Calico Museum of Textiles

Established in 1948, the Calico Museum of Textiles is undoubtedly one of India's leading museums. Its superb collection of textiles is further enhanced by a line collection of pichhwais and patachitras (paintings on cloth). The museum is housed in two buildings, one displaying textiles of religious significance and the other traditional court fabrics, tents, carpets and costumes.

Recognising the fact that most an in India revolves around religion, the museum endeavours to present its collection in themes connected with the two great Indian religions: Vaishnavism and Jainism, and simulates a suitable religious atmosphere. The first exhibit is a replica of a small recoiytructed Pustimarga shrine with an idol of Srinathji placed on an altar, covered with a painted textile. The shrine leads to galleries where pichhwais and textiles belonging to the Vallabha sect are displayed. The 90 pichhwais are divided into groups relating to festivals, seasons and a variety of devotional themes.

The Jain Gallery includes shrines, derasaras of the Svetambara and Digambara sects as well as a small home shrine, important manuscripts tike the Kalpasuira and Kalakakatha and Jain patas: the yantras and tirtha chitras. The main attraction, however, is a painted, domed, wooden ceiling of a derasara.


Three buildings with traditional carved wooden facades located around the chowk house the courtly or secular pieces. Here one sees beautiful carpels, embroidered and decorated shamianas, wall hangtogs and costumes. There is an excellent display of phulkari, the embroiti Punjab. Also on view are well known kalamkaris and saris. A signific presents the different weaviftg o with the help of samples, techn and their relation to the different seas.

Calico Museum of Textiles
Ahffiedabad

Timings: 10.15 am to .12.30 pm 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm

Closed on Wednesdays and government holidays.