Have your break before visiting the Calico Museum in the morning. Please note that the place is closed on Wednesday and public holidays, and is strictly subject to permission in advance. This is one of the finest textile museums of India and was founded in 1949 by the industrialist Gautam Sarabhai and his sister Gira Sarabhai.
The textiles on display include court textiles used by the Mughal and provincial rulers of 15th to 19th centuries. Also on display are regional embroideries of the 19th century, tie-dyed textiles and religious textiles. The galleries also have exhibits on ritual art and sculpture, temple hangings, miniature paintings, South Indian bronzes, Jain art and sculpture, and furniture and crafts. There are also textile techniques galleries and a library.
The museum has played an important role in determining the curriculum taught in the textile designing courses at the prestigious National Institute of Design also located in Ahmedabad.
The items on display are well protected by the museum authorities. The textiles are protected from dust, air pollution and fluctuations in temperatures by the trees around the museum complex. The relative humidity inside the museum is also controlled and lights are dimmed between visiting hours to extend the life of the textiles.
Post lunch, you will be taken to visit Shreyas Folk Museum (closed on Mondays). The museum was formed to salute the spirit of the women who have done a lot for their contribution for improvement of Gujarat handicrafts with their unbound imagination.
Collection in the museum includes items that exude a vintage charm like weapons, coins, musical fountains, animal caparison, masks, and toys. Also on display are the folk arts from various communities of Gujarat such as Charan, Kanbi, Koli, Bhansali, Vania, Meman, Miana, Vania, Brahmin, amongst several others.
Return to hotel for overnight stay.