Fabrics of Gujarat

Departure from your home country.

Departure from Mumbai by train. This fascinating journey will give you an overview of the landscape of the region. Transfer to the Divan’s Bungalow hotel for 3 nights stay. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast leave for Pethapur to get bewitched by the intricate geometric or floral motifs, over all or alternate repeats, delicate or bold patterns and block prints, which eulogize the design sensibility of Gujarat. In fact, block printing has remained the mainstay of the oldest surficial textile craft forms in the world and Gujarat is the top destination to explore that. Likewise block carving is another form of textile craft, where the maker leaves a personal impression at every step. The diligent craftsmen, prominent in this art produce these designs as per the requirements of their clients and continue to refine this art with continuous adaptation.

One of the most interesting facets of this art is that all the wood working tools, which are used in this process by the artisans, are mostly designed by them. Kalamkari (Kalam means pen, Kari means work) is another ancient craft, which is used in Gujarat for fabric dyeing and printing. It would be apt to say that in this age of product uniformity, each Kalamkari piece comes with exclusivity and offers a visual delight.

It is a sheer treat for your eyes to watch these artists at work. The beauty of their work and dedication towards that will certainly leave a lasting impression on your mind. The outstanding techniques of craftsmanship, which are used in Kalamkari, have been passed down over the generations. Paintings based on this art can be found in parts of India and Iran.

Visit the Utensils Museum in the evening. Dinner at Vishalla, which serves mouth-watering traditional Gujarati food amidst the village ambiance. Take a walk around the hut-like museum.

Morning desert safari takes you across the Little Rann of Kutch, also known as a salt marsh. Afternoon tour through the settlements and villages along the Rann of Kutch, famous for their embroideries. Little Rann of Kutch is home to an interesting ethnic community known as Rabaris. Once a nomadic race, Rabaris still have an interesting lifestyle and customs. Most of the Rabaris are now permanently settled, though some still lead their lives as semi-nomadic - as they raise cattle, camels and goats in the arid deserts of Kutch and western India.

The settled Rabaris live in small hamlets either in villages or in small towns. Sometimes they jointly live with other ethnic communities. Interestingly, it is easy to identify Rabaris, especially their women folks, who wear long black head drapes and typical heavy brass earrings. Many interesting animals roam around in the Little Rann of Kutch i.e. Blackbuck or Indian Antelope, Nilgai and Chinkara or Indian gazelle among others. You can also spot carnivores including the endangered Indian wolf, desert fox, Indian fox, jackals, desert and jungle cats, and a few hyenas. In birds, you can spot flamingos, pelicans, ducks, cranes and storks. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Visit to some quaint little villages, which are also the last villages on the India-Pakistan border. Meet some master craft people showcasing their traditional art and creating some master pieces every day. Whether it is their ornaments, clothes, utensils, or things that they use every day, it will take you back in time and leave you enthralled.

The fine work of textile arts has been preserved by almost each and every community and caste living in these semi-arid regions of Saurashtra and Kutch. Enjoy a full day's safari to explore the Kutchi village communities and explore the traditions and daily lives of the artisans.

Drive to Mandvi where you stay in Serena Beach Resort for 2 Nights. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Drive to Bhuj airport and fly to Mumbai. Transfer to the Marine Plaza for one night. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.