The short answer
Dholera is in Ahmedabad district, Gujarat, south-west of Ahmedabad and across the wider Gulf of Khambhat region from Bhavnagar. The modern development area is associated with the Dholera Special Investment Region, which covers a large multi-village planning envelope.
The four places people often mix up
| Place | Role in the regional story |
|---|---|
| Dholera | The settlement and wider regional development story. |
| Dholera SIR | The notified special investment and planning framework. |
| Ahmedabad | A major metropolitan anchor and the northern transport connection. |
| Bhavnagar | A regional urban and logistics reference point across the Gulf. |
| Lothal | A distinct archaeological heritage site, not a part of the Dholera SIR. |
Why geography matters
Dholera’s coastal position shapes its soil, water, drainage, flood risk, environmental regulation and transport logic. It also explains why a development claim should always be checked against the exact location and boundary being discussed.
Reading a map carefully: a corridor, zone or planning boundary does not by itself prove that a specific private parcel is approved, serviced or available.
Next, remove the category confusion
Once the regional position is clear, the next useful distinction is between Dholera town, the Special Investment Region and the planned industrial city.