Gujarat’s Anand is the cradle of India’s “White Revolution,” where the Amul cooperative turned a small town into the nation’s Milk City. Today, Anand blends an easygoing university-town feel with inspiring cooperative history and temples that hum with evening aarti. It’s a relaxed base to taste local life before stepping into the vibrant energy of nearby Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad, India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City, is equal parts history and craft. From intricate jali screens and bustling pols (old neighborhoods) to textile museums and riverside promenades, its heritage feels lived-in rather than staged. Street-food legends thrive here—jalebi-fafda at breakfast, Manek Chowk at night—paired with classic Gujarati thali halls.

Practical notes: Gujarat is a “dry” state (alcohol requires a permit; many hotels help arrange one). Expect warm days most of the year; October–March is the sweet spot. Dress modestly for temples, remove shoes before entering, and book specialty visits (like the Amul Chocolate Factory) in advance.

Anand

Why go: Anand is the home of Amul and the White Revolution, Sardar Patel’s legacy, leafy Vallabh Vidyanagar college lanes, and easy day-trip access to revered temples like Dakor.

• Don’t miss: Amul Dairy Museum, Amul Chocolate Factory (Mogar; pre-book), Sardar Patel & Vithalbhai Patel Memorial at Karamsad, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir (Bochasan).
• Food to try: fresh paneer dishes, buttermilk (chaas), basundi, shrikhand, and anything from an Amul Ice Cream Parlour.

Where to stay: Browse stays in Anand on Hotels.com or apartments on VRBO. For a resort-style retreat, look for properties in Vallabh Vidyanagar with leafy grounds and on-site dining.

Getting in: Fly into Ahmedabad (AMD) or Vadodara (BDQ), then drive or train to Anand (1–2 hours). Search India flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com, and India trains on Trip.com Trains.

Day 1 — Arrive in Anand (afternoon arrival)

Afternoon: Transfer from AMD (≈1.5–2 hours) or BDQ (≈1–1.5 hours) to Anand by car or an intercity train. Check in, then stretch your legs under the trees of Vallabh Vidyanagar’s university avenues.

Evening: Ease in with a campus café crawl: grab South Indian plates (masala dosa, filter coffee) at a local branch of Sankalp (a reliable Gujarat-wide chain), then wander for kulfi or rabdi at a neighborhood sweet shop. Cap it with scoops at an Amul Ice Cream Parlour—you’re in Milk City, after all.

Day 2 — Milk City heritage and Karamsad

Morning: Visit the Amul Dairy Museum to trace how a farmer cooperative changed India’s food story. If you’ve pre-arranged permissions, continue to the Amul Chocolate Factory in Mogar (photo ID usually required; inquire several days in advance).

Afternoon: Drive to Karamsad (≈20–30 minutes) for the Sardar Patel and Vithalbhai Patel Memorial. The exhibits sketch the life of India’s “Iron Man,” whose organizing genius helped birth both the cooperative movement and a unified republic.

Evening: Dinner ideas: Honest Restaurant (a classic Gujarat chain) for pav bhaji and tawa pulao, or dine-in at a resort restaurant in Vallabh Vidyanagar for tandoor and North Indian mains. Night stroll through quiet lanes; pick up local snacks like thepla or khakhra for tomorrow.

Day 3 — Day trip to the Statue of Unity (Sardar Patel)

Make this a big-day excursion to India’s tallest monument. From Anand, you can ride an early train or car to Vadodara (≈60–75 minutes), then join a guided day tour to the Statue of Unity at Kevadia (Ekta Nagar).

• Day Trip to Statue of Unity (Guided Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Vadodara)

  

Notes: Expect a full-day timeline with drives through the Narmada valley. The complex includes the viewing gallery, Museum & Laser Show (evenings), Valley of Flowers, and riverside walks. If returning late, grab a quick dinner near Vadodara station (try a Gujarati thali at Mandap or Sasuji if time permits) before heading back to Anand.

Ahmedabad

Why go: A living museum of Indo-Islamic architecture and artisan traditions, Ahmedabad rewards walkers with pols, ornate havelis, stepwells, and some of India’s most memorable vegetarian food.

• Top sights: Sabarmati Ashram, Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Adalaj Stepwell, Jama Masjid, Sarkhej Roza, Amdavad ni Gufa, Calico Museum of Textiles (pre-book).
• Food obsessions: jalebi-fafda breakfasts, thali feasts (Gopi Dining Hall, Gordhan Thal), and the late-night circus of Manek Chowk.

Where to stay: Check hotels near Ashram Road, C.G. Road, or the Old City on Hotels.com or browse apartments on VRBO.

Getting there from Anand: Morning intercity train from Anand Jn to Ahmedabad Jn takes ≈1 hr 15 min (₹100–400 depending on class). A private car is ≈1.5–2 hours (₹3,000–4,500). For tickets, use Trip.com Trains.

Day 4 — Transfer to Ahmedabad + riverside icons

Morning: Depart Anand after breakfast; catch a mid-morning train so you’re downtown by lunch. Drop bags and fuel up at The Green House (at a heritage hotel complex) for khichu, patra, or a light Gujarati plate.

Afternoon: Visit Sabarmati Ashram, Gandhi’s base during the freedom struggle; the galleries are intimate and reflective. Continue to the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque to admire its famous stone “Tree of Life” lattice—Ahmedabad’s unofficial emblem.

Evening: Walk the Sabarmati Riverfront at sunset. Dinner options: Agashiye (rooftop, reservation-recommended Gujarati thali), Swati Snacks (panki, handvo, sev usal), or Gopi Dining Hall (traditional thali). For dessert, try jalebi at Chandravilas or mithai from Kandoi Bhogilal Mulchand.

Day 5 — UNESCO Old City and pols

Dedicate today to the walled city’s lanes, stepwells, mosques, and havelis—best with a guide who can unlock courtyards and stories.

• World heritage Ahmedabad city tour in private car with guide and lunch

  

Food & coffee: Start with jalebi-fafda and kadhi at Chandravilas (a century-old institution). Midday coffee at Zen Cafe beside Amdavad ni Gufa, a quirky cave-gallery by architect B.V. Doshi. Dinner: dive into Manek Chowk’s nocturnal street-food carnival—try garlic butter sandwiches, chocolate dosas, kulfi, and bhajipau. Go early (8–9 pm) to beat the rush.

Day 6 — Day trip to Modhera Sun Temple and Rani ki Vav, Patan

Two of Gujarat’s crown jewels pair beautifully in a single day: a solar-aligned 11th-century temple and India’s most exquisite stepwell.

• Private Tour of Step well, Modhera Sun Temple & Patola saree weaving by car

  

What to expect: Modhera’s stepped tanks and sunlit mandapa glow in golden stone; Rani ki Vav’s sculpted corridors descend like poetry carved in sandstone. Many tours add a Patan atelier to see double-ikat Patola weaving. Carry water, a hat, and small bills for shoe-keepers.

Dinner back in Ahmedabad: Rajwadu (garden setting, regional buffet with live folk music) or Gordhan Thal (classic thali) for a celebratory meal.

Day 7 — Textiles, last bites, and departure (afternoon)

Morning: If you’ve pre-booked, tour the Calico Museum of Textiles (strict timed entry; limited slots) for an unparalleled look at Indian weaves and embroidery. Otherwise, shop for craft at Law Garden and boutiques along C.G. Road; stock up on khakhra, ganthiya, and masala peanuts for the flight.

Afternoon: Brunch at Unlocked Cafe (board games and hearty plates) or Java+ (Courtyard by Marriott) for espresso and bakery. Head to AMD or BDQ. Search flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Optional/Alternate Tours (if you want to swap a day)

• Ahmedabad Heritage Walking Tour

  

• Day Trip to Statue of Unity (from Ahmedabad)

  

Costs and timing at a glance (estimates):

• Airport transfer to Anand: 1–2 hrs by car, ₹2,500–4,500 depending on vehicle.
• Anand–Ahmedabad train: ≈1 hr 15 min, ₹100–400. Private car: 1.5–2 hrs, ₹3,000–4,500.
• Day tours (Statue of Unity / Modhera–Patan): typically 9–11 hours, ₹5,000–10,000+ per person depending on inclusions.

Across seven days, you’ll taste Gujarat’s cooperative spirit in Anand, walk the story-filled alleys of Ahmedabad, and stand before engineering and artistic marvels from the Statue of Unity to Rani ki Vav. Come hungry for thalis and history—the state rewards both appetites in equal measure.