An illusion in the afternoon sun… I seem to have stumbled upon a Parisian arrondissement (district).

The neighborhood is strangely silent. Is anyone home?

A spectrum of pretty pastels, adorn the houses. The yellows, blues and greens, emit a happy vibe.

It felt like walking inside a fairy tale book, the ones that pop up.

These mysterious houses, located in the small town of Siddhpur, have a unique architectural design.

Its sloping tiled roofs, wrought iron grills, and trellis work suggest a fusion of European and Indian influence. The owners name and date of construction is monogrammed at the entrance.  

The only oddity is the silence. There are no people or families who seem to live here.

On further investigation I got to know that these homes belong to the Dawoodi Bohra community, who are travelling businessmen.

The architectural fusion is a result of their extensive international travels. The families now live in other parts of the country or overseas, and keep their homes locked.

They do return annually or for special occasions. Even though there are no permanent residents living, the homes look well cared for.

I am intrigued to know more, maybe a peep inside on of their homes will not hurt 😊

Getting to Siddhpur

Do a day trip from Ahmedabad.

Hire a car and visit Modhera Sun Temple, Rani Ki Vav and end your journey with a quick stopover at Siddhpur.

https://goo.gl/maps/bxULxEcAhBKkuKtYA