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India’s Textile Traditions

A colourful textile adventure through Gujarat and Rajasthan

14
Nights
Duration
$
0
Starts From
Special Interest Tours
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Join our journey to support the survival of a centuries-old tradition and the culture that surrounds it. On this specially tailored trip, we take you off the beaten track to discover how the living art form of textile design is reinvigorating rural communities. Meet the people conserving and developing traditional arts and see fine examples of embroidery, block-printing, tie-dying, and weaving at workshops, studios, and important museums. Explore a more personal side of the culture and architecture of Gujarat and Rajasthan through its textiles, crafts, and design.
DAY
PLACE
HIGHLIGHTS
01-02
Mumbai
The museum textile collection and the Dhobi Ghat
03-04
Bhuj
Fly to Bhuj, explore Banni villages and Rabari tribes
05
Bhuj
Rann Utsav Arts & Crafts Festival
06
Dasada
Ajrakh prints
07
Dasada
Traditional handlooms in action
08-09
Ahmedabad
Patchedi painters and Gandhi’s legacy
10-11
Jodhpur
Fly to Jodhpur, explore Mehrangarh Fort and dhurrries
12-13
Jaipur
Block printing and tribal garments of the Pink City
14
Jaipur
Contemporary textile design
15
Delhi
Drive to Delhi and Departure

Detailed Itinerary

DAY
01-02
The museum textile collection and the Dhobi Ghat
Mumbai
,
India
Upon arrival in Mumbai, you will be met at the airport by our local representative and transferred to our hotel. Meet your host and group members for an evening briefing. On Day 02, see the city’s iconic buildings; the Victorian Gothic Railway Station, the British Raj era ‘Gateway to India’, and the notable textile collection at the CSMVS Museum. Marvel at the Dhobi Ghat where hundreds of people hand wash clothes and at the complex activity of the ‘dabbawalas’ delivering tiffin lunchboxes across the city.
India’s Textile Traditions - 1
DAY
03-04
Fly to Bhuj, explore Banni villages and Rabari tribes
Bhuj
,
India
This morning we take a flight to Bhuj, the centre of the remote district of Kutch in the western state of Gujarat. On day 04, visit Kala Raksha, a grass roots cooperative working with the meticulous ‘suf’ embroiderers. Meet artisans from the nomadic Rabari tribe reviving their delicate traditional mirrorwork. Visit Banni villages and explore their specialized crafts of patchwork and ‘gotadi’ quilts. Meet with a master artisan of the ancient craft of ‘bandhani’, also known as ‘shibori’ or tie dye. The Kachchhi Bandhani, traditionally practiced by the Khatri community, is renowned for its extremely fine dots and sophisticated sense of composition.
India’s Textile Traditions - 2
DAY
05
Excursion to Mandvi
Bhuj
,
India
Visit the old port of Mandvi to see the building of hand-made wooden dhows still used for transporting textiles. On the pristine beach of the Gulf of Kutch, enjoy lunch at the summer palace and current residence of the Maharao and Maharani of Kutch. The three-month long Rann Utsav Arts & Crafts Festival is in full swing!
India’s Textile Traditions - 3
DAY
06
Ajrakhpur
Dasada
,
India
Head inland stopping first at Ajrakhpur to view block printing and natural dyeing. ‘Ajrakh’ prints are among the oldest textiles in the world, traceable back to the Indus Valley civilizations. This is the signature cloth of the Khatri families and it has been at the heart of their community for over nine generations. The patriarch, Siddique, led the family back into the use of natural dyes, and each of the three sons has continued and strengthened these traditional techniques.
India’s Textile Traditions - 4
DAY
07
Excursion to Patan
Dasada
,
India
Take the short trip to Patan, famed for its now rare double ikat patola weaving. The weaving is done on simple traditional handlooms, and the dyes used are made from vegetable extracts and other natural colours. We’ll also see Patan’s spectacular step-well, a marvel of geometry and engineering and the intricately carved Sun Temple at Modhera.
India’s Textile Traditions - 5
DAY
08-09
An Urban World Heritage Site
Ahmedabad
,
India
Head into the Gujarat’s major city, India’s first UNESCO Urban World Heritage Site, notable for its incredible architecture of its 600-year-old walled city and its cutting-edge modern design. Visit the renowned Calico Textile Museum with the curator. On day 09, meet the Mata Ni Pachhedi painters of the Vaghris, or wandering caste, who make beautiful shrine cloths. Gandhi’s legacy is powerful here; visit the Sabarmati Ashram where Mahatma Gandhi lived for twelve years; you can still see his spinning wheel which became the symbol of the movement to promote hand-spun textiles over British imports.
India’s Textile Traditions - 6
DAY
10-11
Fly to Jodhpur, explore Mehrangarh Fort and dhurrries
Jodhpur
,
India
Take the direct flight from Ahmedabad to the open-air art gallery city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, the heartland of Rajput culture. The buildings of the lively Old City are painted an appealing range of blues to create a spectacular cubist vision. Enjoy a heritage walk in the quiet of the old city. On day 11, visit the Mehrangarh Fort described by Kipling as the ‘work of angels, fairies, and giants’ and tour its collection of paintings and textiles with the curator. Just outside the city, visit a dhurrie weaving cooperative. The bazaar here will tempt with you with its treasures!
India’s Textile Traditions - 7
DAY
12-13
Block printing and tribal garments of the Pink City
Jaipur
,
India
The drive to Jaipur, also known as the ‘Pink City’ because of its many pink sandstone monuments. Marvel at the Amer Fort, a magnificently preserved complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens, and temples. Carved marble panels, ivory inlaid sandalwood doors, and mirrored ceilings are just some of the entrancing decorations we’ll see at the Fort. Take in the Albert Hall Museum housing an exhibition of costumes of the Rajput era and garments of Rajasthan’s many tribal groups as well as exceptional 17th Century Mughal carpets.
India’s Textile Traditions - 8
DAY
14
Contemporary textile design
Jaipur
,
India
Visit the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing housed in a magnificently restored haveli. Visit with a renowned textile designer in her gorgeous studio and production facility making block print motifs inspired by 18th century Mughal designs, reinterpreted in a modern style.
India’s Textile Traditions - 9
DAY
15
Drive to Delhi and Departure
Delhi
,
India
Drive to the Delhi airport for international departure.
India’s Textile Traditions - 10

What's Included:

·      Airport transfers for passengers arriving and departing as per the group itinerary

·      Flight from Mumbai to Bhuj

·      Flight from Ahmedabad to Jodhpur

·      Accommodation based on double occupancy in hotels listed or similar

·      Meals as indicated in the itinerary:14 breakfasts, either lunch or dinner every day

·      All transportation by air-conditioned private coach

·      Complimentary bottled water at hotels and on excursions

·      Sightseeing with qualifiedEnglish-speaking guides

·      All activities

·      All entrance fees

·      Hands-on bandhani workshop

·      Hands-on block printing workshop

·      Taxes and gratuities for guides, drivers, hotels, restaurants

·      Fully escorted by your tour leader

What’s not included:

·      Airfare from your home to join the tour

·      Visa fees (obtained prior to departure, US$82 for India)

·      Meals other than those mentioned above

·      Beverages with meals

·      Fuel surcharges, if applicable

·      Travel insurance

·      Excess baggage charges

·      Items of a personal nature

·      Additional arrangements required due to any emergency or other situation

·      Any item not mentioned in “TourCost Includes”

+ SHOW DETAILED ITINERARY

Accommodation

Trident Nariman Point Mumbai

Trident Nariman Point Mumbai

Nestled in the heart of vibrant and bustling Mumbai this 35-storey hotel has panoramic views of Marine Drive. The 555 spacious and well-appointed rooms and suites offer stunning views of the ocean or the Mumbai city skyline. Relax at the lovely spa or oceanfront pool and enjoy a choice of onsite restaurants.

Ajit Bhawan Jodhpur

Ajit Bhawan Jodhpur

Formerly a royal residence, this is one of India’s first heritage hotels. This charmingly refurbished property has 70 comfortable rooms decorated with colourful Rajasthani fabrics set in cottages around the main building. Meals are taken in the gardens, beside the lovely swimming pool.

ITC Rajputana Jaipur

ITC Rajputana Jaipur

Located 500 m away from Jaipur’s city centre, ITC Rajputana offers modern air-conditioned rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, spa and five food and beverage options. Rooms are decorated with bright colours and painted murals. Excellent Indian cuisine among the five dining options on site.

On The Ground

Jaya Basera

Jaya Basera

Jaya Basera is a heritage consultant with an extensive research background with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. An enthusiastic communicator, Jaya brings a real passion to her tours, connecting the arts to the people engaged in preserving traditions.

Stories

Tales and travelogues from our guests and our team travelling the world, forming new bonds and giving back to the society.

Getting a closer look at a colourful country and its vibrant culture
A well-curated tour across India that combines the best of the North and the South - people, places and heritage.
Story by Wayne Radziminski
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India has something new to offer, no matter how many time you visit it
Story by Lynette Husum
Travelling back in time lost in the beauty of South-east Asia
Flitting across Vietnam and Cambodia, reminiscing the past and revelling in the present
Story by Wayne Radziminski
My new friend at the Pushkar Camel Fair, India
Pushkar Experience
Story by Ruth Brodie
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This trip has fixed departure dates. Above mentioned dates are tentative and subject to change.