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24 hours in Ahmedabad

Best of gujarat
Last Updated 07 November 2015, 18:43 IST

It’s always exhilarating for me to travel to Indian states I’ve never been to before. My mental make up at those times is like that of a child who is gifted a wound toy. This time, I was headed for Ahmedabad.

I was to attend the inaugural function of the annual Navratri Festival organised by the Gujarat Tourism Board. But I was a bit disappointed to know that I would be spending only a day in the city of Ahmedabad. Nonetheless, when it was time to go, I was visibly excited to be stepping out of the mundane rut of Bengaluru. With barely any time to do homework about the place, I decided to term the trip ‘spontaneous.’

So, having had one full day to explore the city of oppressive heat and unbelievably haphazard traffic, some of us decided to optimise what we had. If you happen to be a morning person (or even if you’re not), Ahmedabad has a perfect way to begin the day.

A walk to remember

They organise what are called heritage walks. This two-and-half-hour-long guided tour began at 8 am and took us through the history of some of the oldest monuments in the city – temples, mosques, towers and museums. We were introduced to various local architectural terms and learned how to navigate through narrow, dark passages to reach from one part of the city to the other. By the time we finished the walk, we were reeling from exhaustion caused by both the sun and the information that was heaped on us in such a short interval. We slowly made our way back through a gully located in a market area, eyeing colourful saris and sweets.

After a quick stop for breakfast, we zipped through the smooth roads of Ahmedabad, admiring works of warli and mosaic art on the city’s walls. Our next visit was to Sabarmati Ashram or Gandhi Ashram, the home of Mohandas Gandhi for 12 years. Though located on the main road, the Ashram bears a quietude that is perfect for someone seeking solitude or peace. It consists of the austere home of Gandhi and Kasturba, Hriday Kunj. Walking around in the sandy environs, we also spotted the humble cottage of Vinobha Bhave, when he lived there. We passed through the Upasana Mandir, an open ground where Gandhi used to deliver sermons and offer prayers.

There is also a heritage museum in the premises of the Ashram — Gandhi Sangrahalaya, where there are painting galleries, a library and certain archives from Gandhi’s life. Details from the Independence struggle pertaining to Gandhi are also present here. Just outside the museum were artists working on portraits of freedom fighters, under the shade of a tree. Not wanting to disturb them, we moved towards the edge of the Ashram, where we could see the clear Sabarmati river, a wonderful sight that aptly complemented the content silence. I could have spent the entire day sitting there, but unfortunately, it was time for us to move on.

To shirk off the inertia that we carried from the serious history lessons of the Ashram, we resorted to some retail therapy. We proceeded to the Law Market, a roadside market, called so because it is situated in the vicinity of the law college. If you are drawn to the wonderfully ornate chania cholis, kedias, jewellery and trinkets here, be sure to hone your bargaining skills as well.

A few purchases later, we headed for the Gateway Hotel where a real treat awaited us in the form of a calorie-rich and sumptuous Gujarati thali comprising theplas, kadi, masala chaas, mohanthal and numerous other Gujarati dishes, a few of which were shy of sugar or jaggery.

Festive fervour

By late evening, we were all decked up to attend the State Government-sponsored Vibrant Navratri Event at the GMDC Ground. The sheer number of cameras, flowers, lights and music systems there were mind-boggling. The highlight of the event was the garba dance showcase that lasted for over four hours. The stage, props and costumes of dancers were a grand spectacle in the night. It is hard even for people with two left feet to not give into the temptation of dancing while watching the garba. But the most we could do was appreciate the dancers who had trained so meticulously for this grandiose show.

We took leave of the celebrations a little before midnight and indulged in some shopping (yet again) at a local arts and crafts sale. Khadi, terracotta and handicrafts were the crowd pullers here. We even managed to buy a thing or two after considerable haggling. But, before we could head back, as is the seeming late night tradition of Ahmedabad during Navratri, we indulged in some roadside snacks (bhel puri, ragda patties) before calling it a day. And then we left to retire to our rooms, with fuller bellies and lighter pockets, driving past happy people in their festive best.

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(Published 07 November 2015, 17:24 IST)

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