Wide leafy streets and pockets of greenery characterize Gandhinagar, the attractive state capital of Gujarat. Gandhinagar takes its name from the state-born Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. Learn about Gandhi’s life at a cultural center and attend a sound and light show at a revered temple. Spend time relaxing and spotting wildlife along the riverfront.
Follow streets marked by numbers and letters from the Gujarati alphabet to the majestic Akshardham Temple. Built over 13 years, the temple dazzles with a pink sandstone fairytale-like mandir that overlooks lush gardens. Multimedia exhibits highlight aspects of the Hindu religion throughout the complex’s five exhibition halls. Take a seat by the Satchitanand Fountain to watch a light, sound and water performance based on an ancient Hindu fable.
Dandi Kutir celebrates the life, ideologies and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi via interactive exhibits. Discover his upbringing, life in London and South Africa and events from the battles for independence such as the 1930 Salt March. Cross the Dandi Bridge to the landscaped Gandhi Garden. Go for a stroll around the grassy lawns of Swarnim Park.
Make your way to the Sabarmati River waterfront for some family-friendly fun at Indroda Nature Park. Kids will love spotting fossils, life-size dinosaur models and the skeletons of sea mammals. There’s a botanic garden, bird cages and deer park, too. Sarita Udhyan is a pleasant spot for a picnic with views of the river and Sant Sarovar Dam.
Catch an auto-rickshaw for the short drive south of the city center to Adalaj Stepwell. Established in 1499, it features five levels of archways, pillars and platforms the lead down to a deep well. Take time to study the carvings of daily life alongside Hindu, Islamic and Jain symbols.
Gandhinagar is 19 miles (30 kilometers) to the north of Ahmedabad. Take a train to Gandhinagar Capital station and then use auto-rickshaws and taxis to get around. Visit in February for the folkloric music and dance performances of the Sanskruti Kunj Fair.
