Calico Textile Museum
The Calico Textile Museum constructed in 1949 is located at Retreat Complex of Sarabhai Foundation in the Shahibag Gardens. As the name suggests, the museum exhibits antique and modern textiles which includes rare tapestries, wall hangings and costumes, fabrics spun, woven, painted and printed in different parts of India, fabrics with tie and dye, glinting mirror work, screen prints, block prints and intricate embroidery, carpets and plump cushions that once adorned palaces, there are also specialties like Kashmiri shawls, Kullu embroidery, glittering silk brocades from Varanasi, folk art from Punjab, Kachchhi silk and cotton mashru weavings. Also on display are embroidered and decorated shamianas, sarees, Phulkaris from Punjab and Kalamkaris from Andhra Pradesh. Besides, the museum also has a collection of marble, sandstone and bronze icons and busts, bronze Pichhwais, Jain art objects and Indian miniature paintings.

The museum has copies of illustrated catalogue which help in easy reference of the collection. The catalogue has been prepared in such a way that accession numbers have been marked on stickers and fixed to the pieces corresponding to the pieces displayed in the catalogue. Brief printed Gallery notes have also been placed in the galleries. The Museum has provision for Guided Tours.

There is a reference library on textiles which provide valuable insights on the origin of different textile arts and also different aspects of textiles.

The museum conducts Summer Tours from April to September and Winter Tours from October to March.

The timings and number of visitors allowed are based on the discretion of museum authorities. There is a short introductory tour from 9am to 10am by prior appointment except on Wednesdays & Saturdays. Entry is restricted to a maximum of 50 visitors and minimum of 15 visitors. There is a Guided Museum Tour from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Entry is not allowed after 11.00am. In this session entry is restricted to 30 visitors - 15 visitors on the basis of first-come-first-served and 15 by group booking. Besides the above provisions there is provision for Guided study tour in the afternoon from 2.45pm to 4.45pm in the Winter tour Session. However, entry is not allowed after 3.15pm. Entry is restricted to 15 visitors on the basis of first-come-first-served. Children below 10 years of age are not included in study tours.

The museum authorities have formulated certain regulations for security purpose. Handbags/baggage including cameras and cell phones are not allowed inside the Museum and Galleries. The visitors may either leave their belongings inside their own vehicles or they can avail the provision for depositing their belongings at the gate. However the management does not take responsibility for the contents of the bags. Visitors are not allowed to take photographs and video without permission. The level of illumination in the galleries has been kept low following the advice of conservation experts. The reason for this is that, higher level of lighting can lead to deterioration in colours and materials, and thus harm this national heritage. However, it would be useful to know that after some time, one's eyes get adjusted to seeing even in low levels of lighting.
Contact Address
Sarabhai Foundation,
Opp. Underbridge, Shahibag, Ahmedabad-380004 Gujarat
Phone no: 91-79-2286 8172, 91-79-2286 5995,
Fax: 91-79-2286 5759
Email: Contact Now
Website:www.calicomuseum.com

Institute of Indology
The Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum is located near Gujarat University at Navrangpura in Ahmedabad District. It was established in 1984. It is one of the largest treasure houses of manuscripts relating to Jainism. The institute was established by Muni Shri Punyavijayji and Sri Kasturbhai Lalbhai. The institute houses a library which has 45,000 printed books and 75,000 manuscripts of which 500 are illustrated ones. The topics covered by them range from Buddhist religion, tantra, Jain darshana, Jain philosophy, grammar and poetics to Vedas, agamas and systems of Indian philosophy. The institute has also published seven volumes of tabular catalogues in languages like Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsa, Old Gujarati, Hindi and Rajasthani.

The institute has been collaborating with the National Mission for Manuscripts as an MRC since 2003. The institute has documented around 50,000 manuscripts in different Jaina Bhandars of Gujarat and catalogued 19,462 electronic data in the e-granthavali database. The institute has conducted surveys and covered eleven institutions in eight districts and has held publicity programmes in print and electronic media for sensitizing people on the preservation of manuscripts.

The visiting hours are from 10.00am to 5.00pm and the institute remains closed on Mondays. Photography is not allowed and a modest entrance fee is charged from the visitors.
Contact
Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology
Navarangpur, Near Gujrat University, Ahmedabad - 380 009
Tel : 079-6302463(O)

NC Mehta Museum of Miniatures
NC Mehta museum of miniatures is located at the LD Institute of Indology Campus in Ahmedabad. It was designed by Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier. The exhibits at the museum include examples of various schools of Indian miniature paintings such as Pahadi miniatures and the famous Chaurpanchashika series. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 11am and from 4 pm to 7pm.

Hussain Doshi's Gufa
Hussain Doshi's Gufa which is popularly known as Amdavad ni Gufa is an underground art gallery situated opposite Gujarat University in Ahmedabad. It is housed in the campus of the Centre for Environment Planning and Technology. Gufa means cave, as the name suggests, Gufa is a configuration of cave-like structures buried under the ground. It is an example of contemporary architecture with a fusion of modern and ancient ideas. It was constructed using computer aided design and tribal initiative. This art gallery exhibits the paintings and sculptures of noted artist M.F.Hussain and was designed by architect B.V.Doshi.

Shreyas Folk Museum
Shreyas Folk Museum is an educational museum exhibiting folk arts and crafts of Gujarat. It is located 2.5km west of Sabarmati in the suburbs of Ahmedabad district. As the name suggests, the exhibits at the museum include art, craft, textile and clothing, coins, weapons, toys, costumes, masks, puppets and musical instruments. One of the highlights at this museum is a complete elephant skeleton (3.19m high). The museum is open from 10.30am to 1.30pm and from 2.00pm to 5.30pm on all days except Mondays and public holidays. Photography is not allowed and visitors are charged a modest fee.
Address:
Shreyas Foundation,
Nr. Shreyas RailCrossing, Ambawadi,
Ahmedabad. Gujarat

Veechar Utensils Museum
Veechar Utensils Museum is a unique museum housed within Vishalla, a restaurant on the outskirts of Ahmedabad city. It was established in 1981. The highlight of this museum is that the exhibits here are utensils. The exhibits have been collected from all over the country and have been displayed around a simple courtyard. The collection includes pots to store water in, utensils to cook and serve in, spoons, rolling pins, vessel for churning buttermilk, storage jars, feeding cups for infants and tantric havan kunds. These include pottery, terracotta and wooden articles as well. The exhibits give a glimpse into the lifestyle of people of the place they belong to and also the craftsmanship involved. The museum has been designed by Surendra Patel, an interior designer by profession. The museum is open from 10.30am to 5.30pm on all days and there is no entrance fee. Photography is not allowed.
Contact:
Vishala
Opp. Vasana Tol Naka, Ahmedabad-380055.
Ph : 6602422, 6446554
Fax : 079-6430065
Website:www.vishala.com

Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya is situated within the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. It is run by a public trust established in 1981 with an aim to house the personal memorabilia of Mahatma Gandhi. The museum has different units like office, library, two photo galleries and an auditorium. The library houses over 30,000 books, letters of felicitation received by Gandhiji, manuscripts of articles, negatives of photographs and films on Gandhiji and freedom struggle, Gandhiji's writing desk and spinning wheel, life size colour oil paintings etc. In summer, the museum is open from 8.30am to12.00noon and from 2.30pm to 7.00pm and in winter form 8.30am to 12.00noon and 2.00pm to 6.30pm. Entry to the museum is free.
Address:
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya
Harijan Ashram, Ahmedabad 380 013

Tribal Research and Training Institute
Tribal Research and Training Institute is situated at Gujarat Vidyapeeth in Ahmedabad. The highlight of this museum is that it gives a detailed picture of the tribal life of this region. The display includes ethnic ornaments, musical instruments, dress, day to day objects, agricultural implements, toys, masks and charts. The museum has an excellent collection of photos, slides and films related to tribals and a library. The timings are from 2.00pm to 5.00pm on weekdays. The museum remains closed on Sundays and holidays. The visitors are charged an entry fee and photography is allowed with permission.
Address:
Tribal Research and Training Institute
Gujarat Vidhyapith Ahmedabad 380014, Gujarat
Tel:446148, 446349, 446549

Kite Museum
Kite Museum is situated in Sanskar Kendra in Ahmedabad. The museum was established in 1985 and has a fabulous collection of kites from all over the world. There are artistic kites, rare kites that have been crafted from more than 400 pieces of paper. It is the second such museum in the world. The brain behind this concept is Bhanubhai Shah. A cnoisseur of kites he was responsible for designing and donating kites to the museum. He was also the director of the museum for a while. The collection in the museum has been painstakingly built up by him over the last so many years. The visiting hours of the museum are from 10.00am to 12 noon and from 4.00pm to 6.00pm. The museum remains closed on Mondays.
Address:
Kite Museum,
Sanakar Kendra,
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Kocharale-380006 Gujarat

Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum is located near the man made lake Kankaria in Ahmedabad city. Though the museum is small, it houses some very well kept specimens of stuffed animals and birds. The museum was set up in the year 1974 by the founder of Ahmedabad zoo, Reuben David. There are 31 animal specimens and 8 bird specimens. The exhibits include a baby monkey with two heads, a huge bear, a couple of leopards, tigers and lions beautifully mounted in very natural surroundings. The museum charges a very modest entry fee from the visitors.

Sardar Patel Memorial Museum
Sardar Patel Memorial Museum is located in the environs of Shahibag in Ahmedabad. Also known as Moti Shah Mahal it is dedicated to the memory of the great freedom fighter and statesman Sardar Vallabhai Patel- the Iron Man of India. The museum features a collection of Jain sculptures, paintings and other articles, biography of Sardar Patel etc. Another major attraction at the museum is the national flag that was designed by the Indian National Congress in 1930-1931. The Sardar Open Garden lies in the surroundings of the museum and regular visitors here include peacocks and monkeys. Besides the museum and garden, there is also a Sardar Open Air Theatre where documentary films are shown during specific occasions.

Gujarat Museum Society
Gujarat Museum Society is located in Kocharle in Ahmedabad. It was established in 1961. The objects on display include paintings, manuscripts, objects of archaeology, anthropology, ethnology, costume, science etc. The visiting hours of the museum are from 8.00am to 11.00am and from 4.00pm to 8.00pm on all days except Monday. The museum remains closed on Mondays.
Address:
Gujarat Museum Society,
Culture Centre, Kocharle, Ahmedabad

Karnavati Museum
Karnavati Museum is owned and maintained by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and is housed in the famous Sanskar Kendra. The objects on display include ancient coins, pottery remains, land documents, Urdu and Devnagari scripts, carved wood elements and frescos from traditional houses, sculpture, ancient paintings, brocade, Chinese embroidery, carpets, garments of royal families, antique cameras and camera equipment. An ideal place to study different features of religion like Jainism, Hinduism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Jewism, Sikhism, Vaishnavism and Islam the museum is open from 10.30am to 6.00pm daily except on Mondays when the museum remains closed.