Places to visit in Ahmedabad

The Calico Museum of Textiles is located at the Shahibaug Palace and contains a wide variety of woven fabrics collected from all over the world.

Nature is bountiful here, so you can visit Law Garden, Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, and Shanku's Water Park. 

The people of Ahmedabad enjoy their festivals to the fullest. During Navratri, the people perform the Garba, which is biggest celebrated dance form in Ahmedabad. Uttarayan, also known as Makar Sakranti, is yet another big festival in the city. The skies brighten up during the annual kite flying festivities which is followed by the sending off lamps into the darkening night. Other popular celebrations include festivals like Diwali, Holi etc. You can explore all these major festivals by choosing appropriate Ahmedabad holiday packages.

Visit the Sabarmati Ashram, Jama Masjid, Sardar Patel Stadium among others.

A Heritage Walk is one the best ways to get to know the real pulse of a city. It is organized by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for all types of tourists. The walk takes you around the famous 'Pols'—gated housing societies where the houses belong to people of a particular caste, religion, profession and so on. This gives tourists a glimpse of the everyday life led by the citizens.

The Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is a great tourist attraction in Ahmedabad. It has a huge lake and millions of birds visit the bird sanctuary in winter.

The Vastrapur Lake is an artificial lake, and has been newly constructed.

Ahmed Shah’s Mosque was founded by Ahmedabad Sultan Ahmed Shah, a Muslim religious leader in 1414. The mosque is a religious place for the Muslim community at large.

The Hussain Doshi Gufa is an interesting, underground art gallery that displays the works of the renowned painter, M.F. Hussain. Designed by the architect B.V. Doshi, the structure of the gallery itself is something that should not be missed! 

The Kite Museum is a unique one. Ahmedabad is known for kite-flying enthusiasts and this place is a must visit for kids who love flying kites.

The Auto World Vintage Museum is a wonderland for car lovers! It has an enviable collection of vintage cars from across the world.

About Jama Masjid

Ahmedabad is UNESCO’s first heritage city in India. Bestowed with countless marvelous heritage and architecture, it is a place worth exploring. A visit to Ahmedabad is incomplete without a tour of Sarkhez Roza, Sidi Sayed Mosque, Bhadra Fort and Akshardham Temple. Among these iconic landmarks, Jama Masjid holds its own importance among the tourists. 

Jama Masjid is one of the top attractions in the city. This mosque has been a part of this city’s past going back to the era of the Shahs. This landmark is also a popular destination for those who wish to enjoy shopping for souvenirs or taste delicious food. 

History of Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid history dates back to the year 1424 AD. Before the Mughals, this mosque was the biggest in Indian subcontinent. In modern city of Ahmedabad, it is located near south of the processional axis that extends from Maidan-e-Shah at the Teen Darwaza. Teen Darwaza itself has an historical importance as it is a part of Bhadra Fort and was constructed in 1415 AD as one of the points of entrance in the city. Jama Masjid once had two tall minarets flanking the main arched gateway. The top portions of these minarets collapsed in the earthquake of 1819 AD leaving only the base.

Architecture and design

Jama Masjid is built with beautiful yellow sandstone on a raised platform. This splendid structure stands on one side of a huge rectangular platform, with three entrances and galleries. The architecture of the mosque is the same beautiful Indo-Islamic style that slowly spread to other parts of India and influenced the craftsmanship of the Mughals and the Nawabs. What makes Jama Masjid different than its counterparts is that the designs focuses more on the local art form and don’t tend to borrow styles from other mediums of Islamic architecture. The unique design of the Jama Masjid includes a central dome which is carved like a lotus flower. There are a lot of carvings that closely resemble Jain temples. You’ll also notice an Om Symbol in one of the inner windows. 

The whole atmosphere of Jama Masjid is one of its kind because it was built with the intention of being used by the royal family and no one else. 

Places to visit around Jama Masjid  

Jama Masjid is a part of Old Ahmedabad heritage circuit. You can visit a number of places in the nearby areas to acquaint yourself with the history of the city. A visit to Old Ahmedabad is incomplete without coming across the iconic Teen Darwaza and Bhadra Fort. The imposing gateway is your entry point to Old Ahmedabad from where you’ll leave the tall skyscrapers behind and enter a world of vintage havelis and old houses with pretty artworks still visible from a distance. 

The beautiful Bhadra Fort is right outside Teen Darwaza. It was constructed by Ahmed Shah. The original structure of the fort was spread across an area of about forty three acres. The whole complex contained 162 houses and had eight gates in total. 

Tomb of Sultan Ahmed Shah is located near eastern entrance of Jama Masjid. It houses the graveyard of three great rulers, Ahmed Shah 1st, his son, Mohammed Shah and his grandson, Qutub-Ud-Din Ahmed Shah 2nd.

The night market near Jama Masjid is known for its delicious street food. Once the sun sets, these small stalls start coming up in the Manek Chowk area. You can try various Gujarati dishes along with some signature snacks only found here. 

Heritage walks around Jama Masjid 

One of the best ways to learn more about the history and culture of Jama Masjid and nearby areas is by opting for a heritage walk tour. Many local tour guides conduct these heritage walks familiarizing you with Jama Masjid information in great detail. A guided tour will take you across many ‘Poles’ or old colonies that used to exist before new Ahmedabad came into existence. 

These poles have many old havelis with vintage architecture, stained glass windows, arches and beautiful paintings on the walls. Walking into this part of city is like travelling through time and appearing in the era of Gujarati traders who used to live here. You’ll also come across many community wells and chabutaras for feeding birds. These pols have secret alleys that were used in case of an incident and the residents were needed to be evacuated in minutes. 

You will also visit Sidi Sayed Mosque and Swaminaryan Mandir, Kalupur during these walks. Lucky Restaurant near Sidi Sayed Mosque is known for its eerie atmosphere as it is set in premises filled with graves. 

Highlights of Jama Masjid

• Enjoy heritage tour of Old Ahmedabad 
• Witness the hustle bustle of the local market 
• Enjoy delicious street food around the mosque 
• Photographers will have a lot of fun clicking Jama Masjid Ahmadabad photo from various angles
• A great way to become familiar with the lifestyle and history of Ahmadabad 
• Experience the fun and craze at the night market of Manek Chowk 

Recommended For 

A tour to Jama Masjid is perfect for the heritage seekers, photographers and foodies. This majestic area has something for everyone and there is no better way to become familiar with the reason why Ahmadabad is the only UNESCO world heritage city in India. 

Entry fee of Jama Masjid

Entry to Jama Masjid and Teen Darawaza is absolutely free. Camera charges may apply. 

Interesting Facts about Jama Masjid 

• The original name for this mosque is Jami or Jumma Masjid.
• Before the arrival of Mughals, Jama Masjid was the biggest in the Indian subcontinent. 
• The mosque was originally intended to be a royal praying hall of the royal family and the ordinary citizens were not allowed inside.
• The graves of Sultan, his wives and children are all located in close proximity. 
• Majority of the mosque has been built with yellow sandstone. 
• This mosque is an exemplary piece of Indo-Saracenic architecture.
• The main prayer hall has over 260 columns supporting the roof which has 15 domes. 
• The area around the mosque offers delicious non-veg food in Ahmadabad.
• A lot of material used in the construction of the mosque has been sourced from demolished Hindu and Jain temples.

How to visit Jama Masjid 

By Air 

Sardar Vallabhbhai International airport is connected with major destinations like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Most of the flights take one to two hours depending on the distance from the city you are flying. Jama Masjid is 45 min away from Ahmedabad airport. 

By Train 

Ahmedabad is a major station of Western Lines and is connected with major cities around India. Trains from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore regular run between both places. Jama Masjid is 15 minutes away from Kalupur railway station. 

By Road 

Jama Masjid can be easily accessed from anywhere in Ahmedabad. Kalupur is one of the major points in the city and is connected with auto-rikshaws, private cars and taxis. State transport buses frequently run till Teen Darwaza. 

Jama Masjid Timings

Jama Masjid opens early morning and one can visit it till sunset. November to March is the best time to explore Jama Masjid because of the nice weather and less harsh sun. The month of Ramzan is ideal to plan a visit to Jama Masjid because of the fun and festive atmosphere. 

Location of Jama Masjid

Manek Chowk, Gandhi Rd, Danapidth, Khadia, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001

https://www.google.com/maps/dir//jama+masjid+ahmedabad+address/data=!4m6!4m5!1m1!4e2!1m2!1m1!1s0x395e844be072c2e9:0xbed6a8dd44a9ad68?ved=2ahUKEwiEtr_MwurgAhUKs48KHUBeBMgQ9RcwEnoECAoQEw

The Gandhi Ashram is the biggest sightseeing tourist attraction in Ahmedabad. Located near Vadaj, the Sabarmati Ashram was once home of Mahatma Gandhi. The ashram is very quiet peaceful, and a visit is heartily recommended. Gandhi started the famous Dandi March from his cottage here and shared meals with Acharya Vinobha Bhave. The Ashram also boasts of a well-stocked library that serves as a bookshop.

The Sarkhej Roza, a thirty minute drive from the city, is a renowned mosque built in the village of Makraba. A prominent Sufi centre, the mosque is known for its beauty and spiritual energy. It is also known as the Ahmedabad Acropolis because of the similarity it shares with the Acropolis of Athens.

The Bhadra Fort is known for the government offices housed in its premises and the massive flea market located right at the entrance. The bustling fort’s rooftop affords a fantastic view of the Old City from the top.

The Teen Darwaza is one of the oldest and longest gateways in the city. Originally designed with the intention of welcoming the king and other dignitaries, it has three intrinsically patterned arched gates with carved walls.

The Sardar Patel National Memorial is dedicated to the memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the greatest freedom fighters of the Indian independence movement. The memorial contains his portraits and other artefacts of his life and accomplishments.

The Adalaj Step Well showcases how water used to be conserved in the earlier times. The architectural design is unique.

Apart from exploring the various historical Ahmedabad's points of interest such as the temples and monuments, Ahmedabad also has a few destinations where you can take your kids for some fun during your trip to the city. In the last few years, the Science City had become a really popular destination amongst the kids. The zoo ranks next in popularity, and it houses a wide variety of animals. You could also visit the Kankaria Lake with your kids which shall certainly amuse them. There is an island in the middle of the water that houses a summer palace. The musical fountain show held there will surely enthral your children. There is also a boating club within the lake premises from where you can hire a boat and enjoy a lazy ride on the waters. 

The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque is one of the oldest mosques located near the Lal Darwaza, known for its beautiful jali (carved lattice) screen windows. Built in 1573, the mosque was possibly never completed.  

The Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden is located near the Kankaria Lake and is an ideal place for kids as it’s rated to be one of the best zoos in the country.

The Akshardham Temple is perhaps the biggest draw here. Located about 30 kms away from Ahmedabad, near Gandhinagar, the temple is dedicated to Sri Swaminarayan. The temple has a seven feet long idol of Sri Swaminarayan. It is very peaceful, and has gardens, parks and waterfalls.