OVERVIEW

 

The story of Indian craft is woven into the heritage of the country and the skills behind these crafts have been passed down through the generations. Our journey will take us into Rajasthan and

Gujarat to explore these ancient cultural practices. Come and join us as we discover the Land of Wonders.

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Meet the crafters, explore their craft, listen to their stories....

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Interactive workshops

• Bagru & Dabu in Bagru Village, Jaipur

• Kalamkari in Ahmedabad

• Tie & Dye in Bhuj

• Ajarakh in Ajrakhpur

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ITINERARY

 

Day 1 - Arrive Delhi

On arrival at Delhi International airport, after clearing immigration formalities, you will meet our representative in the arrival hall. He will further assist you to your vehicle and then to your hotel for check-in formalities. (Standard check-in time is 1200 hours)
The day is free to explore the city on your own

Overnight stay at the hotel. (No meals included on this day)

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Day 2 - Delhi

After breakfast you will leave for a combined full day city tour of Old and New Delhi. We start the tour from Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk. This part of Delhi will transport you back to the in Old Mughal era. While walking through old lanes you will see big wooden carved antique doors, big havelis (mansions), narrow lanes and busy bustling life. Taste the lip smacking street food in Old Delhi market area. In the afternoon you will visit Dilli Haat is where the culture of all states of India come together After sightseeing welcome dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight stay at hotel. 

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Day 3 Delhi - Agra

Breakfast at hotel After breakfast drive to Agra. The land of the Taj is not only famous for the biggest allure “Taj Mahal” but also legacy of the Mughals. Their legacy can be seen in mausoleums, tombs and magnificent forts On arrival check in at the hotel. Later visit Mehtab Bagh where you can see the Taj Mahal from across the river at sunset. Overnight stay at hotel.

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Day 4 - Agra - Jaipur (approx. 260 Kms / 5-6 hours)

Early morning sunrise visit of Taj Mahal. (Closed on Friday). Return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast drive to Jaipur en-route visit Abhaneri Stepwell. It is one of the largest step wells in the world and also one of the most beautiful ones. Located in the eastern part of the province of Rajasthan, it was built by King Chanda somewhere in the 9th century. The Chand Baori is not an easy landmark to find, thus it is one of the hidden secrets of India Chand Baori one was built during the 8th and 9th centuries and has 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry, which descend 20m to the bottom of the well. Centuries ago, the step wells were built in the arid zones of Rajasthan to provide water all year through. Today, the construction is not used as a well anymore but its exquisite geometry attracts local and international visitors. After visiting the step well continue the drive to Jaipur.  Jaipur also known as pink city because of its wall colour which are exclusively painted in pink colour. This colourful city has chaotic streets, colourful auto rickshaw and lively culture. It is the gateway to Rajasthan vacation, here you can still see royal life, forts and Palaces reflecting glorious past. On arrival check in at hotel. Evening will be at leisure to relax or to pursue independent activities.

Overnight stay hotel.

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Day 5 - Exploring local craft of Jaipur

• A visit to the magnificent Amber Fort which is built from yellow and pink sandstone.

• Witness the making of precious stone jewellery when you visit a workshop of semi-precious and precious stone jewellery. Check out the amazing jewellery collections too. 

• You will also visit a silver jewellery showroom, showcasing modern, contemporary and traditional jewellery designs.

• Get lost in the famous Blue Pottery shop in Jaipur. Once a native craft of Persia, Blue Pottery was brought to India by the Mughals and later got patronized by Indian ruler (mostly Rajput).  This blue pottery technique is an imported one. It is a mix of Chinese glazing technology with Persian decorative arts. Blue pottery caught the local people’s interest and many started learning this craft soon, most of the Kumbhar (pottery) families also shifted from working on red clay to blue pottery later, on a larger scale. Eventually blue pottery craft flourished in and around Jaipur.

• Enjoy browsing the Jaipuri Mojri (Sandals) showroom. Thereafter visit a textile showroom showcasing amazing textile products like cushions, bed covers, art objects etc. Here you can see carpet weaving and many craftsman doing block printing. 

• Later visit making of Lac Bangles. There is a high demand for lac bangles mostly during festivals and occasions in India. Foreigners have started adorning these Lac bangles and are even exporting these bangles to foreign countries. In the evening you will visit a bustling yet colourful market showcasing beautiful handicraft, Rajasthan jewellery and shoes. You can get your hands painted with traditional Indian design of henna. 

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Day 6 - Jaipur

Breakfast at hotel After breakfast drive to Bagru Village, about 30km from Jaipur. (01 Hour) Earlier, block printing was famous in large parts of Rajasthan but due to modern printing technology, and less demand, the work is limited and done at some places only. Bagru village is one of those places where traditional Hand block printing work is still done. Get in touch with your creative side, or develop your skills, while learning from a skilled crafts person. Be fascinated by the prints made with small wooden blocks and colours extracted from nature. Check in at ocal artist workshop to prepare your own hand block print cloth using Bagru and Dabu techniques. During the workshop we will provide you light snacks. We will also walk around the village and witness the people doing this craft. It will be a random walk. Return to Jaipur. Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

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Day 7 - Jaipur

Breakfast at hotel

This day will be free to explore Jaipur in your own way.
Enjoy an evening cooking demonstration with a local family followed by dinner. In this interactive session with the family, you will come to know about different spices used in Indian food, Indian values, culture and tradition. In short this will provide basic information about spices and Indian habits. Overnight stay at the hotel.

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Day 8 Jaipur – Ahmedabad (flight)

Early morning pick up. You will be supplied a packed breakfast and transfer to the airport to board the flight for Ahmedabad. Meeting and assistance on arrival at the airport and transfer to hotel. Later attend Waghri community demonstration and workshop of Mata Ni Pacheri kalamkari work, Mata Ni Pachedi also known as Kalamkari Work: The holy cloth used as an offering to the goddess; the community that is making the painting is known as Vaghari. You visit the studio of National award winner artisan to see his work and enjoy a workshop here. Then drive back to the Hotel.

Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel

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Day 9 - Ahmedabad - Bhuj (flight)

Breakfast at hotel After breakfast the you will be transferred to airport to board the flight for Bhuj. On arrival at Bhuj airport transfer to the hotel. After check-in proceed to a small town just 8 km south east of Bhuj, Bhujodi. It is a major textile centre of Kutch, with the vast majority of the 1200 inhabitants involved in textile handicraft production. Here you can meet weavers, tie-dye artists and block printers, most of whom belong to the Vankar community. We will also visit the house of Rabari. Later watch Kharad Weaving done by Meghwal community (demonstration only). Later drive back to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

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Day 10 - Bhuj

Breakfast at hotel In the morning you drive to Bhuj.

On arrival, visit Ajrakhpur Village and participate in a Block Printing workshop (Approx 3-4 hrs):
In Ajrakh Block printing only natural dyes are used. The Khatri community, whose ancestors have been printing with Ajrakh blocks for centuries, migrated to Dhamadka, Kachchh from Sindh and then moved to Ajrakpur  we visit the studio of block printer and today will be a work shop on Block Printing (approx 4 hrs work shop) you will try your hand on Block printing The word Ajrakh is derived from the word Azarukh which means Blue in Arabic and Persian.  There are more than 16 stages and it takes up to 25 days or more to complete all the stages.  Some of the stages are mentioned below for your reference which the clients will be taught during the workshop.  It’s not possible to see all the stages in 04 days but the artisan will explain to them various stages. Lunch (Either we go back to Hotel In Bhuj for Lunch or you can Have Box Lunch from your Hotel) and then visit LLDC Museum (Closed on Mondays and Public Holidays). (Direct payment basis) Later while driving back to hotel visit the house of Late Mr AA Wazir and his sons to see the beautiful collection of the textiles which they have. There will be some of the pieces for sale.. Overnight stay at hotel

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Day 11 - Bhuj

After breakfast proceed to participate in a Tie & Dye workshop for approx. 3-4 hours. After lunch visit the Swami Narayan Temple. In Bhuj also visit the cenotaph of the royals of Kutch, later visit Bhuj market. Drive back to the hotel
Overnight stay at hotel

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Day 12 - Bhuj 

After breakfast we drive to the Banni region, it’s a full day excursion and we visit villages in this region to see different art and craft of the region. Nirona Village Copper Bell Making or visit Zura Village to see Copper Bell Making: See the musical crescendo signals a phoenix like birth of a new bell emerging from mud and fire. Iron bells enameled in copper and bronze, so many shapes and size emitting melodies which are soft yet carry sonorously through the desert air.

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Day 13 - Bhuj – Ahmedabad (flight)

Breakfast at hotel Post breakfast the guests will be transferred to airport to board the flight for Ahmedabad. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Later drive to Pethapur to see the making of wooden blocks. Later visit Mahatma Gandhi Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad:- Sabarmati Ashram (also known as  Harijan  Ashram) was home to Mohandas Gandhi from 1917 until 1930 and served as one of the main centres of the Indian freedom struggle. Originally called the Satyagraha Ashram, reflecting the movement toward passive resistance launched by the Mahatma, the Ashram became home to the ideology that set India free. Sabarmati Ashram named for the river on which it sits River Sabarmati. Return to hotel. Dinner and Overnight stay at hotel.

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Day 14 - Ahmedabad - Delhi (flight)

Early breakfast at hotel and proceed for a heritage walk. Later enjoy Old city tour of Ahmedabad. This walk will let you know insight of Gujrati culture their, food habits, history and insight about their life. Leave the hotel positively between 07:30 to 07:45 hours. Reporting time at Calico Museum 10:15 Hours (Visit of Calico Museum is subject to permission).
Post breakfast proceed to visit Calico Museum. Later visit Calico Museum (CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND STRICTLY SUBJECT TO PERMISSiON IN ADVANCE) in Morning, experience one of India’s best Textile Museum. The collection of fabrics spanning varied and remote regions of India and exemplifies handicrafts spread across five centuries. The textile were collected with vision to conserve, build awareness and empower the vast and deep textile heritage of India There are some astoundingly beautiful pieces, displaying incredible virtuosity and extravagance. You’ll see Kashmiri shawls that took three years to make, and double ikat cloths whose 100,000 threads were each individually dyed before weaving.   Later transfer to airport to board the flight for Delhi. On arrival at Delhi airport connect flight for onward destination.

(In Delhi we have not included dinner or accommodation on this day)

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

 

• Accommodation for 13 nights based on above mentioned hotels on DOUBLE/TWIN sharing basis

• Meals are included as follows:  Breakfast is included at all the hotels at hotel’s coffee shop on buffet basis

• (Please note that on the arrival day breakfast & dinner is not included)

• 2nd Day dinner is included at Delhi’s local restaurant of fixed menu basis

• In Agra dinner will be at local restaurant on fixed menus basis

•  01 Lunch will be on fixed menu basis at a local Jaipur restaurant

• 01 Dinner with local family along with cooking demonstration in Jaipur

• In Ahmedabad dinner will be at hotel’s coffee shop on fixed menu basis  

• In Bhuj we have included dinner at local hotel in Bhuj

• Please note that at Bhuj hotel vegetarian breakfast will be served

• (All the other lunches except 01 lunch in Jaipur will be on direct payment basis)

• All transportation i.e. airport transfers, sightseeing and interstate drives will done using a Tempo Traveller (18 seater)

• We have envisaged the cost of English speaking local guide for Delhi, Agra and Jaipur

• For Gujarat we have included the services of English speaking accompanied guide

• We have included 01 time entrance fee as per the itinerary 

• Bottled water and wet tissue throughout in the vehicle

• All currently applicable taxes (5% Goods & Service Tax)

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WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

 

• International airfare

• Domestic airfare or Internal flights

• Visa charges

• Any room service, telephone charges, mini bar, gratuities, tips

• Any expenses of personal nature & Insurance of any kind

• Any meals not specified in the itinerary

• Any item not specified under ‘cost includes’