Embellished dwellings in Kutch...

<div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kutch </span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">is a mystical land. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Intriguing. Exuberant. Enthralling.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">...and all I </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">believe</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is to do with the people who have migrated from </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Afghanistan, Pakistan, Himalayas, Northern India and Central India. </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6747289469/" title="lady1 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="lady1" height="419" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6747289469_52afd52955_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Each community bearing different names like </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jats, Meghwals, Rabaris, Mutwas, Sodhas, Ahirs </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">but bound together by the land.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The land that is dry, arid and harsh. The land that has seen years of drought and earthquakes.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Great admiration surges in my heart when I see the people of </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kutch</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> who have overcome these hardships by painting a vibrant colour-scheme on a dull, unyielding landscape. Their palette saturated with colours adorn they homes, their attires, their work and their lives!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6616803229/" title="May your days be filled with smiles this New Year:-) by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="May your days be filled with smiles this New Year:-)" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6616803229_6c0f05b5b4_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sharing with you few frames from their humble but grand dwellings. The dwellings which are fabulous examples of aesthetics & functionality. They are practical yet beautiful. They are small yet roomy. They are organized yet exuberant.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6746847923/" title="Chitra kaam on a Bhunga... by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Chitra kaam on a Bhunga..." height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6746847923_691c8eb0aa_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6746843165/" title="inside a Bhunga near Ludiya... by archanasr, on Flickr"><img alt="inside a Bhunga near Ludiya..." height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6746843165_6f16dc293f_z.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">Inside and outside a <i>Bhunga</i> in <b>Gandhi Nu Gaam</b> near <i>Ludiya, Kutch.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; white-space: normal; "><img alt="painted entrance..." height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6746852121_197ea4a0e6_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Mutwa community dwelling..." height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6746841909_9ff9607362_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Inside a Mutwa community dwelling in <i>Dhordo, Kutch</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap; "><img alt="Bhunga near Dhordo..." height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6746835591_53f0049e24_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Interiors of another Mutwa <i>Bhunga </i>at <i>Dhordo, Kutch.</i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="lipan kaam..." height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6746849841_fb4ea7dfd7_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; ">Sculpted clay 'Lipaan' work on the exterior of the <i>Bhungas.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><img alt="lady2" height="437" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6747289477_1fc3f8b5e3_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">A Meghwal family in<i> Hodka Village, Kutch.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Bhunga in Hodka..." height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6746834373_bf8a50c933_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inside a Bhunga of Meghwal community. Everything one <i>needs </i>is neatly organized.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="painted doors..." height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6746854467_2c04a62c51_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">Painted doors.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="lady3" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6747289479_cd3fe7b17d_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">Vibrant patchwork quilts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Bhunga near Hodka..." height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6746836995_b012b6d32b_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">Look at all those quilts they have been sewing neatly stacked.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6747289493/" title="smile by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="smile" height="472" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6747289493_7b2947d972_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Smiling in spite of all the hardships.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="painted doors..." height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6746846419_ef1669bd4d_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; ">Art in every wall, every corner,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "> everywhere.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;">...and it warms my heart to see art, embellishments, beauty winning over this harsh land of Kutch.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Images by Arch)</span></span></div>

Embellished dwellings in Kutch...

Kutch is a mystical land. Intriguing. Exuberant. Enthralling....and all I believe is to do with the people who have migrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Himalayas, Northern India and Central India. Each community bearing different names like Jats, Meghwals, Rabaris, Mutwas, Sodhas, Ahirs but bound …

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Shaam-E-Sarhad, Hodka Village, Kutch.

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Little did I realize that while I had posted about </span></span><a href="http://rangdecor.blogspot.com/2007/02/shaam-e-sarhad-rural-resort.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">this resort</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> from a magazine, way back in 2007 and the subsequent posts about NGOs working in Kutch, that I was actually laying invisible foundation stones for a trip to Kutch, Gujarat in December 2011, a good four years later.</span></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724088385/" title="shaam11 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam11" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6724088385_9ae59e7932_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.hodka.in/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Shaam-E-Sarhad </span></span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">is a eco-resort built in a Kutchi village-style setting using locally sourced materials and crafts of the region. It is owned and managed by the Hodka village community and is open only from <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">October</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">March</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img alt="shaam14" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6724090743_2beb48a1be_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The resort promotes </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Endogenous Tourism </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">where </span></span></span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">one travels not just for pleasure, but also to appreciate local community and their life in rural Gujarat.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"The </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Endogenous Tourism Project</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> in Hodka village seeks to promote local culture and craft based tourism for sustainable livelihoods and integrated rural development. Its aim is to improve the local people's quality of life, by creating more livelihood options, while preserving and allowing the community to develop their unique culture and share it with visitor."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~ hodka.in</span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724090105/" title="shaam13 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam13" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6724090105_11b715439a_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">The reception area is adorned with</span> 'Chittar Kaam' <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">patterns and designs in earthy colours.</span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The use of local architectural style, the intricate art & crafts is very evident as soon as one enters </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shaam-E-Sarhad </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(translated 'Sunset at the border') </span></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hodka village is not very far from the Rann of Kutch region which shares the border with Pakistan.</span></span></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724085729/" title="shaam8 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam8" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6724085729_1de9e5c757_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The dining area is below a multi-hued canopy of bright local fabrics patches... </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img alt="shaam9" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6724086651_0163fbf577_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:small;">A sit-out made out of a mixture of smooth mud and dung. Beautiful patchwork quilts made by local artisans spread their colours on an otherwise neutral colour-palette.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724087573/" title="shaam10 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam10" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6724087573_d0b3281153_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A Kutchi cloth doll with traditional dress swings gently in the breeze from the wooden poles..</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724091639/" title="shaam15 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam15" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6724091639_222f398cf1_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Even the switch board is made using locally crafted wooden plank.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaam3" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6724081411_74daa13c29_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There are a few </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bhunga </span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">mud houses and many tents where you can experience sustainable living.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaam" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6724078599_a53f1bc6f7_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Orange dawn from our tent on the first day of our stay at the resort.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaam4" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6724082079_a24c513a6e_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The next day we moved to the </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bhunga</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> house:-) The resort is very popular with travelers who come to visit the White Rann of Kutch, Dhordo, Hodka and the wildlife sanctuaries.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaam12" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6724089235_74bfab4fd6_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pandhi Bhai</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> with another local gentleman. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pandhi Bhai</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> plays the </span></span><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morsing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Morsing</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">on cold star-studded winter nights sitting on that 'charpouy' in the previous photograph.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaaam" height="472" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6724390439_b6f6d1c8d3_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bhunga </span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">is a house that is circular in design, made of mud plaster, dung and twigs, it has a light dome-shaped bamboo and thatched roof. A glorious mud structure that is resistant to high windspeed and earthquakes.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaam2" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6724080703_6004e3e3fe_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The thick walls keep the interior cool when the temperature rises to 46 degrees celsius in summer and warm when it drops to two degrees in winter.</span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="sham1" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6724079781_8e90de4ef0_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A fabulous example of</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Kutchi</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> architecture and eco-living.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724084909/" title="shaam7 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam7" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6724084909_7e14c184e2_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; line-height: 18px; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">'Chittar Kaam' or </span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mud paintings convert the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> exterior of the <b><i>Bhungas</i></b> into art canvas' as well. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724392689/" title="shaaam4 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaaam4" height="577" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6724392689_8ec8a9fe3d_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The <i>'Lipan Kaam'</i> or the sculpted mud-mirror work frame the wooden windows.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724394253/" title="shaaam5 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaaam5" height="522" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6724394253_81eeb96369_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724092355/" title="shaam17 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam17" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6724092355_6e7a1bbb28_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>'Lipan Kaam'</i> at the entrance to our</span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Bhunga <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">with lacquer work wooden door</span></span>.</span></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724093021/" title="shaam18 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam18" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6724093021_c46f42d4fc_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The interior of the <b><i>Bhunga</i></b> with stunning patchwork bedspreads and curtains.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724084017/" title="shaam6 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam6" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6724084017_c9ace9bae4_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The purple seating glows as the light filters in.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724082839/" title="shaam5 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam5" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6724082839_d54fa2864c_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Utterly, deeply and completely in love with the woven curtains.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaaam1" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6724390729_64f46c0328_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The intricately carved wooden window shutters.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaaam3" height="502" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6724391079_9236db86cf_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sitting under the canopy of rainbow colours, watching the dusk envelope the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>Bhungas </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">at</span><b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Shaam-E-Sarhad</span></b>, </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">we sat sipping our hot Khullad chai and just being in the moment.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(images by Arch, the last one by Mr. Husband)</span></span></i></b></span></div></div></div>

Shaam-E-Sarhad, Hodka Village, Kutch.

Little did I realize that while I had posted about this resort from a magazine, way back in 2007 and the subsequent posts about NGOs working in Kutch, that I was actually laying invisible foundation stones for a trip to Kutch, Gujarat in December 2011, a good four years later.Shaam-E-Sarhad is a eco…

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The House of MG, Ahmedabad.

<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Our journey to the colourful state of </span></span><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarat"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Gujarat</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> began with </span></span><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmedabad"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ahmedabad</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Having read so much about the architecture, the heritage and the people we chose a place which would be a gateway to all these. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><a href="http://www.houseofmg.com/index.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The House of MG</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> in short for </span></span><b><a href="http://www.houseofmg.com/index.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The House of Mangaldas Giridhardas</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">is a heritage mansion built in 1924 and belonged to the wealthy textile businessman. It has been converted to a beautiful hotel which still retains it's old world charm.</span></span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It is located in the Old City of Ahmedabad just walking distance from the </span></span><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmedabad's_Darwajas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">'Teen Darwaza'</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> the oldest gateway of the city established by Sultan Ahmed Shah.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625476677/" title="mg1 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg1" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6625476677_8a468283b8_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Antique photographic shrine of Sri & Srimati Mangaldas.</span></span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The whiff of subtle floral incense sticks along with the stream of winter sunlight welcomed us into this heritage mansion and I at once knew our stay here would be a memorable one.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625502053/" title="mg23 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg23" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6625502053_be8e6a09a1_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625481567/" title="mg3 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg3" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6625481567_7591f41af0_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Floating rose petals spreading their fragrance in the open courtyard.</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625745731/" title="mg14 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg14" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6625745731_402956935d_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Geometrical patterned tiles lead us into the heart of the mansion and the past seemed to come alive with the corridor walls forming a canvas of vintage portraits of the </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mangaldas family.</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625748791/" title="mg15 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg15" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6625748791_4a6e878c26_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portrait of Champagauri.</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625742997/" title="mg13 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg13" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6625742997_34a862b2c6_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On catching the glimpse of the antique swing against the terracotta walls a soft squeal escaped my mouth which triggered a giggle from my daughter.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625754183/" title="mg17 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg17" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6625754183_126c726fed_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Managed to photograph this stunning piece of furniture without capturing my reflection and followed the patterned path wondering at what else the mansion was going to unravel.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625764709/" title="mg22 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg22" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6625764709_dff05b59a2_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wooden staircase leading to the various rooms.</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg18" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6625757007_debaf2cfff_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Entrance to one of the fourteen luxurious rooms in the mansion.</span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; "></span></span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625499005/" title="mg20 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg20" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6625499005_4f187f4f71_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The central courtyard with smooth ceramic mosaic work.</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625484527/" title="mg4 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg4" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6625484527_58d3d85b12_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Outside our room</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625487287/" title="mg5 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg5" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6625487287_7520bdf6cf_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The walls are peppered with black & white photographs of the Malgaldas family.</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625496129/" title="mg8 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg8" height="421" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6625496129_0d63853d63_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Inside our room.</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625490735/" title="mg6 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg6" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6625490735_0937072d44_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We had a traditional Gujarati swing in the room!</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625493907/" title="mg7 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg7" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6625493907_c9931dafb0_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Loved the lighting idea, it's a yellow tube light fitted on a wooden plank with holes. The effect is that of spotlights!</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625739493/" title="mg11 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg11" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6625739493_fa0948a0f2_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6625741179/" title="mg12 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg12" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6625741179_5aa814ea1d_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Tastefully done up corners of the room.</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg9" height="420" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6625734771_492523a195_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The lobby area has a small idol of Lord Krishna seated on a swing and the oil lamps illuminate the space as the sun sets on the old city of Ahmedabad.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="mg10" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6625736689_285cf00b6e_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A family portrait of the Mangaldas family then and now...</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The air fills up with the heady fragrance of incense inside while there is hauntingly beautiful </span></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">'Adhan'</span></span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> call for prayer from the Sidi Saiyed Jali Mosque opposite </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the House of MG.</span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This post is probably the longest one on Rang Decor till date and really hope all of you like it as much as I have loved sharing it with all of you:-)</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You can see the slideshow of photographs of </span></span><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/sets/72157628692870585/show/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The House of MG here.</span></span></a></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">( Images by Arch)</span></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div>

The House of MG, Ahmedabad.

Our journey to the colourful state of Gujarat began with Ahmedabad. Having read so much about the architecture, the heritage and the people we chose a place which would be a gateway to all these. The House of MG in short for The House of Mangaldas Giridhardas is a heritage mansion built in 1924 an…

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