Divan's Bungalow

Distinguished Architect I.M. Kadri familys ancestral home, a 170-year-old haveli with ground plus first floor, Known as Diwans Bungalow in Raikhad, which is a part of Ahmadabads old walled city, was originally designed by a British architect.

The 19th century heritage Haveli with a distinct heritage character stood in an area of 3000 sq yards. It is an interesting example of the lifestyle of a Muslim household where a rectangular red-tiled fountain fore courtyard is enveloped by the three arms of the mansion. The mansion is decorated with floral plasterwork, two wooden jharokhas, inviting verandas and bright stained glass.

The fountain courtyard led on the north side to a long and linear Divan Khana, the family drawing room. This, in turn, led to a garden court at the back where the ladies could congregate, not far from the kitchens. The ladies section - The Zanana - was towards the north of the garden court and the mens area - The Mardana - was towards the south of the garden court. The rest of the home had inter-connected rooms screened by verandas and there was a side entrance for the staff from another street. Despite its colonial facade and two tower rooms with European-style tiled roofs on either side, it has two grand Gujarati wooden jharokha-balconies which lean out on elaborate brackets.

Furniture, antique decor including chandeliers and other artifacts belonging to the house were retained. To add to the decor, few old traditional ornamental artifacts were procured. The flooring of the house was destroyed in a 1941 flood. Hence new wooden floorings were laid. The walls of the house were in good condition and were of 18x24 thickness. The original wood work in the house was retained. All the rooms in the house were originally painted white which was retained. Even the exterior of the house is all white except for the wooden Jharokas .

All the eight rooms each with a bedroom with a view, sitting area with access to a verandah, are named after family members of the Kadri family. All eight have different themes and each has a separate entry. The tower rooms have been merged into one called the Siraj Khana, which is decorated in traditional style of Farshi Bethak (low floor sitting) and munim peti (writing desk) placed on the floor. This is the largest suite. The courtyard, or the aangan , is designed in such a way that it never faces the sun directly. This has been utilized for a small restaurant in good weather. There is a separate indoor space for fine dining. This non-hotel Hotel offer fresh cuisines typical to that region.

Authentic pieces of art and furniture in sync with the Gujarati-Islamic concepts of style and design were retained. Roofs covered with Mangalore tiles, balconies leaning out to external brackets and the charisma of Gujarati-style wooden jharokhas inside the rooms add a vibrant hue to the surroundings. The hotel is equipped with modern facilities and amenities that any guests look for. All the rooms are equipped with Air-conditioning, Satellite Television, Wi-Fi Internet Access and more so that guest can enjoy their stay comfortably. This unique non-hotel hotel is totally charming in its new avatar and is a piece of Ahmadabad's history which remains authentic.