Patola | EP 88 | Gujarat to Leh - Ladakh | Vishvesh Vlogs | 07.09.2026

SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram | Facebook | WhatsApp: https://linktr.ee/connect.vishvesh.vlogs Join me on the ultimate Indian road trip as we journey from the vibrant city of Ahmedabad towards the sacred lands of Gujarat! 🚗💨 In this episode, we explore the living heritage of Patan — the legendary Patan Patola weaving tradition and the magnificent Rani Ki Vav. we stop at a Patola workshop in Patan, where the Salvi family has been weaving these extraordinary double ikat silk sarees for generations. Patola is not just a saree — it is a specific, intricate design tradition unique to Patan, famously celebrated in the Gujarati song "Patan thi Patola lai jaana." We meet Mehul bhai, Gautam bhai, and Manish bhai, who demonstrate the painstaking process of tying and dyeing individual threads by hand before weaving them into fabric. The original Patan Patola is a double ikat textile, meaning both the length and width threads are dyed and designed — so the pattern appears identically on both sides of the fabric, with no reverse side at all. This makes the process incredibly complex and time-consuming. A dupatta takes two to two-and-a-half months, while a full saree can take three to four months or more, depending on the detail of the design. The colors are dyed using natural dyes that do not fade for 150 to 300 years, a hallmark of authentic Patan Patola. We also learn about the different types: Single Ikat Patola (design only on the width threads), Semi Ikat or "first copy" Patola, Tissue Patola (zari threads in the length), and the original Double Ikat Patan Patola. Prices start at around ₹18,000 for simpler products and go up to ₹1.5 lakh or more for double ikat sarees — with one saree shown priced at ₹1,70,000. Orders must be placed months in advance because each piece is customized by color and design, and colors cannot be changed once the weaving begins. The family's legacy is deeply rooted in history. Naman bhai, whose grandfather was Vijay Sevantilal Salvi, shares photographs dating back to the 1960s, taken from the rare book "Patola of Gujarat: Double Ikat in India" — published in 1979 by Swiss authors who spent 34 years compiling it. The book documents five generations of the Salvi community and the traditional motifs of Patan Patola, which were once exported to Thailand, Java, and beyond for royalty and nobility. After this fascinating glimpse into living craft heritage, we continue towards Rani Ki Vav — a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 1063 by Queen Udayamati in memory of her husband, King Bhimdev I. This seven-level stepwell, designed as an inverted temple, remained buried under silt for centuries before being rediscovered in the 1940s. With time running short and clouds gathering, I head towards Sidhpur, hoping to catch the stepwell before dark. Key Locations: 📍 Ahmedabad, Gujarat 📍 Patan Patola Workshop (Salvi family heritage) 📍 Rani Ki Vav, Patan 📍 Heading towards Sidhpur Planning Your Visit? Patan Patola prices start at ₹18,000 for simple products; original double ikat sarees start at ₹1.5 lakh Custom orders take 3.5 to 4+ months minimum Modhera Sun Temple Entry Fee: ₹20 per person (Can also be booked online) Car Parking: ₹30 Time Needed at Modhera: Approximately 30 minutes to explore If you enjoyed this video, please give it a LIKE, SHARE it with your travel buddies, and SUBSCRIBE for the rest of this amazing road trip series! Hit the bell icon so you don't miss the next adventure. GEAR I USE: DJI Action 6: https://link.amazon/B04IHybiw DJI Action 6 Silicone Cover: https://link.amazon/B0eEgBKq4 DJI Action 6 Carrying Case: https://link.amazon/B0fWnIKlR DJI Action 6 Gorilla Tempered Glass: https://link.amazon/B0c8amyAl DJI Action 6 ND Filter Kit: https://link.amazon/B0iA1zscC DJI Action 6 Waterproof Case: https://link.amazon/B066BhPYT Mic: DJI Mini Mic https://amzn.to/4e4k68t #IndianRoadTrip #GujaratTourism #PatanPatola #RaniKiVav #RoadTripIndia #Ahmedabad #TravelVlog #IncredibleIndia #Architecture #History #SuryaMandir #Patan #TravelGuide #Gujarat #GujaratDiaries #ExploreGujarat #TravelIndia #IndiaTravel #RoadTrip #RoadTripping #IndianHighways #TravelDiaries #Wanderlust #TravelGram #InstaTravel #TravelVlogger #YouTubeTravel #SoloTravel #HeritageSite #UNESCO #UNESCOWorldHeritage #AncientTemples #TempleArchitecture #IndianArchitecture #Stepwell #Baoli #Vav #SunTemple #SuryaBhagwan #ChaulukyaDynasty #SolankiDynasty #KingBhimdev #QueenUdayamati #PatanGujarat #Modhera #AhmedabadDiaries #GujaratRoadTrip #ExploreIndia #DiscoverIndia #AtithiDevoBhava #IndianHeritage #CultureOfIndia #HistoryOfIndia #TemplesOfIndia #ArchitecturePhotography #TravelPhotography #DroneShots #ActionCamera #DJIAction6 #IndiaTourism #MustVisitIndia #OffbeatIndia #HiddenGems #TravelCommunity #TravelBlogger #TravelMore #AdventureTravel #RoadTripLife #CarTravel #HighwayDriving #IndianRoads #TravelTips #BudgetTravel #TripPlanning #WeekendGetaway #DayTrip #GujaratTrip #Handloom #Handmade #SilkSaree