This Hidden Gem In Gujarat Will Transport You To Europe With Its Colourful Bohra Havelis & Old-World Architecture

To see European-style architecture, you don’t have to go to Paris or Rome. In the town of Siddhpur, Gujarat, there is something truly unexpected: an entire neighbourhood that seems to have been brought straight from Europe! Often called Gujarat’s “Mini Europe,” this heritage-rich town surprises visitors with its pastel-coloured houses, ornate balconies, and colonial-era façades that look more at home on the streets of Venice or Lisbon than in western India.

Siddhpur, Gujarat’s Town Of Victorian Mansions

Long before Siddhpur became famous for its colourful mansions, it was known as Shristhal, a sacred town mentioned in ancient Vedic texts. Siddhpur also has deep religious importance in the Hindu tradition. It is believed to be the place where Lord Parshuram performed the last rites for his mother, making Siddhpur a sacred site known as ‘Matru Gaya,’ the place to offer prayers for maternal ancestors. 

But the most surprising part of Siddhpur’s story begins in the late 19th century. Around this time, the Dawoodi Bohra community, a prosperous Muslim trading group, lived here. The community was renowned for its keen business sense and global connections. They conducted business not only in Africa and the Middle East but also in distant places like Madagascar and Yemen.

When they moved back to Siddhpur, these wealthy merchants wanted to bring back a little of the world they had seen abroad. Inspired by European cities, they began building magnificent Victorian-style mansions in Vohrawad (or Najampura).

The result was this dreamy little town that looks straight out of Europe’s 19th-century postcards. Walk through the lanes of Vohrawad, and you’ll find rows of pastel-coloured houses painted in shades of lilac, mint green, peach, sky blue, and rose pink. Each mansion has wood-carved balconies, tall windows with arches, gabled roofs, and decorative columns.

When you look closely, you notice how the street planning also resembles old European towns, with neatly laid-out lanes, main roads connected to side streets, and symmetrical facades that make the entire area feel organised and artistic.

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A Town Of Colourful Havelis And Centuries-Old Rituals

The Bohra community eventually left their beautiful homes behind and moved abroad, as well as to bigger cities like Kolkata and Mumbai. And these mansions, with their pastel walls gradually fading under the Gujarati sun, now stand silent, their charm unaltered. If you pass through them today, it will feel like discovering a lost world.

Siddhpur is a haven for people who enjoy architecture, heritage walks, and photography. The best way to experience its charm is simply to walk through its lanes. Spend a day or two soaking in the peace, the art, and the quiet beauty of a town that time almost forgot.

So, the next time you find yourself in Gujarat, take a detour from the usual and head to this “Mini Europe” in Gujarat, one of India’s best-kept secrets.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Snehrashmi