Ahmedabad with kids

fajitanumerouno

My kids and I will be in Ahmedabad in December for 2 weeks. They are 3 and 6. I was wondering if you all live there or know what people do with kids. Surely they don't sit inside all day watching TV. Are there parks or zoos or gardens to visit. We will be near Himmatlal park which if I recall had some play thing in it but its been 10 years and things have changed. Any ideas for simple trips let me know. I know they will be fascinated no matter what we do but sometimes playing outside for awhile is the best thing.
Thanks
Valerie

fajitanumerouno

I discovered that Ahmedabad is becoming quite a modern city. They have malls. I discovered the Vastrapur lake near where we are staying, some kind of Sundarvan snake place (again, these are short kids fun trips I am looking for) and various temples, the Gandhi Ashram, the textile museum (well, who knows if kids will like it but it is excellent) and various parks. Any other tips appreciated.
Thanks
Valerie

dhans

Hi Valerie,

I haven't got a clue about Ahmedabad, but for tips for the kids: follow the link below.

Have fun,

Hans

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iwanttogoback

the law garden night markets are vibrant and fun, lots of things for the little ones to look at.

a trip to the step well at adalaj could be fun, it's a beautiful building, but also kind of like a giant set of stairs that the children might enjoy playing on.

there is an ngo called manav sadna who have premises at the gandhi ashram and run a number of programs working with the slum dwellers across the road (a fairly large slum of about 150 000 i think). they have a shop at the ashram and i think most of the items are made by the slum dwellers, i seem to remember there being items for children. if you are visiting the ashram (a beautiful building) then you could check out the shop and maybe have a chat with some of the workers.

most of the stuff i did was adult/architecture related, but these things might interest your children.

a trip to big bazaar? a movie at one of the cineplexes? pizza at uncle sam's pizza after the movie.

there is also a city museum which i didn't get to see due to illness, but it may have exhibits that might interest your children.

dunger

Be on your toes if you are planning to visit GUJRAT. Gujrat could be ahot place right now as TV channels are airing STING OPERATION footage where CM of state and his other collegues are shown directly involved in GUJRAT riots of 2002.

Just be careful !

fajitanumerouno

Those 2002 riots have been in the back of my mind and CNN international had a program on recently which revealed the tensions that continue to exist in Ahmedabad and surrounds today. I think the program was called something about democracy and I recorded it. I appreciate your telling me about this and if things should appear to be to dangerous or escalating there perhaps we will find a way to alter plans and head for relatives in Bangalore and south or something safer as that was just too horrible.
Thanks
Valerie

machadinha

I am not aware that any of this is currently a concern in Gujarat, although if some sensitive footage is set to get shown now which might spark off something, who knows.

I think I saw the same documentary on BBC, by some Indian journalist, part of the recent worldwide "democracy week" or what was it called. Found it pretty good, can't find the details now (you say you recorded it, do you have the details?)

Even at the height of that all, you'd have been unlikely to run into it as a tourist though. Steering clear of heated masses and so on is a good idea in general.

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fajitanumerouno

Well, that is reassuring. I recall hearing about the riots in the news and the relatives that live near where we are going to be staying in Ahmedabad said you know, its not near them and everyone is well and all that- but the thought of being near that kind of violence with my young kids makes me nervous. Never mind the number of shootings we've had this year in Philadelphia and that is not very far away either.

The idea of another giant earthquake hitting the area worries the worrying side of me also. I really want to head out to the Rann of Kutch. But hey, its life and we gotta hope for the best in all these regards. Probably seems more likely we would be in a car/rikshaw/moped accident there anyhow. Being a parent seems to magnify all this, before kids we just went.

Will be interesting to see how Ahmedabad has changed as we have not been there in 10 years.

machadinha I will get those details on the democracy thing and send them to you as I still have it recorded upstairs.

machadinha

Yes, I didn't realize your ties were as close. Enough to scare the bejeezus out of anyone, yes. Very sad, all of it.

Aye, Bhuj (later '90's) is one of my fondest memories of all of India. I hear it was largely obliterated. Would have to return to check for myself.

What can I say, my sympathies. But still I'd suggest not being too scared of it all. As you'll know better than me, it's a big place, and you'd have to be statistically very unlucky.

As for communal violence there, I've not heard any of it (which doesn't mean it hasn't occurred) for some years. That documentary if it's the same highlighted some village where Hindu and Muslim neighbors clung together btw and provided each other and refugees from the area comfort and shelter, I stupidly didn't note down the name but felt like hey this is a place to visit. Was somewhere along Gandhi's "salt march" trail -- which the documentary focused on, if yours didn't, we're talking about something else.

machadinha

To whom it may interest, Fajita was kind enough to pass on this link to the documentary we were discussing. Looks like (parts of) it are set to go online: In Search of Gandhi (from the "Why democracy?" series).

iwanttogoback

thanks mach, i caught parts of this recently and would love to see the rest.

pontesnm

I plan to be in Mumbai in end July and August 2008 with my wife and two kids (9 and 11)and here are some of the things planned. We will mostly be travelling by train mainly in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra (possibly). Gujarat and Rajasthan do not get much rain in the monsoon season and the trains to these destinations leave from Bandra Terminus which is 2-3 km from my parents home; the trains are well timed to reach reasonably early in the morning. We may not do all of these
1) Bhuj and then on to Mandvi Beach.
2) Jamnagar, National Marine Park and Pirotan island
3) Junagadh, and Chorwad (Beach).
4) Mahesana, Sidhpur, and Mount Abu.
5) Jodhpur and Jaisalmer

We may combine 2) and 3)in one trip.

Happy travels!

machadinha

Pontesnm, go have a swell time. I'd really really like to know what Bhuj and surrounding area is like these days, so... fill us in if you can.

ps I've been to Jamnagar and Junagadh; the latter is well worth 2 days at least I'd say, and stringing both together in a day or so I don't recommend. Jamnagar I can't say had a whole lot going for it, but ít's well off the track, has some decent sights, and is just interesting in itself. I was unaware of any marine options there that I've been reading about here, might merit a longer stay.

fajitanumerouno

What is 2) Jamnagar, National Marine Park and Pirotan island ?

I have not read about any marine parks and while my time is limited as we want to see family in Ahmedabad I could combine it with something else perhaps.

It seems that for just one state in India Gujarat has a lot to see and do. I feel I could begin to plan next years trip now. Never mind the rest of India. I think my husband will have to get a sabattical there........
Val

machadinha

I was waiting for others to fill you in, as I'm sure they will; however apparently and as the name indicates there seems to be some marine park business going on there.

You might search the forums for it, or try and google. My general feeling is India isn't the place for it and what is there seems to be overrated (and I've not heard confirmation to the contrary -- save for the Andamans and Lakshadweep perhaps), on the other hand with a coastline like that you'd think there must be something, so could be worth investigating.