Calico Museum of Textiles, Ahmedabad

The Calico Museum of Textiles in Ahmedabad is widely regarded as one of the finest textile museums in the world, housing an unparalleled collection of Indian fabrics spanning five centuries from the 15th to the 20th century. Established in 1949 by the Sarabhai Foundation, one of Gujarat’s most eminent industrial families, the museum is set within a serene traditional haveli complex known as The Retreat in the Shahibag area of Ahmedabad. Its collection includes priceless examples of royal brocades, rare Kashmiri shawls, Patola silk double ikat fabrics, temple hangings, embroideries, Mughal court textiles, and exceptional specimens of resist-dyed and printed cloth from across India. The museum also holds an extraordinary collection of ancient devotional and ritual objects related to Hindu, Jain, and Shaiva religious traditions, displayed in dedicated galleries within the haveli’s historic buildings. Visiting is by guided tour only, with a maximum of 20 visitors per session, ensuring an intimate and deeply educational experience. Tours are offered in the morning and afternoon on Tuesday through Sunday, with advance booking strongly recommended. Entry is free of charge. The museum is widely respected by curators, designers, and scholars of Indian textile arts, and its collection is considered invaluable to the study of India’s weaving and dyeing heritage.