Ahmedabad boasts of several tourist activities, sights and interesting places to visit both recreationally, and of historic relevance. One such spot in East Ahmedabad that has the best of both worlds is the Kankaria Lake. The 15th century lake made in the Mughal era has beautiful architecture specific to the timeline in which it was built. Today, the lakefront hosts a sea of activities for adults and kids including a zoo, speed boat riding, toy train rides and much more. Exploring the Kankaria Lake will take you the whole day, so pack your bag accordingly for a day of fun. Here are the ten things you to do in and around Kankaria Lake in Ahmedabad.
10 Things To Do In And Around Kankaria Lake in Ahmedabad
Auto World Vintage Car Museum
A twenty minute ride away from Kankaria lake, the Auto World Vintage Car Museum opens at 8 AM, so you can visit the place before heading to the lake. Find a wide variety of vintage cars, horse carriages, motorcycles, antique and utility vehicles here. Spot vintage cars from renowned car makers like Maybach, Packards, Cadillacs, Mercedes, and Lincolns including the 1906 Minerva, 1954 Ford and an impressive collection of Rolls Royce cars.
Amrapali Funland Amusement Park
Amrapali Funland is an amusement park near the lake where you can get on fun rides like the carousel, bumper cars, columbus and even a mini roller coaster ride among other attractions. The place is a hit with children, and offers a lot for adults too. If you're keen on trying out all or most of the rides, we recommend getting a combo ticket at the counter that includes entry on several rides. Aside from the amusement park, there's also a Balvatika, or a children's play zone in the vicinity of the lake.
Kamla Nehru Zoological Park
Established in 1951, the Kamla Nehru Zoological Park at Kankaria was rated the best zoo in Asia in 1974. Head here to spot a ton of wild animals including lions, tigers, rhesus monkeys, spotted deers, white blackbucks and elephants among others. The zoo also breeds rare species like pythons, crocodiles, bearcats and wild asses. While you're there, don't miss the nocturnal zoo that houses a host of nocturnal animals and reptiles.
Kids City
Kids City is a must visit at Kankaria Lake if you're visiting with kids, or even otherwise. The space creates a mock 'city' including a hospital, courtroom, police station, news rooms, radio stations and ice cream factories to help children understand what goes behind running a city. Basics about public transport and healthcare are also taught by designated adults here. The spot is super informative and entertaining, especially for young children.
Boating
Like most lakes, Kankaria also offers great boating experiences. There's a variety of boats here including Speed Boats, Jet Skis and slower boats as well. We recommend taking a slow boat to sit back and enjoy the view of the entire lake. Prices start at INR 60 per person for the ferries that take you around the lake, and INR 150 upwards for the speed boats.
Toy Train Rides
It is said that the Kankaria lake has a 5 km circumference which isn't possible to cover by foot easily. While you can walk around to complete your daily step count, there's also a toy train ride that takes you around the scenic circular lake in minutes.
Nagina Wadi
After a day full of being on your feet, Nagina Wadi is where you can head to, to sit back and relax. Nagina Wadi is a garden area in the middle of the Kankaria lake, offering a panoramic view of the entire spot. You can buy a ticket and walk down the walkway to reach the island in the evening. Head here during sunset to take in the views, and relax to watch a musical fountain show that'll cost you INR 20 per person.
Manek Chowk
End your day with scrumptious street food at Manek Chowk. The area offers everything from ice cream sandwiches, farsan, dosas and kulfis. While everyone has a favourite food truck they'd like to get their snack fix from, we recommend walking around the area to soak in the sights and sounds before digging in. The spot is filled with variety, is just a ten minute drive away from the Kankaria Lake and stays buzzing until late night.
Lijjat Khaman House
Kankaria lake has a few food courts within the lake park to get light snacks and water. You could also visit the Lijjat Khaman House five minutes away to devour tasty Gujarati farsan like Dhokla, Khaman and Khandvi among several others at affordable prices. Seating here is limited, and the spot is great for a quick snack pit stop.
Shaking Minarets
The Shaking Minarets at Sarangpur Darwaja are within the vicinity of Sidi Bashir Mosque built in 1452 AD by the then ruler Sultan Ahmed Shah. It is said that the minarets are an architectural marvel, where if one minaret is shaken, the other one moves automatically without disturbing or causing any vibrations in the bridge connecting them. While the demonstrations have been stopped now, you can visit the historical spot to check out the stunning stone carvings on the minarets hand carved back in the day.
