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I headed to Ahmedabad, not because it was a logical destination for an Indian backpacker like me. The French haveli I was going to stay at was, in fact, the original fascination. I mean the idea of staying in a 150-year-old Gujarati haveli, would tempt anyone, and I was no different. Then later I found that the Haveli was moreover located in a 400-year-old walled community of Dhal ni Pol.
As I got off the auto-rickshaw at Raipur Darwaza and slowly walked inside the gated community of Dhal ni Pol, the Kites, a few dozen of them, suddenly appeared in the sky.
I happened to be in Ahmedabad a few days before the kite festival Uttarayan, a holiday also known as Makar Sankranti in North India. This was indeed the best time to visit Ahmedabad. Dramatically colourful street scenes and many lively conversations were only waiting for me in the days to come.
As I walked a little deeper in the neighbourhood where my hotel was located, I found the many happy locals sitting outside their tiny homes, as if only waiting to welcome me. Some were even peering from their ancient-looking window, sharing a confused look with me, before pointing to their neighbour my 60 ltr rucksack.
As I struggled through a few intermingled by-lanes of Dhal ni Pol, and before I could even reach my place, I was stopped by a curiously looking family, asking for my whereabouts. The youngest of all, probably in his late teens, spun an immediate invitation to join them for kite flying.
