GUJARAT: TEXTILES, ARTS AND CULTURE 2020 A fourteen day fully escorted small group or tailor-made tour to discover the arts, crafts, history, culture and landscapes of Gujarat.
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GUJARAT: TEXTILES, ARTS AND CULTURE 2020
A fourteen day fully escorted small group or tailor-made tour to discover the arts, crafts,
history, culture and landscapes of Gujarat.
Day 1 ARRIVE AT AHMEDABAD
Guests will be met by a Red Panda representative and transferred to the hotel.
Ahmedabad is the largest city in the state of Gujarat. The Sabarmati river runs
through its Centre. On the western bank is the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati,
which displays the spiritual leader’s living quarters and artifacts. Across the
river, the Calico Museum of Textiles, once a cloth merchant's mansion, has a
significant collection of antique and modern fabrics.
(Activities for the day will be arranged according to arrival time.)
Overnight: House of MG (Classic room) https://houseofmg.com/
Day 2 AHMEDABAD
Breakfast at the hotel
09.30 hrs: Visit the Calico Museum this is the primary textile museum of India renowned
for its distinguished and comprehensive collection of Indian textiles, it is one of
the most celebrated institutions of its kind in the world.
The guided tour starts at 10.30 AM and ends at 1.00 PM. Entry is permitted only
between 10.15 AM and 10.30 AM.
Closed: Wednesdays and public holidays
13.00 hrs: Lunch at a local restaurant
14.30 hrs: Visit Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum
The Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum complex consists of two buildings. The main
building is a colonial house built in 1905 which showcases over a thousand years
of Indian art. The selections on display are paintings from the Persian, Mughal,
Deccan, Pahari and Rajasthani schools, Tibetan Thangkas, Company School
portraits, modernist paintings from the Bengal School, and painted postcards
from pre-independent India. Art in stone, metal, wood and Bidri covers a span
of more than a thousand years In the adjacent building, the Claude Batley house,
built in the 1930s, space has been created to house temporary exhibitions,
retrospectives of artists and display of works by young artists
16.00 hrs: Visit the Shreyas Museum: Shreyas museums were created in 1974 to become a
dynamic medium of learning. The museums' house objects that are gathered
from all states of India, and from various countries. These objects are of
ceremonial use, domestic use, masks, costumes, weapons, toys, musical
instruments, and many handicrafts.
The Lokayatan Folk Museum contains objects of crafts, utensils, domestic items,
costumes and ceremonial objects from different communities and tribes in
Gujarat. The collection contains exquisite pieces of colourful embroidery,
beadwork, woodcarving, metalwork and leather work, which are documented
and displayed with details of origin. With an aim to generate an appreciation of
local heritage, this place educates students about the rich diversity of traditions
and lifestyles in the state.The Kalpana Mangaldas Balayatan Museum has an
extensive collection of Toys, Crafts and objects of performing arts from fifty-four
states and countries.
Kathani is a gallery of Shreyas Fairs and Festivals. Kathani is a rich documentation
of pictures and photographs of all the performances that were taken during fairs
and festivals, comprising of puppet shows, stage shows, drama, shadow plays,
folk and classical performances, dances, stalls and displays of arts, crafts and
food stalls.
Sangeet Vadyakhand is a gallery of musical instruments of India and other
countries. It is a repository of string instruments, bow, percussion and wind
musical instruments used in classical and folk music.
Visiting times: Tuesday to Saturday: 3:00 to 5:30 pm Sunday: 10.30 am to 1:30
pm, 3:00 to 5:30 pm
Closed: Monday and public holidays
17.30 hrs: Return to hotel Overnight: House of MG
Day 3 AHMEDABAD
Breakfast at the hotel
08.00 hrs: Guided heritage walk of historical city Ahmedabad including a visit to the Siddi
Saiyed Mosque - the cultural symbol of Ahmedabad city.
10.00 hrs: Return to hotel.
11.30 hrs: Proceed to view Ambalal Pichwai Collection (Subject to permission as this is a
private collection)
13.00 hrs: Return to hotel.
14.00 hrs: The Ahmedabad Trunk Textile Gallery at the House of MG houses a rare
treasure of Gujarati textile arts that spans multiple techniques, materials and
practices from many areas of Gujarat.
15.00 hrs: Drive to Gandhi Ashram: Also known as Sabarmati Ashram – the house where
Mahatma Gandhi had stayed for 13 years and from where the historic Dandi
march had begun.
18.00 hrs: Return to hotel. Later Thali dinner at Agashiya, the popular roof top restaurant
at the House of MG. Overnight: House of MG
Day 4 AHMEDABAD – PATAN – MODHERA - DASADA
Breakfast at the hotel
08.00 hrs: Drive to Patan (125 kms/2 hrs 40 mts approx)
Check-out and drive to Patan
11.00 hrs: Visit Patola House- the last workshop hand crafting exquisite double ikat Patola
fabrics.
12.00 hrs: Lunch at Patola House - a simple, authentic Gujarati meal.
13.00 hrs: Visit the Rani ka Vav – the Queens stepwell. This is one of the most beautiful
stepwells in the country.
Rani-ki-Vav, on the banks of the Saraswati River, was initially built as a memorial
to a king in the 11th century AD. Stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean
water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent, and have been
constructed since the 3rd millennium BC
14.30 hrs: Continue drive to Modhera (34 kms/45 mts approx)
14.30 hrs: Visit Sun Temple at Modhera - dedicated to the Sun God worshipped by Hindus.
16.00 hrs: Continue to Dasada (48 kms/01 hr 10 mts approx)
17.15 hrs: Arrive Dasada and check in at hotel.
Overnight: Rann Riders (Cottage) http://www.rannriders.com/index.html
Day 05 DASADA
07.30 hrs: Cross-desert safari across the Little Rann of Kutch in open vehicles.
The Rann of Kutch is a geographically unique landscape that was once an arm of
the Arabian Sea. As the land separated from the sea by geological forces, it
became a vast, featureless plain encrusted with salt that is inundated with water
during the rains.The safari across the Little Rann visits the 'bets', islands on the
ancient seabed that are now higher grounds covered with grass and scrub.
These 'bets' support a variety of wildlife including the 'Gudkhur' (Asiatic wild ass)
that is not found elsewhere. The wild ass is a handsome chestnut brown member
of the Equus genus (horse family). Capable of reaching high speeds when
galloping across the Rann, the wild ass is usually seen in small herds.
The elegant Blackbuck (Indian antelope), Nilgai or Blue Bull (India's largest
antelope) and the graceful Chinkara (Indian gazelle) are other mammals seen at
the bets. Refreshments will be served during your safari.
12.30 hrs: Return to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight: Rann Riders
Day 6 DASADA - PALITANA (260 Kms / 5 hrs. approx)
Breakfast at the hotel
08.00 hrs: Check-out and drive to Palitana; Stopovers en-route for refreshments
13.00 hrs: Arrive at your hotel
The afternoon is free to enjoy the historic hotel.
Overnight: Vijay Vilas Palace (Cottage)
http://www.gujarattourism.com/hotel/details/341
Day 7 PALITANA
Breakfast at the hotel
09.00 hrs: Visit Jain Temples. The walk up 400 steps to the temples is worth the effort.
Afternoon visit to the Shri Vishal Jain Museum. Overnight: Vijay Vilas Palace
Day 8 PALITANA – RAJKOT (180 Kms / 3.5 hrs approx)
Breakfast at the hotel
09.00 hrs: Check out and drive to Rajkot
12.30 hrs: Arrive at Rajkot; check-in at your hotel
Sightseeing options for the day include;
14.30 hrs: Watson Museum: (10Kms /30mts from hotel) The museum is set up in the
Queen Victoria memorial institute buildings located in Jubilee Garden, Rajkot.
The Watson Museum was named in remembrance of Colonel John Watson in
1888. It is a muddled loft of the collection with the 3rd century inscriptions and
a delicate ivory work oversee by a marble statue of Queen Victoria.
Wankaner Palace: (42Kms / 1hr from Watson Museum) is the most attractive
and historical palace of India. It was built by the Maharaja of Wankaner H.H.
Amarsinhji during the 20th century. The palace has lots of historical, decorative
doors, windows, antique chairs, mirrors and other features.
Overnight: Regency Lagoon Resort (Cottage)
http://www.regencylagoonresort.com/
Day 9 RAJKOT (180 Kms / 3.5 hrs approx)
Breakfast at the hotel
Excursion to Jetpur & Gondal
Rajkot – Jetpur (75 Kms / 2 hrs /one way)
08.00 hrs: Drive to Jetpur
10.00 hrs: Jetpur: Jetpur is a town renowned as a centre for block printing and dyeing. The
air is laden with the smells of dye spiraling out of large copper vats with
translucent layers of colored fabrics drying to the percussion beat of wooden
printing blocks.
11.00 hrs: Jetpur – Gondal (31 Kms / 45 min. towards Rajkot)
Gondal: Riverside Palace. The Riverside Palace was built in 1875 AD by
Maharaja Bhagwat Sinhji for his son Yuvraj Bhojraji. The palace is set in lawns
and gardens beside the river Gondal. There are various sitting arrangements
which are furnished in typical colonial style with antique wooden furniture and
many pleasant sit-outs are also located on the terraces and galleries overlooking
either the river or the garden.
Naulakha Palace. Naulakha Darbargadh Palace was built during the 17th
century. It is one of the oldest and the most beautiful in Gondal situated on the
banks of the river on a grand masonry base, rising about 30 metres above the
river. The palace is approached by a high gateway with a clock tower from the
town side. The entrance leads to a huge open space with administrative blocks
on the right and a grand staircase on the extreme left corner leading to the
intricately carved pavilions on an open terrace. There are stone carvings,
exquisite balconies, a fabulous pillared courtyard, delicately carved arches, and
a unique spiral staircase in the palace. The grand durbar hall has series of huge
windows which open into long balcony supported by intricately carved brackets
it also boasts large chandeliers, stuffed panthers, wooden furniture and antique
Belgian mirrors. The private palace museum displays artifacts and gifts received
by Maharaja Bhagwat Sinhji as ruler of Gondal, on his 50th birthday.
13.00 hrs: Proceed to Rajkot (Gondal - Rajkot 44 Kms / 1hr approx)
14.00 hrs: Arrive at the hotel
Rest of the day at leisure Overnight: Regency Lagoon Resort
Day 10 RAJKOT – BHUJ (230 Kms /05 hrs approx)
Breakfast at the hotel
08.00 hrs: Check out and drive to Bhuj; Stopovers for refreshments
13.00 hrs: Arrive at Bhuj; Check-in at hotel
Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight: Regenta Resort (Executive room)
http://www.royalorchidhotels.com/regenta-resort-bhuj/overview
Day 11 BHUJ
Breakfast at the hotel
09.30 hrs: Excursion to The Living and Learning Design Centre (LLDC) & villages of Banni
and Bhujodi (http://shrujanlldc.org/#general-info-block):
The Living and Learning Design Centre (LLDC) is a pioneering new effort of the
Shrujan Trust to preserve, revitalize and promote the glorious craft heritage of
Kutch. LLDC is envisioned as a multi-dimensional crafts education and resource
centre which aims to train, educate and support crafts people to practise their
traditional crafts for contemporary markets so that they can earn a dignified and
prosperous livelihood.
12.00 hrs: Refreshments/light lunch at LLDC
13.00 hrs: Drive back towards Bhuj en-route visiting Banni and Bhujodi villages
The tribal people from these villages turn out exquisite hand loomed woolen and
cotton clothes decorated with dye or embroidery. Rabari men weave thick
shawls, colorful traditional blankets known as dhablas and woolen durries on pit
looms dug into the floors of squat mud houses.
17.00 hrs: Continue to hotel; rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight: Regenta Resort
Day 12 BHUJ–Kala Raksha Museum–HODKA (63 Kms / 1.5 hrs approx)
Breakfast at the hotel
09.00 hrs: Drive to a village 63 km north of Bhuj where the local people have built a resort
consisting of colorful, hand painted mud huts and white tents .
The villagers used only local building materials and natural products in their
dwellings. A night in this village is therefore like spending the night in a local's
shoes, or in this case house! Exploring the villages and windswept lands of
northern Kutch is a thrilling experience.
09.45 hrs: En-route stop to visit Kala Raksha Museum.
Kala Raksha Museum (http://www.kala-raksha.org/): Kala Raksha Trust, a
grassroots social enterprise, is dedicated to the preservation of traditional arts.
Uniquely committed to documenting existing traditions, the Trust maintains a
collection of heirloom textiles housed as a local Museum. Artisans participated
in establishing this Museum, thus it embodies a simple but revolutionary
concept: involving people in presenting their own cultures.
11.30 hrs: Continue to Hodka.
12.30 hrs: Arrive and check-in at Shaam-E-Sarhad Village Resort.
Rest of the day at leisure; enjoy the various activities at the resort.
You may experience direct interaction with the people of Hodka and acquaint
yourself with the people's way of living, crafts and traditions. Visitors can see
embroidery, leather work, lacquer work, weaving and block printing.
Overnight: Shaam-e-sarhad village resort (Eco Friendly Mud Tents) http://www.hodka.in/shaam-e-sarhad-village-resort/concept/
Day 13 HODKA - AJRAKPUR - BHUJ
Breakfast at the hotel
09.00 hrs: Check-out and drive to Ajrakpur Village which is 75 Kms from Hodka.
Ajrakpur Village: This is a remote Kutch village is keeping alive block printing
traditions. The block printing technique is called ‘Ajrakh’. It denotes the slow,
painstaking process in which the artisan proceeds in steps. He prints one colour
of a design and washes the cloth till he gets the colour right before printing the
next colour. The community, named Khatri’s, have practiced block printing for
over 3000 years. Ismail Mohammed Khatri is one such traditional expert who has
an honorary doctorate in textiles from De Montfort University.
10.30 hrs: Arrive and visit Ajrakhpur village and the workshop of Dr. Ismail Mohmed Khatri.
12.30 hrs: Continue to Bhuj (15 Kms / 30mts approx)
13.00 hrs: Arrive and Check-in at hotel
15.00 hrs: Visit to Khamir Campus (15 Kms /30 mts approx) http://www.khamir.org/
Khamir operates out of a unique campus in Kukma, Kachchh. The campus is a
space for artisans, resource groups and institutions, buyers, suppliers and craft
lovers from around the world to gather under one roof to exchange ideas,
collaborate and learn. The space is always alive with potters creating clay
masterpieces or imaginative textiles being woven by resident weavers.
20.00 hrs: Dinner at Hotel Prince. Overnight: Regenta Resort
Day 14 BHUJ – MUMBAI - OUTBOUND
Breakfast at the hotel
09.30 hrs: Visit the house of Dr. Wazir to see his collection at Museum Quality Textiles
collected over a lifetime of travel all over the country.
12.00 hrs: Return to hotel
13.30 hrs: Check-out and transfer to Bhuj Airport to board your flight to Mumbai.
17.35 hrs: Arrive at Mumbai Airport; Transfer check-in for your outbound flight.
Tour Cost Includes: 13 nights’ accommodation on twin share as per hotels mentioned above. Daily Buffet Breakfast at all the hotels mentioned above except at Dasada & Hodka where all meals are included. Lunch at local restaurant on Day 2. Thali dinner at Agashiya, House of MG on Day 3. Lunch at Patola House on Day 4. Refreshments during the safari on Day 5. Light lunch / refreshments on Day 11. Dinner at Hotel prince, Bhuj on Day 13. All transportation, transfers and sightseeing by an exclusive chauffeur driven air-conditioned vehicle All entrances to monuments during sightseeing & Jeep Drive at Dasada. Services of an English-speaking local escort or guide during the tour. All current applicable taxes, including Service Tax. Tour Cost excludes: Meals other than specified above Airfare quoted as supplement. Any expense of a personal nature, like liquor, laundry, telephone calls etc. Any services in Mumbai. Any other expense not mentioned in the prices include column.
Charges for any optional tours apart from the itinerary above.
Date City Nights Hotels Room Category Meals
Day 1-4 Ahmedabad 3 The House of MG Classic Room Bed & Breakfast
Day 4-6 Dasada 2 Rann Riders AC Deluxe
Cottage All Meals
Day 6-8 Palitana 2 Vijay Vilas Palace Cottage Bed & Breakfast
Day 8-10 Rajkot 2 Regency Lagoon
Resort Garden Cottage Bed & Breakfast
Day 10-12 Bhuj 2 Regenta Resorts Heritage Room Bed & Breakfast
Day 12-13 Hodka 1 Shaam-E-Sarhad
Village Resort Suite/Cottage All Meals
Day 13-14 Bhuj 1 Regenta Resorts Heritage Room Bed & Breakfast
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