Tucked into the coastal fabric of Kozhikode, Gujarati Street is not just a street — it's a heritage destination in motion. Once a bustling trade hub where Gujarati-Jain merchants lived and thrived, this narrow street has transformed into a cultural sanctuary. Here, centuries-old architecture, evolving food cultures, and creative spaces exist in harmony. But what truly sets this place apart is its power to inspire — not just to visit, but to stay, to create, and to belong.
Gudhaam: Where It All Began
The revival of Gujarati Street's cultural life can be traced back to a bold and soulful initiative by Basheer Badayakandy, who in 2015 founded Gudhaam Art Café inside a 160-year-old rice warehouse. His vision was to blend nostalgia with creativity, and in doing so, he sparked a quiet revolution in Kozhikode’s cultural scene.
Today, Gudhaam is more than an antique café — it's a cultural incubator. Filled with heritage furniture, vintage radios, clocks, and sepia-toned portraits, this space radiates old-world charm. Gudhaam regularly hosts art shows, performances, storytelling circles, and creative workshops, attracting a mix of locals, tourists, and global creatives.
A New Chapter: Gudhaam’s Vintage Studio: Kerala’s first of kind!
On the ground floor of Gudhaam, something extraordinary unfolds — Kerala’s first and largest dedicated vintage photography studio, started in 2024. Conceived as a space where past aesthetics meet modern technique, the Gudhaam Vintage Studio offers a fully equipped, 360-degree adaptable shoot floor designed to recreate timeless settings. Whether it's for fashion editorials, travel portraits, or cinematic storytelling, this studio stands as a one-of-a-kind creative hub. Every corner is curated with authentic vintage props, period-specific decor, and customizable backdrops, offering photographers and filmmakers unparalleled flexibility. Under the artistic direction of Anshad Gruvayoor, one of Kerala’s most recognized travel and fashion photographers, the studio is also equipped with state-of-the-art lighting, camera gear, and editing tools — making it not just a nostalgic space, but a fully professional and immersive visual playground.
Design Ashram: Where Artists and Explorers Find Home
Just around the corner from Gudhaam is Design Ashram, a co-living hostel and design lab that attracts **travelers, students, and artists from across the world. Set within an old Gujarati home, the Ashram hosts everything from **urban sketching sessions and poetry readings to film screenings and cultural salons.
Nestled within the soulful stretch of Gujarati Street, Design Ashram stands as a testament to how creative interventions can reawaken a heritage space. Founded in 2015 by architect Brijesh Shaijal, this cultural hub began as an experimental studio to merge architecture, art, and community engagement.
It’s a space where conversations flow as freely as Kozhikode’s monsoon winds, and where the spirit of Gujarati Street is not preserved but reimagined daily through art and collaboration.
Kuttichira Biryani Centre: A Taste of Timeless Kozhikode
No exploration of Gujarati Street is complete without a culinary stop at the legendary Kuttichira Biryani Centre. This humble yet wildly popular eatery is a pilgrimage spot for food lovers in Kozhikode and beyond. Serving aromatic Kozhikodan biryani packed with flavor and local spices, this restaurant sees long queues daily — a testament to its loyal following.
From artists to influencers, college students to global travelers, everyone finds common ground over a plate of steaming biryani here. It’s not just food — it’s *part of the cultural rhythm of Gujarati Street*, linking the past and the present over shared meals.
A Street Designed for Time Engagement
What makes Gujarati Street different from other tourist zones is its invitation to slow down. Travelers are encouraged to linger, observe, engage, and immerse. Whether you're attending a pop-up gallery at Gudhaam, participating in a workshop at Design Ashram, or sipping lemon tea beside the Gujarati temple, the emphasis is on deep cultural experience over surface-level sightseeing.
This is a place for intentional tourism — for the curious, the creative, the conscious.
Gujarati Street in Kozhikode isn’t designed for checklist travelers or hurried sightseers. It calls to those who seek meaning, connection, and cultural resonance. Rooted in centuries of trade and trust, this street was once home to the vibrant Gujarati merchant community, whose legacy lives on in the architecture, cuisine, and communal ethos of the area. Today, their spirit of enterprise and cultural richness blends seamlessly with the energy of modern artists, writers, photographers, and travelers
Why Gujarati Street Matters in India’s Cultural Tourism Landscape
At a time when community-based and creative tourism is gaining traction worldwide, Gujarati Street has quietly emerged as one of India’s most compelling case studies. It proves that small spaces can drive big cultural conversations — through art, food, history, and storytelling.
Whether you're a backpacker tracing spice routes, a cultural researcher, or a weekend traveler seeking meaning, Gujarati Street offers something rare: authenticity with soul. Thanks to visionaries like Basheer Badayakandy and Ar Brijesh, this street is not just surviving — it’s thriving creatively.
Plan Your Visit with CityHeritage.in
At CityHeritage.in, we create bespoke heritage experiences rooted in storytelling, community engagement, and slow travel. Our curated walks and cultural tours through Gujarati Street help you explore its layers — from century-old homes to contemporary art studios, beloved biryani joints to avant-garde photo labs. Come for the heritage, stay for the experience.
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