Nestled within Ahmedabad's historic streets is a splendid home, welcoming travelers from all over to stay at their lovely bed & breakfast. That's French Haveli, a cozy, 150-year-old Gujarati house hidden amidst ancient alleys and backstreets.

Design and Architecture

Like its quirky neighbors covered in colorful street art, French Haveli stands out for having its own gorgeous style, displaying a white facade of ornate parapets carved with intricate stone sculptures. Inside, travelers will find a finely decorated home with antique crafts on shelves and eye-catching murals on the walls. There's also an atmosphere of homey Art Moderne that pervades the building, complemented by vibrantly colored furniture and carpets.

Since French Haveli is a bed & breakfast, guests should very well look forward to an amazing Indian breakfast. It is made with fresh ingredients bought from Ahmedabad's historic Manek Chowk market district. Aside from breakfast, guests can also make reservations for lunches and dinners to be prepared for an additional fee.

Cultural Experiences

If you're going to live like a local while staying at the French Haveli, then you should also travel in style like a local. Hop aboard one of Ahmedabad's rickshaws and explore the city's historic places. Recognized as India's very first UNESCO World Heritage City, Ahmedabad is filled with ancient structures built as civic works, as well as monuments. The hosts of French Haveli will be glad to provide suggestions on which landmarks to check out, as well as book you a rickshaw service to take you around.

The Jama Masjid is one of the oldest mosques in India and is still in active use today. During the time of the sultanates, Ahmedabad's water was supplied by massive manmade reservoirs and stepwells. Kankaria Lake is one such reservoir, the site now converted into a city park surrounded by zoos, botanical gardens, and other amusement attractions.

Be sure to join in Ahmedabad's big annual festivals if you happen to catch one during your visit to the city. Aside from colorful Holi and dazzling Diwali, the city also celebrates a special festival to the goddess Durga called Navratri. Another major annual event that draws visitors from all over is Uttarayan, also called the International Kite Festival because of its scale and amount of participants.

As for private celebrations, such as birthdays or anniversaries, you can approach the host and make a booking for a special lunch or dinner to be prepared. There are a few spots in the bed & breakfast that would be suitable for a romantic meal, such as the garden patio or the terrace.