After breakfast, drive 30 minutes to the Adalaj Stepwell, built in 1499 by Queen Rudabai. This five-storey structure served as a resting place and water source, with detailed carvings of flowers, symbols, and everyday scenes. It’s designed to remain cool even in peak summer.
Continue the journey with a 2.5-hour drive to Patan, once the capital of Gujarat. Visit Rani ki Vav, an 11th-century stepwell and UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its layered architecture and over 800 intricately sculpted figures. A short walk away, visit a family of traditional Patan Patola weavers. Using the double ikkat technique, both warp and weft threads are tie-dyed with precision, producing vibrant silk textiles known for their complexity and symmetry.
After lunch, drive 1 hour to the Sun Temple in Modhera, built in the early 11th century by the Solankis. The temple is aligned with the solar calendar, and its sanctum is once lit up with the rays of the rising sun. The temple complex includes a stepped water tank and elaborately carved walls that reflect a deep understanding of light, geometry, and cosmology.
Return to Ahmedabad by evening (2-hour drive).