This Video Will Surely Make You Want to Travel to India’s First World Heritage City in Ahmedabad

The city of Ahmedabad was constructed in the 15th century by Sultan Ahmad of the Muzaffarid Gujarati Sultanate. Famed for its tombs, mosques, and temples, explore India’s first World Heritage City.

Ahmedabad is popularized in recent times due to its embroilment in Gujarati politics, but very few are aware of the rich cultural heritage of this medieval city. Lying on the eastern bank of the Sabarmati River in Gujarat, the 15th Century city of Ahmedabad is an architectural beauty of epic proportions. Citadels, mosques, tombs, Hindu and Jain temples populate the city and account for a medley of architectural marvels. As the years progressed, there have been newer additions to the cityscape, as a result, Ahmedabad has transformed into a modern city with an ancient past embedded in its soul.

The city was constructed in the 15th century by Muzaffarid Sultan Ahmad Shah I of Gujarat, and there are numerous legends surrounding Ahmedabad’s origins. One famous myth is that the sultan chose the site of his capital after witnessing an unusual spectacle of a hare chasing a dog along Sabarmati’s bank. The name Ahmedabad was chosen as a tribute to 3 Ahmads present in Gujarat at the time, Sultan Ahmad Shah, Sufi Shaykh Ahmad Khattu and another Shaykh Ahmad. Ahmedabad remained the symbolic capital of the Gujarati Sultans till its annexation by the Mughals in 1573.

Ahmad Shah I also laid the foundation of the historic Bhadra Fort in 1411, which served both as the citadel and the palatial complex. The fortified walls of the citadel consisted of housed royal palaces, mosques, and a public square, the remnants of which can still be seen today. The Masjid-i Jami or Jami mosque lies outside the Bhadra fort, also built by Ahmad Shah I, it remains one of the most attractive tourist spots in the city.

The mosque is constructed with intricately carved yellow sandstone carved with intricate embellishments and Islamicate motifs. The main prayer hall consists of 260 columns and 15 domes, creating an engaging play of light and shadows in the hall. The tomb of Ahmad Shah lies within the complex and is also a major tourist attraction.

Another popular spot for tourists is the Sidi Bashir Mosque, home to the imposing Jhulta Minar, or Shaking Minarets which are known equally for their beauty and grandeur, as for their curious engineering. The oddity arises from the fact, that if one minaret is shaken, the other vibrates as well without disturbing the connecting passage between them.

The Mughal conquest of Ahmedabad by Akbar in the 16th century brought about a spate of new architectural additions, especially lush green Mughal gardens. Shahibaug or the Royal Garden Palace built by Shah Jahan is the exemplar of Mughal architecture in Ahmedabad.

In its many centuries of existence, Ahmedabad has faced many calamities, including repeated annexations, famine etc. Eventually, in the 1940s, the city became the center of Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-violent Movement during the Indian freedom struggle. Since then, Ahmedabad has become synonymous with Gandhiji’s ideals of Hind-Swaraj. Tourists can now make a pilgrimage to the Gandhi Ashram located in the outskirts of the city.

Ahmedabad is a mosaic of cultures and consists of several strands of religious influences in its historic buildings. On one hand, there is Saracenic architecture embodied in ornately carved columns, arches, and imposing gates. While on the other hand, there are Hindu and Jain temples, residing in complete harmony with ancient mosques.

Currently, Ahmedabad holds the rank for being India’s first ever UNESCO World Heritage City. But what the ranking doesn’t tell you, is that Ahmedabad is not for people looking for the fast-life, or for those hungry for glitz and glam, but rather it’s a city which appeals to one’s soul. Want more reasons to travel to this city? Check out this 2-minute video tribute to Ahmedabad by National Geographic which will surely make you want to visit it.