The city of Ahmedabad can be both a feast for, and attack on, the senses. It is a city of paradoxes as is much of India. One minute you can be dodging traffic, cows and carts piled with bangles, vegetables or some other commodity in Manek Chowk the next you find yourself in a calm and serene place such as the Jama Masjid mosque.
Here is a selection of images that capture, for me, the joys of the city
a little voice greeting me from inside a house with a floral window panel in its door.
..the peace of the city’s’ multitude of temples and mosques which exude spiritual calm…
…the intricate carved detailing in the architecture, a feast for the eyes of any creative designer, artist or lover of architecture…
…the resident cow outside the Arts Reverie, our hotel haven providing comfort, tasty food, stylish decor and a home in the heart of the heritage city…
…the hanging textiles adding glorious splashes of colour against the ornate architecture…
…the vibrant colours of the layers of fabric hanging to dry in a block printing workshop and the sound of the pounding blocks and happy singing of the printers while they work…
….and then while trying to squeeze our way down a cramped side street of pushing, honking cars and groups of busy shoppers in Manek Chowk, a man happily carving knives on a machine powered by pedalling his bicycle
Then there is of course the diverse range of art and culture, from the world famous Calico Museum and National Institute of Design to the Amdavad ni Gufa at CEPT University and Conflictorium. And the city offers some of the best in Gujarati cuisine. The posh Gujarati street food at Swati snacks near Law Garden is great if you’re wary of the actual street food and want to have an cool, air-conditioned eating experience! The Green House cafe at House of MG is a lovely atmosphere to sit in and serves tasty snacks, sweets and ice cream, and the upstairs restaurant offers some tasty if a little pricey thalis. Don’t forget to visit the shop displaying a beautifully curated selection of contemporary products using traditional crafts from Kutch. In fact, Ahmedbad is a great stop off on the way to Kachchh where you can get a taster of the diversity of crafts practiced in the region at the Calico Museum, House of MG, and the increasing range of fashion and homeware boutiques.
