Ahmedabad

Founded in AD 1411 by the Muslim sultan Ahmed Shah, Ahmedabad flourished under the Gujarat dynasty and became the seat of the Moghul governors of Gujarat—Jehangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb—all of whom later became emperors. It was said that Ahmedabad hung on three threads: gold, silk, and cotton. The city's present prominence is due largely to one family of textile magnates, the Sarabhais, who were patrons of the arts (they invited Le Corbusier to build here) and supporters of Mahatma Gandhi. Family members are still active in the city's cultural life. Although textiles remain a principal industry in Ahmedabad, the city is also a booming national and international center for the mineral, power, agribusiness, petrochemical, IT, and pharmaceuticals industries.

Ahmedabad is divided into old and new by the Sabarmati River, which is lined with built-up banks and is a mostly dry riverbed in summer; much of the new development is on the river's west side. The pace and scope of the development has been amazing: towering office complexes, designed by well-known Indian architects and shiny, attractive shopping complexes and showrooms are up everywhere, particularly along C. G. Road, the business and shopping strip where real-estate prices can even challenge some areas of Mumbai.

In some ways, Ahmedabad doesn't quite look the part of a major international business hub. It is a large city with the pace and culture of a smaller town. The friendly nature of the locals seems to confirm this. And unlike India's other metropolises, Ahmedabad seems to function smoothly, with wide roads and several leafy neighborhoods.

Ahmedabad is a self-confident, accessible, and welcoming city full of history (the Archaelogical Survey of India lists 65 ancient monuments within its urban limits).