The contemporary city
The old city lies east of the Sabarmati River, while newer sections lie along the west bank. An interesting local feature is the division of the old city centre into pols, or self-contained blocks of houses that shelter several thousand people each. Some pols are virtually small townships, crossed by a street with gates at either end.
There are also several Jain temples in the city. The Hathi Singh Temple (1848) is perhaps the most visited. It is made of white marble and has 24 Jain Tirthankaras sculpted on the building. Jain bird sanctuaries are also common in Ahmadabad.
Ahmadabad’s ancient architectural remains contrast sharply with the modern mills and factories in the newer parts of the city. The cotton-milling industry is one of the largest in India. Other industries produce pharmaceuticals, computer software, chemicals, vegetable oil, flour, soap, matches, glass, tobacco, hosiery, and carpets. The city’s handicrafts include brocades, lace, copper and brass ware, jewelry, and wood carving. Services also have become significant.
Ahmadabad is the home of Gujarat University (1949), the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute for Indological Research, and the Mill Owners’ Association Headquarters (1951–54). The Calico Museum houses a collection of spun and handwoven cloth, brocades, and other textiles, as well as a display of rare tapestries, costumes, and looms; the Shreyas Folk Museum exhibits arts and crafts of Gujarat; and the Utensils Museum displays nutcrackers, knives, cooking vessels, and various other culinary items.
Major Hindu festivals celebrated in Ahmadabad are Makar Sankranti (January 14), a kite festival; Navratri (September/October), a nine-day display of music and folk dances (notably garba) dedicated to the goddess Durga; and Rath Yatra (June or July), when massive chariots carrying the statues of Krishna, Balram, and Subhadra are led from the Jagannath temple through the city.
Southeast of the city is Lake Kankaria, which offers promenades, boating, a hill garden, and a museum designed by the architect Le Corbusier. Sabarmati, a suburb west of the Sabarmati River, became well known as the seat of Mohandas K. Gandhi’s ashram, or religious retreat. Chief crops grown in the surrounding area are cotton, millet, wheat, and pulses.