Sabarmati Riverfront Ahmedabad: Timing, Entry Fee, Attraction

Sabarmati Riverfront is to Ahmedabad what Marine Drive is to Mumbai – that is, a thriving urban hotspot where people spend their evenings soaking in city views and enjoying the gentle breeze. This well-designed waterfront with unalloyed views of the Sabarmati River runs through the heart of the city. A two-level promenade is the highlight of riverfront, with the lower level providing access to the water. It is dotted with several attractions including parks, gardens, boating stations, markets, cycling tracks, walking paths, ghats, and more. The riverfront, which is being developed in multiple phases, has quickly become one of the top picnic spots in Ahmedabad for tourists and locals alike.

Read on to know more about the Sabarmati Riverfront, including its history, timings, entry fee, attractions, amenities, lesser-known facts, nearby attractions, and more.

Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad Information

Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad: History

Located on the eastern banks of the Sabarmati River, the city of Ahmedabad had always depended on the water body as a major source of its recreational, cultural, and economic activities. However, over time, the river faced neglect even as the city expanded and reached new heights of development. The first proposal to develop the riverfront came as early as 1961. However, it wasn’t until the river had turned into a dumping ground for untreated sewage and industrial waste that the plan was finally implemented. In 1997, the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) was set up by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), with funding from the Central Government.

The construction of the riverfront was planned in multiple phases. The first phase began in 2005 and in 2012, a section of the riverfront was inaugurated and opened for the public. Since then, more facilities on the waterfront are being developed and made accessible to the public as and when they are completed. As of date, the Sabarmati Riverfront is still under construction and many attractions are in the pipeline.

Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad: Structure and Layout

Sabarmati Riverfront covers a stretch of 11.5 km, with a continuous, two-level promenade extending on the eastern and western banks of the river. These are called Riverside Promenade East and Riverside Promenade West, respectively. The width of the promenade varies from 6 meters to 18 meters while the river has been channeled to a constant width of 263 meters. Furthermore, the promenade is equipped with continuous protective railing and seating arrangements.

Dotted along the promenade are several facilities and attractions, some of which are open to the public while some others are still under construction. These include ghats, cycling tracks, boating stations, riverfront parks and viewpoints, and a flower garden, to name a few. Besides these, an urban forest, two plazas, a park, a sports ground and sports complex, a heritage plaza and many other attractions are in the pipeline.

Facilities at Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad

In order to offer a comfortable and hassle-free experience to visitors, many facilities are available at the Sabarmati Riverfront, including:

• Multiple access points to the riverfront from the city level via ramps and staircases located under every bridge on the Sabarmati
• 31 ghats at specific locations on the lower level of the promenade where cultural activities can be held
• Three boating stations
• Seating arrangements all along the promenade
• Concrete circular seating arrangements surrounding trees
• Paved concrete flooring to facilitate cycling, walking, and jogging
• Washrooms and dustbins for public use
• Security arrangements to maintain entry and exit timings and any emergencies
• Elevators to help differently-abled people access the lower level of the promenade
• A laundry campus spreads across 0.9 ha and includes seven blocks
• An exhibition center to serve the business community

Top Attractions at Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad

Whether you want to put your feet up and enjoy a relaxed evening or engage in recreational activities, the riverfront offers plenty of options. These include: 

• The Lower-level Promenade: Constructed just above the water level, it is dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists, and also features several other recreational facilities.
• The Upper-level Promenade: Constructed at the city level, it houses a wide range of public facilities and is still under construction.
• Boating: Recreational boating facilities are provided at the lower level of the promenade. At present, there are three functional boating stations located near Subhash Bridge, Nehru Bridge, and Sardar Bridge. You can opt for rides in motor boats, speed boats, and pontoon boats.
• Gardens and Parks: Several gardens and parks are already open for the public, which adds to the recreational value of the place. This includes the Riverfront Flower Park that is home to over 330 exotic and native species of flowers. Other popular parks at the riverfront include Subhash Bridge Park and Usmanpura Park.
• Market: The open-air market has 1641 vendor platforms, paved walkways, vehicular access, food courts, washrooms, and other facilities.

Lesser-known Facts about Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad

• Sabarmati Riverfront has inspired several other cities to adopt similar development plans, including Surat, Chennai, Vadodara, Pune, Noida, and Varanasi.
• The first proposal to develop an ecological valley along the banks of the Sabarmati came from French architect Bernard Kohn in 1960.
• While the riverfront development project was started with a seed capital of 9 crores in 1997, an amount of 1152 crores was already spent till 2014.

Cafés and Restaurants near Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad

Want to enjoy a hearty meal after spending some hours at the promenade? Given below are some of the top cafés and restaurants near Sabarmati Riverfront:

• Agashiye
• Green House
• Araby’s Restaurant
• The Riverfront Grill – Lemon Tree Premier
• Citrus Café – Lemon Tree Premier
• Neelkanth Patang
• Udipi Jaya
• Silver Leaf – Cama Hotel
• Food Inn

Attractions near Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad

• Siddi Saiyed Mosque (2 km)
• Bhadra Fort (2 km)
• Teen Darwaza (2 km)
• Jama Masjid (3 km)
• Rani no Hajiro (3 km)
• Hutheesing Jain Temple (4.5 km)
• Jhulta Minara (4.5 km)
• Dada Harir Vav (5 km)
• Calico Textile Museum (6 km)
• Sabarmati Ashram (6 km)
• Shah-e-Alam’s Roza (6 km)
• Kankaria Lake (7 km)

Sabarmati Riverfront is not just a beautified waterfront promenade, but the focal point of leisure and recreation in Ahmedabad. While you are in the city, don’t forget to spend an evening here in peace while the serene river continues to flow at its own pace.