Population: 132,000
Telephone Area Code:  02712 / Prefix 082 from Ahmedabad

Although Ahmedabad was entitled to be the capital of Gujarat state when the old state of Bombay was split into Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960, a new capital was planned 32km north-east on the West Bank of the Sabarmati River. Named Gandhinagar after Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat, it is India's second planned city after Chandigarh and, like that city, is laid out in numbered sectors and preplanned areas. Construction of the city commenced in 1965 and the secretariat was moved there in 1970.

City Guidance
Gandhiji was born and brought up in Gujarat. There are many institutions named and associated with the Mahatma. His statues have been erected all over the town. A whole town has been named 'Gandhidham' near Kandala. The Ellisbridge area of Ahmedabad has also been named 'Gandhigram' and the new capital of state is also given the name 'Gandhinagar'.

The town was build under a planned scheme and it was to be made the centre for administration, hence all the arrangements were planned accordingly. The buildings, roads, gardens and other amenities were established, keeping its utilities in view.

As Maharashtra and Gujarat were parted in 1960 Ahmedabad was made a temporary capital of the state. Hence it was decided to develop a whole new town afresh, which would meet all priorities and parameters of a capital. The foundations of the new capital near Ahmedabad were laid in 1964-65. The planning was based on Chandigarh blue prints, the first ever-whole new town in post independence era, developed by French architect La Corbusier.

There are 30 sectors in the town. The secretariat, assembly, other government offices and residential complexes were built. The roads are broad enough. The electricity, water supply and other amenities have been established. A special care has been taken to avoid pollution. There are plenty of trees in the town. The parks of Gandhinagar have become tourist attractions. It seems that a whole new town has all of a sudden grown in agricultural fields.

Some of the villages around Gandhinagar have been included in the district of Gandhinagar. Adalaj near Gandhinagar is world-famous for its stepwell. The architecture of the stepwell is extra-ordinary. The multistoried stepwell has many underground rooms and each pillar is a piece of art.

Some more tourist attractions are also there in and around Gandhinagar. The deer sanctuary and serpent-house in Indroda, a nearby village is one of them. The festival of 'Palli' in Roopal village during Navaratri festivals is one more tourist attraction. Vasaniya Mahadeo at Vasan village is also worth a visit.

Gandhinagar has seen rapid growth and development in eighties. The administrative centre is slowly turning into a trade centre and the efforts of establishing Electronic industries near Gandhinagar will soon change the face of the town. Private buildings, hotels and co-operative societies have come up. It has enlarged its limits to a considerable extent in recent years. Private institutions, service organisation, religious centres and educational institutions have also come up during the last two decades.

Getting There & Away

Bus
Buses from Ahmedabad cost Rs 5. They leave from Lal Darwaja, or from one of the numerous stops along Ashram Rd.