Twenty-four hours in Ahmedabad: A quick guide to India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City

“If I had known our flight would be delayed so much, I would have gone to the gym,” says a young man standing in front of me to his female companion. As I wait to board, sleep-deprived and slightly nauseous, thanks to a plate of flinty airport idlis, I cannot help but agree. I am worried: I am supposed to be in Ahmedabad by now for the last two days of the Ahmedabad Cultural Week (ACW) — a city-wide celebration of heritage and art — and with so little time to cover an event spread over 18 venues, every moment is precious.

By the time we land, five hours behind schedule, I am exhausted, running mostly on black coffee and trail mix. But I perk up as we skim through the city’s wide roads and check my watch — 3.00 pm. I have exactly 24 hours before my flight home.

3.45 pm: Check into my hotel located on the Sarkhej–Gandhinagar Highway, head out to grab a quick sandwich and then return to my room for a much-needed power nap.