Usually, UNESCO sites are temples, forts, or palaces.

But Ahmedabad? It said, “Why not a whole city?”

And honestly? It makes sense.

Because this place isn’t just old — it’s alive. It’s where 15th-century mosques stand next to 21st-century chai stalls. Where Jain temples sit calmly in pols buzzing with scooters. And where the idea of community, craft, and culture still pulses through the narrow lanes.

In2017, Ahmedabad became India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City. But its story starts much, much earlier.

It All Started in 1411 – Ahmed Shah’s Big Vision

The year was 1411 CE.

Sultan Ahmed Shah I, ruler of the Gujarat Sultanate, decided that the old capital at Anhilwad Patan was a bit... outdated.

So he founded a new city along the Sabarmati River, naming it Ahmedabad after himself.

He built:

• A fortified walled city

• Grand mosques and gateways

• Bazaars, stepwells, lakes

• And called in architects, craftsmen, and merchants

Within decades, Ahmedabad grew into one of the most important trading hubs of western India — rich in textiles, gems, spices, and architecture.

Over the next 600 years, the city evolved under:

• Mughals

• Marathas

• British Raj

• And finally, independent India

And it still kept its original bones intact.

What Makes Ahmedabad UNESCO-Worthy?

UNESCO didn’t award Ahmedabad just for a building or a dynasty.

It recognized:

• The urban planning of the old walled city

• The interplay of religions (Islamic, Hindu, Jain, colonial Christian)

• The craftsmanship of wooden havelis

• The unique pol system (gated neighbourhoods)

• And the fact that people still live, pray, shop, and celebrate inside these heritage walls

Let’s walk through the highlights.

Must-See Heritage Sites in Old Ahmedabad

1. Bhadra Fort & Teen Darwaza

• Built by Ahmed Shah himself

• Teen Darwaza was the ceremonial gateway to the royal fort

• Legend: A lamp has been burning here for over 600 years under the care of a Muslim family — inside a Hindu shrine

• If Ahmedabad had a soul, it might be hidden right here

2. Jama Masjid (Ahmedabad)

• One of the most beautiful mosques in India

• Built in 1424 by Ahmed Shah

• Massive courtyard, 260 columns, Indo-Islamic style with lotus motifs on mihrabs

• Carved minbars, jali work — pure poetry in stone

3. Sidi Saiyyed Mosque

• Small mosque, massive fame

• Built in 1573

• Famous for the "Tree of Life" jali window — one of the most photographed pieces of Islamic art

• It’s now basically Ahmedabad’s logo (even IIM Ahmedabad uses it!)

4. Swaminarayan Temple (Kalupur)

• Built in 1822

• Ornate wooden carvings, painted ceilings

• Sacred spot for devotees, and a colorful visual feast for everyone else

5. Manek Chowk

• Starts the day as a vegetable market

• Transforms into a jewellery hub by afternoon

• Turns into a street food paradise by night

• Eat pav bhaji, gota, kulfi, and maybe reconsider your diet plans

6. Pols of Ahmedabad – The Real Heartbeat

A pol is a traditional housing cluster:

• Narrow alleys

• Shared walls

• Secret passages

• Internal courtyards

• Jain temples, wells, and community halls inside

Some iconic pols:

• Khadia Pol

• Dhal ni Pol

• Zaveriwad

• Desai ni Pol

Each pol has a gate that’s locked at night, a chabutra (bird-feeding tower), and generations of stories.

This is urban planning + community bonding + bird love — all rolled into one.

7. Rani no Hajiro & Badshah no Hajiro

• Tombs of royal women and Ahmed Shah

• Located near Manek Chowk

• Great for buying traditional jewellery, bandhej, and silver

• Women-only market inside Rani no Hajiro = heritage + shopping heaven

Also Worth Visiting:

• Calico Museum of Textiles – one of the world’s best textile collections

• Sabarmati Ashram – Gandhi’s home during the freedom struggle

• Kavi Dalpatram’s House – restored home of a legendary poet

• Sarkhej Roza – A Sufi complex on the outskirts, often called “The Acropolis of the East”

The Architectural Vibe – Stone Meets Wood Meets Soul

Ahmedabad is where:

• Islamic domes rise above carved Hindu-style brackets

• Jain temples sparkle with marble and mirror work

• Havelis creak with century-old teak beams, but still hold secrets

• And the sun peeks through jalis like it’s flirting with the past

Where to Eat Like a Local

If you’re not eating, are you even exploring?

Manek Chowk (Night Market)

• Pav Bhaji

• Chocolate Sandwich

• Gathiya-Jalebi

• Kulfi Falooda

Agashiye (The House of MG)  

• Rooftop thali with a view

• Classy, clean, and completely Gujarati

Lucky Tea Stall

• Tables placed around actual graves

• Owned by a Muslim, serves the best chai

• Ghazals playing softly in the background

• You’ll sip chai with dead poets — no big deal

How to Explore the Heritage City

Start at: Bhadra Fort or Sidi Saiyyed Mosque

Walk through: Pols → Manek Chowk → Jama Masjid → Rani no Hajiro

End at: Sabarmati Ashram (sunset by the river is chef’s kiss)

Join a Heritage Walk conducted by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation or local heritage NGOs.

How to Reach Ahmedabad

By Air:

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) – well connected across India and internationally

By Train:

• Ahmedabad Junction – major Western Railway hub

By Road:

• Excellent road connectivity via NH8 and state highways

UNESCO World Heritage Recognition

• Year Inscribed: 2017

• Why?

“A historic urban fabric that represents the evolution of architecture, community life, craft, and harmony over six centuries.”

Final Thoughts – A City That Lives With Its Past, Not Just In It

Ahmedabad isn’t a museum piece. It doesn’t stand behind glass. It walks, talks, laughs, and adjusts its dupatta as it crosses the road.

It’s a city that lets you:

• Get lost in its gallis

• Whisper to carved balconies

• Touch the walls of mosques where sultans once prayed

• And eat street food with people whose great-grandparents sold the same dishes

With Nadodigal, we don’t just trace history — we sip chai with it in a pol, maybe complain about traffic, and still say “this is where it all began.”