Rajasthan Gujarat Textile & Art Tour

Day 01- Arrive Delhi by international flight

On arrival at Delhi International airport after clearing immigration formalities, you will meet our representative in arrival hall holding paging of your name. He will further assist you to your vehicle and then hotel check-in formalities. (Standard check-in time is 1200 hours)

Afternoon visit Sanskriti Museum, The Museums of Everyday Art, Indian Terracotta and Textiles are a conduit for the preservation and presentation of indigenous heritage, craftsmanship, aesthetic functionality and cultural practices.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02- Delhi

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast you will be proceed for combined full day city tour of Old and New Delhi. We start the tour from Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk this part of Delhi will take you in Old Mughal era, while walking through old lanes you can see big wooden carved antique doors, big havelis (mansion), narrow lanes and busy bustling life. You must taste lip smacking street food in Old Delhi market area. Then you will visit India’s largest Mosque “Jama Masjid” where at a time 25,000 can accommodate.

Post lunch visit New Delhi or Lutyens Delhi, beautifully designed by “Sir Edwin Lutyens”, drive pass India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Connaught Place. Later continue the sightseeing visiting, Humayun Tomb, the tomb was built in 1570 and was the first garden tomb made by Humayun’s son Akbar. It is Unesco world heritage site.

Conclude the sightseeing with the visit of “Qutub Minar”, the stunning red stone tower is 72.5 m high with 2.75m in diameter. It is also UNESCO site.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03- Delhi – Agra (approx. 203 Kms/ 4 hours)

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast drive to Agra. The land of the Taj is not only famous for the biggest allure “Taj Mahal” but also legacy of Mughals which they had left behind. Their legacy can be seen in mausoleums, tombs and magnificent fort.

On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day will be at leisure.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04- Agra – Jaipur (approx. 260 Kms/ 5-6 hours)

Early morning sunrise visit of Taj Mahal. (Closed on Friday).

Return to hotel for breakfast. Post 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 stepwells 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. About 64 feet deep, it is India’s largest and deepest stepwells with 13 floors and was built in the 9th century for water harvesting.

After visiting step well continue drive to Jaipur.  Jaipur also known as pink city because of its wall color which are exclusively painted in pink color. This colorful city has chaotic streets, colorful 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.

Day 05- Jaipur

After breakfast proceed to visit Amber Fort en-route stop at Hawa Mahal for clicking some pictures.it is a stunning 5 story building. It was built to enable royal ladies see daily lives of the city or some function or procession as those days ladies had to cover their faces. Later visit Birla Mandir.

Later beautiful Jaipuri Mojri (Sandals) showroom. After see the fascinating design of traditional Jaipuri Sandals, we will visit textile showroom showcasing amazing textile products like cushions, bedcovers, art objects etc. Here you can see carpet weaving and many craftsman doing block printing preparing different awesome designs with different color theme.

Then we visit workshop of semi-precious and precious stone jewelry, how the craftsman are cutting and shaping the stones. Check out the amazing jewelry collections too. Later also visit silver jewelry stone showcasing modern, contemporary and traditional jewelry designs.

Later visit making of Lac Bangles. Bangles are known by many different names across the country.  There is a high demand for lac bangles mostly during festivals and occasions in India. Even foreign people has started adorning these Lac bangles and are even exporting these bangles to foreign countries. Many tourists from foreign countries comes to India in search of Lac Bangles, stays in India for few months practicing this craft and after learning goes back to their countries to produce lac bangles. Jaipur is recognized as a chief center of art and crafts in India.

Evening you will visit bustling yet colorful market showcasing beautiful handicraft, Rajasthan jewelry and shoes. You can get your hand painted with traditional Indian design of henna.

On this day you can give your fabric to get stitched and on the departure day on the last night in Jaipur you can get you suit/ Kurta ready. (Optional)

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06- Jaipur

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast drive to Bagru Village. Bagru village is about 30 kms from Jaipur. (01 Hour)

Earlier block painting was famous in large parts of Rajasthan but due to modern printing technology and demand the work is limited and done at some places only. Bagru village is one of those places where still traditional Hand block painting work is done. Get in touch with your creative side, or develop your skills, while learning side by side our skilled craftsperson. Be fascinated by the prints made with small wooden blocks and colors extracted from nature.

We will take you around the village showing you different process and techniques of Bagru and Dabu print. Also see the wooden blocks and vegetable dye use in the printing process. Then, time to make your own prints! Enjoy the block prints workshop session. Then take back your printed scarf done by you.

During the workshop we will provide you light snacks. Return to Jaipur. Lunch at local restaurant.

Later proceed for Sanganer. Sanganer : Sanganer is a small township situated approximately 16 kilometers away from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Known for its famous handmade paper industry and the textile printing industry, Sanganer is very famous for Jain pilgrimage services. The handmade paper industry is famous all over the country, and is known to manufacture supreme quality handmade paper. Floral and block prints are also a specialty with the Sanganer block printers and artisans. The idea behind the handmade paper industry was initiated by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1728. Apart from the flourishing industries, Sanganer is also known for its medieval ruins and primeval temples that are deeply rooted in the culture and heritage of the settlement.

Later visit Blue Pottery is one of the well-known crafts of Jaipur. It was once a native craft of Persia that was brought to India by 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. Blue pottery has made its mark among few of other crafts in Jaipur.

On arrival visit this small township, see people making beautiful fabrics using natural colors. Also visit handmade paper factory. Return to Jaipur.  Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07- Jaipur

Breakfast at hotel

This day will be free to explore Jaipur in your own way.

Evening dinner with a local family followed by dinner. In this interactive session with the family and cooking demonstration you will come to know about different spices use in Indian food and Indian value, culture and tradition.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 08- Jaipur – Ahmedabad by flight Deaprture 08:40/Arrival 10:00 hrs

              Ahmedabad –Patan (2.5 hours to 3 hours one way)

Early morning pick up with packed breakfast and transfer to 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. we visit the studio of National award winner artisan to see his work (Demonstration Only) then drive back to the Hotel.  Over Night in Ahmedabad.

Mahatma Gandhi Sabarmati Ashram:- 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.

Also visit Jumma Masjid, Mosque of Siddi Saiyyed. Mosque of Sidi  Saiyyed:-  Sidi  Saiyyed  Mosque  is  one  of  most  well-known  mosques  of Ahmedabad, and it’s famous ‘Tree of Life Jali’ or latticework done on  the  semi-  circular arch-windows has come to symbolise the city and its grandeur known for its architecture.

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.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 09- Ahmedabad – Little Rann of Kutch (approx. 250 Kms/6 hrs drive)

Breakfast and drive to Little Rann of Kutch

After breakfast check out and we drive to Sidhpur to see the Bori Muslim haveli (Mansions)  lunch can be organised with one of the Bori Muslim family at Sidhpur, after lunch we drive to Patan to see Rani Ki Vav also known as Queens Step well (UNESCO Listed Monument) Rani Ki Vav (UNESCO listed monument) at Patan:it is a beautiful and painstakingly restored seven-storied step well. Built in 1050 for the Solanki queen Udaimati, it is the oldest and finest stepwell in Gujarat. It boasts some 800 individual, elaborately carved sculptures.after that we visit the Patola Museum to see Double Ikat weaving  Patola Weaver: Patan was an ancient Hindu Capital before it was attacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024. Now a pale shadow of it remains, Patan is also famous for its beautifully designed Patola silk saris and after the visit  we drive to Modhera village to see the beautiful Modhera Sun Temple Sun Temple at Modhera: Sun Temple of Modhera was built by King Bhimdev I (1026-27) and bears some resemblance to the later and far better known, Sun Temple of Konark in the state of Orissa, which it predates by some 200 years. Like that temple, it was designed so that the dawn sun shone on the image of Surya, the sun God, at the time of the equinoxes and continue our drive to Dasada or Bajana.

Overnight stay at Resort.

Day 10- Little Rann of Kutch

Breakfast at hotel

Morning will be at leisure. Post lunch visit Kharapati Rabari community to see some embroidery work.

Later visit the nearby village and see Tangaliya weaking and Ikat weaving.

Evening will be at leisure. Overnight stay at resort.

Day 11- Little Rann of Kutch – Bhuj  (approx. 250 Kms. 5.5 Hours drive)

Breakfast at hotel

Morning we drive  to Bhuj, on arrival visit Ajrakhpur Village and participate in a Block Printing workshop (Approx 4 hrs): Ajrakh Block printing by the use of natural Dyes. 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.

First is the purchase of fabric from the textile mills or market depending on the requirement.

Stage 2 Cutting of fabric as per the size required for various products.

Stage 3 Washing of the Fabric.  This is done for removal of starch from the fabric and this helps the dye to be absorbed on the fabric.

Stage 4 Removal of starch.  The fabric is soaked overnight in a mixture of soda, castor oil water and camel dung and the next morning it is washed in water along with beating the fabric to remove excess oil and starch etc. then the fabric is dried for a day or two. Before they start the next process

Stage 5 dipping the fabric in Myrobalam and letting in dry for a day.

Stage 6 Resisting printing.  To print the outline, or resist printing. For this they make a mix of water along with Lime and Gum Arabic. The past is then used for printing on the fabric.

Stage 7 printing with rust iron Paste.  A paste of rust Iron is prepared by letting the iron ferment in big tubs along with water, gram flour and Molasses for a period of 15 days and the water is then mixed with tamarind seed powder and boiled to make it thick. And is used for printing

Stage 8 Printing with Alum; a mixture of tamarind seed powder, alum and water is boiled to make it a thick past and it is used for printing to get red colour. And it is boiled in Alizarine.

Stage 9 Resist Printing Millet flour and water are mixed together till it forms a thick past and it is also mixed with clay, alum and molasses. And then it is used for printing. After printing saw dust is sprinkled over the printed area. The fabric is allowed to dry for a day or 2 and then it is ready for dyeing.

Stage 10 fabric is dipped in the Indigo Vat for a couple of minutes and taken out and dried the fabric is allowed to be in the open until evening and then it is folded and picked up and kept in a room and it is ready for washing.

Stage 11 the fabric is washed in water to remove the sawdust and degumming and allowed to dry before boiling it the next day.

Stage 12 boiling the fabric to get red colour. The fabric is dipped in a boiling solution of Alizarinne, alum and water and some other flowers are added to it after it is boiled for a couple of minutes it is taken out and put for drying in the open.

Likewise the steps are repeated using different natural dyes to get different colour sometimes the fabric is also sprayed with turmeric solution and a solution made from Pomegranate skin.

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  LLDC Museum(Closed on Mondays and Public Holidays) drive back to hotel and Over night

Day 12- Bhuj

Post breakfast we drive to 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.

Visit Nirona village to see Rogan Painting: A traditional textile art form involving painting on fabric. The art of Rogan originated in Syria and is practiced through Peshawar, Lahore, Sindh and Kutch. The colour making process itself is time consuming and involves great skill.http://www.roganartnirona.com/

Bhirandiyara village to see Meghwal Embroidery: Meghwal people are known for their fine embroidery and colourful mud bhungas.

Later visit Hodko Village To see quilt making and leather craft and  Veg lunch can be arranged at Shaam-E-Sharhad.http://www.hodka.in/  or you can have box lunch from your hotel.

If time permits and if clients are interested we Visit Dhordo village to see Muthwa Embroidery: One of the most intricate and meticulous form of embellishment which intensifies the elegance and flamboyance of any textile product. The varied collection of motifs used in Mutwa embroidery almost compliments the diverse stitches used in this art form.

If time permits also visit White Rann.  Drive back to Bhuj and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 13- Bhuj 

Post breakfast we drive to a 2 different village to see some weaving of shawls and Rugs,

Bhujodi

A small town just 8 km southeast of Bhuj, Bhujodi is a major textile center 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. Later drive back to Bhuj (You can have Lunch either at Comfort Inn, Hotel Ilark or at some Café) After lunch we visit the studio of an artisan to see tie and dye work (Demonstration only) and later visit the Bhuj market.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 14- Bhuj 

Today we will visit a village to see Ahir embroidery Ahir Embroidery:Ahir community from Dhaneti is famous for their embroidery & they use mirrors in various shapes: round, lozenge, rectangular, square, triangular, and beak shaped. Little mirrors encircled with chain stitch forming geometrical and abstract patterns, enriches any garment or home furnishing with of natural simplicity.Lunch enroute in a local restaurant.

Later visit tie and dye demonstration. Return to hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 15- Bhuj –Ahmedabad by flight Departure 12:30/ Arrival 13:35 Hours

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast the guests will be transferred to airport to board the flight for Ahmedabd.

Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.

Rest of the will be at leisure to relax and explore this city in your own way.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 16- Ahmedabad –Delhi by flight Departure 18:05 / Arrival 19:50 Hours

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast proceed to visit Calico Museum. Later visit Calico Museum (CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND STRICLTY SUBJECT TO PERMISSON 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 doubleikat cloths whose 100,000 threads were each individually dyed before weaving.  (REPORTING TIME 10:15 Hours).

Post lunch visit Petapur block printing workshop. (45 minutes one way from Ahmedabad). After the visit of Petapur the guests will be transferred to Ahmedabad airport.

Meeting and assistance on arrival at Delhi airport and transfer to hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 17- Depart Delhi by international flight

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast you will be transferred to international airport to board the flight for onward destination.

All hotels check-in 1400 hrs and check-out time 12 Noon.

Note: Distance / approximate drive time based on Indian Road conditions.  Drive time may reduce / exceeds depends on the traffic conditions city to city on that particular day