With its beautiful mosques and temples, numerous museums, colorful markets, and fascinating Gandhi Ashram, the state capital of Gujarat offers plenty to see and do. With three days in Ahmedabad, you’ll have enough time to check out all of the highlights and take a day trip into the surrounding region. Here’s how.
Day 1: City Highlights
Devote your first day to visiting the city’s most popular attractions; consider booking a full-day tour to save time (and get valuable insight from a guide). Start with the Swaminarayan Akshardham just north of town, a contemporary temple complex with exhibits about Hindu culture. From here, continue south toward the well-preserved Adalaj Stepwell, celebrated for its Indo-Islamic architecture. Your next stop should be the Sabarmati Ashram, the former ashram of Gandhi and now a museum dedicated to his life. Head back into the city center for a quick lunch before making your way to the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, known for its beautiful marble screens and interiors, and the gargantuan Jama Masjid mosque. As the sun begins to set, join the locals at the Law Garden night market, and peruse its numerous handicraft stalls and food vendors.
Day 2: Cultural and Culinary Treasures
On your second morning, pay a visit to the Calico Museum of Textiles, with its stunning collection of locally produced fabrics. From here, continue to the Hutheesing Jain Temple, known for its marble architecture, before continuing to the bustling Manek Chowk, the city's largest market and a great place to grab lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Sufi complex Sarkhej Roza, then wrap up your day with a stop at the Veechar Utensils Museum. Alternatively, book a cooking class in the home of a local family.
Day 3: Day Trip to Patan and Modhera or Vadodara and Champaner
On your last day, take a trip out to some of Gujarat's most impressive ancient sites in the towns of Modhera and Patan. As the towns are less than an hour apart by road, most day trips to one include the other. Patan's biggest draw is its UNESCO World Heritage Site stepwell, Rani ki vav, which features detailed bas reliefs and intricate architecture, while Modhera is best-known for its 11th-century Sun Temple. Alternatively, explore the architectural marvels of Vadodara (formerly known as Baroda), including the Indo-Saracenic-style Laxmi Vilas Palace. From Vadodara, it's a quick drive to Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its numerous fortresses, mosques, temples, and mausoleums.
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