Calico Textile Museum, Ahmedabad, Gujarat India

Calico museum of textiles in Ahmedabad is one of the finest museums of the world. Founded by Ms. Gira Sarabhai, the museum exhibits an enormous collection of fabrics, which are collected from all over the country. Situated in the vicinity of Shahibaugh Palace, the museum is bordered by lush green gardens and fountains that provide an enchanting view. Read further to know more about Calico museum of textiles at Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

Established in the year 1949 AD, the museum has a large variety of woven fabrics. A wide array of clothing is available, ranging from religious clothes to the ones that are worn in the royal court rooms. Differing in quality and price range, there is something for every visitor. Popular works include sequins, mirrors, beads, silk threads etc. The unique feature of this museum is that, here you can even find the fabrics that can be traced back to the times of seventeenth century.

Though, the name in itself is suggestive of the fact that the museum houses textiles, but in reality, it also contains furniture and various kinds of crafts gathered from different parts of the country. Images made from sandstone, marble and bronze that can be found here are always in demand. The museum has two separate sections for textiles, one is meant for the religious clothing and the other section consists of the historic textiles. The Calico museum of textiles is definitely worth a visit.  

This museum is another compulsory history lesson and offers an unrivaled insight into the warp and weft of the history and culture of a city as told through the woven thread. It is without doubt the finest collection of textiles and local indigenous crafts in the country, if not in the world, and is a prerequisite for anyone wanting an understanding of the diversity and depth of the value and skill of the craftsmen and women who produce these fine textiles. The museum, set in lush grounds with koi ponds and a 200-year-old relocated Burmese teak haveli, is a welcome respite from the road and rail traffic outside its large wooden gates. Appropriately gifted by a wealthy textile merchant, the museum fully occupies his aged mansion and fills up room after musty room with exquisite garb and craftsmanship. The tours explain the rich history of textiles in India, and showcases garments made for the British and Portuguese, the Indian royal family (including royal tents) as well as religious vehicles. It's a startling array of styles of weaving and design including embroideries, tie-dye, block printing as well as the technical explanations of different stitching methods and the respective needles or looms used in this fascinating profession. The tours are free, and the morning tour  displays the vast range of textiles in its wooden galleries; the afternoon also take in the collection of Indian deities and the textile galleries. In the off-season it is collapsed into one long morning tour. Do call to check and book. Note: Take water and dress lightly as the rooms can be rather stuffy.

This museum is another compulsory history lesson and offers an unrivaled insight into the warp and weft of the history and culture of a city as told through the woven thread. It is without doubt the finest collection of textiles and local indigenous crafts in the country, if not in the world, and is a prerequisite for anyone wanting an understanding of the diversity and depth of the value and skill of the craftsmen and women who produce these fine textiles. The museum, set in lush grounds with koi ponds and a 200-year-old relocated Burmese teak haveli, is a welcome respite from the road and rail traffic outside its large wooden gates. Appropriately gifted by a wealthy textile merchant, the museum fully occupies his aged mansion and fills up room after musty room with exquisite garb and craftsmanship. The tours explain the rich history of textiles in India, and showcases garments made for the British and Portuguese, the Indian royal family (including royal tents) as well as religious vehicles. It's a startling array of styles of weaving and design including embroideries, tie-dye, block printing as well as the technical explanations of different stitching methods and the respective needles or looms used in this fascinating profession. The tours are free, and the morning tour  displays the vast range of textiles in its wooden galleries; the afternoon also take in the collection of Indian deities and the textile galleries. In the off-season it is collapsed into one long morning tour. Do call to check and book. Note: Take water and dress lightly as the rooms can be rather stuffy.