Best of Ahmedabad : Full Day City Tour

Highlights :

Full Day City Tour :

• Gandhi Ashram
• Hutheesing Jain Temple
• Jama Mosque
• Bhadra Fort
• Sidi Saiyad Mosque
• Traditional Gujarati Lunch
• Adalaj Stepwell
• Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Gandhinagar

What to expect

 Pick-up from your hotel at 9 am

Sabarmati Ashram or Gandhi Ashram has indeed earned its place in Indian Independence movement as well as Indian history. The birth place of independence movement and major activities of Mahatma Gandhi have been an integral part of this Ashram. The Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, situated on the river’s banks, is named after the holy river Sabarmati. This site no longer functions as a working ashram but as a museum and an institution whose aim is to preserve and propagate the legacy of the Mahatma. Hundreds of visitors, both foreigners and locals, with curiosity and feelings of devotion arrive here and feel inspired and enlightened. More than half a million visit here every year. The Sabarmati Ashram is a source of inspiration for the present generation, and will serve as such for the generations to come. Indeed, Gandhi’s ideals will serve as a beacon light for all generations. The Ashram has stood witness to many important happenings, happenings which were instrumental in shaping the Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi into the Mahatma and the Father of the Nation.

Hutheesing Jain Temple :

This remarkably elegant temple created out of white marble has been sacred to many Jain families, generation after generation. It was built in 1848 A.D. at an estimated cost of 10 lakh rupees by a rich merchant Sheth Hutheesing as a dedication to the 15th Jaintirthankar, Shri Dharmanatha. Traditional artisans working in stone belonged to the Sonpura & Salat communities. The Salat community constructed masterpieces of architecture ranging from forts, palaces to temples. The work of the Hutheesing Jain temple is attributed to Premchand Salat. One scholar has remarked, “Each part goes on increasing in dignity as we approach the sanctuary.

The temple is spread over a sprawling courtyard, amandapa surmounted by a large ridged dome, which is supported by 12 ornate pillars. The small garbhagruh (main shrine) on the east end reaches up into three stunningly carved spires and encircled by 52 small shrines dedicated to the various Tirthankars. There are large protuding porches with magnificently decorated columns and figural brackets on three outer sides. Also a recently built 78 ft Mahavir stambha (tower) fashioned after the renowned tower at Chittor in Rajasthan, flanks the outer courtyard by the front entrance. Some of the motifs used in the design reminds one of the Sultanate minarets of the Mughal period.

Adalaj Stepwell :

Another remarkable feature of this stepwell is that out of the many stepwells in Gujarat, it is the only one with three entrance stairs. All three stairs meet at the first storey, underground in a huge square platform, which has an octagonal opening on top. The vav is a spectacular example of Indo-Islamic architecture and design. The harmonious play of intricate Islamic floral patterns seamlessly fusing into Hindu and Jain symbolism embody the culture and ethos of those times. All the walls carved by ornamentation, mythological scenes along with everyday scenes of women churning buttermilk, dancers accompanied by musicians, women adorning themselves and a king sitting on a stool. Fascinating to many visitors is the Ami Khumbor (a pot that contains the water of life) and the Kalp Vriksha (a tree of life) carved out of a single slab of stone. There is a belief that the small frieze of navagraha (nine-planets) towards the edge of the well protects the monument from evil spirits.