Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad
Amdavad (Gujarati)
Ashaval, Karnavati
Nicknames: 
Manchester of the East, Heritage City of India
Interactive map of Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Location in Gujarat
Ahmedabad
Location in India
Ahmedabad
Location in Asia
Ahmedabad
Location in Earth
Coordinates: 23°01′21″N 72°34′17″E / 23.02250°N 72.57139°E / 23.02250; 72.57139
Country India
State Gujarat
DistrictAhmedabad
RegionCentral Gujarat
Establishment11th Century as Ashaval
Founded byKing Asha Bhil
Named afterAhmad Shah I
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation
 • BodyAhmedabad Municipal Corporation
 • MayorPratibha Jain (BJP)
 • Deputy MayorJatin Patel (BJP)
Area
 • Metropolis
505 km2 (195 sq mi)
 • Urban
1,060.95 km2 (409.64 sq mi)
 • Metro
1,866 km2 (720 sq mi)
 • Rank8th in India (1st in Gujarat)
Elevation
69.65 m (228.5 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Metropolis
5,577,940
 • Density11,000/km2 (28,600/sq mi)
 • Urban
9,272,670 (2,026 estimate)
 • Urban density8,739.97/km2 (22,636.4/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Amdavadi, Ahmedabadi
Language
 • OfficialGujarati
 • Additional officialEnglish
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
3800xx
Area code+9179xxxxxxxx
Vehicle registrationGJ-01 (West)
GJ-27 (East)
GJ-38 (Rural)
HDI (2016) 0.867 – very high
Sex ratio1.11 /
Literacy rate85.3%
Gross Domestic Product (PPP) (2022-23)$136.1 Billion
Websiteahmedabadcity.gov.in
CriteriaCultural: (ii), (v)
Reference1551
Inscription2017 (41st Session)
Area535.7 ha (2.068 sq mi)
Buffer zone395 ha (1.53 sq mi)

Ahmedabad (/ˈɑːmədəbæd, -bɑːd/ AH-mə-də-ba(h)d), also spelt Amdavad (Gujarati: [ˈəmdɑʋɑd]), is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per the 2011 population census) makes it the fifth-most populous city in India, and the encompassing urban agglomeration population estimated at 8,854,444 (as of 2024) is the seventh-most populous in India. Ahmedabad is located near the banks of the Sabarmati River, 25 km (16 mi) from the capital of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, also known as its twin city.

Ahmedabad has emerged as an important economic and industrial hub in India. It is the second-largest producer of cotton in India, due to which it was known as the 'Manchester of India' along with Kanpur. Ahmedabad Stock Exchange (before it was shut down in 2018) was the country's second-oldest. Cricket is a popular sport in Ahmedabad; the Narendra Modi Stadium at Motera can accommodate 132,000 spectators, making it the largest stadium in the world. The planned Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave will be one of the biggest sports centres (Sports City) in India once complete.

The effects of the liberalisation of the Indian economy have energised the city's economy towards tertiary sector activities such as commerce, communication and construction. Ahmedabad's increasing population has increased demand in the construction and housing industries, resulting in the development of skyscrapers.

In 2010, Ahmedabad was ranked third in Forbes's list of fastest growing cities of the decade. In 2012, The Times of India chose Ahmedabad as India's best city to live in. The gross domestic product of Ahmedabad metro was estimated at $136.1 billion in 2023. In 2020, Ahmedabad was ranked as the third-best city in India to live in by the Ease of Living Index. In July 2022, Time magazine included Ahmedabad in its list of the world's 50 greatest places of 2022.

Ahmedabad has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under the Government of India's flagship Smart Cities Mission. In July 2017, the historic city of Ahmedabad, or Old Ahmedabad, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.