Adalaj is a village 18 km to the north of Ahmedabad. The vav (step-well) here Adalaj derives its name from the lady patron, Ruda, wife of the Vaghela chief Virsinh, who built it in the 15th or 16th century AD. The Vav has three entrance stairs leading to a stepped corridor. These three entrances meet in the first storey, underground, in a huge square platform. The platform rests on 16 pillars, each of its four corners has built-in shrines with doors, windows and balconies.

A 70-km (2 hour) drive from Ahmedabad will take you to a Harappan settlement dating back to 2nd millennium BC. A very well-maintained 4,000-year-old dockyard can be seen here.

About 104 km away from Ahmedabad, this temple is an incredible 900 years old. On the days of solar equinoxes, sun rays bathe the deity in the pitch dark inner sanctum. The best time to visit Modhera is January when the Gujarat Tourism Corporation organizes a classical dance festival at the temple.

Located in Gandhinagar, about 20 km from Ahmedabad, this is a modern complex built in traditional Indian architectural style. The pink sandstone building is floodlit at dusk, houses a 2 m gold leaf idol and some relics of Sri Swaminarayan, who led a Vedic revivalist movement 200 years ago. Timings: 0900 - 1830 (Nov - Feb), 1000-2000 (Mar - Oct). Part closed on Monday.

This miniscule town 140 km from Ahmedabad is renowned for exquisite Patola saris. There are now only three families left who can produce the very special and very intricate double ikat Patolas.