Boehmites were precipitated hydrothermally from different inorganic aluminum salt solutions under similar conditions using urea as the precipitating agent. It was observed that the hydrolysis of Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 starts at a lower temperature due to formation of hydroxy sulfates in comparison to AlCl 3 and Al(NO 3 ) 3 solutions. The boehmite obtained from Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 has a lower water content, and a higher surface area than the boehmites obtained either from AlCl 3 or Al(NO 3 ) 3 . The boehmite obtained from Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 was lighter giving lower tap density value. Depending on the nature of anion present during synthesis, the TG-DTA showed the endothermic peak between 460 and 480 o C, characteristic of transformation of boehmite to γ-Al 2 O 3 . No other phase transformation occurred up to 1000 o C, indicating enhanced thermal stability of γ-Al 2 O 3 prepared through the present hydrothermal route.