Interesting facts

1. Ahmedabad was founded in 1411 AD by Sultan Ahmed Shah on the banks of the Sabarmati River. 2. In 2017, the historic walled city of Ahmedabad became India's first UNESCO World Heritage City. 3. It is home to the Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest cricket stadium—and largest stadium overall—in the world, with a capacity of 132,000. 4. Due to its booming textile industry in the 20th century, Ahmedabad was famously known as the "Manchester of India." 5. Mahatma Gandhi established the Sabarmati Ashram here in 1917, which served as the epicenter of the Indian freedom struggle. 6. The city's Kankaria Lake, built in the 15th century, is polygon-shaped with 34 sides; its design is said to have inspired the logo of the State Bank of India. 7. Ahmedabad celebrates the International Kite Festival (Uttarayan) every January 14th, turning the sky into a massive canvas of colorful kites. 8. The world-famous Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) features iconic exposed-brick architecture designed by the legendary American architect Louis Kahn. 9. The city's traditional walled area consists of 'Pols'—tightly packed, heritage residential clusters with secret passages and unique wooden architecture. 10. Gujarat is a dry state, meaning the sale and consumption of alcohol in Ahmedabad is illegal without a specific government-issued permit. 11. The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque is famous for its intricate stone lattice-work window (Jali) depicting the "Tree of Life," which is the unofficial symbol of the city. 12. Ahmedabad is famous for the longest dance festival in the world, Navratri, where millions perform Garba for nine consecutive nights. 13. The city features a highly successful Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) known as 'Janmarg', considered a model for urban transport in India. 14. Amdavadis (locals) are known for their distinct street food culture, particularly at Manek Chowk—a jewelry market by day that transforms into a bustling food street at night. 15. The first Swaminarayan Temple in the world was built in the Kalupur area of Ahmedabad in 1822. 16. The city was the capital of Gujarat state from 1960 to 1970 before it was moved to the newly planned, neighboring city of Gandhinagar. 17. Ahmedabad hosts the Auto World Vintage Car Museum, housing one of the most significant collections of antique cars, motorcycles, and buggies in the world. 18. The "Jhulta Minar" (Shaking Minarets) of Sidi Bashir Mosque are an architectural mystery; shaking one minaret causes the other to vibrate within seconds, while the connecting passage remains still. 19. Ahmedabad is highly entrepreneurial, serving as the birthplace for many of India's corporate giants, including the Adani Group, Nirma, and Zydus Lifesciences. 20. The city experiences extreme temperatures, sometimes dropping to 12°C in winter and soaring past 45°C in the peak of summer.