The largest city in Gujarat state of India, Ahmedabad is a major industrial city that is popularly referred as the ‘Manchester of the East’. The History of Ahmedabad Gujarat is a checkered and eventful one. The city has been under various rulers since its foundation and thus boasts of a rich history.
Indianholiday offers detailed online information on the History of Ahmedabad Gujarat. Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati in western India, Ahmedabad was the former capital of Gujarat and has been home to some of the most important leaders of India’s independence movement like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. Ahmedabad in Gujarat is also famous as the cultural and economic hub of Gujarat.
The History of Ahmedabad Gujarat is marked by a number of high points followed by declines. Sultan Ahmed Shah, the erstwhile ruler of Gujarat during medieval times founded Ahmedabad in 1411 A.D. The earliest History of Ahmedabad Gujarat has it that King Karandev I – the Solanki ruler, once fought a war against the Bhil King Ashapall or Ashaval. After his victory, Karandev established the city of ‘Karnavati’. The Hindu kingdom of Karnavati remained an important kingdom till the early 15th century when Gujarat fell under the Muslim Sultanate.
Ahmedabad was built at an open and spacious plane to the east of River Sabarmati. The city comprised a small fort known as Bhadra Fort. The fort was enclosed by a wall containing 12 gates. History of Ahmedabad Gujarat mentions that the city kept on expanding in every direction with the addition of new areas on both sides of the river. Well laid out beautiful buildings, lakes and mosques added to the scenic beauty.
In 1753, the combined forces of Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad attacked the fort and captured it, resulting in the end of Mughal rule in Ahmedabad. The city saw its worst phase in the 64 years during the rule of Gaekwads and Peshwas. It was later in 1818 that the British took over the administration of Ahmedabad.
According to the history of Ahmedabad Gujarat, Ahmedabad improved a lot, with the development of Municipality Committee and establishment of railway links. In 1915, Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa and establishad an ashram on the banks of the Sabarmati River.
