Ahmedabad was founded in1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah to become the capital of the Sultanate of Gujarat.  During British rule the city infrastructure was expanded to the current structure today.  It currently still serves as the capital of the Ahmedabad district.  It also remains an important center of trade and the commercial and cultural heart of Gujarat.

Sister City History

The sister city relationship between Columbus and Ahmedabad was finalized in 2008, making Columbus Ahmedabad’s first sister city.  The relationship began as a business venture, but it soon fostered diplomatic ties as well, especially in light of the large Indian population in Columbus.  Ahmedabad recently worked with Columbus and Chinese sister city Hefei on promoting green initiatives for high school students.

Economy

Ahmedabad has a very diverse economy.  Its base was in the textiles industry, which still remains, but the pharmaceutical industry and the information technology industry have also grown significantly in the past few decades.

Education

Ahmedabad has a wealth of educational opportunities, particularly at the post-secondary level.  The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) is ranked the top business school in India, and is in the process of creating an exchange program with Columbus’s Ohio State University and the Fisher College of Business.

Culture

The culture of Ahmedabad is a blend of tradition and modernization.  There are many ethnic and religious communities within the city, contributing to a diversity of celebrations.  Garba is the traditional folk dance of Gujarat, and kite flying is also a popular pastime.  The most popular sports in Ahmedabad are cricket, field hockey, and tennis, though auto racing—namely Kart racing and Formula 1—is gaining fans.