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Gandhinagar is a planned city in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The Akshardham is a massive Hindu temple with ornate carvings and sculpted pillars, plus a water show in its sprawling gardens. Dandi Kutir museum traces the life of leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat. South, along the Sabarmati River, the Indroda Nature Park has a zoo and botanical gardens, plus an adjacent dinosaur and fossil park.
| Name: | Gandhinagar – Capital city of Gujarat State |
| Location: | Gandhinagar District, Gujarat |
| Climate: | Summers: 42° C (Max), 19° C (Min) | Winters: 29° C (Max), 14° C (Min) |
| Best Time To Visit: | October to March |
| Nearest Airport: | Ahmedabad Airport (31 km) |
| Railway Station: | Ahmedabad Railway Station |
| Must Visits: | Akshardham Temple, the Capital Complex, Adalaj Ni Vav, Sarita Udyan, Deer Park (Indroda Park) and Punit Van |
| Language Spoken: | Gujarati, Hindi and English |
| STD Code: | 079 |
Gandhinagar is the capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. This city is a very important and popular city in the western part of India. Gandhinagar is often referred to as Ecopolite city or Cosmopolite city, due to its serene environment and lavish infrastructure. Gujarat’s new capital city, Gandhinagar lies on the western bank of River Sabarmati and is just 30 km away from Ahmedabad. This ecopolite city is spread over an area of 117 square kilometers and is sited on an altitude of 81 m above the average sea level. Thus, the city experiences a typical climate with hot and dry summers (March to June), mild cold winters (November to February) and enjoyable monsoons (mid-June to mid-September) with an average rainfall of 803 mm annually. However, the best time to visit this city is from October to March.
Gandhinagar has been named after Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation This was basically done to pay an ode to the great leader, for Gujarat was the hometown of Gandhi. The history of Gandhinagar can be traced back to the 13th century, when this region (Shertha town) was under the rule of King Pethasinh of Pethapur. After his death, this land was used as a battleground by the Sultanate of Patan. Later, Sultan Ahmed Shah shifted his capital to newly built city, Ahmedabad. After Indian independence, in the year 1960, the Bombay State got partitioned into two namely, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Consequently, Bombay went to Maharashtra. So, there emerged a need to make a new capital city for Gujarat. It was, then, that this superb city came into existence whose infrastructure was planned by two Indian planners, namely H.K. Mewada and Prakash Apte.
Gandhinagar ranks as the second planned city of India after Chandigarh. This city has an effective transport system and industrial infrastructure. The city is very well allied by road (National Highway No. 8A) to Surat, Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and Ahmedabad Station are the nearest airport and railway depot respectively. Gandhinagar represent itself as a spacious, regimented and architecturally incorporated city of India. Apart from being an industrial hub and exclusive greenery, this city is also an important landmark in Gujarat tourism. Some important tourist destinations in the city are Akshardham Temple, the Capital Complex, Adalaj Ni Vav (ancient step well built by Queen Rudabai), Children’s Park, Sarita Udyan, Deer Park (Indroda Park), Punit Van (Botanical Garden depending on Zodiac signs and an Amphitheater) and the Craftsmen’s Village at Pethapur.
Best Time To Visit Gandhinagar
Lying on the banks of the River Sabarmati is an evergreen city called Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat. Clumped with hotspots like Deer Park, Akshardham Temple and Punit Van, a one-of-its-kind of a botanical theater, Gandhinagar is also one of India’s most environmentally friendly cities. The tall green trees, umpteen recreational parks and countless plants flanked across the city lanes is a clear testimony to that. Gandhinagar’s itinerary is incomplete without making a quick visit to the much talked about Craftsmen’s Village. Situated 7km off the city, this village gives tourists a sneak peek into the traditional craftsmanship of the skilled workers present there. No traveler leaves this place without buying the striking ‘Bandhani’ saris and wooden blocks carved with exotic designs. Gandhinagar’s climate comprises of three main seasons namely, summer, winter and monsoon. Although the monsoon can play havoc with your travel plans, the overall weather here remains quite balmy. Therefore, if you are planning a trip to Gandhinagar, it is wise to keep yourself well informed about the best time to visit Gandhinagar. Scroll down the article to know more on it.
When To Go To Gandhinagar
Summer:
The humid climate and blazing sun hits Gandhinagar during late February and continues until May. It is advised not to venture out or go for sightseeing during this time as the sweltering sun is awfully unbearable. Local inhabitants can be seen shielding themselves from the sun by using umbrellas. The temperature sometimes reaches a peak of 420 C forcing people to stay indoors. Downing glasses of lassis topped with nuts and gorging on ice creams can help you to stay cool and beat the summer temperature. Also, in case you step out, make sure to wear cool cotton clothes instead of thick and heavy apparels.
Monsoon:
June marks the onset of monsoon in Gandhinagar and is characterized by heavy rainfall. The rampant showers continue to splosh the green city until the month of September. The average annual rainfall received by this city during this period is around 803.4 mm (32 inches). Eateries and food stalls selling local delicacies like bhajiyas, dhoklas, lilva kachoris, patra run to packed houses and people can be seen relishing these yummy dishes as they enjoy the pitter-patter of the rain.
Winter:
October, November, December and January are the winter months in Gandhinagar. Most of the tourists find it a right to visit the city owing to the pleasant climate and low temperatures. While the maximum temperature is 36° C, the minimum temperature during this period is 12° C. Though the daytime is generally warm and manageable, the nights can get very cold. So, stuffing your travel backpacks with woolen clothes is highly recommended.
Opting For Your Favorite Season:
The best time to explore Gandhinagar is ideally between October and March. Extremities do not mark the weather during this period, thereby, making it an ideal time for indulging in shopping and sightseeing. There are various colorful festivals celebrated in Gandhinagar. The most noted ones are Makar Sankranti, Navratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi and Holi. The local inhabitants here are friendly and mainly converse in Gujarati and Hindi language. Tourists need not worry about accommodation facilities once they land up in this vibrant city since there is wide range of budget and luxury hotels always available.
How To Reach Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, the proud capital of Gujarat, is fast turning out to become a tourist hotspot in India. Thanks to its sprawling greens and attractions like Capital Complex, Sarita Udyan, Akshardham Temple, and Children’s Park, Gandhinagar is fast finding its way into every globe trekker’s itinerary list. Not to mention its popular souvenir shops that sell a plethora of knick-knacks including embroidered footwear, wall hangings, saris and ethnic ghagra-cholis, that just adds to the delight of the people visiting the city. The people here are modern yet deeply attached to their cultural roots. Gastronomists must not forget to dig into the crispy sandwich, dhoklas, phapdi and khaman that sells like hot cakes in the eateries here. To commute in and around the city of Gandhinagar, auto rickshaws and city buses are the safest bet. So, to explore this multicultural land, pack your bags, head off to this green city, and explore its charms. There are various traveling options available to reach Gandhinagar. The following write-up should give you enough information on how to reach Gandhinagar.
Traveling To Gandhinagar
By Air:
Unfortunately, the city of Gandhinagar does not have an airport of its own and thus, catching a flight to the nearest airport is the only option left for tourists. The Sardar Vallabhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad, located 18km off Gandhinagar, is the closest one. Plenty of flights ply from metro cities at regular intervals to Ahmedabad airport. Some of the domestic Airlines servicing from Ahmedabad airport are Jet Airways, Indian Airlines, Air Sahara and Spice Jet. While from Bangalore, there are three direct flights, 16 daily flights function from Mumbai. Once you reach the airport, you can hire either taxis, buses or other local transportation modes to reach your desired destination.
By Rail:
Luckily, Gandhinagar has a train station that is well connected to the other major railway heads of metro cities. While from Barmer, there is Malani Express operating at regular intervals, from Jodhpur there is Marudhar Express. The fare of the train tickets depends on the distance covered and the class of travel opted. Once you reach the railway station, you can hire local taxis or aboard the city buses to reach your preferred destination.
By Road:
Gandhinagar has an excellent road network. There are many private as well as state government buses plying within the city. The ticket fares of the bus ticket are priced reasonably. Some of the major bus stops you can find in Gandhinagar are Central bus station, CHO bus stop, Pethapur bus station, GH2 bus stop among others.
Local Transportation:
Just like any other Indian city, Gandhinagar too has plenty of local transportation modes. So, commuting here is very exciting and doesn’t seem a bit complicated. Besides local and state government buses, auto and shared rickshaws are used majorly and is one of the most popular means of transport here. Unlike the other city’s roads filled with potholes and congested spaces, Gandhinagar’s streets are wide with vast open spaces.
Places To See In Gandhinagar
To many of us Gandhinagar is known as Mahatma Gandhi’s birthplace, which has very recently emerged as an important industrial hub in the state of Gujarat. Apart from the large population of business tourist that visits the city, Gandhinagar is also emerging as a popular place for a family vacation. It is one of India’s well-planned architectural layouts. As you go about touring the place, you will find that Gandhinagar is a blend of both modern and old India. With modern ideas intertwined with the Gandhian principles, the city only goes on to reflect on the laissez-faire attitude of the people. The most popular tourist spots in the city are Akshardham Temple, Sarita Udyan, Adalaj Stepwell and Capital Complex, to name a few. Besides its interesting tourist hotspots, Gandhinagar is also deemed as a cultural melting pot. During festivals, the city comes alive with its colorful and entertaining folk themes and great vegetarian cuisine that one should not miss out. Read the write-up to know more about the places to see in Gandhinagar.
Tourist Attractions In Gandhinagar
Akshardham Temple:
This temple is the main highlight of the city. Built by the followers of Swaminarayan Sanstha and led by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, this majestic temple made of pink sand stone has beautiful sculptures, overwhelming carvings, well-lit gardens and fountains that are a remarkable sight. The best time to visit this temple is during the evenings. Inside the shrine, you can find the main deity, exhibition halls that depict the life and preaching’s of Swaminarayan, other prominent Hindu scriptures and a research centre on art and culture. The main sanctum comprises of a 7-foot tall, gold plated idol of Lord Swaminaryan towering above you. The sheer size of this monument and its intricate carved motif makes it a modern architectural tour de force.
Capital Complex:
Located in the centre of the city in Sector 10 is the Capital Complex. The building is a legislative assembly of Gandhinagar and houses many secretariat offices. The dome shaped structure seated on the middle of the lake is known as Vithalbhai Patel Bhavan. The Sardar Bhavan and Narmada Bhavan is located towards the sides of Vidhan Sabha. These two buildings are said to be the offices of department heads. Although the governmental authorities allow tourists within the campus of the complex, visitors are generally not allowed to enter the respective buildings without a special pass. The complex is yet again one of Gandhinagar’s structural beauties.
Sarita Udya:
Situated close to the Sabarmati River, this garden is a popular tourist spot. With sprawling grass accompanied with colorful blooms and elongated rows of trees, the Sarita Udyan is a great place to chill out. This garden is also a favorite picnic spot among the local people. During mornings and late evenings, the garden attracts a good number of walkers and joggers. Located in Sector 9, Sarita Udyan is easily accessible. If you plan to visit this garden, also visit the deer park, which is located nearby to catch a glimpse of these docile and sensitive creatures along with various other species.
Gandhi Ashram:
While one is in Mahatma Gandhi’s birthplace, one cannot miss Gandhi Ashram, which was established in 1920. Formerly known as Satyagraha Ashram, the place comprises of a library that consists of Gandhi’s extensive collection of books and a memorial dedicated to him. The place holds great historical importance as the famous ‘Dandi March’ started right from this ashram. Do visit the ashram during the evenings to see the sound and light show. The show brings out interesting facts about Gandhi life and his work as a freedom fighter.
Adalaj:
Adalaj is a historical monument that was built in 1499 AD. Constructed by Queen Rudabai, the carvings on the walls of the well include ornate patterns of animals and flowers. The pillars inside the well have beautiful carvings of decorative designs that were popular during that period in the region. In the earlier period, the place was used by caravans and explorer as a regular halting place that connected several trade routes. Adalaj is just 18 km from the heart of the city that should not be missed out from your itinerary.
