In the Courtyards of Memory

In the heart of Ahmedabad’s old city, in a house that has borne witness to a century of history, the quiet presence of memory is tangible. The House of MG offers a stay that feels both reminiscent and immediate. Guests enter through carved wooden doors into courtyards alive with foliage and tales. These open centres do not just connect rooms but are anchors of a narrative tracing family heritage, national significance, and the living spirit of a city that became the first UNESCO World Heritage City in India.

An Ancestral Legacy in Ahmedabad

The House of MG was built in 1904 by two brothers, Mangaldas Girdhardas and Chimanlal Girdhardas, entrepreneurs who had thrived in Ahmedabad’s textile industry. Its design reflects the era’s elegance and the aspirations of a prominent family.

History took a meaningful turn when, in 1915, Mahatma Gandhi stayed here after returning from South Africa. This moment enriches its heritage, making it more than a heritage hotel in Gujarat, but a place that hosted one of modern India’s founding figures.

Over time, parts of the mansion were repurposed for government offices, post and telegraph services, a clinic, shops, and even life insurance use. It was not until 1995 that Abhay Mangaldas, a descendant of the founders, reclaimed the property and began its revival as a living heritage residence.

Transformation into a Boutique Heritage Hotel

Abhay Mangaldas’ restoration was painstaking and heartfelt. He opened the first restaurant, Agashiye, in 1999, introducing guests to traditional Gujarati thali cuisine in a rooftop setting. Green House Café followed, delivering a lighter, shaded retreat in the courtyard. The full-service boutique conversion culminated around 2014 when the house reopened as a heritage hotel in Gujarat.

Today, the hotel comprises 37 rooms and suites furnished with antiques, handmade textiles and furniture crafted by local artisans using repurposed materials. The restoration was completed with the same artisanship that built the original house, ensuring that every pane of lattice, every antique mirror, and every wooden screen is part of the continuum of craftsmanship.

Legacy Expanded: 150-Year-Old Boutique Property

Beyond the main house, the story extends into the old city’s pols. The House of MG restored nearby heritage homes to offer Mangaldas ni Haveli I and II. The House of MG itself is a 150-year-old boutique property, lovingly revived to preserve its character and artistry. Mangaldas ni Haveli II is equally evocative, its façades dressed in vivid reds, greens, and golds, all gathered around a serene central courtyard. These haveli properties provide an intimate and engrossing heritage stay, and guests can easily cross between them and the main hotel.

The Travel Experience Here

Our hotel offers more than a stay. Heritage walks and rickshaw tours guide guests through the narrow lanes, pols, markets, and monuments of the old city. The architecture of Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, the energy of Manek Chowk, and the presence of textile workshops become part of a slow travel experience rooted in lived history.

Within the property, the restaurants root the senses in place. Agashiye serves thalis made from seasonal produce. The Green House café is a leafy sanctuary for afternoon tea or ice creams churned by hand.

Memory Through Time and Architecture

Our property is a rare junction of generations, tangible heritage, and living hospitality. It began as a family home and textile legacy. It welcomed a global icon and many more notable personalities. It weathered decades of neglect and was lovingly brought back to life. It is now a heritage hotel in Gujarat that holds lineage in its walls, in its courtyards, in its restaurants.
To walk inside is to turn the pages of a living history book. Every corridor can take you from your room to a gallery of heirlooms. And when you step outside into the city, you carry those stories with you as you become part of theirs.
Book your stay today and experience over a century of history and heritage at The House of MG.