A very interesting city if museum-hopping is your favourite pastime. The Calico Museum records the history of textiles, weaving and weaving machineries; NC Mehta Museum of Miniature Paintings; the Shreyas Folkarts Museum which also contains some philatelic exhibits; the Utensils Museum with a adjoining popular restaurant where you get to eat from or use similar utensils; the Institute of Indology with a rich collection of old manuscripts- these are mostly private collections and remain closed on Wednesdays.

Although not much cared for, some of the older monuments are artistically interesting too. The Shaking Minaret, the underground water cooled pavillions called Step Wells, the intricately sculpted mosques and other edifices are worth a visit. Only 7 km from town is the Sabarmati Ashram built by Mahatma Gandhi and now preserved as a museum.

BASICS

STD Code: 079

Airport: Ahmedabad airport is 10 km away from city.

Rail: Ahmedabad is an important railway terminal on western railway; linked to major cities in Gujarat as well as with Mumbai, Udaipur, Delhi and Calcutta.

Road: Major distances:
Mumbai-- 510 kilometres
Rajkot-- 216 kilometres
Somnath-- 404 kilometres
Gir-- 442 kilometres
Abu Road-- 200 kilometres

Best time: December to February is OK. December/January is most comfortable.

Accommodation: Plentiful from budget to star category. Make a note of the check-out time while booking rooms.
Hotel Sahil (Tel: 5506265), Hotel Mayur (Tel: 5350933), Hotel Capri (Tel: 5506265), Hotel Stay Inn (Tel: 5503993), Hotel Alka, Ambassador Hotel (Tel: 5502490), Hotel West End (Tel: 6562627), Came Hotel (Tel: 5505281).

Contact: Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation.