| Welcome
to the Mangaldas ni Haveli in the heart of
the historic walled city of Ahmedabad. It
is estimated to be over 200 years old and
it originally belonged to a Nagar Brahmin
family (Brahmins were considered the highest
amongst all castes in India). It is one of
the finest examples of carved wooden architecture
typical of that time. It was bought by the
Mangaldas family in 2006 and has since been
restored. It now houses a gift shop and a
café and it is managed by The House
of MG, the Urban Heritage Hotel. It is accessible
only by a shuttle service from this hotel.
There is no parking available around the haveli.
A pol is a meandering narrow lane with houses
and shops on either side. This was the typical
city layout in times of strife as it confused
the invading enemy and allowed escape routes
to locals. Each different pol is a gated
community, segregated by both caste and
profession (the word 'Haveli' refers to
a large pol house but is now commonly used
for all old pol houses).
The wood used in the Mangaldas ni Haveli
came all the way from Rangoon via the Gulf
of Cambay. Like most pol houses, the layout
of this haveli comprises of rooms built
around a central courtyard. The wooden carving
is both ornamental and also performs the
function of absorbing heat (carving increases
the surface area of wood, a poor conductor
of heat, making it a more efficient heat
absorber). Such a design ensures that the
building remains well ventilated and cool
all year round.
The rooftop café at the Mangaldas
ni Haveli serves an ala carte’ selection
comprising of local and international dishes
and it is spread over two levels. An air-conditioned
level and a terrace level (with an unmatched
view of the old city skyline).
The craft gift shop stocks a range of clothing,
home decor and gifts handmade by local craftsmen
who have collaborated with designers.
The restoration was done with the help of
the Heritage Cell of the Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation.
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