Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, Gujarat's largest city, is India's first UNESCO World Heritage City, its old walled quarter a dense maze of pols — traditional residential clusters — filled with ornately carved wooden havelis, historic mosques and step-wells. Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram, from where he launched the Salt March, sits on the city's riverfront, adding a layer of modern independence-movement history to the older Islamic and Jain architectural heritage found throughout the city.

Beyond its heritage core, Ahmedabad has grown into a major textile and business centre, and its street food scene — particularly around Manek Chowk in the old city — is considered among the best in India. The Sabarmati riverfront redevelopment, along with a growing contemporary art and design scene, has given the city a modern, forward-looking layer alongside its deep historical roots.

Founded in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah I, Ahmedabad's old city grew into one of medieval India's most significant trading and craft centres, and its UNESCO World Heritage City designation in 2017 formally recognised the exceptional preservation of its historic urban fabric.

Ahmedabad has its own international airport and is a major railway hub on the western network.