Calico Museum of Textiles is at Ahmedabad, Gujarat state, India, and is maintained by the Sarabhai Foundation.

Calico Museum, Ahmedabad. Image courtesy

This museum was established in 1949 at Calico Mills Premises by Industrialist Gautam Sarabhai and his sister Gira Sarabhai, along with the industrial house of Calico. The inspiration for the museum was the late Ananda Kentish Muthu Coomaraswamy alias Ananda Coomaraswamy, a Ceylonese metaphysician who was keen in introducing ancient Indian art to the West.

The Museum of Textiles was shifted to the current premises at Sarabhai House in 1983 when the collection grew, and the previous premises were not enough to accommodate all the belongings.

Ahmedabad is the textile industry capital of India and one of the major trading centers of the textile industry in the Asian sub-continent for the last five centuries or so. Initially, the Museum of Textiles was conducting the historical and technical study of Indian handicrafts and industrial textiles. Later on, the textile museum started concentrating on handicraft textiles. The Museum also launched many publications which are well-read now.

Collections from The Sarabhai Foundation are also displayed here. Sarabhai Foundation was established in 1959 by the family members of the Sarabhais, who established the Calico Museum. This textile museum is a must-see place for any visitor to Ahmedabad city. It is a unique museum in India,

How Do I Go To the Calico Museum of Textiles?

Calico Museum for Textiles, a leading Indian museum, is situated at Shahibaug, a locality in Ahmedabad. (Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Shahibaug in the 16th century, and was the Viceroy of Ahmedabad before becoming the emperor.)

Ahmedabad is well connected by roads to other parts of the country. Ahmedabad Junction railway station is the nearest major railway station. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad is the nearest airport to the Calico Museum.

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