| Gujrat rich in crafts, history and natural beauty,
the remarkable coastal state of Gujrat --- the home
state of Mahatma Gandhi --- continues to attract
artists, scholars, the intellectual elite and businessmen
from the world over. Amongst a tantalizing wealth
of appealing possibilities which facet, which area
does one begin exploring first ?. Ahmedabad, its
busiest city, perhaps, which blends and reflects
the chequered past, the vibrant present and a hopeful
future.
In the old walled city of Ahmedabad are monuments
and narrow, teeming bylanes which still successfully
keep alive an ancient, precious heritage. Punctuating
the skyline, are the tall factory chimneys of
more than 60 textiles mills which rely on sophisticated
technology. Many of the most renowned names in
the textile industry can be found at Ahmedabad.
Ahemdabad was established on the left bank of
the river Sabarmati river in 1063 - 1093 A.D.
by King Karna Solanki. Later, Sultan Ahmad Shah,
the founder of the Ahmadshahi Dynasty in Gujrat,
pitched camp on the banks of the Sabarmati and
was so influenced by the site that he decided
to develope it into his capital. The city that
began to take shape was thus named Ahmedabad after
its founder
The majority of even the earliest monuments that
date back to 1411 A.D. --- the year Ahmedabad
was so christened are replete with ancient flavours
intermingling with the hustle and bustle of modern
day life. The spurt of architectural activity
that began roughly from the period of Ahmad Shah
was sustained and often embellished by successive
rulers.
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