Ahmedabad is known for its rich past and its association with the Mahatma Gandhi. The city offers the traveler a unique style of architecture, which is a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles. The monuments of Ahmedabad mainly date back to the 15th century. Ahmedabad has been known for its industry since medieval times. It is famous for its textile mills and for this reason is often referred to as the ‘Manchester of the East’. A peaceful, serene stretch on the banks of the Sabarmati river is the Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi which is a national monument today, and it is here that one gets a glimpse into the simplicity of the great man.