Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Delhi. Transfer to Intercontinental Hotel.
Day 2: Delhi
In the morning visit the Crafts Museum & Dilli Haat, a lively market. Afternoon: visit the textile market, Lajpat Nagar, where there are various cloth houses and a visit to Fab India is a must, everyone enjoys their extensive collection of handmade cotton fabrics, ready made garments and at very affordable prices.
Welcome dinner at Pind Baluchi. (B, D)
Day 3: Delhi
Morning visit to Old Delhi including the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat and a walking tour through Chandi Chowk bazaar. (B)
Day 4: Delhi-Agra-Jaipur - Mandawa Haveli
Express train to Agra. Visit Taj Mahal and continue to Jaipur, enroute visit Fatephur Sikri. Evening dinner at Spice Court. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Jaipur
Visit the fort palace at Amber and the Anokhi Design House. In the afternoon we visit the elaborate City Palace, which houses a series of open courtyards, simple stables and buildings leading to the richly decorated royal rooms of the Chandra Mahal. (B)
We also visit Jantar Mantar, the ancient observatory, developed by the scholar king Sawai Jai Singh. An attractive and fascinating place, there are extraordinarily shaped stone monoliths faced with marble, which are accurate even today.
We end our day at the colorful market dominated by the elegant tapering Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Nine stories high, decorated with delicately carved niches and balconies, this pink sandstone facade served as a concrete purdah or screen for the ladies of the royal harem, who would watch the activities of the city from a position of privacy.
Day 6: Jaipur
To offset the stark and barren desert surrounding them, the Rajasthanis show a distinct preference for color. This is reflected in their clothes, festivals and folk art. The state is an important producer of textiles in India, especially the printed and tie-dye varieties. (B, D)
Morning visit to Sanganer Town, where we see the ancient hand tie-dye technique called Bandhej, as well as handmade paper factories. Afternoon visit to Bagru town, about 25 km southeast of Jaipur. Bagru is famous for its block printing on textiles.
The tie-dye Bandhej is a technique actually originally from Rajasthan and Gujarat. The colors traditionally are vibrant; yellow, black, red and green being the predominant ones. This technique is used on lighter shades of browns, turquoise, blue and pink, giving a stunning effect.
What makes the town of Bagru unique is that it has one of the last generations of printers predominantly using traditional vegetable dyes. The Chippa community who specialize in block printing work settled in the area around Bagru and Sanganer and use blocks procured from the Khatis or carpenters of Jaipur, where traditional wood carvers make intricate traditional designs from blocks of teak wood, as they have done for many generations. These blocks are used to print designs on fabrics, especially tablecloths and bedspreads.
Returning to the city we will visit the Johari Bazaar to watch the creation of the traditional Rajasthani Kundan, Minakari and terracotta clay jewelry as well as visit a goldsmith who makes simple, contemporary Indian designs.
Minakari was introduced in the early 16th century by Raja Mn Singh of Amber. Originally the art was used exclusively by the Mughals. Minakari work is the art of enameling on gold, producing brilliant-colored works of art including objects such as plates, goblets and jewelry. Terracotta jewelry is made from clay, colored and then glazed, like blue pottery. We may be able to watch local women do traditional beading. Bead jewelry is readily available in places like the Gem Plaza and Gem Paradise in the MI Bazaar.
We will dine at Surabhi, which has an excellent turban museum displaying over 200 varieties of turbans.
Day 7 Drive to Jodhpur (315 km/5-6 hrs) Ajit Bhawan Hotel
This afternoon we visit the old city market known for tie-dye fabrics as well as for the famous Jodhpur Jhootis, the rugged embroidered slippers. In the market we will find many different tie-dye printed fabrics, each printing technique having its own name. We will spend time with one of the women who specializes in this art. We will also spend time with the people who specialize in the embroidery of the Jhootis.
Jodhpur is well known for its glass bangles, puppets and other folk art. Ornate glass bangles with mirrors embedded and lacquer- finished can be found here. The area around the bazaars is a wonderful example of 19th century town planning, blending Rajasthani concepts with more contemporary styles. (B)
Day 8: Jodphur
We start early this morning as we have a full day of activities. Between 7-10 every morning in the heart of the bazaar, 40-45 ladies assemble for tie-dye. To reach the bazaar we will take a tuk tuk, which is a three wheeled scooter rikshaw. After watching the ladies for as long as you like, you will have independent time to browse this extensive local bazaar. (B, L)
Afterwards: The best way to trace the history of Jodhpur is to visit the 15th century Meherangarh Fort, which dominates the skyline. We will enter through gates which bear the evocative handprints of the Sati queens, women of the royal harem who took their own lives when their men were defeated in battle. The fort has a series of spectacular palaces, each decorated with exquisite engravings, lattice and mirror work. Of particular note is the museum that exhibits a magnificent collection of royal memorabilia.
Afternoon excursion to Ossian, a peaceful village north of Jodhpur in the Thar Desert. The ancient town of Ossian contains the largest group of 8th to 10th century Hindu and Jain Temples in Rajasthan. The typical temple in this area is set on a terrace whose walls are finely decorated with moldings and miniatures. We will have a camel ride in the sand dunes just before sunset. Overnight at Hotel Ranbanka.
Day 9: Drive Jodhpur - Udaipur (275 km / 5-6 hrs) Amit Ki Haveli
Enroute visit Ranakpur- a Jain Temple with 1444 pillars. Surrounded by tangled forests with monkeys abounding in the courtyard, Ranakpur is one of five important pilgrim centers for the Jain community. Noted for its grandiose scale and elaborate ornamentation, of the three temples, the Adinatha is the most outstanding. The whole, including the extraordinary sculptured pillars each distinct in design, carved ceilings, and arches decorated with friezes depicting scenes from the lives of the Jain saints, Jain mythology and cosmology; is breath-taking. Lunch at Maharani Bagh (Mango Orchard of the Maharaja of Jodhpur) near the Temples. (B, L)
Day 10: Udaipur
Morning: half day city tour including the City Palace & Museum, Crystal Palace and Jagdish Temple. We will visit a minature painting artists' studios, bazaars and walk around the old city with a local guide. Sunset private boat ride on Lake Pichola. (B)
Day 11: Drive Udaipur - Ahmedabad- the capital of the state of Gujrat. (292 km / 5-6hrs)
This city is also called the "Manchester of the East" as many textile companies are based here. Afternoon: visit the National Institute of Design, India's premier institute of modern design, and the Shreyas Folk Art Mueum to see the collection of tribal costumes and crafts of Gujrat. Overnight at Hotel Cama.
Day 12: Ahmedabad
Morning visit to the Calico Museum of Textiles, which exibits spectacular antique and modren textiles including rare tapestries, wall hangings and costumes from all the regions of Gujrat as well as the rest of India. See a variety of textiles ranging from incredibly long, colorful embroidered wall hangings to Zari saries embroidered in gold and weighing 9kg. Also on display are old weaving machines.
Afterwards we proceed to Vishala, an authentically created Gujrati crafts village complete with traditionally decorated mud huts where potters and weavers are at work. Here we visit the Vechaar Utensils Museum with its remarkable collection of 2500 Gujrati utensils, including knives and forks and machinery for milking camels!
Afternoon: visit the Sabarmati Ashram, situated on the western bank of the Sabarmati River. This ashram, founded in 1918 by Mahatma Gandhi, who re-vitalized the textile industry here, became the headquarters during the struggle for Indian Independence and it is be-fitting that it is now primarily a spinning wheel factory.
Dinner at a traditional Gujrati vegetarian restaurant with local dance and music. Overnight at Hotel Cama. (B, D)
Day 13: Drive Ahemdabad - Patan - Zainabad Camp Raan Riders
Morning drive to Patan to visit some of its 100 Jain Temples. We then visit the weavers of the colorful Potala silk sari. Afterwards we drive to Zainbad. Camp Raan Riders (cottages, attached western toilets, running hot/cold water). (B, L, D)
Day 14 Zainabad: Camp Raan Riders
Full day excursion to the 'Rann of Kutch' to visit Kutchhi Tribes and to view wildlife. Among others, we will visit Banni settlements to see the traditional handicrafts of these Abyssinian settlers. Their work is the famous glass Embroidery Works. (Special Permission is to be obtained from the police /collector’s office). (B, L, D)
Day 15 Drive Zainbad - Bhujodi - Bhuj Hotel Prince
Visit Bhujodi Village to meet the nomadic Rabari who weave camel wool on pit looms into blankets and shawls. (B)
Day 16: Bhuj Hotel Prince.
In the morning we visit various fascinating tribal villages that surround Bhuj. Each tribe can be identified by its traditional attire and specializes in a different form of handicraft. (B)
We also drive to Sumarsar village, famous for Scoof Embroidery, and Nirona Village with its fabulous `Rogan art & bell making. You can also see some lace work done here. Later we drive on to Mundra Village to see the making of sheep wool, including wax printing. Overnight at Hotel Prince.
Day 17: Bhuj - Bombay
Morning: city tour of Bhuj City, visiting the Palace Museum and Temples. Afternoon: transfer to airport to connect to flight 9W348 (dep. 15:15 arr. 16:35). On arrival transfer to hotel Ambassador. (B)
Day 18: Bombay
Morning ferry to Elephanta Caves. Afternoon: a half day city tour of Mumbai visiting Gate Way of India, Hanging Garden, Prince of Wales Museum and Mahatma Gandhi’s residence. (B)
Shared rooms for wash/change; farewell dinner. Late evening transfer to the international airport for flight home.
Our Escort: Ajay Sood holds a degree in Indian History and has been associated with the travel trade for the last fifteen years, leading tours all over the country as well as to Nepal and Sri Lanka. He has escorted special interest tours on crafts and culture on the Indian Subcontinent for several renowned American and European travel companies including Ventours, Abercrombie & Kent, Geographic Expeditions, OAT, Sita USA, Bales Tours, Cox & Kings, Mandala Tours and Spirit of India. With excellent contacts and deep insight into Indian cultures it is most rewarding traveling with him.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price includes: accompanying escort Delhi-Bhuj , accommodations, daily breakfast & other meals as mentioned in itinerary, air conditioned transport for 4-6 people in Tempo Traveller, Train tickets in air conditioned Chair car Delhi - Agra, monument entrance and still camera fees, all activities listed, services of professional local guides for sightseeing of monuments, mineral water and soft drinks during sightseeing and long drives, porterage, India Gov 4.98% Service Tax.
Price excludes: international air, insurance, tips, departure taxes, video camera fees, personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, drinks.
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