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 Ahmedabad,
one of the major industrial centres in India, has often been
called the' Manchester of the East'. The city is the major
entry point to the west coast state of Gujarat, famous for
its Asiatic lions in the Gir forest; the Temple ofSomnath;
Lothal, the site of a Harappan or Indus Valley civilisation;
Jain temples at Palitana; and a distinct regional cuisine.
The state offers many fairs and festivals in itsnumerous
temple towns and is a major centre for hand-crafted textiles
in the country. Excursions include the Sun temple of Modhera,
built in the 11th century; Nalsarovar, a 116sq. km. lake and
home for vast flocks of indigenous and migratory birds. The
city is an interesting place to wander around, with narrow
bazaar streets, crowded and colourful, and houses having
ornately carved wooden fronts. The Calico Museum of Textiles
has a display of modern and antique textiles, including rare
tapestries, wall hangings, costumes and old weaving
machines. Sabarmati Ashram, about 6km. from the city, was
Mahatma Gandhi's headquarters during the long struggle of
Indian independence.
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