Mid-range (US$10-35/Rs250-1000 per room night)
There are several Western- and Indian-style hotels. Cama (tel 25281, tlx 0121-6377) in Khanpur has rooms from Rs850 single, Rs950 double. Karnavati (tel 402161, tlx 0121-6519) on Ashram Road has rooms from Rs750. Other hotels in this price range include the Rivera Hotel (tel 24201, tlx 0121-6598) in Khanpur with rooms from Rs450 single, Rs 600 double.
Budget (under US$1O/Rs250 per room night)
Roopalee (tel 350814), and the Ritz Hotel (tel 353637-9) both at Lal Darwaza. The Ritz has a pleasant garden and helpful staff. Gujarat Tourism’s Gandhi Ashram Guest House (tel 407742) is slightly out of town but is clean and functional.
EATING OUT
Gujarati cuisine is almost entirely vegetarian; an amazing variety of dishes are prepared for a meal accompanied by wheat breads and rice. Many dishes use a lot of chillies and and a little sugar. Small restaurants abound and the food in invariably well-prepared and fresh. A thou can cost as little as Rs15 but in an air-conditioned restaurant would be nearer Rs50. One of the finest restaurants in India is Vishalla on the road to Sarkhej, on the outskirts of the city, 5 km (3 miles) to the south-west. Meals are served in a village setting; at low tables and on leaf-platters. The associated Utensil Museum (see above) is open till 11 pm.
In the city there are many popular and inexpensive restaurants. Most hotels serve Gujarati food and other Indian dishes. Woodlands (tel 466310) on the 2nd floor of Shilp, C.G. Road, Kalpi near the Ritz Hotel at La Darwaza, and Baiwas (tel 351135) on Relief Road are all independent of hotels and meals cost from Rs40 per person.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Liquor is completely prohibited in Gujarat but foreign tourists can get a liquor permit stamped into their passport by the main tourist offices in New Delhi and Bombay. This will enable you to buy liquor while staying in one of the bigger hotels—room service only.
Tourist information centres are at the Tourist Office, Ahmedabad Municipal Cor-poration, Danapath, and at the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat in HK House on Ashram Road. Indian Airlines (tel 353333 apt 67356) is at Khanpur. The Vayudoot office is at Sita Travels (tel 409105) opposite Jaihind Press, Mithakhali Underbridge, Ashram Road. Railway Enquiries (tel 131) are open from 8 am to 10 pm.
