Last Updated on February 15, 2022 by Soumya
Ahmedabad is a culturally rich and vibrant city in India. Apart from being the financial hub of Gujarat, Ahmedabad is home to history and culture from ages ago. In fact, it was the first Indian city to be declared a UNESCO Heritage City in July 2017. Amdavad, as it is locally referred to, has a number of amazing sites to explore within the city limits. But more than that, it has tonnes of interesting spots within a 100km radius. In this post, I intend to cover some of those exciting places near Ahmedabad that you could explore within a day.
Best places to visit near Ahmedabad for one day
We were in Ahmedabad for a couple of days earlier this year. More than local points of interest, we were excited about what Ahmedabad could offer us within a few hours drive. And there was so much! Places of historical interest dot the entire state of Gujarat. So it was no surprise that we found tons to do within 100kms of Ahmedabad’s boundary. These are the 4 best places that I visited near this cultural capital of Gujarat.
All of them have a historical touch to them. This post is, therefore, a very helpful one for history lovers. Others can also supplement their Ahmedabad itineraries with one or few of these.
Sun Temple, Modhera
The Sun Temple at Modhera is one of the many temples in India dedicated to Hindu Sun God, Lord Surya. That is why they are also called Surya Mandirs. Modhera Sun Temple was built by King Bhimdev of the Solanki Dynasty in the 11th century AD. The architecture is one of the finest in India and the temple boasts of an opulently carved ceiling in the Garbagriha or the inner sanctum of the temple where the image of Sun God was kept. A large stepwell-styled water reservoir called Surya Kund, that features beautifully sculpted figures and smaller temples, adorns the front of the temple.
Modhera is one of the most prominent north Gujarat tourist places as well as a remarkable choice among historical places of Gujarat. If you are looking for interesting places to visit near Ahmedabad for one day, then Modhera should definitely be on your list.
Click here for a Complete Travel Guide to Modhera Sun Temple.
Where: Located southwest of Mehsana District in Gujarat, 25 km from Mehsana city and 98 km from Ahmedabad.
When: The best time to come here is during winters when the temperatures are lower. If you are looking for an additional touch of Indian heritage, you can plan your trip to Modhera in the third week of January when the Modhera Dance Festival is held.
How: You can hire a private taxi to get to Modhera from Ahmedabad. Taxis are always preferred in these areas because the roads are smooth and the journey does not take very long. The journey takes about 2 hours one-way. Private and government buses also run between Ahmedabad and Modhera and are easier on the pocket. Click here to book your bus tickets.
Rani ni Vav, Patan
The state of Gujarat is dotted with step wells of all kinds and sizes. Step wells have long been used as water reservoirs in the arid regions of western India. Apart from being sources of precious water, step wells are beautiful expressions of art and sculpture. A must-see for any art connoisseur or history lover. To learn more about why you must see these majestic step wells, click here.
Step wells are called “vav” in Gujarati, the local language. Rani ni Vav is located on the banks of river Saraswati in Patan and was built by Queen Udaymati in memory of her late husband, King Bhimdev. The well is 7 storeys deep and is almost a thousand years old. Rani ni Vav is believed to be the grandest stepwell in Gujarat. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and draws tourists from India and abroad. It is one among the top 10 historical places in Gujarat.
Where: Located in Patan, 125 km from Ahmedabad.
When: Temperatures are lower between October and March and therefore, that is a good time to visit.
How: A private car is the most convenient option between Ahmedabad and Patan. In fact, Patan and Modhera are often clubbed together in one day. You could also do a combination of train and bus or only train to reach Patan.
Lothal
Lothal is an ancient Harappan site from 5000 years ago and is located a little more than 75 km from Ahmedabad. An important port city of the Indus Valley Civilization, It is believed that Lothal built the world’s oldest dockyard which you can still view as you enter the site. The city is divided into two distinct parts: Upper Town and Lower Town. Interesting aspects are the underground drainage system bits of which can still be viewed and the bead-making kiln of Lothal. Click here for a complete itinerary of Lothal and some useful travel tips.
Along with Dholavira, Lothal is part of an exotic list: the list of ancient civilization sites of the world. Indus Valley Civilization was one of the most advanced civilizations of the ancient world. While many of its sites remain across the border in Pakistan, Lothal offers us a peek into the routines and culture of people from 5000 years ago.
Where: Located in Saragwala, Gujarat, 75 km from Ahmedabad.
When: Again the best time to visit Lothal is during winters. Gujarat is an arid state and can get really hot in summer.
How: The best way to get to Lothal is by a private taxi from Ahmedabad which will take 1.5 hr one-way. Alternately, you could also take a train to Bhurkhi on the Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar railway line and then take a local bus from there. You will probably need to walk a bit in the last leg of the journey.
Adalaj ni Vav
The Adalaj Stepwell or the Rudabai Stepwell is located in the village of Adalaj, very close to Ahmedabad. It is less than 20 km from Ahmedabad. Built in the 15th century, the stepwell is 5 levels deep. The stepwell has a tragic tale behind it. It is about Queen Rudabai who jumped into the well to showcase her love for her dead husband. The architecture here is unique because you can see a blending of Islamic patterns with Hindu and Jain architecture. To find out why it is so, click here.
It is considered one of the most convenient places to visit near Ahmedabad for one day since it is pretty close to the city. It is often clubbed together with city tours. However, a history lover like me considers any clubbing grave injustice to the beauty of Rudabai’s Stepwell. Wandering through those stairs and admiring the motifs and engravings could take a day in itself.
Where: Located in Adalaj near Gandhinagar, 19 km from Ahmedabad.
When: Again winters are the best time. The stepwell is open between 6 am – 6 pm every day.
Admission: INR 25 ($0.35) for Indians and SAARC Nationals | INR 300 ($4) for others
How: You can take a private taxi to Adalaj from Ahmedabad or a bus to Gandhinagar. A taxi from Ahmedabad takes about 40 minutes. You can also board an AMTS (Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Services) bus from Laldarwaja Terminal in Ahmedabad to Adalaj Gam. The bus drive takes around 1.5 hours. The stepwell is a 15 min walk from the bus stop.
Did you make a day trip to any of these places near Ahmedabad? How was your experience there? Did you travel on the bus or by car? Did I miss your favorite location near Ahmedabad? Feel free to drop me a comment below and let’s get the conversation going.
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WOW! great Explanation about the background of our Ahmedabad history, planning to explore with family members for a long weekend day trips, Thank you for providing valuable information, Keep posting.
Thanks Anil. Glad you found this Ahmedabad travel guide helpful.
Thank you for giving this moe information about the ahmedabad and its places, I really liked it, i want visit these places as soon as possible, Thank you .
Hi Kalakar. Glad you found the post helpful and hope you have a great time in Ahmedabad.
I would like to visit those ancient and heritage places, thanks for the information
These places are indeed rich in history and culture. What is better is the fact that they are easily accessible from Ahmedabad as day trips.
I enjoyed reading your blog post. The places listed here are too good. If anyone wants to travel to these places at cheap prices you can book flights through Indian eagle
I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article.
This is amazing list. I have been to Mehsana but alas didnt get a chance to even visit Modhera’s Sun temple. The first photo is quite amazing. Even Adlaj ki vav & Rani ki vav make me inquisitive and yearn to see in person.
Thanks for appreciating my work. These places are real pieces of art. You should definitely see them when you come here next. I am sure you will love them
Spent close to a week in Amdavad and did not visit any of these places.. shameful isn’t it :/ My kiddo then was a toddler and we went during the monsoons.It poured then like never before and we were shut inside the hotel room for most of the days. This post coming during the Gujju tourism fest is making me crave for a jet-set-go trip as soon as possible!
Rain and kids! I can totally relate to it. But there’s always a next time. I am sure you will do your jet-set-go trip soon. ?
Some great spots to see within a days visit I must say and thanks fro sharing. There is so much to see in Gujarat and these places are great if you in or around Ahmedabad. For me the Sun temple steals the show and with the great work it strikes you. Enriched history I would love to visit it some day. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah that’s so true. It is definitely the show stopper. I have a detailed travel guide to The sun temple if you are interested.
Looks like there is plenty to see and enjoy for a day trip to Ahmedabad. I’m normally skeptical about articles that show how to discover a city in a day but this one was very comprehensive itinerary. The Sun Temple looks incredible, and the Rani ni Vav and Adalaj are also fascinating. Would definitely want to visit one day
I am sure you will love them. And the best part is that you can do each in one day. That gives you ample time to discover each.
Great day trips from Ahmedabad. The UNESCO designation is well deserved for these places that are 1000 or even more years old. It always amazes me that humans were building awesome 7-story water collectors. And Adalaj ni Vav’s tragic story just adds to the emotions of such a beautiful place.
That’s so true. These places are the perfect mix of history, culture, architecture and emotions.
Wow what a beautiful historic place. I have been to Gujarat only for 1 night for an admission interview, so couldnt really explore anything. A really intriguing state which has so many hidden gems. This is a new addition to my gujarat bucketlist
Yeah Gujarat has a lot to offer. Situated on the crossroads I think Gujarat definitely has a lot of history.
Looks like there is plenty to see and enjoy for a day trip to Ahmedabad, perhaps even to stay overnight? The Sun Temple looks incredible, such beautiful detail. Rani ni Vav and Adalaj are even more incredible, I’m yet to visit one of these grand step wells and very keen, though my knees might protest!
There’s indeed a lot to see in and around Ahmedabad. And you can do a couple of days in the city and then 2-3 days more around it. The architecture is really pretty. I don’t think the step wells will be that bad because you can choose to go down a few storeys if not all.
You have listed beautiful historical places which can be visited in a day trip from Ahmedabad. Rani ni Vav in Patan looks beautiful and would be interesting to know about this 7 floors deep step well. Sun Temple and Lothal are also worthvisiting too as they have great history associated with it. I agree these places must be visited during winter times. Thanks for sharing all the tips and information.
You are welcome Yukti. I believe you are from Gujarat. So these comments coming from you mean a lot.
I honestly just love such places that are steeped in history as I find them fascinating. These examples you have shared here must make the region surrounding Ahmedabad a must-visit destination in India. I can’t wait to go myself and see such places up close and of course to travel in the winter time there as you suggest. Such an interesting post.
Thanks Nicole. I understand how you feel about such places. I feel the same way too. Gujarat is a must visit if you are in India. Hope to see you here sometime.