Culture and Attractions
- Music Scene
- Classical performances at Saptak Festival (January)
- Street Art
- Panjrapole and St+art India murals in various sectors
- Cooking Classes
- Aezala Cooking Studio - traditional Gujarati recipes
- Art Galleries
- Archer Art Gallery, Amdavad ni Gufa (designed by B.V. Doshi)
- Historic Buildings
- IIM Ahmedabad (Louis Kahn design), Mill Owners' Association Building
- Local Heritage
- Charkha (spinning wheel) symbolized by Gandhi's legacy
- Must-See Landmarks
- Sabarmati Ashram (Gandhi's home), Adalaj Stepwell
- Museums & Art Venues
- Calico Museum of Textiles, Sanskar Kendra (Le Corbusier design)
- Historical Sites
- Sidi Saiyyed Mosque (The Jali), Sarkhej Roza
- Religious Sites
- Akshardham Temple (Gandhinagar), Hutheesing Jain Temple
- Annual Events
- Uttarayan (International Kite Festival) in January; Navratri (October)
- Cultural Districts
- The Walled City (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Theater Venues
- Natrani Amphitheatre, Scrapyard The Theatre
- Local Markets
- Ravivari (Sunday Flea Market) near Sabarmati Riverfront
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Thol Bird Sanctuary (25 km away); Indroda Nature Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar (150 km away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Sabarmati Riverfront (11 km promenade)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Atal Bridge (pedestrian bridge over the river)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary (60 km away)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Private farmhouses in Shilaj or Rancharda area
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Blue Dart, Delhivery, DTDC
- Tech Repair Services
- iVenue (Apple Service), Ryans (Multi-brand) at C.G. Road
- Table Tennis Spots
- EKA Club (Kankaria) - membership based or guest entry
- Language Classes
- Indo-Japan Business Council for Japanese; Alliance Française for French
- Libraries & Study Spots
- MJ Library (Ellisbridge), British Council Library
- Community Centers
- Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA)
- Gaming Lounges
- LXG (League of Extraordinary Gamers) - ₹150/hour
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Prohibited in Gujarat; nearest legal casinos are in Daman or Goa
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹85,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₹3,400,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹55,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₹2,200,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹75,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₹4,500,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹45,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₹2,700,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹70,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹5,600,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹42,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹3,360,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% for domestic companies; 15% for new manufacturing
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents; 20% for non-residents plus surcharge
- Tax System
- Residential status based; worldwide income for Residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% (plus 4% cess and applicable surcharges)
- VAT
- Replaced by GST; standard rates are 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Indian Place of Effective Management (POEM) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, AMC (Ahmedabad Municipal Corp) calculates based on area and usage
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty approx 4.9% + 1% registration fee
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; e-Tourist visa only allows remote work for 90-180 days
Essentials
- City
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
- Population
- Approximately 8,800,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-200 Mbps on Fiber (JioFiber, Airtel Xstream)
- Currency & Banking
- Indian Rupee (INR). 1 USD ≈ 83.50 INR, 1 EUR ≈ 90.20 INR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use RO filtered water or bottled brands like Bisleri (₹20/1L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C, D, and M sockets
- SIM Card
- Jio and Airtel. Plans around ₹719 for 84 days (2GB/day)
- Banking for Expats
- SBI, HDFC, ICICI; Digital payments via UPI (GPay, PhonePe) are ubiquitous
- Accommodation
- Serviced apartments in Prahlad Nagar or hotels like Hyatt Regency (₹8,000/night)
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high; UPI is used for everything from tea stalls to luxury malls
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (₹2,500 - ₹5,000/night in Bodakdev), ZoloStays for coliving
- Budget Accommodation
- Bloom Hotel (₹3,000/night) or private rooms in hostels like Mani Mansion (₹3,500)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Old City (Heritage houses) or Ashram Road (Centrality)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Prahlad Nagar, Sindhu Bhavan Road (SBR), or Bodakdev for modern amenities
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- DevX (SBR) - ₹8,000/month; Uncubate (C.G. Road) - ₹6,000/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- The Project Café (Bodakdev) or Zen Cafe (CEPT University area)
- Networking Events
- eChai Ventures meetups at various coworking spaces; TiE Ahmedabad events
- Social Events for Expats
- Ahmedabad International Newcomers Group (AING) or events at the Alliance Française d'Ahmedabad
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Ola; Rapido for bike taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Royal Brothers (Chandkheda) - ₹400-800/day depending on model
- Best Beach Nearby
- Madhavpur Ghed (approx. 7 hours away) or Daman (6 hours away)
- Top Regional Airline
- IndiGo, Akasa Air
- Top International Airline
- Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines (via Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International)
- Highway Access
- NE-1 (Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway) and NH-48
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ahmedabad Junction (Kalupur Station) and Sabarmati Junction
- Public Transport Passes
- Janmitra Card for BRTS (bus) and Ahmedabad Metro (Red/Blue lines)
- Regional Travel
- GSRTC Volvo buses to Vadodara (2 hrs, ₹300) or Vande Bharat Express to Mumbai
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Apollo Hospitals (Bhat) or Zydus Hospital (Thaltej)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Shivananda Yoga Center or Gandhi Ashram Yoga sessions
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Life Fitness Point (Prahlad Nagar) - ₹3,000/month; Cult.fit centers
- Laundry Services
- UClean (Various locations) - approx ₹100 per kg
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Swiggy, Zomato
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Gujarati Thali at Agashiye or Gopi Dining Hall (₹500 - ₹1,200)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The city is mostly vegetarian; try The Green House or Under the Neem Tree
- Best Dessert Spots
- Kashiram's for traditional sweets; Maganlal Ice Cream (Old City)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Law Garden Night Market (Handicrafts); Lal Darwaja (Clothing)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.in, Flipkart, Tata CLiQ
- Grocery Delivery
- BigBasket, Blinkit (10-minute delivery), Zepto
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Note: Gujarat is a dry state (alcohol prohibited). Mocktail bars on SBR Road.
- Local Brewery
- Non-alcoholic breweries only; try the craft mocktails at Mocha
- Wine Bars
- Permit shops in luxury hotels (Taj, Hyatt) for foreigners/non-residents with permits
- Street Food Stalls
- Manek Chowk (Night food market) - try the Gwalior Dosa and Chocolate Sandwich
- Popular International Cuisine
- Tomato's (Mexican/American); Blue Oven (Authentic Neapolitan Pizza)