Vechaar Utensils Museum

The Vechaar Utensils Museum in Ahmedabad was founded in 1981 by Surendra Patel, who also started Vishalla restaurant, and is devoted to the history of Indian kitchenware. Its more than 4,500 objects span over a millennium, from silver tableware once used in royal households to plain clay pots from village homes.

Materials include brass, copper and bronze as well as clay and even ivory. Some are richly carved and others purely practical: water pitchers, spice boxes, cooking pots and dining sets that show how food was stored, prepared and served in different periods. The museum sits inside Vishalla, where a traditional Gujarati meal is served on leaf plates with village-style seating and folk performances.