Ahmedabad is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and also happens to be the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India. The population of the city is 56 lakhs and is located on the banks of the River Sabarmati. The city is also the main administrative unit of the Ahmedabad district and had been the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970. The city was founded in the year 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah as the capital of the then Sultanate of Gujarat. The city derives its name from this founder. During the British Raj Ahmedabad was a military cantonment and that led to the development and modernization of the city. In the subsequent periods the city was included in the Bombay Presidency but it continued to preserve its inherent culture and its distinctive outlook. Besides the ideal location of the city made it the hub of national textile industry, and earned for it the name "the Manchester of the East." The city also had a great presence in the Indian independence movement in the first half of the 20th century. During the period of civil disobedience movement the city witnessed a rush of political movements.
In terms of geography, the city is located at 23.03° N 72.58° E in western India at an elevation of 53 metres (174 feet) and covers an area of 205 sq. km. (79.15 square miles). The whole of the city is almost flat except the small hills of Thaltej-Jodhpur Tekra. There are also two famous lakes within the city’s limits, for instance, Kankaria Lake and Vastrapur Lake. The city is administered by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). However, some of the adjoining areas fall under the administration of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). The city, for the betterment of administration, is divided into five zones and 43 wards.
Economically, the city has always been a prominent industrial centre in the western India, espeially in the fields of commerce, trade and industry. The city has been retaining this position from the 19th century when the textile and garments industry developed and thrived in the city. The city aslo houses Arvind Mills, which is one of the largest textile mills in the country. However, nowadays the city has been witnnessing a boom in the construction and retail industries. Even in the segment of IT the city has made substantial developments and has been witnessing skyscrapers, shopping malls and multiplexes.
|
Ahamedabad
