Things To Do In Ahmedabad In a Day

Ahmedabad India’s first World Heritage city is a beautiful blend of culture and modern norms. The city has many attractions and is also known for hosting the famous International Kite Festival every year.

I went on a group expedition to Sasan Gir in January 2019, Ahmedabad being our rendezvous. I also wanted to attend the Kite Festival. Therefore, I decided to stay in Ahmedabad for a day before heading back to Delhi. I booked a night flight from Ahmedabad to Delhi. Hence, I had approximately 8 hours to spare.

One of the few perks of travelling alone is that you can plan your itinerary based on your interest and desired pace. I started my trip early morning, visited Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat that was merely 23 km away from the city. Covered all the touristy spots, ate a delectable meal at a beautiful heritage restaurant and attended the Kite Festival.

All that in just 8 hours. Sounds exciting right? If you’re in the city for a short time, you can also follow this itinerary to make the most of your time!

Travelling in and around Ahmedabad

For Gandhinagar, I booked an Ola Rental. It was a 6-hour package that also included multiple stops and cost approximately 1800 INR. Since I was short on time, I preferred booking a car, which saved me a lot of waiting time. However, I wouldn’t recommend this as the best option. You can either take a bus or a one-way cab instead. For Ahmedabad, I travelled both in Uber and auto-rickshaws.

I started my trip with the farthest destination from the airport that is Gandhinagar. I was very tempted to have some authentic Gujarati food for breakfast before heading out. But went for the breakfast buffet at my hotel instead!

Stop 1: Adalaj

My first stop for the day was a small town located at the border of Gandhinagar (merely an hour away from Ahmedabad) called Adalaj. This place is home to an ancient stepwell (vav in Gujarati) that is popular for its breathtaking architecture. And since I am a major history buff. Therefore, this had to be on my itinerary. A picturesque five-storeyed deep stepwell takes its inspiration from Solanki style architecture. The well had lots of pillars engraved with beautiful patterns. I was here for more than an hour admiring every corner, every inch.

Stop 2: Dandi Kutir

Next, I headed to Dandi Kutir located at the heart of the city. A museum dedicated to the father of our nation. Constructed in the shape of a salt mount, Dandi Kutir is the oldest and the largest museum in India built around the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. It is also one of the best museums that I’ve visited. It was an entirely self-guided tour. The museum provided the audio device as I entered the main building along with a quick tutorial that also included the dos and don’ts. What I loved the most was the use of technology to keep the interest of the audience intact. I was here for more than 2 hours. However, I had to rush at the end because I was short on time!

Tip: The museum doesn’t allow any gadgets inside the main building. However, they have a locker facility available that is safe and secure.

Stop 3: Agashiye

It was already past noon. Therefore, I decided to head back to Ahmedabad. On reaching the city, I headed straight to the House of M.G. A quaint heritage property that has now transformed into a beautiful hotel, which also has a famous restaurant called Agashiye. The restaurant is known for serving authentic Gujarati food and ambience. You can read the complete review here.

Stop 4: The Kite Festival

After gorging on lip-smacking Gujarati food (too delicious to miss!) I finally headed to the most awaited event of the day, The Kite Festival. The venue was close to the National Institute of Design (NID) next to the Sabarmati Riverfront. It was an exciting event, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I saw plenty of gigantic kites flying high in the air. You can read more about my experience here.

Stop 5: Sabarmati Ashram

My last stop was at the Sabarmati Ashram located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad. Mahatma Gandhi stayed in this ashram for more than 12 years with his wife and led the Salt Satyagraha movement famously known as the Dandi March. The ashram has a museum, a beautiful picture gallery showcasing lifesize photos of Mahatma Gandi. I sat for a while by the riverfront, enjoying the spectacular view of the city and the ashram. I then headed to the airport with a head full of new memories.

Tip: If you don’t like museums, then you can visit the Akshardham temple instead. The stunning architecture will leave you spellbound, plus there are so many activities that you can do.