The width of Saurashtra
This route crosses the whole Saurashtra peninsula, from Jamnagar on the Gulf of Kutch to Ahmedabad on the Sabarmati. Many families make it on transfers from the refineries and the forces, or when children go to college in Ahmedabad. At about 304 km, it's a long day's drive for a loaded truck. Some moves are loaded at dawn and unloaded the same night, but many are loaded one day and delivered the next morning. Agree which with the mover in writing, and ask whether your goods will travel in a dedicated vehicle.
Leaving Jamnagar
If you're leaving a refinery township or service accommodation, arrange the vehicle pass, the working hours and the house inspection before the date, and keep the inspection report. In the old walled town near Darbargadh, a smaller vehicle may shuttle goods to a truck on a wider road. Jamnagar's wind and dust before the monsoon are hard on polished wood and electronics, so ask for good wrapping.
On the road east
The road runs east across Saurashtra's farmland and joins the main highway towards Ahmedabad, which carries heavy goods traffic between the ports, factories and the city. Ask the mover where the driver will stop if the move runs overnight, and whether the truck will be parked in a guarded place.
Arriving in Ahmedabad
Trucks from Saurashtra enter Ahmedabad from the Sarkhej side, so SG Highway, Bopal, Shela, Prahlad Nagar, Satellite and Vejalpur are the quickest to reach. Crossing the Sabarmati to Maninagar, Naroda, Chandkheda or the old city takes longer, and the pols of the walled city can't be reached by truck; goods are carried from the nearest road. Large trucks may face entry timings in parts of the city, so ask the mover how they'll handle the last stretch.
Ahmedabad society rules
Many Ahmedabad societies want notice before a move-in, some ask for a NOC or deposit, and most allow moving only in set hours with the service lift booked. Ask your new society office a week before the date; our guide to society NOCs and lift bookings explains what to ask.
Festivals and heat
Navratri garba, Diwali and the Gujarati New Year, and Uttarayan in January are all big at both ends, and many businesses close for days around Diwali. Ahmedabad is extremely hot from about April to June; on a long drive, keep candles, cosmetics, medicines and electronics with you rather than in a closed truck.
November to February, avoiding the festival weeks, is usually the easiest window.
Transfers and paperwork
If your employer or service is paying for the move, ask in advance what documents they need, such as the quote, the packing list and the invoice; every mover we work with provides a GST invoice. Keep a copy of the packing list with you and check the cartons against it on arrival. Brass, silver and other valuables are best carried yourself.
Settling in
Ahmedabad homes often rely on a society water tank and power backup, so check both, plan cooling for at least one room in summer, and book internet as soon as you have the address. Gujarati is spoken at both ends, and Hindi and English are common in Ahmedabad offices.