Spend the morning in the old city: the shaking minarets, the Jama Masjid, Bhadra Fort, the Sidi Saiyyed jali and the Hutheesing Jain Temple. Reach the Sabarmati Ashram at about 12:15, then lunch. In the afternoon, Adalaj Stepwell at about 15:00 and Atal Bridge at about 16:20. It is about 55 km by cab, back by about 17:30.
Start in the old city in the morning: the shaking minarets at about 09:15, the Jama Masjid and Ahmed Shah's tomb, Bhadra Fort and Teen Darwaja, the Sidi Saiyyed jali and the Hutheesing Jain Temple before 12:00. The Sabarmati Ashram from about 12:15, then lunch. Adalaj Stepwell at about 15:00 and Atal Bridge over the river at about 16:20. About 55 km by cab, back by about 17:30. On a Friday the mosques are done before midday prayers; on a Monday the Flower Park by the bridge is closed.
Two minarets of the Sidi Bashir mosque, opposite the railway station. When one is shaken, the other shakes too. The mosque itself was lost long ago; only the minarets and the arched gateway between them remain.
Tip: Climbing the minarets has not been allowed since 1981, so it is a short stop to look from below.
The city's great mosque, built in 1424 by Ahmed Shah, who founded Ahmedabad. A wide courtyard leads to a prayer hall of 260 carved pillars. The founder's tomb, Badshah no Hajiro, is just outside the east gate, with the queens' tombs (Rani no Hajiro) in the bazaar beyond.
Tip: Take off your shoes at the gate and cover your shoulders and knees. Don't visit at prayer times, above all Friday midday. Women may not go inside Ahmed Shah's tomb. Manek Chowk, the market behind it, turns into a night food street from about 21:00.
The fort Ahmed Shah built in 1411, the first building of the new city. You can climb to the roof for a view over the old city, see the Bhadrakali temple by its gate, and walk along the open plaza to Teen Darwaja, the triple gateway.
Tip: The plaza between the fort and Teen Darwaja is for walkers and fills with street stalls in the evening.
A small mosque from 1573, famous for its stone jali: windows carved like lace, with a tree whose branches wind round each other. The design is the symbol of Ahmedabad and of IIM Ahmedabad.
Tip: The best view of the jali is from outside, so you don't need to go in. Women may not enter the prayer hall. It stands on a busy traffic island at Lal Darwaja, so the cab drops you and waits nearby.
A white marble Jain temple from 1848, built by the merchant Hutheesing and finished by his widow Harkunvar. It has 52 small shrines round a courtyard and a carved tower, the Manastambha, beside it.
Tip: Leave shoes and leather things at the gate, and dress with knees and shoulders covered. Photos may not be allowed inside the shrines.
Gandhi's home from 1917 to 1930, on the bank of the Sabarmati. You can see Hriday Kunj, the simple cottage where he and Kasturba lived, his spinning wheel and writing desk, and a museum of photos and letters. He set out from here on the Salt March to Dandi in 1930.
Tip: Entry is free and it opens at 10:00. While conservation work goes on, Hriday Kunj can be seen only from outside; the museum and the grounds stay open. The old entrance road is closed, so the cab drops you on the new approach road.
A five-storey stepwell from 1498, built by Queen Rudabai. Every floor is carved with flowers, elephants and small shrines, and the steps go down to a well that stays cool in summer. It is about 18 km north of the city, on the way to Gandhinagar.
Tip: There is a small ASI ticket. Go down slowly: the steps are worn smooth and can be slippery near the water.
A curving steel footbridge over the Sabarmati, opened in 2022, with a roof shaped like a kite. It joins the Flower Park on the west bank to the event ground on the east bank, with the riverfront promenade below.
Tip: Buy tickets at either end or online (₹50, or ₹70 with the Flower Park, which is closed on Mondays). Entry stops for half an hour before the evening slot at 19:00, so arrive before 17:30 in winter or 18:30 in summer, or after 19:00.
Drive times come from road routing without traffic. The old city's roads round Lal Darwaja, Relief Road and Kalupur are slow and crowded from late morning, and Ashram Road and the SG Highway are busy from about 17:30 to 20:00. Allow extra time in the old city, and plan on an hour more than the map shows on the Modhera and Patan day. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.
Call or message a local Ahmedabad operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.
The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.
| Place | Open | Best time | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jhulta Minar (shaking minarets) | Seen from outside, 05:30 to 21:00. Free. Climbing the minarets has not been allowed since 1981 | Any time in daylight. | 15 min |
| Jama Masjid and Ahmed Shah's tomb | 06:00 to 21:00 every day; avoid prayer times, above all Friday midday. Free. Ahmed Shah's tomb 06:00 to 21:00, men only | Morning. Not at Friday midday prayers. | 40 min |
| Bhadra Fort and Teen Darwaja | 08:00 to 18:00 every day. Free. Teen Darwaja is open at all hours | Late morning or afternoon. | 40 min |
| Sidi Saiyyed Mosque | About 07:00 to 18:00 every day, except at prayer times. Free | Morning, before Friday prayers on a Friday. | 20 min |
| Hutheesing Jain Temple | About 08:00 to 17:00, and some listings close it 13:00 to 14:00; the city heritage site gives 05:30 to 19:00. Free | Morning, before about 13:00. | 30 min |
| Sabarmati Ashram (Gandhi Ashram) | 10:00 to 18:00 every day, holidays included. Free. Hriday Kunj, Gandhi's cottage, can be seen from outside only while conservation work goes on | When it opens at 10:00, or late afternoon. | 1 h 15 min |
| Adalaj Stepwell | 08:00 to 18:00 every day. Small ASI ticket | Late morning or early afternoon, when light falls to the lower floors. | 45 min |
| Atal Bridge and the Riverfront Flower Park | 09:00 to 18:30 and 19:00 to 23:00, with no entry for half an hour before the evening slot. ₹50 for the bridge, ₹70 with the Flower Park. The Flower Park is closed on Mondays | Late afternoon into dusk, when the bridge lights come on. | 1 h |
The old city, the Gandhi Ashram and Kankaria Lake · Sarkhej Roza, Adalaj and Akshardham in Gandhinagar
See the 2-day plan →The old city, the Gandhi Ashram and Kankaria Lake · Sarkhej Roza, Adalaj and Akshardham in Gandhinagar · Modhera Sun Temple and Rani ki Vav
See the 3-day plan →Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.
See all places →You can see the best of it: the old city's mosques and fort, the Hutheesing Jain Temple, the Sabarmati Ashram, Adalaj Stepwell and Atal Bridge. Akshardham in Gandhinagar and Modhera need more time; see the 2 and 3 day plans.
The mosques are best before the midday heat and before Friday prayers, and every listing has the Hutheesing temple open in the morning, while some close it at 13:00. The Sabarmati Ashram opens only at 10:00, so it fits after them.
Mostly. Everything on it is open on Mondays except the Flower Park at the end of Atal Bridge, so walk the bridge and the riverfront instead.
Manek Chowk, a few minutes from the Jama Masjid, becomes a night food street from about 21:00. Law Garden's stalls of bags and embroidery open from about dusk, near where the plan starts.
