Maaru Amdavad

As I was idle at work, I did a random wiki search. I was reading about the nobel prize when the wiki page on Tagore threw up an image of the Sardar Patel National Museum in Ahmedabad. My mind immediately wandered off to Ahmedabad and its touristic attractions.

One of the first memories is that of Gandhi Ashram. The place was next doors to our first house in Ahmedabad. As one enters the Ashram, one is greeted by a red wall contrasted by a row of lush green ashoka trees. A sign-board informs the visitors that one of these was planted by Pandit Nehru himself when the Ashram was inaugurated.

As you move inside, the chirping of birds and the uncanny silence in the air takes over. You are in a different land. The galleries that connect the small thatched square red-and-white-walled cottages that house the museum are lined with huge cut-outs and writings of Gandhiji. His almost illegible handwriting is a treat to the eyes!

There is a painting gallery with huge life-size portraits of Gandhiji. I distinctly remember a portrait of Gandhiji made using groundnut shells. These have amazed me everytime I have visited the Ashram.

“Hriday Kunj” is the cottage where Gandhiji and Karturba satayed while the Ashram was functional. The cottage has been maintained in its original form. One may be astounded to find different rooms for Kasturba and Gandhiji in this cottage. There is a small room in the courtyard of the cottage where you can just peep in from the grilled door. It has a neat arrangement of Gandhiji’s desk with a book and his glasses placed over and the famous watch lying by the side on the small sitting couch.

Not far from the Gandhi Ashram is the Calico Textile Museum. A museum preserved by the Lalbhai Group of Ahmedabad. The Museum, housed in an ancient haveli, is a treat to your eyes. The old fabrics weave a charm and you just can’t help getting mesmerized. Each woven thread has a tale to tell. Meandering through the dark staircases lit by the natural light filtering through the jharokhas, one is transcended to the world of the royals. It is not just the museum but the entire place that creates an out-of-this-world charm. The little pond in the courtyard with water lilies and the jain pichwai paintings to the remains of a haveli salvaged from a kabadi create magic.

A little ahead is the Sardar Patel National Museum. It is an umimpressive museum housed in a majestic palace. What catches the eye is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel – arm-in-arms – right outside the complex. I think this is the only one of its kind statue of Patel and Gandhiji together.

A little further from Shahibuagh - towards Dilli Darwaza - is located the famous Hutheesingh Jain Temple. The majestic tall tower and the symmetric arches along the corridors adorned in the jain style architecture are a must visit. Photography, unfortunately, is prohibited.

From Dilli Darwaza, one must make headway to the Saiyyed Siddi ni Jali at Lal Darwaza. The jail is a huge window in a mosque with intricate carving depicting a tree. This is also the unofficial symbol of Ahmedbad.

Right opposite Siddi Saiyyed's mosque is an old haveli, which now operates as a restaurant – Agashiye – famous for its authentic Gujarati cuisine.

Other places of interest in Ahmedabad could be the Kite Museum, Kochrab Ashram, Kankariya lake, Baal Vatika, Ahmedabad Zoo and Vishala Utensil Museum. A little drive away are the famous Adalaj ni Vav and Akshardham Mandir.

Oh! My mind is cluttered with memories of the colourful land…. Wish I could turn time back... How I wish!!