Media

Ahmedabad has a number of newspaper publications. English-language dailies published and sold in the city include, The Times of India, Indian Express, DNA money, Economic Times, Indian Express, Divya Bhaskar, Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh. A large number of magazines, periodicals and journals are regularly published and circulated across the city. The city is home to the historic Navajivan Publishing House — founded in 1919 by Mahatma Gandhi — which is one of India's premier publications company. The Gujarat film and television industry has a...

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Education

Schools in Ahmedabad are run either by the municipal corporation, or privately by entities, trusts and corporations. Most schools are affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board. Some schools, like the Delhi Public School and the Kendriya Vidyalayas, are associated with the Central Board for Secondary Education. A large number of colleges in the city are affiliated with Gujarat University. Other deemed universities in Ahmedabad include the Nirma University of Science & Technology and the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar...

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Transport

Ahmedabad is one of the six operating divisions of the Western Railway. Railway lines connect the city to all towns in Gujarat, and to major cities in the rest of India. The Ahmedabad Railway Station and the Maninagar Railway Station are the main terminals for the city. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport provides for both domestic and international aviation for the city and the neighbouring cities of Gandhinagar, Mehsana and Nadiad. The airport also connects the city with destinations across India and the world. National Highway...

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Sports

Cricket is the most popular sport in the city. Both one-day internationals and test matches are played at the Sardar Patel Stadium. The stadium has frequently served as venue for matches during major tournaments such as the 1987 Cricket World Cup, the 1996 Cricket World Cup and the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy. Ahmedabad has a second cricket stadium at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Sports Club of Gujarat, which as the home ground of the Gujarat cricket team is the venue for domestic tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy, the Duleep Trophy and...

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Culture

Ahmedabad enjoys a thriving cultural tradition, being the centre of Gujarati cultural activities and diverse traditions of different ethnic and religious communities. Popular celebrations and observances include Uttarayan — an annual kite-flying day on 14 January. The nine nights of Navratri are celebrated with people performing Garba — the folk dance of Gujarat — at venues across the city. The festival of lights — Deepavali is celebrated with the lighting of lamps in every house, the decorating the floors with the rangoli and the bursting...

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Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Ahmedabad had a population of 3,515,361. This figure was limited to the municipal region. The total population of the Ahmedabad Urban Agglomeration (which includes the region governed by AUDA) came to 4.5 million, and is estimated to have grown to 5.2 million in 2006. There are 886 females to every 1000 males. Ahmedabad has a literacy rate of 79.89%, which is the highest in Gujarat (87.81% males and 71.12% females are literate). According to the census for the Ninth Plan, there are 30,737 rural families living in Ahmedabad....

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Economy

Ahmedabad is the largest inland industrial centre in western India, and has historically enjoyed a reputation as an important base of commerce, trade and industry. Under Muzaffarid rule, the city was a major trade destination for western India, because of its proximity to the port at Surat and for its access to the hinterland of Gujarat. In the 19th century, the textile and garments industry developed and thrived in the city — on 30 May 1861 Ranchhodlal Chhotalal founded the first Indian textile mill, the Ahmedabad Spinning and Weaving Company...

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Geography and climate

Ahmedabad is located at 23.03° N 72.58° E in western India at an elevation of 53 metres (174 feet). The city sits on the banks of the River Sabarmati, in north-central Gujarat. It spans an area of 205 km² (79.15 square miles). The Sabarmati frequently dries up in the summer, leaving only a small stream of water. The city is located in a sandy and dry area. Many of the localities and roads are often spread in sand, reflecting the intensifying fallout caused by deforestation. The steady expansion of the Rann of Kutch threatens to increase desertification...

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History of Ahmedabad City

Archaeological evidence suggests that the area around Ahmedabad has been inhabited since the 11th century, when it was known as Ashapalli or Ashaval. At that time, Karandev I, the Solanki ruler of Anhilwara (modern Patan), waged a successful war against the Bhil king of Ashaval. Soon after the victory, he established a city called Karnavati on the banks of the Sabarmati at the site of modern Ahmedabad. Solanki rule lasted until the 13th century, when Gujarat came under the control of the Vaghela dynasty of Dholka and Ahmedabad was conquered by...

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Don't bank on public transport today

AHMEDABAD :  On Monday, it is safer to take your vehicle to your workplace as public transport in the city may be badly crippled. While the strike by employees of Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Services (AMTS) is still on, the autorikshaw drivers' decision to go on strike has threatened to play havoc with the daily commuting plan of the citizens. The ongoing strike of daily wagers, temporary conductors and employees of private contractors of AMTS has entered the fourth day. But, the situation has worsened by the strike call given by Ahmedabad...

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Engineering's the hot career option this summer

AHMEDABAD :  There is a paradigm shift in the mindset of Gujarati students. Shunning their age-old orientation towards business and medical careers, students are now making a beeline for competitive exams for careers in engineering. This, say educationists, is a trend brought about by globalisation. Not only are more students appearing for exams like Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) for IITs and All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), but they are scoring well too. Vice chancellor of Nirma University, NV Vasani said, "Gujarati...

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Goods worth Rs 10 lakh stolen from city mall

AHMEDABAD :  Thieves went shopping at Big Bazaar mall on SG Highway on Saturday night as 22 digital cameras, two video cameras, 75 mobile phones and two laptops — worth Rs 10.13 lakh—were stolen from the digital goods section of the store. Investigating officials believe the thieves had a good knowledge of the store layout. According to Satellite police station officials, Big Bazaar officials reported a theft at the store at 12 noon on Sunday. The theft came to light at 9.30 am when the beat guards went to the first floor of the store. A...

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Students happy with easy' AIEEE paper

AHMEDABAD : Around 26,000 XII science students appeared for All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) at 42 centres in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar on Sunday. Barring three-four questions of mathematics, which students reportedly found quite lengthy, the paper was by and large easy. "I did not attempt questions related to maths, as I found them too tedious. I had to leave them unanswered as wrong answers would have resulted in negative marking for me," said Varun Vyas, who appeared...

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Three thefts in Ghatlodia, Thaltej houses

AHMEDABAD :  Three households were targeted by thieves on Saturday afternoon from where goods worth Rs 1.96 lakh were stolen. Officials believe it to be a handiwork of one gang. According to Sola police station officials, Viral Patel, a resident of Raviraj Park Apartment, Ghatlodia, has lodged a complaint with officials that somebody entered his house between 2.15 pm and 2.30 pm after breaking the lock on the door. According to Patel's complaint, the thief stole gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 1.03 lakh from the house. He managed to get...

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Burglars target Big Bazaar, flee with over 75 cellphones

A major theft took place at Big Bazaar on SG Highway in the wee hours of Sunday. Thieves broke into the electronics section on the first floor of the store and carted away cash, cellphones, laptops and other items totalling more than Rs 8 lakh. The Satellite police said that the theft occurred between 12.30 and 9.30 am. Burglars entered the store from its AC plant. They made their way to the electronics section after breaking the grill of a bathroom...

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Stung by AMC’s apathy lawyer to seek Rs 10 as ‘compensation’

A 57-year-old lawyer who, along with his family, has been facing bee attacks at his residence plans to send a legal notice to civic body chief and demand Rs 10 as ‘damages’. The reason: earlier this month, he mailed two letters with stamps costing Rs 10 to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to draw its attention to the bee problem. Both the letters were returned unread. The lawyer, Dilip M Shah, claims the civic body cannot reject any post....

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ONE YEAR AS WIFE’S HOSTAGE

The wife of a 30-year-old man in Gandhinagar tormented him for a year by allegedly locking him up in a small room, starving him and frequently hitting him. This disturbing case of incarceration came to light when the police rescued the man, Dalbir Singh Gill, from his rented house near InfoCity on Friday. Cops are yet to find out why Dalbir’s wife, Rajvinder Kaur, subjected him to such cruelty. His mother, however, claims Rajvinder tortured him to...

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City of lakes

Amdavadis will soon be able to stop cribbing about the lack of recreational places in the city. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has come up with a Raam baan idea: More lakes. Not just one, two or 10 — 34 new lakes will dot the cityscape in a few years. And most of it will be modelled on the Kankaria lakefront. The sight of Amdavadis thronging the Vastrapur and the Kankaria lakes encouraged the AMC to come up with this plan. It has already...

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Woman forgives ex-colleague who defamed her on Orkut

24-year-old withdraws complaint against man who created her fake profile on Orkut and posted an obscene note along with her landline numberA 25-year-old man, who was arrested on Tuesday for defaming his former colleague by creating a fake profile of her on a social networking site, was released after the woman withdrew her complaint in court.Vejalpur police had arrested Chinmay Dalal on Tuesday night after the 24-year-old woman filed an application...

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