Cheap Flights to Ahmedabad (AMD)

Ahmedabad is the former capital of the state of Gujarat in India. Established in 11th century, this city is the mirror image of all that happened in the state over the course of last millennium or so, and the trio of architecture, festivals and culinary arts bear no exception to this golden rule. Ahmedabad is credited for sealing the coffin of British Colonial Rule in India after Gandhi’s historic Dandi March was successfully received by the masses in 1942. If you’re looking forward to explore the city through a cultural perspective, Ahmedabad will spoil you for choices. Starting from July to late November, the city is soaked in festive celebrations and holy events like the iconic Lord Jagannath Yatra, Uttrayan, Navratis, Garba, Dusshera, Deepawali and the procession of Tajia during the Muslim festival of Muharram.

Ahmedabad’s numero uno attraction is closely attached to the memory of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Sabarmati Ashram was once the house of Gandhi, who later turned it into Satyagraha Ashram in 1915. Fifteen years later, he began the Dandi March to protest against the Salt Tax that was imposed by the British. Today the insides of Sabarmati Ashram have a handicrafts’ centre, a handmade paper factory and a spinning wheel factory - and they together depict the vision of a simplistic life that the Mahatma was proud of.

Located less than thirty kilometers due north of Ahmedabad is a large Hindu temple complex known as Akshardhaam Temple or the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar. Made of 6000 tons of pink sandstone, this ten-storied Hindu temple has seamlessly assimilated different traditional Indian architectural forms to yield 93 sculpted pillars, 40 ornate windows and innumerable forms and filigrees, central to which is a golden idol of Lord Swaminarayan.

Sidi Sayed Mosque in Ahmedabad was built in the last year of Gujarat Sultanate. This ornate mosque scores a perfect ten for its beautifully carved ten stone latticework windows (called Jhali in Gujarati language) on the side and rear arches. On its rear wall is present a display of numerous square stones that are studded in panels of varying geometrical designs. Also of note are two bays that flank the central aisle- their reticulated stone slabs are elaborate depictions of intertwined trees and a palm motif.