AHMADABAD, Gujarat

Main Attraction: SCIENCE CITY

Gujarat Science City is a bold initiative of the Government of Gujarat to realize this priority. The Government is creating a sprawling center at Ahmedabad which aims to provide a perfect blend of education and entertainment. An important objective of the Science City is to propagate the knowledge of science and to make it people-friendly. It will showcase contemporary and imaginative exhibits, minds on experiences, working models, virtual reality, activity corners, labs and live demonstrations to provide an understanding of science and technology to the common man.

The major attractions of science city are Hall of Science, Planet Earth, IMAX 3D Theatre, Energy Education Park, Life Science Park, Musical Dancing Fountain, Amphitheatre and Simulator. It also houses various entertainment zones within the campus to learn while having fun. It has varied displays, laboratories, activity corners and live demonstrations that allow you to enhance your knowledge in an innovative way.

Brief History:

The district of Ahmadabad derives its name from its headquarters city „Ahmadabad ‟. The Mirat-I- Ahmadi states that it was on the 27th February, 1411 A.D. that Ahmad Shah on the advice of his spiritual Adviser Saint Shaikh Ahmad Khattu of Sarkhej laid the foundation of Ahmadabad in an open and spacious area in the immediate vicinity of the old towns of Asawal and Karnavati and to the east of the Sabarmati River.

According to another version of foundation of Ahmadabad was laid by 4 pious Ahmads, viz., Sultan Ahmad Shah himself ; Saint Shaikh Ahmad Khattu of Sarkhej, Kaji Ahmad Jud of Patan and Malik Ahmad, who used to observe Namaz five times every day. In addition to them twelve Bava- Fakirs also blessed the establishment of Ahmedabad city. It is said that they all were the followers of Saint Nizamuddin Chisti of Delhi.

Karnadeva I (1064-1094 A.D.) invaded Asapalli situated on the bank of Sabarmati River, vanquished the Bhil Chief of the town and founded Karnavati in its victinity. Asapalli and Karnavati were both situated near the site of Ahmadabad founded later in 1411 A.D. Asapalli lay on the South of present Ahmadabad. While Karnavati was situated to its South, round about Kocharab near Paldi. No remains of Asapalli have come to light. No data are available to trace its antiquity prior to 11th century. According to the Jain tradition king Karnadeva passed the last year of his reign at this new town founded by him.

The present Ahmadabad district formed part of Anarta region, which was lying between Arbuda Mountain and the Sabarmati River. It is also referred to the Nagarkhand of Skands Puran and in the 6th Uttarkhand of Padma Puran. The Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman has referred to this region as Svabhra i.e. the region roundabout the river Sabaramati. The author of Haft Iqlim writes in 1593 A.D. “Ahmadabad is unique in the whole of India in matter of neatness and flourishing condition, and it is superior to other cities in the excellence of its monuments. It would be no exaggeration to say that in the whole world there exists no town so grand and beautiful. Its streets are spacious and well arranged, unlike those in other towns, its shops with two or three storey‟s each are finely built and its inhabitants both men and women are graceful and delicate”.

Since the beginning of the Christian era even up to the present time the inhabitants of Gujarat have shown the best business acumen and enterprise of all the races of India. Before the beginning of the sixteenth century the silk, gold and silver brocades, kinkhab, jari, and kasab embroidery and cotton textiles of Ahmadabad were in demand in every eastern market from Cairo to Peking.

In the time of Muzaffar III the independent Sultanate of Gujarat came to an end, the condition of the province being chaotic. Akbar started on the Gujarat expedition and conquered it in 1573. During Mogul reign, Ahmadabad saw considerable prosperity. The rulers after the death of Aurangzeb were weak and the Mogul Viceroys were busy fighting amongst themselves and with the Marathas which resulted in disorder in the country. During the reign of the Marathas in the eighteenth century, Ahmadabad to all purposes was divided half into the hands of the Peshwas and the other half into the hands of the Gaekwad but the Peshwas carried greater jurisdiction. There was one representative in Ahmadabad on behalf of the Gaekwad. But the Peshwa also nominated his Suba in the city. During the rule of 64 years of the Marathas, the condition of Ahmadabad went from bad to worse and there was great disorder in the city. After a great deal of struggle and fighting between Peshwa and Gaekwad, the British finally took over Ahmadabad in 1817.

Ahmadabad played an important role in the movement for national independence. After his return from South Africa in 1915, Mahatma Gandhiji selected Ahmadabad for his stay in India and established the Sabarmati Harijan Ashram from where various stages of the national movement were directed and the famous Dandi March for the Salt Satyagrah with a band of chosen Satyagrahis undertaken in 1930.

In November, 1956, the States were recognised and the bigger bilingual State of Bombay was formed with Vidarbha, Maratha Wada, Saurashtra and Kachchh regions. The Ahmadabad division formed part of the bigger bilingual Bombay State.

Lastly, the Bombay State was bifurcated on 1st May 1960 and separate States of Gujarat and Maharashtra were formed. Since that date the Ahmadabad district became a part of Gujarat. The district headquarters was also the State capital from May 1960 to May 1970, before it was shifted to the new township at Gandhinagar.