Calico Museum Of Textiles: A Trip To The Rich Cultural Heritage!

When it comes to cultural exploration Ahmedabad with the tag of Manchester of India grabs a special spot. And especially with the hidden gems like the Calico Museum of Textiles serving the nation with its efforts to preserve cultural heritage, needs a prominent mention. 

Firstly, what is this Calico Museum and why it is specially inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru? Does this place need a visit? Learn all the details below and decide why this place must be added to your visit list straight away!

About Calico Museum Of Textiles Ahmedabad

The Calico Museum Of Textiles Ahmedabad is a widely popular institution dedicated to the promotion, preservation and celebration of valued Indian textile heritage. This museum was started by the Sarabhai family members in their residence, situated in Ahmedabad, 1983.

From them, it has become a haven for textile enthusiasts, tourists, scholars and also historians around the world to have a glimpse of comprehensive collections of textiles of high value spanning centuries of innovation and craftsmanship. This institution has a clear vision to promote and preserve the diverse and rich textile heritage of India, with more emphasis on fabrics hailed from Gujarat, Rajasthan and other prominent regions of the Indian Subcontinent.

History Of Calico Museum Of Textiles Ahmedabad

Calico Museum of Textiles Ahmedabad was established way back in 1949 by Gautam Sarabhai and his sister Gira Sarabhai to uphold the rich textile significance of India. This was originally part of Calico Mills, and then it was relocated to Sarabhai House in 1983 to adjust its expanding collection altogether.

​The historical significance of Calico Museum is that it was inaugurated by the then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. This museum showcases various collections of galleries dating from the old 15th century, religious textiles and also historical fabrics.

There are also the displays of Vallabha Sampradaya’s religious textiles and the Mughal Carpets that show the lineage of Persian culture. Weapons of antique value and these cultural textiles display have amused even renowned figures like John Irwin and Alfred Buhler.

Silk-weaved patolas, Shawls, Scarves, Balusar sarees, Manuscripts and dhotis are also part of this museum display array and additionally, it features the Persian carpets used by famous Mughal rulers like Akbar and Aurangzeb. With time Calico Museum of Textiles offers education workshops to create awareness of these textile values and our historical significance.

Architecture Of Calico Museum

The architecture of the Calico Museum Of Textiles is a proper blend of traditional Gujarati architectural elements and modern design delicacies. This museum building rests within the pleasant natural environment of the Sarabhai Foundation premises, featuring spacious textile galleries, courtyards and wide corridors adorned with definitive woodwork(Havelis), hand-crafted stone carvings and also indigenous renowned murals.

Calico Museum with its grandeur appeal serves as a proper backdrop to compliment exquisite Indian textiles. Every element across the building design from its layout to ornamentation, contributes to creating a beautification setting that allows the textile masterpieces to shine more precious. Additionally, the insightful integration of the traditional architecture clubbed with the contemporary minds pays homage to Gujarat’s rich heritage embracing the scenic construction modernity.

Suggested Read: Richness Of Sidi Saiyyed Mosque Ahmedabad

Best Time To Visit Calico Museum

The ideal time to visit the Calico Museum Of Textiles is during the months of winter. If you are planning to visit this museum, prefer the months from November to February. Considering the weather of Ahmedabad to be mild and pleasant these months makes your trip perfect to explore the museum and its surrounding places more comfortably.

Due to the absence of weather vulnerabilities like the extreme heat and monsoon hits, exhibitions and events like textile expos are mostly conducted during this time which enriches your trip experience overall.

Timings Of Calico Museum

Calico Museum’s gallery arena is open 6 days a week considering the holidays on Monday and public holidays. The best part is that it doesn’t charge you any entrance fee.

The timings for Calico Museum vary along with the guided trips one is the morning session starts from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM and the other is the afternoon session from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The morning session covers the Haveli Galleries and the afternoon tour covers the Chauk Galleries.

Calico Museum Tour Booking

Though the entry fee of Calico Museum is free, visitor filling is served on a first come first serve basis. So visitors have to pre-register themselves by filling registration form online. You can also contact the Museum numbers +91–79–22868172 or +91–79–22865995 for booking between its working hours 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM from Tuesday to Sunday.

As there are limited tour slots per day, a large number of bookings for school, office or college tours are to be informed prior or visiting the direct office for confirmation. Considering the antique value preservation children below 10 years are not allowed and the children between 10-15 are to be accompanied by their guardians with utmost care.

Places To Visit Near Calico Museum Textiles

1. Sabarmati Ashram

Sabarmati Ashram is a historic site where the famous freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi was born and now serves as a museum and memorial for his preaching and life lessons.

2. Kankaria Lake

This stunning lake view is at its best for evening strolls for pleasant sceneries and street foods.

3. Adalaj Stepwell

This octagonal stepwell architecture serves as a visual wonder for all its visitors, a must-visit place near the Calico Museum.

4. Akshardham Temple

Rests in Gandhinagar, this temple is in a magnificent complex reputed for its grandeur architecture, hand carvings and placid surroundings.

5. Sidi Saiyyed Mosque

This architectural gem is a visited place as the famous Jali design(Carved stone lattice structure) is installed and also this mosque serves as the abode of indo-islamic architecture.

Frequently Asked Questions