Sabarmati ashram, Amdavad,Gujarat
Sabarmati Ashram also known as Gandhi Ashram is located on the serene banks of the sabarmati river.
It is from here that many iconic movements of the freedom struggle of India like the Dandi March commenced and hence the place holds a significant position in both the history of Gujarat as well as India.
Other names given to the Ashram are Harijan Ashram and Satyagraha Ashram.
On a quiet stretch of the river Sabarmati, 7kms north of Ahmadabad (Amdavad now), Mahatma Gandhi set up Sabarmati Ashram, a simple retreat in 1915. It was his first Satyagraha Ashram and for many it was a nerve centre of India’s freedom movement. Many national and international leaders visited Gandhiji at the Ashram , and it was whilst living here that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi came to be known as Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhiji selected this place , on the bank of sabarmati river , since it was very close to the Maharishi Dadeechi’s temple as well as from jail and a crematorium. Activities in the Ashram started full fledged in 1917.
Hridyakunj , the cottage where Gandhiji lived is preserved as it was in the Mahatma’s lifetime. Sabarmati Ashram also has a memorial centre, library amd sou d and light spectacle for visiting tourists. A chart is hung on the wall which states how Mohandas became Mahatma with year in chronological order.
History of Amdavad
(Ahmadabad)
History of Amdavad begins in the eleventh century with the solanki King Karandev 1 , ruler of Anhilwara (modern day patan) . He waged a war against a Bhil King Ashapall of Ashaval, and after his victory established a city called Karnavati, on the banks of the sabarmati river , which is the modem Amdavad (Ahmadabad). Solanki rule lasted until the thirteenth century , when Gujarat came under the control of Vaghela Dynasty of Dwarka. Gujarat was conquered by the Sultanate of Delhi at the end of thirteenth century. Sultan Ahmed shah renamed Karnavati ad Ahmadabad and established it as his capital. In the beginning of the fifteenth century, an independent sultan are ruled by the Muslim Muzaffarid dynasty was established in Gujarat. Ahmadabad was the capital of the Sultanate for 162 years (1411- 1573) .
Amdavad City tour for a day is available with AC coach and 1 cool mineral water bottle which are provided free cost by tour operators. City tour usually includes other places in the city which includes:
Gandhi Ashram
Sardar Patel National Memorial
Hutheesing Jain Temple
Sidi Saiyad’s mosque
Bhadra fort
Rani sipri’s mosque
Jhulta mirara
Adlalaj stepwell
Rani -ki Vav stepwell
And
Akshardham
There are two tours organised by the tour operators for city tour. – one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
Akshardham is usually included in the afternoon tour trip.
There is a spiritual water fountain show,
the ticket for which is included in package.
Tourists travelling on Monday Amdavad city tour may kindly note Akshardham will not be included in the tour.
