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Ahmedabad is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and one of the largest urban agglomerations in India, with a population of 45 lakhs (4.5 million). Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, the city is the administrative centre of Ahmedabad district and was the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970; the capital was shifted to Gandhinagar thereafter. The city is sometimes called Karnavati, a name for an older town that existed in the same location; in colloquial Gujarati, it is commonly called Amdavad.
Ahmedabad was founded in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah to serve as the capital of the Sultanate of Gujarat. Archaeological evidence suggests that the area around Ahmedabad has been inhabited since the 11th century, when it was known as Ashapalli or Ashaval. The city is named after its founder. Under British rule, a military cantonment was established and the city infrastructure was modernised and expanded. Although incorporated into the Bombay Presidency during the British rule in India, Ahmedabad remained the most important city in the Gujarat region. The city established itself as the home of a booming textile industry, which earned it the nickname "the Manchester of the East." The city was at the forefront of the Indian independence movement in the first half of the 20th century. It was the centre of many campaigns of civil disobedience to promote workers' rights, civil rights and political independence.
With the creation of the state of Gujarat in 1960, Ahmedabad gained prominence as the political and commercial capital of the state. Once characterised by dusty roads and bungalows, the city is witnessing a major construction boom and population increase. A rising centre of education, information technology and scientific industries, Ahmedabad remains the cultural and commercial heart of Gujarat and much of western India.
Ahmedabad is located at 23.03° N 72.58° E in western India at an elevation of 53 metres (174 ft). There are three main seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Aside from the monsoon season, the climate is dry. The weather is hot through the months of March to June — the average summer maximum is 36 °C (97 °F), and the average minimum is 23 °C (73 °F). From November to February, the average maximum temperature is 30 °C (85 °F), the average minimum is 15 °C (59 °F), and the climate is extremely dry. Cold northerly winds are responsible for a mild chill in January.
Ahmedabad has a thriving chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry. The completion and operation of the Sardar Sarovar Project of dams and canals has improved the supply of potable water and electricity for the city. The information technology industry has developed significantly in Ahmedabad. A majority of the working-age citizens of Ahmedabad are traders and business people.
Ahmedabad enjoys a thriving cultural tradition, being the centre of Gujarati cultural activities and diverse traditions of different ethnic and religious communities. Cricket is the most popular sport in the city. Ahmedabad currently has three golf courses.
Railway lines connect the city to all towns in Gujarat and other major Indian cities. The Ahmedabad Railway Station is the city's main terminus; Ahmedabad's five other stations are Maninagar, Vatva, Gandhigram, Asarva and Sabarmati. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport serves both domestic and international flights to and from Ahmedabad. National Highway 8, linking Delhi to Mumbai, passes though Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is connected to Vadodara through National Expressway 1, a 94 km (58 mi) long highway with only two exits. This expressway is part of the Golden Quadrilateral project. The city's main traffic arteries are the Mahatma Gandhi Road, C. G. Road, the Jawaharlal Nehru Road, the Ashram Road and the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway. Auto rickshaws, share autos and buses are the most popular forms of public transport.
Websites:
http://www.ahmedabad.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmedabad
http://collectorahmedabad.gujarat.gov.in/
http://www.indianrail.gov.in
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