Entertainment & Recreation in Ahmedabad - Entertainment Places in Ahmedabad

Entertainment & Recreation

Patang Revolving Restaurant

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, INDIA

	The Revolving Restaurant. Chinubhai Centre, Nehru Bridge Corner, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad 380 009. Aapnu Amdavad’s towering landmark, the revolving restaurant ‘Patang’, is set to soar again. The restaurant that had downed shutters after the 2001 earthquake has been finally sold. Ahmedabad-based Dharmadev Infrastructure, owned by Umang Thakker, has bought it for a song — Rs 3.31 crore. The price was low because it had been mired in litigation, said Vijay Shah, an associate of Patang promoter Hasmukh Shah. The sale agreement was inked on Wednesday evening as soon as the temporary injunction, obtained earlier this month by one of the lenders, Sardar Vallabhai Sahakari Bank Ltd, was lifted by a lower court in Ahmedabad. The bank had obtained the injunction after a title clearance advertisement for the property was published on March 1, 2007. The other lender is General Co-operative Bank. “We will settle our dues with GCB at Rs 1.89 crore while we are hammering out a settlement with SVSBL,” Shah said.

“We intend to refurbish and reopen it as a Gujarati cuisine restaurant within a month,” said Thakker, adding that the restaurant would be part of a 100-room four-star hotel that he is putting up adjacent to Patang on a recently acquired 2500 sq yd plot. The 110-seater Patang, set up in 1984 around Rs 1.25 crore, towers not just over Amdavad’s skyline at 221 feet but is Gujarat’s tallest standing structure. It offers diners a mind-blowing 360 degree view of the city in 90 minutes from its lofty perch. Ahmedabad (Gujarati: Ahmada-ba-d ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of 56 lakhs (5.6 million).[1] Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, the city is the administrative centre of Ahmedabad district, and was the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970; the capital was shifted to Gandhinagar thereafter. The city is sometimes called Karnavati, a name for an older town that existed in the same location; in colloquial Gujarati, it is commonly called Amdavad. The city was founded in 1411 to serve as the capital of the Sultanate of Gujarat, by its namesake, Sultan Ahmed Shah. Under British rule, a military cantonment was established and the city infrastructure was modernised and expanded. Although incorporated into the Bombay Presidency during the British rule in India, Ahmedabad remained the most important city in the Gujarat region. The city established itself as the home of a booming textile industry, which earned it the nickname "the Manchester of the East."[2] The city was at the forefront of the Indian independence movement in the first half of the 20th century.[2] It was the epicentre of many campaigns of civil disobedience to promote workers' rights, civil rights and political independence. With the creation of the state of Gujarat in 1960, Ahmedabad gained prominence as the political and commercial capital of the state. Once characterised by dusty roads and bungalows, the city is witnessing a major construction boom and population increase. A rising centre of education, information technology and scientific industries, Ahmedabad remains the cultural and commercial heart of Gujarat, and much of western India. Since 2000, the city has been transformed through the construction of skyscrapers, shopping malls and multiplexes.[3] However, this progress has been marred by natural calamities, political instability and outbreaks of communal violence.

Kite Festival 2009 Begins

Ahmedabad - Febuary 14th and 15th is the Uttarayana "Kite Flying Festival"

The Sun enters the Makar raasi (the zodiac sign of Capricorn - the goat), on Sankranti day, signifying the onset of Uttarayana Punyakalam, which means the sun, begins it journey northwards. Sankramana means "to commence movement" and hence the name Makar Sankranti has been given. The period is also considered an ideal time for aspirants to satisfy "the goals of life". Very significant however, the day preceding Makara Sankranti is when people discard old and derelict things and concentrate on new things causing change or transformation.

Global participants excited

Diana Delli Paoli from Australia has given a miss to her kit shop back in Merimbula, New South Wales during her "business season" to be a part of the lifetime experience of Kite Festival in Ahmedabad.

Paoli is one of the 81 participants w2ho have flown down to Ahmedabad from 31 different countries to participate in the festival. An Excited Paoli says, "I have reqad a lot about kite coluture in India and will experience it for the first time. I will be flying a huge kite which will look like a peacock once in air. Another will arch with 31 small and big kites woven around it."

Kite lovers from US, England, Brazil, New Zealand among others will display their unique kites and their expertise in flying giant kites.

For Derek Kuhn, president of Midlands Kite Fliers, England, it is an amazing experience to see kit culture of city. Kuhn says, "Indian kites are known all over the world and to come to the centre of kite flying is very exciting for all of us. We are raring to show our kite skills to the kite lovers here."

Master kite maker and expert in custom kite displays. Clifford Quinn from US, says "It was hard to resist the chance of coming to India and especially Gujarat to be a part of the Vibrant Kite Festival. Kite flying here is a passion, a culture. But in US, it is more of a hobby." Another participant, Stefan Cook, operation manager of Ultimate Kite Show from New Zealand says,"Indian kites are unique to their make. We are looking forward to Saturday's kite event.

Despite slump, kites sell like hotcakes

Despite recession blues, kite makers and sellers of city are making merry Looks like Amdavadia want to forget their financial woes and enjoy the festival. Says Naveen Modi, shop owner at Dariapur kite market. "We were initially worried about sales. However thankfully it has been smooth sailing."

Market is set to lure kite-flying enthusiasts with a greater range and innovation to attack all age groups. "This year, we have kites made of three different types of paper. Apart from the regular material, we have kites made of butter paper and marble paper too," says Nigam Chowksi, a wholesaler.

Variety in designs and patterns has left many amazed. "I'm so glad there are so many different types. Not just colours, designs are so new and fresh. It will be fun fighting for such beautiful kites on Uttarayan," says Kamlesh Patel, an ardent kite-flier. While kites with forest prints carry eco-friendly messages and icnreased sensitivity towards nature, rangoli kites are becoming a rage among girls. Many girls have bought kites with rangoli or rumali prints. TO attract kids, there are special packages of five kites, phirki, fun mask and other goodies.

Sonam Kapoor may not have made waves on the silver screen. But she is a hit in city kite markets. "Kites with Sonam and Aishwarya are the most in demand," said Jayesh SElugar, a shop owner. Kites iwth Modi and Nano are also a major draw. Despite being highly pried, they are selling like hot cakes. These kties cost Rs 100 per kodi, while the normal range is Rs 50 to 60.