Gujarat: Textile and Handicraft Tour

(Road Trip of 150 km, covered in 3 hours)

• Post breakfast, based on a prior appointment, you will be taken to see the globally renowned Calico Museum. The Calico industry has existed since the 15 th century, in 1949 Gautam Sarabhai set up the textile museum. It houses antique and ancient textiles that are a visual treat.
• After the museum, you will take a drive to the ancient fortified city of Patan. It is 150 km away and will be covered in 3 hours. Patan is famous for the Patola weaving, considered to be the finest hand woven sarees. A normal saree takes 4 to 6 months to finish, which makes it a dying art in today’s fast paced world. Afterwards, you will go see the Rani ki vav or the Queen’s stepwell. This richly sculptured monument was built by Udaymati in memory of her husband Bhima I(1022 – 1063),
•  After this trip down memory lane, you will return to Ahmedabad for the night.

(Road Trip of 380 km, covered in 7 hours)

• Post breakfast, early morning, you will depart for Kutch. It is home to some of India’s most colorful heritage. Nomads or gypsies have travelled through Bhuj for centuries, the numerous exchanges of tribal ware reflects in the present day handwork.
• En route Bhuj, you will take a break at Ajrakhpur, known for the famous Ajrakh prints. Initially started by the Khatri community who came from Sindh and were patronized by the ruler of Kutch. This work is normally seen in blue with red. The word Ajrakh comes from azarak which means blue in Arabic & Persian.
• Once you reach Bhuj and are checked into the hotel, you can rejuvenate till the evening, when you will be able to explore the local markets and their offers. When you exhaust yourself, you will return to the hotel for the night.

• After a hearty breakfast, you will take a trip to Mandvi to explore the art of Mashru. Mandvi is considered the center of the Mashru legacy. It was woven specifically for the Muslim communities who believed that silk should not touch a person’s skin. So weavers mixed cotton and silk threads to weave Mashru, or ‘this is allowed’ as the word means. The art has brought communities together, the Ahir Patels farmed the cotton, which was handspun and given to the weavers, the Rabari and Ahir women would work their magic into the fabric through their exquisite embroidery.
• After Mashru, you will be taken to see block printing that dates back to the time of the Ramayana, the artwork has been brought forward by generations of skilled artisans.
• In the evening, you will visit the beautiful Vijay Vilas palace, it was built by Maharao Shri Khengarji III, the Maharao of Kutch, as a summer resort for his son, Yuvraj Shri Vijayraji and hence the name. The construction started in 1920 and went on for nine years.
• Once you have your fill, you will head back to Bhuj for the night.

(Road trip of 50 km, covered in 1 hour)

• Post breakfast, you head towards Nakhatrana. It is renowned for its lacquer work on wood. The word itself is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Laksha’ which means wax, used for both the LAC insect and the resinous secretion that results in the Lac. The town is also known for the art of ‘Rogan’, the art of painting that dates back over 3 to 4 centuries.
• After this enlightening trip, you will be checked into the hotel for a restful night.

This morning after breakfast departs for Hodko on way visit Sumrasar village for Weaving of Shawl and Stole – Weaving in Kutch is a traditional profession and skills are passed on from father to son. After having an experience of Weaving we will depart for Hodko check in to hotel and after rest in evening we will visit white desert during sunset and return to resort. Shawl and stole weaving – This Textile legacy in the state has a chequered history dating back three thousand years to the Indus valley civilization. Years of migrations, conquests, and trade coupled with the ingenuity of the Gujarati craftsmen resulted in a vast variety of weaving, printing, painting and dyeing techniques. The craftsmen of Gujarat have a close affinity with nature and eulogize nature’s bounties in the design perception of their craft form. Textile traditions in Gujarat follow a variety of different styles, colour, patterns and themes.

Early morning after breakfast we will depart to Khavda for clay Artclay craft is ingrained deeply into Gujarat’s ancient tradition and since then has continued to enchant the world. Then wooden craft – wood carving is a famous and traditional craft of Gujarat. And leather work – leather artisans of Gujarat are adept at sculpting and stamping the material into a variety of products which are finding favour in today’s contemporary market. We shall also visit certain villages for traditional Kutch embroidery. Night halt in Hodko.

(Road trip of 425 km, covered in 5 hours)

• Your breakfast awaits you from 7.30 hrs onwards
• Thereafter, our team will assure a smooth check out and soon you head to Ahmedabad.
• On arrival in Ahmedabad, you will be checked into the hotel so you can freshen up before the next adventure.
• You will experience a local home to understand the culture better. The evening will be planned to give you the experience of the Indian home with an Indian family.
• With these last captivating memories, you would return to the hotel for a restful sleep.

• In the morning at 7.45 hrs, you will be taken to participate in the illustrious heritage walk which is conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad.
• The walk showcases the marvels of the 6 centuries old city, the evolving architecture comprises of the finest Islamic monuments, Hindu and Jain temples. The ‘walled city’ gives you the essence of the transition through history as you walk through the various ‘Pols’ and ‘Chowks’, which form the into self- sufficient neighbourhoods and market spaces, that reflect the cultural richness.
• After this enriching experience, you will head back to hotel to check out.
• Thereafter you will be taken to the airport to head back home.