Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TIP: You cannot make advance reservations
to visit the Calico Museum, the two-hour tour
begins with new textiles and doesn't get to the
ancient textiles until the end.
I like to begin by thanking the Ahmedabad Heritage Centre, (e-mail:
ahmedabadheritage-
centre@gmail.com
), who leads walks through the
Pols
. This volunteer organization is com-
mitted to preserving Ahmedabad's past.
When ruler Ahmed Shah shifted the capital here in 1411, small villages were eventually
hemmed in by construction of a wall. In its prime, Ahmedabad had 12 gates connecting to
the core. Within this 10-square kilometer area, the city was divided into different districts or
Pura
, and later on, housing in each district was divided into distinct cluster of houses called
pols
.
Pols
are unique to Ahmedabad. Each
pol
is accessed independently through a single
gate, and primarily inhabited by people of the same community and caste. Each gate also
had guard's quarters above the portal that was the only access to the
pol's
main street.
There are
600 district
pols
, each with a name on it and common characteristics that in-
cluded:
A
Hindu
or
JainTemple/Shrine.
There are 1,600 Jain temples within a 10-square kilometer
area;
A
bird-feeder,
called a
Chabutro,
perched on a tall post supporting a platform covered
by an awning. The feeders provide space for birds, are filled daily, and each is different. One
dated back to 1908;
Blackboards
announcing events and other information for the
pol
inhabitants; and
A cow feeding place
! Yes, a cow feeding place. The first
roti
(bread) of the day cooked by
locals is usually given to the cows for
good luck
.
We began walking through the Heritage area, past a sculpture of a famous Gujarati poet,
Kavi Dalpatram who's house is currently being restored by the Ahmedabad Heritage Centre.
Niru then led us into the Ramjai Mandar Haveli. (“Haveli” is a term used to describe a
private mansion in India and Pakistan.)
The Ramjai Mandar Haveli is still lived in by 100 family members of this 9th generation.
We entered the courtyard to admire the teakwood decoration, beautifully intricate doors, and
visit the family private Rama temple. A cow wandered in from the street, walked around
