Mehsana – Ahmedabad – 70 km
The stretch between Mehsana and Ahmedabad made it a short but stressful ride. The
way wasn’t too busy but reaching the city centre amidst Ahmedabad’s 6,600,000
population and finding accommodation in the horrendous traffic was challenging.
Shabbier, a sweet tuk-tuk driver, pointed me in the direction of the Stayinn Hotel,
which turned out inexpensive and centrally located, exactly what I was looking for.
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad had been inhabited since the 11th century and thus had an old part with
much to investigate. An early morning walking tour of the ancient city was considered
money well spent.
India is a country steeped in tradition and history, and kite fighting is a popular
contest. However, fighter kites are slightly different from the usual kites as they are
traditionally small single-line flat kites where line tension alone is used for control.
The main difference is lines are typically coated with glass fibre cotton strands to cut
down the line of other competitors. I was thus thrilled to come upon people coating
the lines.
Later, Shabbier picked me up, and we set out to the impressive Adalaj’s step-well—a
5-story deep step-well built in 1498 by King Mohammed Begda for Queen Rani
Roopba.
Legend has it a Hindu ruler was attacked by King Mohammed Begda, the
neighbouring kingdom's ruler. The king was killed, and his widow (though in deep
grief at her husband's death) agreed to marry King Mahmud Begada. She agreed on
the condition he first completed the step-well her husband began. The new king,
deeply in love with the queen, agreed and built the well in record time.