Calico Museum of Textiles, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
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The Calico Museum of Textiles, situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, is a renowned institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich textile heritage of India. Established in 1949 by the Sarabhai Foundation under the patronage of industrialist Gautam Sarabhai and his sister Gira Sarabhai, the museum is housed in the historic Sarabhai Foundation building, a former haveli (traditional mansion) in the Shahibaug area. The Calico Museum is globally acclaimed for its vast and exquisite collection of Indian textiles, spanning centuries of craftsmanship, techniques, and traditions from across the country. The museum’s exhibits encompass a diverse range of textiles, including woven fabrics, embroidered garments, dyed textiles, printed cloths, and royal textiles, showcasing the artistic mastery and cultural significance of Indian textile art. Visitors to the Calico Museum can explore various galleries dedicated to different textile traditions, techniques, and regions, with highlights such as the Kalamkari Gallery, Patola Gallery, Brocade Gallery, and Mughal Textiles Gallery. The museum also houses rare manuscripts, paintings, and artifacts related to textile history, along with a reference library for researchers and enthusiasts. Through its exhibitions, educational programs, and outreach initiatives, the Calico Museum of Textiles plays a vital role in promoting awareness, appreciation, and research in the field of Indian textile heritage.
Google Reviews
Manushi Digesh
4 weeks agoThe Calico Textile Museum in Ahmedabad, near the beautiful Shahibaug area, is truly one of the finest places to experience India’s rich textile heritage and artistic legacy. Ahmedabad has always been known as the textile capital of India, and this museum perfectly reflects the city’s deep connection with craftsmanship, culture, weaving, and design. From the moment you enter the museum, you can feel the timeless elegance and historical importance preserved within its walls. The collection of rare fabrics, royal garments, antique textiles, traditional embroidery, Kashmiri shawls, Mughal-era pieces, and handcrafted artworks is absolutely breathtaking. Every gallery tells a story of India’s incredible artistry and the generations of skilled artisans who kept these traditions alive. What makes the experience even more special is the peaceful atmosphere and the detailed guided tour. The staff explains the history, techniques, and cultural significance behind every textile in such an engaging way that you truly start appreciating the beauty and effort behind Indian handlooms and craftsmanship. The architecture and greenery around the museum also add to the charm, making it feel like a hidden cultural treasure in the heart of Ahmedabad. For anyone visiting Ahmedabad, this museum is a must-visit destination to understand why the city is globally famous for textiles and heritage. Whether you are interested in fashion, art, history, culture, or photography, the Calico Textile Museum offers an unforgettable experience. A proud symbol of Ahmedabad’s glorious heritage and definitely one of the best museums in India. I also genuinely feel that the foundation and museum management should organize more public activities, exhibitions, workshops, textile festivals, heritage walks, and educational programs for the younger generation. Ahmedabad has such a powerful textile legacy, and initiatives like live weaving demonstrations, artisan collaborations, fashion heritage talks, and cultural events can help people connect more deeply with India’s traditional crafts. This museum has the potential to become not only a preservation space but also a vibrant cultural movement promoting Indian textiles and heritage globally. #ahemdabad #textile #heritage
ALPESH SAVSANI
5 months agoThe Calico Museum of Textiles showcases India’s rich textile heritage and rare fabric collections. The museum is well-maintained and informative, but entry is strictly guided and time-bound, which some visitors find restrictive. It is best enjoyed by those with a strong interest in art and history.
Lisa Lloyd
3 months agoThe museum has a superlative collection of Indian textiles which is very well curated and displayed. However, it is only available by conducted tour which has to be booked in advance. There are two sessions covering both galleries, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and I booked both. I cannot fault the collection, however the person doing to tour itself was very disappointing. They picked one piece in each gallery on which to speak and spent some time offering their opinion on the subject matter, and what it meant to them, in a very theatrical manner. Rarely was any mention made on technique, origin or even age. After they finished speaking you were then given a cursory minute or two to look at other pieces in the gallery before being ushered along to the next one. Anyone without a good understanding of Indian textiles would have struggled. The collection also includes some world class Chola bronzes, again only one 9th century example was singled out, and a factually incorrect description of the lost wax process was given, and no time allowed to look at the other bronzes. The same applied to the Tibetan Thangkas. Overall it's a fabulous, world class, museum but the owners should start charging an admission fee (it's currently free) and pay someone with better expertise to conduct the tours. No photography is allowed. For anyone interested in textiles I would recommend visiting the gallery at the House of MG (boutique hotel) which has an excellent collection, everything is labelled and you can spend as much time as is needed to view.
Samridhi Dhir
2 months agoI want to give review about two major things here: 1. The tour: it's once in a lifetime thing. Their efforts in preserving the history is uncanny. From a tiny sculpture to big tent cloth pieces, they have protected it perfectly.. The foundation has kept the cloth pieces from centuries till this day in the best possible condition. 2 the guide: the guide was extremely knowledgeable and kind. She answered all our questions and taught a non-art student how to read paintings from scratch. Her efforts are commendable. Book im advance and have the experience of luce
Darshita Bhatt
4 months agoThis museum has an exquisite collection and the effort being put in to preserve the textiles is nothing short of commendable. I also liked that they gave some tea and snacks at the end. All of that being said, the explanation about all the pieces and techniques was almost absent. The guide was focused on what the art form meant for them personally and the mythological stories which is admirable but I would have liked instead more information about the art forms themselves, the techniques, what it meant for the people who made them, if there were any political or social implications etc. The little information you get is written down but I was rushed through it so I couldn't read it. Made me question if people are not supposed to read it why is it there. The guide also seemed irritated with my questions about the techniques. I do understand that it is a private collection and the museum can decide the narrative but I do find it a pity that such a great collection is not explained with the full glory it deserves. It is still a great place to look at the different textile pieces.
