2016-2017

SPECIAL INTERST TOURS

Handicraft Textile Tour 1

India: Handcrafted Textiles Tour 1

16 days: from NZD7760 per person on Twin share

Auckland - - Banni - Kutch – Varanasi – Lucknow – – - Delhi - Auckland

Explore the vibrant, colourful and beautifully crafted textiles of India, exotic bazaars, amazing architecture, delicious food and more. Cotton and silk were first spun and woven in the Indus Valley over 5,000 years ago and India remains the world’s heart of hand-loomed fabric and floor rugs, embroidery and block printing. Indian silk and cotton textiles are as diverse as the country’s culture. In this journey we explore the different embroidery styles of the Kutch, the luscious silk brocade weaving of Varanasi and delicate chikan work of Lucknow. We finish our tour in Delhi, the grand capital city.

The Groups are escorted from New Zealand by qualified, highly motivated and friendly Hosts

Our Hosts of Textile Tours Liz Light (November 2016 and November 2017 Tours) Janie Randerson (February 2017 Tours)

Departure Date 2016: 11 Nov Departure Date 2017: 27 Jan; 10 Nov

Liz is an award winning writer and photographer who have been in love with India and Indian textiles since she saw a picture of a group of women wearing saris when she was nine years old. She has visited this magnificently diverse country many times and loves the warm welcome and humour that is special to India, the vegetarian food and, of course, the carefully handcrafted textiles.

Janie is an English language teacher and a weaver. She has raised two lovely daughters, who have now flown, so she is free to follow her long-held interest in India and India textiles. In 2014 she taught in a street school in Delhi for children whose parents couldn’t afford to send them to a regular school. She loved it. Janie says that Indian food is delicious, the textiles are amazing but it is the people who really win your heart

Day 01 (Fri): Auckland Arrive this evening at Auckland Airport to check-in for your Singapore Airlines flights.

Day 02 (Sat): Auckland - Singapore - Mumbai - Bhuj Take a flight Auckland to Singapore (0115/0645 hrs) connecting to Mumbai (0745/1040 hrs). Proceed to Domestic Terminal for a flight to Bhuj (1510/1635 hrs). Stay in Hotel Regenta Resort (or similar) for 3 nights

Day 03 (Sun): Bhuj (B) Explore Bhuj and its famous handicrafts. Know more about Potala weaving with acclaimed weaver Mohamad Ishaq. Potala is meticulous technique of tying and dyeing the warp or weft, before being woven into a textile form. Visit a Bandhani workshop. Silk is speckled with tiny square-shaped dots, textured by the crinkled crease of fabric, dyed with vivid colours and intricate patterns. Take an afternoon sightseeing including a visit to Aina Mahal Palace and Shree Swaminayan Temple.

Day 04 (Mon): Bhuj (B/L) Proceed to Ajrakhpur Village to see the art of block printing with Dr. Ismail Khatri, whose family has been block printing for centuries. Visit Bhujodi Village for rabani embroidery, which uses vibrant colours and patterns filled in with intricate stitches and mirrors. Proceed for lunch at Shurjan, NGO to help Kutch women with extraordinary embroidery talent. Visit Bhuj Bazar and enjoy the hustle and bustle.

Day 05 (Tue): Bhuj - Hodka (B/L/D) Travel to Hodka in Baani. Banni is semi desert where over centuries, different tribal groups have developed their own unique embroidery styles. Enroute, visit Mutwa community and see examples of their fine stitching. Mutwa Bharat is one of the most intricate and meticulous embroidery techniques, inlaid with tiny round mirrors and adorned with minuscule stitches. This afternoon, visit White Desert and enjoy the sunset. Stay in Rann Visamoor Village Resort for 2 nights. Day 06 (Wed): Hodka (B/L/D) Visit more Banni villages unravelling their different embroidery techniques. Visit Hodka village for stitching styles and a village walk. Visit Dhordo village to see Mutwa art and possibly meet Sophie, a village woman and true stitching artist. Visit Village Dobrgna popular for Meghwal embroidery. The women wear elaborate nose rings and earrings which are often decorated with precious stones. This evening, we are entertained by musicians who serenade us with unique Kutch music.

Day 07 (Thu): Hodka - Kutch (B/L/D) Depart from Hodka, enroute visiting Bhirandi village and see their colourful traditional round homes. Visit Nirona village for Rogan art, bell making and lacquer work. Visit Kala Raksha, an excellent museum with heritage embroidered clothing carefully preserved. Stay in Kutch Safari Lodge (or similar) for 1 night

Day 08 (Fri): Kutch - Bhuj - Mumbai - Varanasi (B) Transfer to Bhuj for flight to Mumbai (0930/1040 hrs) with onward flight to Varanasi (1340/1550 hrs). This evening, witness the amazing Arti ceremony on the sacred River Ganges. Varanasi is a rich weaving centre for over 1500 years. It's famous for many different techniques of silk brocade weaving. Stay in Hotel Jukaso Ganges (or similar) for 3 nights

Day 09 (Sat): Varanasi (B) At sunrise, take a boat cruise on Ganges to witness the everyday life in the holiest of cities, as people take a ritual dip, perform yoga, wash clothes and offer flowers and incense to the holy river. Continue the tour of the medieval lanes of Varanasi. Visit Badi Bazar which specialises in silk weaving and brocading. You see the weavers at work, weaving Zari- brocades where pure gold and silver thread into silk fabric. Delicate floral and architectural patterns are hand woven with detailed multi-coloured thread that makes Varanasi silk absolutely unique.

Day 10 (Sun): Varanasi (B) Take a tour to Bhadohi to learn about hand-loomed carpets. Bhadohi district is biggest carpet manufacturing centre in India. Afternoon is free to explore the busy back lanes of Varanasi or walk along the ghats.

Day 11 (Mon): Varanasi - Lucknow (B) Board your morning train to Lucknow and an afternoon walk in this heritage city. Gol Darwaza is a famous shopping lane and this leads to Chowk ki Gali, a lane known for the best of handicrafts and Chikan embroidery work. Stay in Hotel Best Western (or similar) for 2 nights

Day 12 (Tue): Lucknow (B) Join the Heritage walk of Lucknow, starting from Lal Pul, Tila Wali Masjid, Bara Imambara, Gol Darwaja, Chowk Bazaar, Phool Wali Gali to Akbari Darwaja. In the afternoon, visit SEWA, organisation of Chikan artisans, producing hundreds of different types of garments and home furnishing.

Day 13 (Wed): Lucknow - Delhi (B) Take a flight to Delhi and afternoon is free. Delhi has terrific markets and emporiums that sell finely crafted products from all over India.. Stay in Hotel Royal Plaza (or similar) for 4 nights

Day 14 (Thu): Delhi (B) This morning visit New Delhi, built in a typically British colonial style, in unique Indo-Victorian architecture; Parliament House, the Secretariat buildings and the Vice Regal Palace, the residence of the President of India, and India Gate, the War Memorial Arch. Visit Connaught Place, the city centre with wonderful shops, excellent restaurants, lots of fun and up-town bustle.

Day 15 (Fri): Delhi (B) Take a heritage walking tour of Old Delhi, the British base until 1920 and the home of many Mughal Emperors. We visit Raj Ghat, an impressive shrine to Mahatma Gandhi. Then visit the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, before taking a rickshaw ride and a walk through the crowded lanes of the Chandni Chowk bazaar. Rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

Day 16 (Sat): Delhi - Agra - Delhi (B) Drive to Agra to visit Taj Mahal & Agra Fort. Visit Taj Mahal, built with perfect symmetry, wonderful proportions and exquisite detailing. Taj Mahal is one of the great architectural wonders of the world. Visit sprawling Agra Fort which was the seat of power for four generations of Mughal emperors and its architecture is an almost perfect fusion between military might and lavish beauty. Drive back to Delhi

Day 17 (Sun): Delhi - Singapore - Auckland (B) Transfer to Delhi Airport for flight to Singapore (0930/1735 hrs) connecting with flight to Auckland (2050/1145+1 hrs)

Day 18 (Mon): Auckland Arrive in Auckland

Note: We may have to alter the above itinerary to adjust with unforeseen flights schedule changes.

Inclusions: Economy class international and domestic flights as indicated in the program, accommodation on twin sharing basis including breakfast, other meals as specified (either in Hotels or local restaurants), aircon transport, NZ Tour Host, local guides, monument entrance fees, baggage handling at Hotels.

Excluded: Domestic flights in NZ, India Visa, Travel Insurance, excess baggage penalties, meals not indicated in the program, beverages during pre-arranged meals, gratuities and personal expenses

Options: You may also choose to take Add-On options as well:  You can join Tour 2  You can take Jaipur Add-On  You can take Jaipur On followed by Tour 2