Gujarat attractions

Archaeology and ancient history enthusiasts will want to make a detour to Lothal, an archaeological site that was part of the Indus Valley civilization about 4,500 years ago. While many Indus Valley civilization sites are less accessible nowadays, in the deserts of modern-day Gujarat and Pakistan, Lothal is just 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Ahmedabad.

Undoubtedly one of Ahmedabad's more out-there experiments in craftsmanship and architecture, Amdavad Ni Gufa is an underground art gallery that showcases the works of Maqbool Fida Husain, among the most celebrated Indian artists of the 20th century. Visit to see the artist's paintings and experience a gallery space that looks like a giant caterpillar/spaceship half buried underground.

Bandhej (tie-dye) saris, traditional blouses, and colorful wall hangings line the stalls of the Law Garden Night Market, where business starts after sunset. So-called because of its proximity to the Gujarat Law Society University, and the garden of the same name, the market is where locals and tourists shop for traditional Gujarati handicrafts and local street food.

This landmark, yellow-sandstone mosque is a standout in Gujarat, with its blend of Hindu, Jain, and Islamic design elements. Built as the principal place of worship for Muslims during the reign of Sultan Ahmed Shah I, the mosque was once among the largest in India and is a must-visit for travelers interested in Indo-Islamic history and architecture.

Travelers interested in religious architecture will enjoy visiting Ahmedabad’s Sarkhej Roza, a 15th-century mosque, palace, and tomb complex centered around a man-made water tank. The carved stone geometric screens by the entrance are especially beautiful, and the whole complex melds Islamic and Hindu elements. Swiss–French modernist architect Le Corbusier famously compared Sarkhej Roza to Athens’ Acropolis, highlighting its beauty and architectural significance.

Ahmedabad’s Splash the Fun World is a water-based amusement park that offers more than 20 rides, many of which are suitable for both kids and adults. It is particularly popular on hot days and weekends and also offers a number of dry attractions and rides.

When Ahmad Shah I founded Ahmedabad as the new capital of the Gujarat Sultanate in 1411, he built Bhadra Fort to fortify the city. The former site of a medieval court and a British colonial jail, the fort was fully renovated in 2014 and remains one of the modern city’s great landmarks—a squat fortress with Indo-Saracenic-style arches, balconies, and latticework.

Bhuj’s Prag Mahal strikes visitors with its cultural and geographic contradictions: The 19th-century red-brick palace resembles something you might see in Oxford, England, yet rises out of the desert landscape of western Gujarat. Although the building isn’t ancient—it was built in 1865—it isn’t in great shape, as it was badly damaged by a major earthquake in 2001.

Gujarat’s far-western Kutch region is a culturally, geographically, and artistically rich place. Learn more about it through the diversity of artifacts and exhibits on display at Bhuj’s Kutch Museum. It’s the oldest museum in Gujarat, and though it may show its age and not everything is well-labeled, curious travelers should be able to sift through to find the treasure.

Ahmed Shah’s Mosque—also known as Shahi Jam-e-Masjid Bhadra and Juni Juma Masjid—is one of Ahmedabad’s oldest mosques, built in the early 15th century in the city’s original walled area. It reflects a Gujarati Islamic style of architecture that developed independently of the dominant strands in Mughal Delhi, with Hindu and Jain influences, too.

The Auto World Vintage Car Museum, located on the eastern outskirts of Ahmedabad, houses a large collection of classic automobiles, some from the early 20th century. Set in a crenelated building, which resembles a castle on a large private estate, the museums’ collection was once privately owned by local automobile enthusiast Pranlal Bhogilal. Car fans won’t want to miss this niche-interest museum if visiting Ahmedabad.

Bhuj’s 18th-century Aina Mahal is a must-visit attraction in the western Gujarati city. Though both the palace’s exterior and the collections within have seen better days—Bhuj was the epicenter of a large earthquake in 2001 that badly damaged the Aina Mahal’s top floor—it still houses an interesting collection of locally made, European-inspired arts, crafts, and historical artifacts.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Indian freedom fighter and the first Deputy Prime Minister of the independent nation, hailed from Gujarat and the state is immensely proud of his work and legacy. Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial is a museum and exhibition center dedicated to him, housed in an elegant 17th-century Mughal palace, the Moti Shahi Mahal.

On the outskirts of central Ahmedabad, Dada Harir Stepwell (Bai Harir Vav) was built in 1499 by a supervisor of Sultan Mahmud Begada’s harem; Sanskrit and Persian inscriptions say that a royal midwife of Begada’s household named Halima commissioned the stepwell, and a mosque and tomb alongside it. The steps lead to an often dry well, while Halima’s tomb features elegant carved lattice screens called jali.

Built by a Gujarat Sultan to unify rival states through a marriage pact, Delhi Darwaja (Delhi Gate) is the oldest and longest of the gates marking the boundaries of the walled old city of Ahmedabad. It is one of Ahmedabad’s most historic landmarks, which is today typically lined with traffic, street food vendors, and market stalls.

On India’s westernmost point, Narayan Sarovar is a small lake, village, and Hindu pilgrimage site (especially the Koteshwar Temple) that’s spiritually significant because it’s where a lake meets the ocean. But along with its spiritual connections, Narayan Sarovar is a wildlife sanctuary that’s home to wild asses, desert foxes, wolves, and rare plants, which can be seen on nature walks.

This bridge over the Sabarmati River was officially renamed Swami Vivekananda Bridge in 1997, yet locals still refer to it by its original name, Ellis Bridge. It’s undergone renovation several times since its British colonial-era construction, and remains a symbol of Ahmedabad’s transformation over the years, linking the old city with newer developments on the west side of the river.

Many travelers visit Bhuj and the Kutch region to admire, learn about, and shop for traditional Kutchi textiles and handicrafts. The Hiralaxmi Memorial Craft Park, in a village on the outskirts of Bhuj, is a one-stop shop and exhibition park with traditional-style huts that house artisans and their work. Since the artisans rotate monthly, there’s always something new to see here.