7 Things That Make Ahmedabad Awesome

Picture this- a gentle winter wind on my face, the distant hum of traffic passing on the bridge, and the city lights shimmering on the surface of the water as it lapped gently along the shores, calling out to me. How could I resist it? So, I fell in love with Ahmedabad.

Several surveys have elected Ahmedabad the ‘Best Indian City To Live In”. But, no one really talks about what exactly makes this city so amazing. That’s why, as UrbanClap launches its services in Ahmedabad, we thought we’d come up with a list of things that every Amdavadi can identify with. Read on to know more:

People

Late one evening, we were wandering through the old city, eager to see the pols that we’d heard so much about. As we stopped by one particularly beautiful house, a middle aged gentleman stepped out. Instead of shooing us away, he invited us in for a cup of tea and then insisted that we come back again in the morning to fly kites!

Truly, Amdavadis are probably the most cheerful, fun-loving and welcoming people that we’ve come across. And their willingness to help? Unparalleled!

World Class Education

Whether you’re studying business, architecture, design or anything else, this is the place to be. IIM-A, CEPT, the NID are just some of the many premier educational institutions here.

Food, Food, and more Food!

Live to eat, or eat to live, you won’t be able to resist the mouth-watering delicacies of Ahmedabad. Manek Chowk is the perfect place to go when you’re having midnight hunger pangs. Be sure to try the chocolate cheese sandwich or the pineapple pizza.

For those looking for a truly bizarre experience, there’s the New Lucky Restaurant where you’ll be seated among the graves situated between the tables. Or you can visit the Toilet Cafe, for a meal seated on a commode!

Shopping

From glittering malls to street markets, you’ll find it all. The chaniya cholis at Law garden market will leave you dazzled. But, for the shopaholic in you, visit the Sunday market and bargain your way through the innumerable stalls that sell everything- and we mean everything.

Leisure And Recreation

Amdavadis have a true sense of appreciation for the little joys of life and there are lots of destinations in and around the city to enjoy a leisurely outing. The Kankaria Lake, with its zoo, toy train, and balloon ride is one of the best places to spend some quality time with family.

The Appreciation For History And Heritage

From the magnificent teen darwaja, which has been standing at the entrance of the bazaar in the old city since 1415, to the Sabarmati Ashram, the city’s rich history will fascinate even the most uninterested observer. Other historical sites include Sarkhej Roza, The Stepwell of Adalaj, and the Sidi Sayyed Mosque. If you’d like to delve deeper, Ahmedabad has as many as 13 museums dedicated to textile, vintage cars, and, even a museum for kites!

And The Culture of Entrepreneurship and Progress

Entrepreneurship is something that’s programmed in the DNA of every Amdavadi. There’s no wonder then that the city has long been a major centre of trade and commerce in India, and now is seeing many emerging startups establish their roots here.

We could go on and on- after all, I told Mr. Mehta, who invited us to fly kites with him, Ahmedabad is a place in which there’s no shortage of things to discover.  As we got talking and he discovered that I was there for the launch of Urban Company in Ahmedabad, he said something that made me smile:

“Maybe, next year you can include Urban Company in this list as well!”

We may or may not make the list, but we do hope that your experience with us will be as wonderful as our Ahmedabad experience…

*Fingers crossed!*