Ahmedabad was named after Sultan Ahmed Shah, who built the city in 1411. Ahmedabad holds an important place in India's struggle for freedom. It was a major base of freedom fighters during the freedom movement. Gandhiji had built the Sabarmati Ashram on the outskirts of the city from where he had guided the freedom movement.

Ahmedabad is one of the most prominent cities of western Indian state of Gujarat. A highly industrialised city, Ahmedabad is also called 'Manchester of the East' . The city is well known for its textile industries. In spite of massive industrialisation, Ahmedabad has well preserved most of its earlier heritage. Ahmedabad is also a centre for the study of Indo-Saracenic architecture.

Sabarmati Ashram : Sabarmati Ashram is the biggest tourist attraction of Ahmedabad. The Ashram was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in the year 1915. The Ashram lies on the banks of Sabarmati river in the most serene ambience. Gandhiji had set out on the famous Dandi March to protest against the imposition of salt tax by the British from Sabarmati Ashram itself. The Ashram has a handicrafts centre, a handmade paper factory and a spinning wheel factory. There is also a small museum inside Sabarmati Ashram displaying the belongings of Mahatma Gandhi. The Ashram also houses a library. Many books, journals and articles written by Gandhiji are kept in the library. A Sound-and-Light show is also held in the Ashram which depicts the Mahatma's life and teachings in a most interesting manner.

Jama Masjid : The Jama Masjid, built in 1423 by Ahmed Shah, is beside Mahatma Gandhi Rd, just to the east of the Teen Darwaja. Although 260 columns support the roof and its 15 cupolas, the two 'shaking' minarets lost half their height in the great earthquake of 1819, and another tremor in l957 completed the demolition Much of this early Ahmedabad mosque was built using items salvaged from the demolished Hindu and jain temples. It is said that a large black slab by the main arch is actually the base of a Jain idol, buried upside down for the Muslim faithful to tread on.

Rani Rupmati's Mosque : A little north of the city centre, Rani Rupmati's Mosque was built between 1430 and 1440 and named after the sultan's Hindu wife. The minarets were partially brought down by the disastrous earthquake of 1819. Note the way the dome is elevated to allow light in around its base. As with so many of Ahmedabad's early mosques, this one displays elements of both Hindu and Islamic design.

Tombs of Ahmed Shah his Queens : The tomb of Ahmed Shah, with its perforated stone windows, stands just outside the east gate of the Jama Masjid. His son and grandson, who did not long survive him, also have their cenotaphs in this tomb. Women are not allowed into the central chamber. Across the street on a raised platform is the tomb of his queens - it's now really a market and in very poor shape compared to Ahmed Shah's tomb.