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Gujarat is the centre for some of India’s most exquisite
handiwork. Kutch is known for its fabulous embroideries done in a variety of techniques
developed by different communities including Hindu and Muslim pastoral groups
whose women do embroidery for their trousseau or a second income as well as migrants
from Sindh. Bandhani tie-and-dye is almost synonymous with Gujarat, which also
produces fine handloom woven textiles and block-printed fabrics. Rare crafts that
make their last stand in Gujarat include the double ikat Patola weaving of Patan
and the Rogan painting on fabric done in Nirona village.
While
hand-embellished textiles are a bedrock of the rural economy of Kutch and Surendranagar
districts of Gujarat, these regions have equally fine terra cotta, metal and wood
crafts.
Day-1: AHMEDABAD - Arrive at Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad
is a major centre of traditional and contemporary textiles, and many crafts thrive
here like Mata-ni-pachedi narrative cloth paintings and block-printing. Stay at
House of Mangaldas Girdhardas, a heritage hotel owned by a former textile
industrialist family.
Day-2: AHMEDABAD - Visit the Calico Museum
of Textiles, one of India’s leading specialized museums. The collections include
textile swatches of Indian origin found at archaeological sites of Egypt, silk
sarees from across India, double-ikat silk sarongs made in Patan for the Indonesian
market, chintz and curtains made from Dutch, British and Portuguese colonial powers
in Gujarat, floral embroidery from Punjab, shawls from Kashmir, 18th century tie-and-dye,
richly embroidered Mughal tent of Shah Jahan whose palace is nearby, royal wardrobes
of Rajasthan, cloth paintings and manuscripts, religious narrative cloth paintings
like Pichwais and Kalamkaris, etc. Also visit the other museums of Ahmedabad strong
on folk art collections.
Day-3: AHMEDABAD –GONDAL (251km) - Drive
to Gondal, a princely town of considerable importance and affluence. Visit the
1748 AD Naulakha Palace which houses the erstwhile ruling family’s private collection
of beadwork, textiles, brassware, hand-painted toys and silver crafts, the centre
promoting weaving at Gondal, and the historic buildings of Gondal. Evening visit
to Khadi Plaza, one of Gujarat’s major handloom weaving units. Stay at
Riverside Palace/Orchard Palace, both of which are decorated with textiles
from the former Maharanis’ collections.
Day-4: GONDAL – JETPUR
– JUNAGADH – GONDAL (150 km total) - Drive to Jetpur, known for its screen and
block printing workshops, and a yarn-dyeing centre, and then to Junagadh where
you can see gem-encrusted carpets, wardrobes and tapestery of the Nawab at the
museums. A historic city, Junagadh has 3rd century BC Buddhist relics, medieval
fort, mausoleum complexes, palaces, etc.
Return to Gondal.
Day-5:
GONDAL –BHUJ (259km) - Drive to Bhuj calling in on the way at Rajkot to see the
Watson Museum which has good examples of Gujarat’s craftsmanship skills, and Rashtriya
Shala working to revive hand-weaving. Stay at Hotel Prince / Hotel
KBN.
Day-6: VILLAGES AROUND BHUJ - Visit villages around
Bhuj known for their distinctive styles of embroidery and other handiwork like
weaving, block-printing, rogan-painting, etc. Stay as on day-6 OR at Shaam-e-Sarhad,
a rural resort.
Day-7 BHUJ – MANDVI (60km) - Drive to Mandvi,
which is a tie-and-dye centre, and stay in a/c tented comfort of the royal resort
by the private beach in the palace estate. Visit the dhow-building yard to see
ocean-worthy vessels being hand-built. Stay at the palace estate.
Day-8
AROUND MANDVI - Visit villages near Mandvi known for their picturesque houses
called bhungas and Rabari embroidery. Stay as on day-8:
Day-9
MANDVI-WADHWAN (310km) - Drive from Mandvi to Wadhwan. This historic walled town
is a centre for bandhani tie-and-dye, weaving and metalcrafts. Stay at Rajmahal,
the palace hotel of Wadhwan which has beautiful tapestries.
DAY-10:
WADHWAN - DASADA (73km) - At Dasada, watch Rabari women at work on their distinct
embroideries. Evening safari in the Little Rann of Kutch. Stay at
Rann Riders, an eco-resort designed using local materials and handicrafts
to resemble a village.
Day-11: DASADA-PATAN – DASADA - Morning
safari in the Little Rann of Kutch. Day trip to Patan to watch the Salvis at work
on the Patola, one of the richest silk textiles in the world, woven using the
rare double-ikat technique. You will also see 11th century monuments at Modhera’s
Sun Temple complex and in Patan. Return to Rann Riders at Dasada.
Day-12: Return to Ahmedabad (90km) or proceed to Rajasthan.
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