepwell is an architectural wonder built by Queen Rudabai and is certainly one of the finest monuments of Gujarat. It is a seven-storied structure in the form of a well with chambers one behind the other. The ‘Vavs’ or stepped wells of Gujarat were used as meeting and resting-places during summer since their cool interiors offered unbelievable respite from the scorching sun outside. In the summer people warmed themselves on the spacious sunny corridors while wide verandahs offered shelter during the rains.
The stepwell at Adalaj has been preserved by the archaeological department and developed into as a tourist spot. It provides a cool and secluded retreat during the hot summer months. The construction of a stepwell reflected the artistic sense of its promoter. There are hundreds of stepwells in Gujarat, each being unique in its construction. Most of them are simple. The prime purpose behind them could be to serve the people. These step wells attract lots of tourists every year. The carvings, construction and the architecture amaze many experts, since it was built during those days when sophisticated and meticulous engineering techniques had not developed upto the recent standards.

Jumma Masjid
Built in yellow sandstone, it combines the best of Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture. It stands on 260 pillars supporting 15 domes at varying elevations. The mosque is located in the centre of the old city.

Shaking Minarets
The shaking minarets are two minarets located at the Siddhi Bashir mosque. They are uniquely designed in a way that when one minaret is shaken the other one shakes too.

Hatheesing Jain Temple
Built of pure white marble and profusely decorated with rich carvings, the Hatheesing Temple is dedicated to Dharamnath, the 15th Jina.

Sabarmati Ashram
This was his Mahatma Gandhis first Satyagraha Ashram.Hridaya Kunj, the cottage where he lived is preserved as it was in the Mahatma's lifetime. The Gandhi Ashram has a memorial centre, library and a sound and light spectacle to offer its visitors.

Siddi Sayed Mosque
One part of the wall in the old citadel of the mosque built by Ahmed Shah's slave, Sidi Sayed, is celebrated all over the world for its exquisite stone window tracery - a superb example of delicate carving that transforms stone into filigree.

Teen Darwaja
The triple-arched gateway was built by Sultan Ahmed Shah to serve as the royal entrance to the Maidan Shahi or the Royal Square. It is an imposing monument of perfect proportions.

Shah Alam Roza
The tomb and mosque of Saint Shah Alam are said to have been built by the brother of the Empress Noorjehan. The brass doors are set in carved marble frames and the floor tiled in black and white marble.

Kankaria Lake
The polygonal lake almost a mile in circumference (it has approx. 34 sides) with intricate sluice gates was created by the Sultans. It has an island garden, called Nagina wadi. The lake attracts good birdlife. Sultan Qutab-ud-din built this in 1451. The lake is now a popular recreational centre and is surrounded by parks, 'Bal Vatika', children's gardens, a boat club, natural history museum and a zoo.

Akshardham
Inspired by H. D. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Akshardham is a miracle worked by the service and devotion of thousands of volunteers. The entire monument was built without the use of steel. Besides a 7 feet gold leafed idol of Lord Swaminarayan and his holy relics, there are three exhibitions on Indian Culture with light and sound shows, a multimedia show and an animatronics show. Games, rides and food refreshments are other attractions of Akshardham. It is 28 kilometers from Ahmedabad.

Ambaji
Situated on the Arasur hill near Mount Abu, Ambaji is one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Gujarat. It is the principal shrine of the goddess-Amba and is recognised as one of the original Shakti Pithas. It attracts pilgrims in numbers beyond comprehension and large number of devotees assemble at this temple on the occasions of four purnima fairs held every year on the full moon day of Kartik, Chaitra, Bhadrapad and Aso. In the vicinity of Ambaji are the well-known Jain temples of Kumbhariya and Gabbar, a steep hill on the peak of which are footprints of Goddess. During the holy month of Bhadrapad, devotees trek hundreds of miles on foot to reach the temple. Ambaji is located 179 kilometers from Ahmedabad .

Dakorji
The temple with a striking image of Lord Krishna is the temple of Ranchodare, belonging to the golden period of Dwarks. The temple houses a tank containing several species of turtles regularly fed by the pilgrims. Originally known as DankaPur, it is here that the Lord Shri Dwarkadhishji migrated to get away from the increasingly decadent temple priests of Dwarka. It is said that a devotee brought the image from Dwarka and installed it in Dakor. On the silvery night of the full moon in October-November, a fair is held in the temple compound attracting thousands of pilgrims. Dakorji temple is 90kms from Ahmedabad

Mahudi
A small village famous for Jinalaya of Ghantakarna Mahavir and Kotyark temple. There are thousands of people from different religions offering prayers besides Jain devotees. The temple's prasad-Sukhadi is not allowed to be taken outside the temple. It is a centre of pilgrimage for the Jains devotees and Khadayata Banias. Jain temple is dedicated to Vir Ghantakarna. Jain Muni Buddhisagarji had observed a long period of penance here and had inspired the construction of new temple. Devotees offer `sukhadi', (assorted varieties of food) which after offering, is eaten within the temple complex. Tradition forbids the carrying away of such offering. Large and clean sarai offers comfortable stay to the pilgrims. The Sun temple of Kotyark attracts the Khadayata community. The mother and child idol of this temple dates back to Gupta period. It is 78 kms from Ahmedabad.

Modhera
Modhera is famous for its Sun Temple, the best example of Solanki temple architecture in the state and one of the most magnificent monuments in Gujarat.The Sun Temple (dedicated to the Sun God) of Modhera is one of the finest examples of Indian temple architecture, built in 1026 A.D. It has spectacular carvings, fine architecture and traditional erotic sculpture. Modhera, sometimes called Mundera is situated on the banks of the River Pushpavati about 25 kms. from Mehsana The beautiful and partially ruined Sun Temple of Modhera was built by King Bhimdev I of the Solanki Rajput clan and bears some resemblance to the later, and far better known, Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa. It was designed so, that the dawn Sun shone on the image of Surya, the sun god, at the time of the equinoxes. The main hall and shrine are reached through a pillared porch and the temple exterior is intricately and delicately carved. Every inch of the edifice, both inside and outside is magnificently carved with Gods and Goddesses, birds, beasts and flowers. The temple is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. Modhera is 102 kms. from Ahmedabad

Palitana
Palitana temples are considered to be the most sacred amongst all the Jain temples. Located on Shetrunjaya hills there are 863 temples, exquisitely carved in marble. No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods. Palitana is 215 kms from Ahmedabad.

Somnath
Somnath is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of lord Shiva, offering a holy pilgrimage. The temple has imposing architecture, a 50-meter high shikara tower and a pretty Nandi. Constantly washed by the Arabian Sea, the temples of Somnath were destroyed seven times but were rebuilt each time. The majestic monument as it stands today is a replica of the earlier construction. It is 412 kms from Ahmedabad.

Dwarka
The sacred town of Dwarka one of the main centres of the krishna legend,Dwarka is thwe 6th city on this site,the earlier five having been submerged in the sea. It is one of the four dhams of Hinduism. The other dhams are Badrinath-Kedarnath, Rameshwaram, and Puri. Dwarka's mythical association with lord Krishna makes it one of the important Gujarat temples. Dwarka is 441 kms from Ahmedabad.

There are many more temples around Ahmedabad which are a replica of Vaishnodevi mata, Tirupati Balaji and Amarnath devta.

Im not a gujarati but one of my favourite cuisines is Gujarati food.

Gujarati cuisine is unlike any other Indian cuisine. Almost strictly vegetarian, it is traditionally served on silver platters with the accompaniment of rice and a variety of rotis.
Even though the state of Gujarat has absorbed many foreign influences over the years, the basic tastes in food have remained the same. There are few people who do not relish Gujarati savouries - crisp spicy fried farsans, which can be bought in wayside stalls. The famous Gujarati thali served at weddings consists of farsans, sweetmeats and a variety of sweet and sour chutneys and pickles. Mixing of the sweet with the salty is what makes the cooking of this state different from the rest.

Traditional Gujarati thali in Ahmedabad consists of rice, dal, curry, vegetables, sweet, farsan, pickles, chutney and raita. Farsans are of various varieties such as Patara, Khaman Dhokla, and Khandvi.

For traditional Gujurati thali, your best bet would be Chetna at Relief Road, Ratanpole. Not to miss is Vishala at Vasna, tradition is reflected in its ambience, decor and cuisine lending it an essentially rustic feel. Its village setting is enhanced by dim lighting, small stalls dotting the pathway showcasing cultural souvenirs including a utensil museum. Another flagship restaurant for Gujarati food is Agashiye at Lal Darwaja which is very popular for the taste and ambience. Gordhan Thal located at the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway is a legendary outlet in its own right. The ambience and decor of this restaurant is essentially Rajwadi style detailing mirror work, mud work and other traditional Rajasthani interiors. Sasuji on CG road is also popular in the business area for it traditional gujarati food. There are so many gujarati thali joints and very one has its own speciality.

Please do not be mistaken that in Ahmedabad you get only gujarati food you name the cuisine and its available from italian to mexican, punjabi to south indian, local fast food, or anythign else.

Ahmedabad is a land of fairs and festivities. Amdavadis celebrate all festivals with their friends of all communities from lodhi to holi to diwali and New year. The two major festivals that they celebrate are Uttarayan and Navrataras.

Uttarayan
Uttarayan popularly know as makar sankranti in other states which falls on 14th January is celebrated by all families throught Gujarat. It is celebrated to observe the end of winter season and give a warm welcome to the summer season. It is during this festive occasion that, Ahmedabad turns into a hub of life. The entire city is abuzz with activities and feasts.
"Kaapyo Chhey" - This is what you could hear on 14th January which means I have cut the kite of the other people. The preparartion of this day start one day before by tying thread to the kite. All the family meber sit togethe ron the night before to plan for the next day. You will find kites in variuos colours and sizes accross all shops. Also the thread poularly called manjha in local language are also of variuos types. Kite flying start during the day and till late evenings people fly kites by driving lamps (Tukkal) attached to kites in the sky. It looks beautiful. Its lots of fun since people gather together on terraces and fly kites and dance to the loud music together.
Please do not miss out ! no festival is complete without food for amdavadis. People generally dont cook food at home and there are number of Food corners selling Undhiya, Puri, Jalebi and Fafda which is a delicacy and one must eat.
The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd organises an international kite flying competition and demonstration in Ahmedabad, inviting expert kitetists from Australia, Japan and the world over for shows.

Navratri Festival
Devoted to Goddess Shakti, the Navratri festival in Ahmedabad is celebrated with gaiety and fervor. The main highlight of the festivity of nine nights is the folk dance of Gujarat called Garba. Each day of the fiesta begins with the performance of aarti. The entire state of Ahmedabad gets energized with the thought of celebrating the Navratri festival. In many public places garba is organised. Almost all societies organise garba withing their building premises. The colourful attire with detailed kathiawadi or mirror work in lovely bright colours worn by the localities is mesmerising. The local garba folk songs wldnt spare you from tapping.

Will try to take pictures of both the festival in times to come....

Airport
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad is well connected by air with the rest of the world by major scheduled airline operators. Ahmedabad has direct international connections to the middle-east towns of Sharjah, Kuwait and Muscat and also Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. It is also connected to Europe and USA through an aircraft change at Delhi or Mumbai.

Flights operate between Ahmedabad and the metropolitan and other major cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Pune, Baroda, Jabalpur, Nagpur, Indore, Raipur, Kandla, Surat, Bhopal and Jaipur.
Air India, Indian Airlines, Spice Jet, Go Air, Indigo airlines, Simplify Deccan, Kingfisher airlines , Jet Airways and Jet Lite Air provide scheduled air services to Ahmedabad.

Railway Stations
Ahmedabad is connected by 2 major stations Kalupur Station and Maninagar station. The main railway station , Kalupur station also referred to as the Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station is the primary terminus of rail transport. It serves trains that connect Ahmedabad to different parts of Gujarat, as well as major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. Another important Railway Station in Ahmedabad is Maninagar which is a halt station for some of the important trains coming to Ahmedabad. There are many secondary railway stations namely Gandhigram, Asarva, Sarkhej and Sabarmati junction.

Road
There are variuos luxury and normal buses operated by government and private operators which ply between major cities. Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) is a public transport corporation providing bus services / Public transit within Gujarat and to the neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Madhyapradesh and Maharashtra. It also runs buses to the Union Teritories of Daman & Diu. GSRTC has total of approximately 9000 buses covering 16 divisions within the State of Gujarat. Private operatorssuch as Shreenath travels, Raj National express, Eagle travels, Ashwamegh travels etc operate A/c sleeper, Volvo Deluxe, Sleeper and coaches to variuos destinations within and outside the state.
National Highway 8, linking Delhi to Mumbai, passes though Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is connected to Vadodara through National Expressway 1, this expressway is part of the Golden Quadrilateral project. Ahmedabad is directly connected by highways to Bhavnagar, Nadiad, Mehsana, Surendranagar, Bhuj, Rajkot and Gandhinagar.

Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, Ahmedabad is the centre of Gujarati cultural activities and diverse traditions of different ethnic and religious communities.The city is sometimes called Karnavati, a name for an older town that existed in the same location; in colloquial Gujarati, it is commonly called Amdavad. A rising centre of education, information technology, pharmaceutical and scientific industries, Ahmedabad remains the cultural and commercial heart of Gujarat.

Dont be mistaken city is full of life with skyscrapers, multiplexes, unbelivable number of food joints serving all kinds of food you never could have imagined. I and my husband have moved to number of places but believe me I love this city for its varied culture, excellent food, unbelivable shopping (traditional to modern stuff), number of multiplexes and not to miss the drive in theatre, Akshardham, festive celebrations within socities, the navratra colours, the Uttrayan kite flying and what more the list is never ending...

City is very well connected to most places by air as it has a Domestic and International airport. Railway lines connect the city to all towns in Gujarat, and to major cities in the rest of India. Auto rickshaws, share autos and buses are the most popular forms of public transport

The medical facilities are also very good with lots of speciality hospitals. There are number of international, State board, ICSE and CBSE board schools. For recreation and sports, there are number of Clubs in the city.

The city is well industrialised with number of pharma and chemical industries. Two of the biggest pharmaceutical companies of India , Zydus Cadila and Torrent Pharmaceuticals are based in the city. Arvind mills, Adani group, Nirma group and many more names have major base in Ahmedabad.

In Ahmedabad except monsoons, Climate is dry. The weather is very hot in summers and temperatures reach upto 46°C. Winters are generally pleasant and cool.