I moved to Ahmedabad in December and having spent a month in here , I can say you havewraped the City vibe in your essay very aptly!
I stumbled upon your blog today and had i known earlier you were in Ahmedabad in December i would have definitely met you and had some chai and talks. Love your essays..and yeah I am definitely visiting ficks after you recommendation.
Even though I am Gujarati, I haven't spent any real time in Gujarat except during Diwali. I have so many relatives in Amdavad but have never actually been there. This article provided such a wonderful view of the city that I am now genuinely interested in visiting (and I might have to hit you up for some non-Gujarati food spots!)
I am from Baroda, even though I don't stay there anymore. So I can relate to a lot you have said. One thing though that is irrefutable is that I have found Gujarat cities to be some of the safest cities in India. People go out at night and there is no fear, but a lot of khana, joy, and fun
I agree. Gujarat is very safe. to add to it, since the heat is unbearable for most part of the year, most people go out to eat in the evenings and late nights
11 min? No it wasn't that long...it was so interesting to read...I think you should write more such travelogues...I got introduced to you through your 'Delhi waali post "" and now "Amdavaad wali post" and I enjoyed it throughout...I visited Amdavad last year with my parents and the way you have decribed it...it is so true...I had an extra experience with shopping...which I think you didn't have much as compared to me 😁😁...Gujratis are really fun loving and ambitious at the same time ...Through this post I revisited Gujrat again ..Thanks for that because I don't find myself traveling in this cold anywhere else....coming from a person who loves travelling but is specific about her priorities...I loved how you mentioned the kindness of the man from prayagraj..I felt proud ...🥹
arre! happy to introduce readers to new cities! I hope I get to travel more and then write about it. I did have my own sweet shopping time but pretty sure that the time I took to buy 3 items, seasoned shoppers would be busy matching the saree in their hand with the dresses they have at home. hence I briefly mentioned it. Gujaratis are an interesting bunch for sure. thanks for reading :)
Wowww! I really loved this. Travelogues are really so so interesting but usually the authors describe the place with so many descriptions and data that to me it starts to take effort to read. But this was written in such a balanced way-- light, transporting, fun and actually intresting.
I have been to Gujrat once. I was in class 4th back then and my dad took us to where he was posted for summer vacations. I remember how Ahmedabad used to be our train stop and from there we had to take a bus to reach where his place which was 1.5-2 hr ride. We didn't get to explore much, just stayed in the locality, lol, but whatever time we went to Markets I remember how it was bit more colourful there. Idk if it's my distorted memory or it was just childhood but I loved that thing. Even the saree that my mom bought and that one dress I got from there is still the most colourful and unique. Even our Aadhar card was made there and even today our names on Aadhar card is in Gujrati and English even when I don't know a single word of Gujarati xP
We visited Dwarka and Somnath too by the end i remember and it's still one of my most wonderful childhood experiences.
I also remember a particular dessert that we used to be served in almost all the hotels (well during the trip to the temples, lol) was sweetened curd with banana slices. I never saw it anywhere else here in UP. I don't know what it was called but that was the only thing I used to eat outside because other things used to be too spicy for me XD. And alsooo..how can I forget..the salty water in train taps. Haha. I was shocked at first.
I really want to visit there again in future.
Ahh! Loved this read. Would be looking forward to the further parts of it.
I missed out on the salty water from taps owing to Rail Neer but not complaining xP
and that dessert sounds interesting, will try to find it next. Reading through your comments I remember a lot more which I couldn't write in this one. I'll post small notes for them. thank you for reading this and sharing your own experiences :)
it amazes me how the same word can mean completely different dishes across india. come to rajasthan and dhokla looks like a baati made of besan. i was surprised too bc in indore, we only called it khamman.
this was such an enjoyable read. i barely finished it before wanting the next one. keep writing!
This felt like an Anthony Bourdain book excerpt. I genuinely believe travelling to a new place or getting to know a city well lies in the food you consume and the people you meet. I am so glad you've enjoyed Amdavad (because personally the traffic here is enough for me to never want to drive again). I really enjoyed reading this. As someone who finds every word so familiar, it's almost like my thoughts penned down extremely wonderfully. I hope you keep visiting more places haha.
thank you for the high praise Riya! So glad my words could resonate with you. I hated the traffic as well and frankly couldn't understand what was wring with everyone. With such comments, I feel very excited to share the other two essays in the series. :)
Being a Gujarati, I really liked how you’ve put in so many stories of Amdavad in this. It felt very familiar and close to home. The food part was honestly the best I loved that bit. Overall, it was a nice read from start to end. You’ve put it so well 🙌🏻🫡
What a fun read!
But the chai cups are cute! 😂 I know how painful it is for chai lovers though.
chai cups should be of good size not cute
I want to take some of my chai-bhakth pals to Amdavad now just to piss them off! 😂
bhagwaan maaf nahi karega Namrata
i went there for a wedding last year and it’s one of my best memories ever ♥️
It is a great city to be in :)
If Amdavad's traffic baffled you, visit Rajkot. I guarantee you'll lose your mind there 😂
wait! there's worse? :O O_o o_O
You haven't seen it all yet 😂
I don't want to xP
I moved to Ahmedabad in December and having spent a month in here , I can say you havewraped the City vibe in your essay very aptly!
I stumbled upon your blog today and had i known earlier you were in Ahmedabad in December i would have definitely met you and had some chai and talks. Love your essays..and yeah I am definitely visiting ficks after you recommendation.
thank you for the vote of confidence Amit :)
would've loved to meet you too. maybe some other time.
and Fick's is the absolute best! do let me know once you go there, if you liked the place or not
It feels like I visited the city. I think whenever I visit amdavad, it will feel familiar. Beautifully penned.
Hahaha. Food combos are infamous. I will just stick to Gujarati food 😂
good call. very good call. I appreciate.
mission accomplished. just beware of the traffic and crazy food combos. rest all is really nice!
thank you for reading this Megha!
this was such a great diary entry esque piece
one of my best friends is from amdavad — though he gets angry when we call him Gujarati
he’s not into reading as much but I’ll force him to read this one
so so well done
Offer him mawa and then call him Gujarati. He might agree then xP
And let me know once he reads it. Would really like to know his thoughts
Went to Gujrat for a vacation, But i finally travelled through your essay. So Gooooddd Abhishek, so good. 😍
happy to help Gargi :)
Very interestingly written post. It could tell that you are a fellow foodie 😉 The joy of substack is reading long posts!
I recently visited a city which offers piece and tranquility amidst all it chaos 'Varanasi' and wrote about it
https://open.substack.com/pub/justujukyahai/p/varanasi-the-city-of-mahadev-an-insiders?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&shareImageVariant=overlay&r=2x2h6n
looks interesting, will give it a read
Even though I am Gujarati, I haven't spent any real time in Gujarat except during Diwali. I have so many relatives in Amdavad but have never actually been there. This article provided such a wonderful view of the city that I am now genuinely interested in visiting (and I might have to hit you up for some non-Gujarati food spots!)
awesome. happy to be of any help. do try Bhookh Lagi hai for chaap :D
I am from Baroda, even though I don't stay there anymore. So I can relate to a lot you have said. One thing though that is irrefutable is that I have found Gujarat cities to be some of the safest cities in India. People go out at night and there is no fear, but a lot of khana, joy, and fun
I agree. Gujarat is very safe. to add to it, since the heat is unbearable for most part of the year, most people go out to eat in the evenings and late nights
11 min? No it wasn't that long...it was so interesting to read...I think you should write more such travelogues...I got introduced to you through your 'Delhi waali post "" and now "Amdavaad wali post" and I enjoyed it throughout...I visited Amdavad last year with my parents and the way you have decribed it...it is so true...I had an extra experience with shopping...which I think you didn't have much as compared to me 😁😁...Gujratis are really fun loving and ambitious at the same time ...Through this post I revisited Gujrat again ..Thanks for that because I don't find myself traveling in this cold anywhere else....coming from a person who loves travelling but is specific about her priorities...I loved how you mentioned the kindness of the man from prayagraj..I felt proud ...🥹
arre! happy to introduce readers to new cities! I hope I get to travel more and then write about it. I did have my own sweet shopping time but pretty sure that the time I took to buy 3 items, seasoned shoppers would be busy matching the saree in their hand with the dresses they have at home. hence I briefly mentioned it. Gujaratis are an interesting bunch for sure. thanks for reading :)
Wowww! I really loved this. Travelogues are really so so interesting but usually the authors describe the place with so many descriptions and data that to me it starts to take effort to read. But this was written in such a balanced way-- light, transporting, fun and actually intresting.
I have been to Gujrat once. I was in class 4th back then and my dad took us to where he was posted for summer vacations. I remember how Ahmedabad used to be our train stop and from there we had to take a bus to reach where his place which was 1.5-2 hr ride. We didn't get to explore much, just stayed in the locality, lol, but whatever time we went to Markets I remember how it was bit more colourful there. Idk if it's my distorted memory or it was just childhood but I loved that thing. Even the saree that my mom bought and that one dress I got from there is still the most colourful and unique. Even our Aadhar card was made there and even today our names on Aadhar card is in Gujrati and English even when I don't know a single word of Gujarati xP
We visited Dwarka and Somnath too by the end i remember and it's still one of my most wonderful childhood experiences.
I also remember a particular dessert that we used to be served in almost all the hotels (well during the trip to the temples, lol) was sweetened curd with banana slices. I never saw it anywhere else here in UP. I don't know what it was called but that was the only thing I used to eat outside because other things used to be too spicy for me XD. And alsooo..how can I forget..the salty water in train taps. Haha. I was shocked at first.
I really want to visit there again in future.
Ahh! Loved this read. Would be looking forward to the further parts of it.
Very very awesome✨✨
I missed out on the salty water from taps owing to Rail Neer but not complaining xP
and that dessert sounds interesting, will try to find it next. Reading through your comments I remember a lot more which I couldn't write in this one. I'll post small notes for them. thank you for reading this and sharing your own experiences :)
hoping you like the next parts too.
Yeah please do or include them in the next one. Notes get lost somehow.
And well ofcourse train taps were only used for brushing teeth and all😭 it used be around a day long journey. I don't even remember much now.
I'll try to include them somewhere in the articles.
don't think any of us use the tap water at stations anymore
it amazes me how the same word can mean completely different dishes across india. come to rajasthan and dhokla looks like a baati made of besan. i was surprised too bc in indore, we only called it khamman.
this was such an enjoyable read. i barely finished it before wanting the next one. keep writing!
thank you Anushka.
Really excited to share the other parts of the series real soon :)
This felt like an Anthony Bourdain book excerpt. I genuinely believe travelling to a new place or getting to know a city well lies in the food you consume and the people you meet. I am so glad you've enjoyed Amdavad (because personally the traffic here is enough for me to never want to drive again). I really enjoyed reading this. As someone who finds every word so familiar, it's almost like my thoughts penned down extremely wonderfully. I hope you keep visiting more places haha.
thank you for the high praise Riya! So glad my words could resonate with you. I hated the traffic as well and frankly couldn't understand what was wring with everyone. With such comments, I feel very excited to share the other two essays in the series. :)
Is one of them about Vadodara omg? I cannot wait to read them!
bol bolke sabko scheme bta de xP
Writing so vivid, i thought i was watching a cinematic vlog! So immersive! This should be a city series
thank you Aradhana! and it is going to be a three part series on the cities I travelled to in Gujarat. :)
Excited!!
Being a Gujarati, I really liked how you’ve put in so many stories of Amdavad in this. It felt very familiar and close to home. The food part was honestly the best I loved that bit. Overall, it was a nice read from start to end. You’ve put it so well 🙌🏻🫡
thank you Isha. this coming from a Gujju feels extra special :)
🙌🏻🫡