Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, the city of Ahmed Shah (Medieval ruler of Gujarat) is the capital city of the state of Gujarat, India. The city is known for its rich past and association with Mahatma Gandhi. It offers Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. It is the land of enormous temples, mosque and historical buildings.

Some of the best places to visit in the financial capital of the state have been discussed below:

1. Sabarmati Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram (also known as Gandhi Ashram, Harijan Ashram, or Satyagraha Ashram) is located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, adjoining the Ashram Road, on the banks of the River Sabarmati, four miles from the town hall. This was one of the residences of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who lived there for about twelve years along with his wife, Kasturba Gandhi.

The ashram has a museum, the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya which had originally been located in Hridaya Kunj, Gandhi's own cottage in the ashram. Other buildings and sites within the ashram include nandini, Vinoba Kutir, Upasana Mandir and Magan Niwas.

With prior appointment from The Secretary, Gandhi Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust, the Gandhi Smarak Sangralaya, a walking tour can be organised. This 90-minute guided tour involves visits to the Magan Niwas, Upasana Mandir, Hriday Kunj, Vinoba-Mira Kutir, Nandini, Udyog Mandir, Somnath Chattralaya, Teacher's Niwas, Gandhi in Ahmedabad, Painting Gallery, My life is my message and Library & Archives.

2. Kankaria Lake
Kankaria Lake, formerly known as Hauz e Qutub, is the second largest lake in Ahmedabad. It is located in the south-eastern part of the city, in the Maninagar area. At one point of the circular lake, there opens a walkway which later merges into a garden called Nagina Wadi located in the centre of the lake. With an approximate circumference of 3 miles (4.8 km), it represents the regale history of Ahmedabad and is a 34-sided polygon having steps leading down to the water level.

A lakefront is developed around it with many public attractions such as a zoo, toy train, kids city, tethered balloon ride, water rides, water park, food stalls, and entertainment facilities. Kankaria Carnival is a week-long festival held here in the last week of December. Many cultural, art, and social activities are organised during the carnival.

Segways are available for the easy movement of people around the lake. A mini golf course, Aqua Kart and other water sports, Vertical Swing, Paint Ball Shooting, Black Flash and rides, Sky Fly and other joyrides have also been introduced.

3. Auto World Vintage Car Museum
The Auto World Vintage Car Museum in Ahmedabad is a perfect blend of science & technology combined with sublime art & aesthetics. It is the largest and finest automobile collection in India and one of the best in the world.

The Museum displays a collection of limousines, convertibles, sports cars, and buggies. It also features cars that have been specially built as railway saloons, along with horse drawn carriages, boat tailed wooden speedsters, and shooting brakes. It reflects that time of history when owning an automobile was a mark of power, prestige and style.

Spread over acres of land, the Car Museum displays more than 100 of the finest cars like Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Daimlers, Langondas, Mercedes, Packards, Maybach, Cadillacs, Buicks, Auburns, Cord, Lancias, Lincolns, Chryslers and several other renowned makes from the USA, the UK and Europe. It also offers a souvenir shop, a cafeteria and a station for fun drives in these vintage cars for a reasonable amount of Rs.500 for 3.5kms.

4. Dada Harir Stepwell
Dada Harir Stepwell is a stepwell in Asarwa area of Ahmedabad. The well bears two inscriptions, one in Sanskrit on the south, and one in Arabic on the north wall of the first gallery.

Built in sand stone in Solanki architectural style, the stepwell is five stories deep. It is octagonal (8-sided polygon) in plan at the top, built on intricately carved large number of pillars. Each floor is spacious enough to provide for people to congregate. The air and light vents in the roofs at various floors and at the landing level are in the form of large openings. From the first story level, three staircases lead to the bottom water level of the well, which is considered a unique feature.

At the level of the ground, it is 190 feet long by forty wide. At the east end, from a domed canopy, a descent of eight steps leads to a covered gallery. A second flight of nine steps leads to another gallery, and a third of eight steps to the lowest gallery two or three foot above the level of the water. At each landing a corridor runs along the sides and leads to other galleries that cross the well at intervals.

Built along a East-West axis, entrance is from the East, the two spiral staircases are in West, near the well. The structural system is typically Indian style with traditional trabeat with horizontal beams and lintels. At the bottom of the well is a square stepped floor in the shape of a funnel extending to the lowest plane, strengthened with stone beams, set at 45 degrees angle. The motifs of flowers and graphics of Islamic architecture blend very well with the symbols of Hindu and Jain gods carved at various levels of the well.

5. Manek Chowk
Manek Chowk is a notable city square surrounded by historical structures in Old Ahmedabad. It is named after saint Maneknath who interrupted and helped Ahmed Shah I built Bhadra Fort in 1411.

This bustling open square functions as a vegetable market in the morning and a jewellery market in the afternoon, the second biggest in India, at an apparently 3 million rupees of annual turnover and the street food market at night. Manek chowk is best known for its Kulfi.

The memorial temple where the saint Maneknath took samadhi, is situated in Manek Chowk. Badshah no Hajiro, the place where Ahmed Shah I and the male members of the royal family were buried lies to the west of Manek Chowk. To the east lays Rani no Hajiro, the place where the female members of the royal family were buried. It is now a market for women's clothing, jewellery and accessories. Traditional Garba clothes are also sold here.

6. Akshardham Temple
The Akshardham mandir, built with 6,000 metric tons of pink sandstone from Rajasthan measures 108 feet high, 131 feet wide and 240 feet long and features 97 carved pillars, 17 domes, 8 balconies, 220 stone beams and 264 sculpted figures. In accordance with Vedic architectural principles, no steel or iron has been used in the construction of the mandir. 20 foot-long stone beams, each weighing five tons, have been used as load-bearing support throughout the mandir.

The mandir’s central chamber houses a seven-foot-tall, gold-leafed murti of Swaminarayan resting upon a three-foot pedestal and weighs 1.2 tons. It is flanked by the murtis of the ideal devotee, Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami and Aksharmukta Goplanand Swami, both in postures of loving devotion toward Swaminarayan. In each of the four corners of the mandir sits a life-sized marble murti of the lineages of gurus or successors of Swaminarayan revered by BAPS.

The first floor of the mandir is known as the Vibhuti Mandapam and features lotus-shaped displays describing the spiritual character of Swaminarayan, while the basement of the mandir, called the Prasadi Mandapam, houses a historical display of various sacred relics from Swaminarayan’s life.

7. Gujarat Science City
Gujarat Science City, located in Hebatpur, Ahmedabad, is part of a government initiative to draw more students towards education in science. The centre hosts an IMAX 3D theatre, an energy park, a hall of science, Planet Earth, an amphitheatre, Life Science Park and dancing musical fountains among others. The centre also provides housing for students preparing for science exams.

Earth Pavilion - an earth-shaped dome created in 2009 in the Science City showcases live experiences with natural disasters. It also details each continent and allows visitors to participate in hands-on activities.

8. Parimal Garden
Parimal Garden has something to offer for every age group. It has a park area for the kids to play and is also a favourite among fitness enthusiasts. People come here during the mornings and evenings for walks and jogs. Activities such as a laughing club are also held here. A variety of street side breakfast options are also available during the mornings.

9. Vechaar Utensils Museum
VECHAAR (Vishalla Environmental Centre for Heritage of Art, Architecture and Research) Utensils Museum exhibits the rich cultural heritage and rare artistic skills of the craftsmen. It displays an extensive study of utensils from thousands of years old to present times that have evolved over different periods of history as a result of our changing needs and environment.

The metal utensils range from leaves or a gourd jug, to modern stainless steel and glass utensils. The museum features everything starting from brass, copper, bronze, zinc to German silver.

10. Vastrapur Lake
Vastrapur Lake, situated in western part of Ahmedabad is officially named after Narsinh Mehta. The lake boasts an open-air theatre and children's park. There is a pathway all around the lake which serves many walkers and joggers in the early mornings and in the evenings.

The lush green lawns surrounding this lake also serve as a central hub of Ahmedabad, wherein various cultural events take place regularly. At times, the water from Narmada River is allowed to flow into this lake. The lake is surrounded by pretty gardens with much stonework.

Vastrapur Lake was renamed to 'Bhakt Kavi Narsinh Mehta Sarovar' in 2013 in memory of Narsinh Mehta and a statue of Narsinh Mehta was installed in the garden of lake.

11. Nehru Bridge
Nehru Bridge is a major bridge over the river Sabarmati, and serves as an artery of major public transport for the city of Ahmedabad. It is a modern and larger bridge compared to the landmark Ellis Bridge, and is dedicated to Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister.

One of the attractions of Ahmedabad City, the Patang Revolving Restaurant is situated near Nehru Bridge on the banks of Sabarmati River.

12. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial is a museum and exhibition centre dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Moti Shahi Mahal, located in Shahibaug, near Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad.

The Vallabhbhai Patel memorial is located on the ground floor of the Moti Shahi Mahal and covers the central hall and four adjacent rooms. The central hall is filled with portraits of Patel, his family, friends and colleagues in the Indian freedom struggle. They are in chronological order and with biographical descriptions of periods of his life, and quotes by his colleagues and admirers. Two of the four adjacent rooms house relics of Patel's life, his personal possessions as well as displayed accounts and political cartoons from newspapers of the time.

One room is devoted to a particular phase of Patel's work - his comradeship with Mohandas Gandhi, his youth, education and legal career, and his work as India's home minister. In a room to the right of the main entrance into the palace, Patel's personal effects such as his khadi kurta, jacket and dhoti, shoes, slippers and European-style clothes from his younger days are on display.

13. Sidi Bashir Mosque
Sidi Bashir Mosque was located in the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Due to its unique construction, the minarates of mosque are also called Jhulta Minar or Shaking Minarets. There are two minarets in the mosque, each of which is three stories tall with carved balconies. It is around 600 years old.

The mosque was completed in 1452. Only the minarets and arched central gateway remain; the body of the building was destroyed in 1753 during the war between the Marathas and Khan of Gujarat Sultanate.

14. Amdavad ni Gufa
Amdavad ni Gufa is an underground art gallery in Ahmedabad that exhibits works of the Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain. The gallery represents a unique juxtaposition of architecture and art.

The cave-like underground structure has a roof made of multiple interconnected domes, covered with a mosaic of tiles. On the inside, irregular tree-like columns support the domes. It was earlier known as Husain-Doshi ni Gufa. There are facilities for special painting exhibitions and for projecting films. Gardens and a café are located above ground.

The structure's contemporary architecture draws on ancient and natural themes. The domes are inspired by the shells of tortoises and by soap bubbles. The interior is divided by tree trunks or columns similar to those found at Stonehenge.

15. Hutheesing Jain Temple
Hutheesing Temple is the best known Jain temple in Ahmedabad. The temple is dedicated to Dharmanatha, the fifteenth Jain Tirthankar. The temple was built during a severe famine in Gujarat. Building the temple employed hundreds of skilled artisans which supported them for a period of two years. The temple is managed by Hutheesing family trust.

The main building is double-storied. The moolnayak is marble image of the 15th Tirthankara, Lord Dharamnath. The main temple houses 11 deities, six in basement and five in three bay sanctuaries. The main shrine lies on the east and temple is covered with a big dome supported by twelve ornate pillars. In addition there are 52 shrines (devakulikas), each adorned with an image of a Tirthankara.

The secondary shrines form a long gallery its three sides. The front is exquisitely ornamented by a 'dome' shaped structure. The temple has a unique Manastambha (or column of honour) inspired by the Jain Manastambha and the Kirtistambha at Chittore in Rajasthan.

The monuments of Ahmedabad mainly date back to the 15th century. The city has been known for its industry since the medieval times and is also known as 'Manchester of the East' for its textile mills. It offers architectural monuments and edifices of historical importance for sightseeing and the travellers can explore the natural as well as manmade tourist places of the beautiful city which have become common places of interest in Ahmedabad.