The textile quadrant of old Ahmedabad, a warren of lanes off Gandhi Road stacked with dress material, bandhani, cotton yardage, dupattas, lehenga fabric and the trimming shops that supply the city's tailors.
Ratan Pole runs off Gandhi Road in the walled city of Ahmedabad, in the Gujarat region of India, and it is where the city has bought cloth for well over a century. The main lane and the by-lanes that branch from it are lined wall to wall with fabric houses, each stacked floor to ceiling with bolts of cotton, silk, chiffon and georgette, unstitched dress material sets, bandhani dupattas from Jamnagar and Kutch, block-printed yardage and heavily worked lehenga fabric for weddings. Behind them sit the specialist shops that make the quarter function: lace and gota trim sellers, button and zip merchants, and the tailors and embroiderers who finish what the fabric shops sell. Prices are quoted by the metre and are genuinely competitive, because the market serves Ahmedabad's own dressmaking trade rather than tourists, and light bargaining on larger cuts is accepted. The neighbouring lanes of Rani no Hajiro sell ready-made ethnic wear and household textiles, and Manek Chowk is a two-minute walk away, which makes the whole quarter a single walking circuit. Shops observe an afternoon closing, so morning and early evening are the productive hours, and most of the quarter shuts on Sundays and through the Diwali holidays. For visitors interested in Gujarati textiles rather than souvenirs, this is where the range is widest and the prices lowest.
| Hours | Mon-Sat roughly 11AM-8PM, many shops closing 2PM-4PM; largely closed Sunday |
|---|---|
| Price | Fabric INR 150-2,500 per metre (approx USD 1.55-26); dress material sets INR 600-6,000 (approx USD 6.25-62.50) |
| Address | Ratan Pole, off Gandhi Road, Khadia, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001, India |
Location
Ratan Pole, off Gandhi Road, Khadia, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001, India
23.0264, 72.5895 View on map
Highlights
- Wall-to-wall fabric houses selling cotton, silk and unstitched dress material by the metre
- Bandhani dupattas and yardage from Jamnagar and Kutch at trade prices
- Specialist by-lanes for lace, gota trim, buttons and zips
- Tailors and embroiderers working within the same quarter
- Two minutes on foot from Manek Chowk and the Jama Masjid
Tips for visiting
- Shop between 11AM and 2PM or after 4PM; much of the quarter closes in the early afternoon
- Fabric is sold by the metre, so know the length needed before asking for a price
- Sunday closures are widespread across the old city textile lanes
- Local tailors in the same lanes will stitch a bought fabric in two to three days
- Ask specifically for hand bandhani rather than printed imitation, which is also widely sold here
When to visit
Late morning around 11AM to 1PM on a weekday, when shops are fully open and the lanes are at their least congested.
Accessibility
Narrow, congested lanes shared with two-wheelers and handcarts, with shop thresholds raised a step or two above street level, which makes independent wheelchair access very difficult.
Frequently asked questions
What does Ratan Pole sell?
Fabric above all: cotton, silk, chiffon and georgette yardage, unstitched dress material sets, bandhani dupattas, block prints and bridal lehenga fabric, plus lace, trims and tailoring supplies in the by-lanes.
Are prices negotiable?
Modestly. The quarter serves Ahmedabad's own dressmaking trade, so quoted metre rates are already competitive, and light bargaining works best on larger cuts or multiple purchases.
When are the shops open?
Broadly 11AM to 8PM Monday to Saturday, with many shops closing between about 2PM and 4PM. Most of the quarter is shut on Sundays.
Can fabric be stitched locally?
Yes. Tailors and embroiderers work in the same lanes and will typically stitch a bought fabric within two to three days, which suits visitors staying a week in Ahmedabad.