12 to 24 February 2024
EMMA HORNE TRAVEL TEXTILE & TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TOUR TO GUJARAT
12th – 24th February 2024
Emma is delighted to once again be accompanying a tour the State of Gujarat. The tribal communities residing in the north of the state retain their unique and fascinating culture, so we have expanded our textile itinerary to allow more time to appreciate all that that is on offer in this amazing state. This is a journey which will take you into the heart of rural India. There will still be an emphasis on the handicrafts of the region and we will be meeting artisans to gain a more in depth knowledge of textiles, especially weaving (including mashru), embroidery, ikat, bandhani and Ajrakh block printing. The trip will also cover other aspects of Gujarati & Kutch culture; the stunning architecture, amazing fauna and flora and the delicious & varied cuisine. The trip will offer something for everyone and will, of course, allow for plenty of retail opportunities. I have to say we have always had quite a few heavily laden bags on the journey home from our previous trips!
Emma will accompany the tour and be assisted by expert local guides
Outline Itinerary
12 February | Monday - ARRIVE BHUJ
Arrive Bhuj by flight from Delhi or Mumbai or Ahmedabad.
The tour starts in Bhuj but we can assist with extra arrangements and domestic flights.
Met on arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Afternoon walk in the old city of Bhuj.
Overnight The Prince Hotel - a comfortable 4 star property centrally located
13 - 15 February - BHUJ
The next 3 days will be spent exploring in and around Bhuj with particular
emphasis on the elaborate crafts still worked in this area, and the history of
textiles in Kutch. The exact itinerary will be a bit flexible depending on
local artisans and the particular interest of the group.
Overnight The Prince Hotel.
16 February - BHUJ/DASADA
Friday Depart Bhuj and drive to Dasada (approximately 6 hours’ drive).
Overnight Rann Riders – an attractive, rustic resort on the edge of the Little Rann
17 February - DASADA
Saturday Visit the Little Rann and surrounding villages.
Overnight Rann Riders.
18 February - DASADA/POSHINA
Sunday Drive from Dasada to Poshina with sightseeing on route, including the Sun Temple at Modhera and the stepwell at Patan, and the town of Sidhpur if time allows.
Overnight Darbargarh Palace – a heritage, home where we will be guests of the owners
19 & 20 February - POSHINA
Time spent exploring in and around Poshina, including visits to tribal villages and
Overnight Darbargarh Palace
21 February - POSHINA / AHMEDABAD
Wednesday Drive to Ahmedabad with sightseeing on route.
Overnight House of MG – centrally located heritage hotel
22 & 23 February - AHMEDABAD
Sightseeing in Ahmedabad to include a visit to the Calico Museum.
Overnight House of MG
24 February - DEPARTURE FLIGHT
Saturday Transfer to the airport for international departure flight or the onward flight to Delhi or Mumbai.
Price:
INR208,000 per person based on sharing a double occupancy room with a minimum group of 6 people travelling
Single room supplement: INR45,000 per person
Price Includes:
All arrangements, transfers and transport as per itinerary
Full board accommodation, starting with dinner on 12th and ending after
breakfast on 24th February
Transport in AC vehicle with chauffeur
Services of accompanying English-speaking guide
Monument entry fees
Visits to artisan’s workshops & demonstrations
Jeep ride at Dasada & in Poshina
Local government taxes per current rate (subject to change)
Price Excludes:
International flights
Domestic flights - to be quoted separately
Any surcharge due to less than 6 people travelling
Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, personal gratuities, insurance, visa fees, camera fees
Extra costs incurred due to change of itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control
Detailed Itinerary - February 2024
12 February - Monday - ARRIVE BHUJ
Arrive Bhuj by flight from Delhi or Mumbai or Ahmedabad.
Met on arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Later in the day a walk in the old City of Bhuj will be included. After the terrible earthquake in 2001 much of the city was destroyed but there is still merit in a wander through what remains of the old part of town, including a nineteenth-century covered market.
Overnight The Prince Hotel
13 - 15 February | Tuesday - BHUJ
The next 3 days will be spent exploring in and around Bhuj with particular emphasis on the elaborate handicrafts of this area, and the history of textiles in Kutch. The exact itinerary will be a bit flexible depending on local conditions and the particular interest of the group. There will be plenty of opportunity for purchasing some of the fabulous
textiles but there is no pressure to buy and alternative arrangements can be made for those not wishing to shop.
The following visits will all be included – and others may be added.
Ajrakhpur to see the intricate dying process of the ajrakh block printing in the workshop of Dr. Ismail Mohammed Khatri and his two sons. This takes place in the morning to allow time for the just-printed fabric to dry during the day.
The LLDC Museum/Shrujan museum; launched by an NGO that has worked with local women embroiderers for more than 40 years. It’s well worth spending time browsing this
stunning and informative collection with its state-of-the art displays.
Salim Wazir has an outstanding collection of vintage textiles amassed over many years and he will share his in-depth knowledge of Kutchi and Indian textile production. There
will also be the opportunity to purchase pieces from his collection.
Jabbar Abdul Khatri, for a presentation on bandhani (tie and dye) and a chance to purchase some of the exceptional work.
13 - 15 February | Wednesday, Thursday - BHUJ
Qasab NGO, where we will be given a detailed presentation on the various styles of embroidery practiced by the different communities in Kutch, as well as the business model and corporate structure Qasab follows that provides textile artisans with control over what is produced, on what terms and at what price.
Kalaraksha, one of the well-established NGO’s working in the area, who were particularly active in assisting the artisans after the devastating earthquake.
Bhujodi; most of the inhabitants of this village are involved in textile or other crafts, mainly weaving and dying & leather work. We will visit Shamji, a national- award
winning weaver.
A visit to the seaside town of Mandvi, where great wooden ships are still built by traditional methods.
A day visit north of Bhuj to the Great Rann of Kutch to include the village of Nirona,
where the residents specialise in several crafts.
The centuries old craft of Rogan art, painting on fabric, is only practiced by a few. It is a highly decorative art and requires great precision and a steady hand.
Bells are part of a living craft that are still used by the farmers to keep track of their livestock. We’ll see the process of hand manufacturing these copper-clad bells fashioned from scrap iron.
Lacquer work is another speciality of this village, used to make colourful toys, furniture and kitchen implements.
Continuing north we have the opportunity to visit some villages and see how the women are still working on the traditional skills in their homes.
Sunset on the Great Rann of Kutch or the White Desert, as it is colloquially known.
16 February | Friday - BHUJ/DASADA
After a leisurely breakfast we will depart Bhuj and drive to Dasada (approximately 6 hours’ drive). There will be opportunities for stops on route if we see something of
interest on the way. Overnight Rann Riders
17 February | Saturday - DASADA
Early morning jeep safari to the salt flats and grasslands of the Little Rann of Kutch, one of the last refuges of the Asiatic Wild ass. The area is also home to many birds, including migratory demoiselle cranes, pelicans and greater and lesser flamingos.
Later in the day we will visit some of the villages near our lodge, including the Mir community known for their bead work.
18 February | Sunday - DASADA/POSHINA
Drive from Dasada to Poshina. This will be quite a long day but there are many interesting stops on route.
Visit Patan, capital of this region between the 8thand 15th centuries. The Ran ni Vav is a particularly impressive and well-preserved stepwell. Patan is also
famous for weaving patola—double ikat -- silk saris. We’ll enjoy a guided tour of the House of Patan by a member of one of the few families who continue to practice this type of weaving. This family is also the only one to produce naturally-dyed patola saris. Many of the designs seen in the stepwell are recreated in the saris. The museum also showcases examples of ikat from around India and the world.
Modhera. This beautiful 11 th century Sun Temple is covered with intricate carvings depicting Hindu deities, it stands next to an impressive tank. If time permits also stop at the Siddhpur– a major center of the Bohra Muslims of India, who built very beautiful mansions in a typical architectural style, from the wealth earned abroad. The well laid out paved streets, service lanes, mosques, and perfect arrangement of row houses with profusely decorated facades using a common architectural vocabulary is a direct outcome of the collective vision of the Guilds of Bohra merchants. Overnight Darbargarh Palace
19 February | Monday - POSHINA
Today will be a full day’s exploration of the surrounding countryside, which affords some spectacular scenery. We will visit villages of the Garasiya, Bhil and Rabari tribe.
Overnight Darbargarh Palace
20 February | - Tuesday POSHINA
Morning visit to the Bhil tribes and to Gujarat’s biggest Terracotta Horse Temple. Afternoon for further local exploration or relax and enjoy this attractive property.
Overnight Darbargarh Palace
21 February | Wednesday - POSHINA / AHMEDABAD
After a leisurely breakfast we will depart on the drive to Ahmedabad (approximately 4 hours’ drive).
The House of Mangaldas Girdhardas (MG) was originally the home of one of Ahmedabad’s foremost businessmen; the property, built in 1924, is now an attractive and comfortable heritage hotel with an excellent in-house textile museum. Overnight House of MG
22 February | Thursday - AHMEDABAD
We will start the day with a walk through the ancient pols (residential streets) of Ahmedabad, the walk begins at the Swaminarayan temple in time for morning
prayers and ends at the impressive Jama Masji Mosque.
A visit Siddii Saiyad’s Mosque, renowned for its Tree of Life jali (carved windows), which is located across the road from the House of MG will also be included.
After lunch at the hotel we will visit the Sabarmati Ashram, where Mahatma Gandhi once lived and from which he launched his famous Salt March to Dandi. Through the
museum display we will learn about swadeshi and the significance of khadi in the independence movement and the history of India.
23 February | Friday - AHMEDABAD
Today starts with a morning visit to the Calico Museum; this world famous museum houses an impressive private collection of textiles and pichwai paintings from all over
India.
After lunch at a local restaurant we will have an afternoon shopping we will include a visit to some local shops which specialise in ready-made wear, such as FabIndia and Bhandej. A visit to ‘Honeycomb International’, will also be included. This shop is owned by Mazarkhan, who has an impressive collection of antique textiles, much of which is for sale. He’ll give a short presentation on Kutch’s textile history. He also sells fine, well-priced modern work. Return to the hotel for a Farewell dinner at Agashiye Rooftop Restaurant
Overnight House of MG.
24 February | Saturday - DEPARTURE FLIGHT
Transfer to the airport for international departure flight or the onward flight to Delhi or Mumbai.
End of arrangements.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ACTUAL ORDER AND CONTENT OF THE ITINERARY MAY NEED TO CHANGE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE ARTISANS.
Please contact us for further information:
Emma Horne - emma@emmahornetravel.com
Moumita Robinson Paul - moumita@emmahornetravel.com
Ranjeet Pal - ranjeet@emmahornetravel.com