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Ahmedabad

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Ahmedabad is a huge and busy city in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Ahmedabad (Baedeker, 1914)
Ahmedabad (Baedeker, 1914)

It sits near the banks of the Sabarmati River.

Sabarmati marathon 2011-1
Sabarmati marathon 2011-1

The city is very close to Gandhinagar, which is the capital of Gujarat. Some people call these two places twin cities. Ahmedabad is a major center for business, industry, and culture.

1901 Ahmedabadi Market
1901 Ahmedabadi Market

It is the fifth-most populous city in India. In 2011, the city had over five million people. By 2024, the wider urban area had about 8.8 million people.

Ahmedabad Inner Ring Road Skyline
Ahmedabad Inner Ring Road Skyline

This city has grown in many different ways over time. Long ago, it was famous for making cotton. This helped it earn the nickname "Manchester of India."

1901 Ahmedabadi Market
1901 Ahmedabadi Market

Today, the economy is very diverse. It focuses on things like commerce, communication, and construction. The city is also a big place for heavy and chemical industries.

SabarmatiThermalPlant
SabarmatiThermalPlant

Because so many people live here, there is a high demand for housing. This has led to the building of many tall skyscrapers.

Ahmedabad Inner Ring Road Skyline
Ahmedabad Inner Ring Road Skyline

In 2010, it was even named one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.

The history of this place goes back many centuries. Before Ahmedabad existed, a tribal group lived in a place called Ashaval.

Cloth map of ahmedabad
Cloth map of ahmedabad

In 1411, a ruler named Ahmed Shah I chose a forested area by the river. He built a walled city and named it after himself.

City Walls of Ahmedabad page-0001
City Walls of Ahmedabad page-0001

He laid the foundation at a place called Manek Burj. Later, a ruler named Mahmud Begada added strong outer walls. These walls had twelve gates and 189 bastions to protect the city.

City Walls of Ahmedabad page-0001
City Walls of Ahmedabad page-0001

In 2017, the old part of the city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ahmedabad has seen many different groups of people rule it. The city was once part of the Mughal Empire. During that time, it became a great center for trading textiles.

1901 Ahmedabadi Market
1901 Ahmedabadi Market

Later, the Marathas took control of the city. In 1818, the British East India Company took over during a war.

The city also played a big role in India's fight for independence. Mahatma Gandhi lived in ashrams near the Sabarmati River.

Gandhi Ashram
Gandhi Ashram

He led many peaceful protests from these places to help change the country.

There are many amazing modern things to see in Ahmedabad today. The Narendra Modi Stadium is a very famous landmark.

Narendra Modi Stadium view from the gallery
Narendra Modi Stadium view from the gallery

It is the largest stadium in the whole world. It can hold 132,000 people at one time!

Narendra Modi Stadium view from the gallery
Narendra Modi Stadium view from the gallery

The city is also working to become a "smart city." This means using new technology to help the city work better.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurating the Ahmedabad Metro in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on September 30, 2022
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurating the Ahmedabad Metro in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on September 30, 2022

From old historic walls to new metros, the city is always changing.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurating the Ahmedabad Metro in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on September 30, 2022
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurating the Ahmedabad Metro in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on September 30, 2022
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🖼️ Images & Media (30)
File:City Walls of Ahmedabad page-0001.jpg
City Walls of Ahmedabad page-0001.jpg
File:1901 Ahmedabadi Market.jpg
1901 Ahmedabadi Market.jpg
File:Ahmedabad (Baedeker, 1914).jpg
Ahmedabad (Baedeker, 1914).jpg
File:Gandhi Ashram.jpg
Gandhi Ashram.jpg
File:Ahmedabad-India-slums-1979-IHS-89-16-Slum in-the-rain.jpeg
Ahmedabad-India-slums-1979-IHS-89-16-Slum...
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Star_and_Crescent.svg
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Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg
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Faravahar.svg
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