Ahmedabad with kids

pontesnm

I am not sure about the condition of the Marine National Park (which was set up to preserve the ecosystem just like Yellowstone in US). That area around the Gulf of Kutch has many oil refineries including the largest in the world and I have read that they have gradually contributed to the decline of the coral reefs there.
Also conservation is limited; I have seen pictures of people walking on coral (which may actually be dead) in only 1-2 ft of water. Jamnagar, however, is close to Junagadh and so it would be just a detour

pontesnm

I just took a sabbatical so will have to wait for a few years. My kids and I have just been granted OCI so we can come and go with no visa nonsense! For my wife (non Indian descent) 10 year visa would be best.

fajitanumerouno

We just got back from Ahmedabad Monday and all is well there. We flubbed with the malaria precautions so hopefully we did not catch anything as we did get a few bites but it is not high season. We started taking stuff once we got there and then forgot it and just flubbed. For anyone going to Ahmedabad with kids try to get into the Rajpath Club (private club but if you are lucky someone in your family is a member of that club or another nice private location), they have a great kids play area and very nice restaurants. Or survey the local parks as some are more well maintained then others. Law Garden in town is very nice with plenty of areas for walking and a well maintained play area. Vastrapur lake is quite nice also but used heavily and can be very dusty. This is of course a relative statement in Ahmedabad, but true. Rides at Vastrapur Lake are open after 4 on weekends (and weekdays also). Atira park is also supposed to be nice for nature walks and such but we did not get there. Sunderbund snake park on the side of town near Aso Palav and Satellite road area is a very nice small zoo like park for kids, low key and relaxed, check opening hours as it is like 4-6 evenings and 9:30 to 12:30 weekend mornings.

Kids under 10 or 12 are not allowed into the Calico Museum of Textiles in Ahmedabad but parents willing to split up could take kids to neaby Kite Museum while one adult gets to visit the very excellent Calico Museum. Consult times they are open to be sure it will work, it did not exactly work for us. This was my second visit to Calico Museum and I want to go again.

Do be careful in the international side of the Ahmedabad airport. Always chaos no matter how organized it appears at first. I had no idea. We had nightmare getting into India and getting out. Conversely we travelled domestic from Ahmedabad to Bangalore and back through Mumbai and it was far easier. I do not understand how such a big and rapidly growing city can have such a crummy international airport. It appears they are expanding but when and how soon it will be done is anybodies guess. Will it be better is also a question? When we go again we would seriously consider flying to Mumbai and transferring there to domestic so we would not have to go through that chaos again. We hear Jet Airlines has a very simple process for this, reported by our cousin we met with in Kerala.
Ahmedabad has some serious smog/pollution issues and kids with asthma should proceed with proper medication. My husband and daughter both have asthma and it really bothered them in Ahmedabad. Probably combination of dust and pollution. Conversely in Kerala they were considerably better off. Re-entering Ahmedabad from our trip to Diu introduced us to just how much pollution is there and how horrible it is. Really a bad scene as the sun was setting and the visibility down the road dropped and we rolled the windows up and put on A/C. Really makes you appreciate fresh air.

Parents who are uncomfortable or not familiar with Indian toilets should carry toilet paper in their bag at all times as it is uncertain in Gujarat what they will find in the bathroom. Indian or western toilet and paper or not, its always random so go prepared. Kerala was more touristed so we did not find this a problem there. If you are travelling by car or bus through Gujarat be prepared for the bathrooms at the sort of rest places you stop. It can be a rude awakening for you if you had not contemplated a place with no toilet paper and no western toilets. Barely a toilet in appearance in fact, I would have preferred going outside actually. When you gotta go, you gotta go but try to go prepared. I could not figure out the bucket thing either.

All parents taking kids to India should remember there that safety is your job and there are no safety measures taken there for kids. You are on your own. Exposed outlets and wires, railings at hotels and homes are to be watched. Playgrounds are all metal and some slides are quite high, rusted and with precarious design. Traffic does not stop for pedestrians so hands must be held at all times. Having said that kids had a good time and learned so much. It was a great trip visiting family and seeing sights. We feel alone here at home again and away from such caring and loving folks. Hope we get to make that trip again. Its a fascinating place.
Valerie

iwanttogoback

valerie

thanks for the follow up, it's good to hear you had a great time.

when i was there quite a few of us ended up sick, and i'm convinced it was the pollution - sore throats, hay fever, flu like symptoms, all of which cleared up after we left. it was a great shame because it's a fascinating city.