Anand travel guide

Anand, India

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Anand

Introduction

Anand is a city in Gujarat, India, and serves as the administrative centre of Anand District. It is administered by the Anand Municipal Corporation and forms part of the Charotar region, which takes in both Anand and Kheda districts. During the British Raj, the area was part of Kaira District.

Getting there

Anand is served by Anand Junction railway station, one of the busiest stops on the Western Railway corridor between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, making the train the most direct way to arrive. If you are flying in, the nearest airport is Vadodara, about 40 km away, while Ahmedabad Airport lies roughly 70 km from the city. By road, Anand sits on the NH8, the highway linking Delhi with Mumbai, so you can reach the city by car from either direction along that route.

Getting around

Anand has no metro, tram, or rapid transit of its own, so getting around relies on road transport. Autorickshaws are the main local mode of public transport, supplemented by shared taxis, app-based cabs, and city buses. Distances within the city are modest, so short hops are quick and inexpensive. Autorickshaws can be hailed on the street or booked through apps such as Uber Auto; negotiate the fare before you set off, or insist on the meter where one is available. Ola and Uber operate in Anand, and local taxis use pre-agreed or metered fares, bookable through hotels or apps. Shared taxis run both within the city and for intercity travel, with fares split among passengers. Car rental is available self-drive or chauffeur-driven, with economy cars the cheapest option. Walking is practical for short errands and for reaching nearby shops and eateries from your accommodation, but for anything beyond a short stroll, plan on an autorickshaw, shared taxi, or app-based cab.

Anand Junction is the city's main railway station, on the Western Railway corridor between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, well connected to Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Mumbai, and it puts you close to the city centre. GSRTC state-run buses and private operators connect Anand to Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Mumbai, in luxury (AC) and non-AC service types; book at local bus stations or via bus-booking apps for private operators. Anand has no airport of its own: the nearest is Vadodara, with Ahmedabad further away. From either, continue by road or rail — from Vadodara you can take a taxi or app-based cab onward, or travel to Vadodara station and continue by train to Anand Junction. Anand sits on the NH8, so road transfers from either airport are straightforward. Gujarati is the primary language, with Hindi and English widely understood. Treat all quoted fares as approximate and confirm prices before you travel, especially for autorickshaws and local taxis.

Where to stay

Anand keeps its accommodation options modest, and the one place documented for travellers is Puja Recidency. It serves as the practical base for a stay in the city, whether you are passing through the region or using Anand as a stopover on a longer journey.

Food & drink

Anand's eating scene leans heavily on Gujarati snacks and sweets, and you'll find plenty of places to graze your way through the day. For savoury bites, look for dalvada near the Civil Court, vada-pav at Shriji, and dabeli at Mastana. Dosa has its own following at Santram, while khaman is well represented by Yogesh Khaman House and New Thakkar Khaman House on Station Road. If you want a sit-down meal rather than a snack, Divine, Ekata Restaurant, Flavours and Icy Spicy are among the options. Drinking here is a different matter: Gujarat is a dry state, so alcohol is not legally sold without a hard-to-obtain licence. Instead, do as locals do and make the most of the dairy — good milk, ice-cream and buttermilk are easy to come by, with Sarvoday Ice-Cream a reliable stop when you want something cold.

What to see and do

Anand's sights are modest in number but rooted in the city's identity as a dairy town. Amul Dairy, described as Asia's largest dairy, is the landmark most associated with the area. In Karamsad you can visit Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's House, the ancestral home tied to the statesman's early life, and Sardar Patel Public Garden offers a green space named in his honour.

For entertainment, the city has many cinemas, so watching a film is an easy way to spend an evening.

Three days in Anand

Day one: Arrive in Anand, a city in Gujarat's Anand District within the Charotar region, once part of Kheda and known as Kaira District during the British Raj. Anand Junction, on the Western Railway, connects the city with Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Vadodara, Surat and Delhi, while Ahmedabad Airport is the nearest airport. From the station or your drop-off point, autorickshaws, Uber Auto, Ola and Uber are the usual ways to reach your base; shared cars and walking cover shorter hops. Settle in around Civil Court, a handy central area, and take an evening walk to get your bearings. Gujarati, Hindi and English are all useful here.

Day two: Give the day to the city itself. Anand is administered by the Anand Municipal Corporation, and its streets reward slow wandering rather than rushing between sights. Use autorickshaws or Ola and Uber for longer stretches, and walk the neighbourhoods in between. Distances within Anand are modest, so you can cover a lot without much planning. Keep the evening free for another unhurried meal and a stroll.

Day three: Use Anand as a base for the wider Charotar region before you leave. If you are heading onward, Anand Junction puts Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai, Surat and Delhi within reach by rail, and GSRTC buses and shared cars cover the road routes. Allow time to get back to your starting point, whether that is the junction, the bus stand or the airport at Ahmedabad. Treat the final morning as a chance for one last walk and meal before departure.

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