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Tribes, Textiles, Crafts and Festivals of Gujarat

November 17-December 1, 2018

Includes Katik Purnima Festival and Vautha Mela

Early announcement, dates subject to change by 1-2 days

Nov17Day1:ArrivalinBombay.MetatairportandtransfertohotelKohinoorContinental.

Nov18Day2:Bombay-Vadodara-Jambughoda/HotelJambughodaPalace(B,L,D)

Transfertoairportforflight9W349dep.0935/arr.1035toVadodara.OnarrivaldrivetoJambughoda(75km),en-routewevisittheWorldHeritageSiteofChampaner(thesiteofPavagarhArcheologicalPark)toseethevastcomplexofmosquesbuiltbyMahmudBegada.CheckintoJambughodaPalace,asimpleroyalmansioninthemidstofmaturegardens-abeautifulretreatfornaturelovers.Nov19Day3:Jambughoda–ExcursiontoTribalVillages/JambughodaPalace(B,L,D)FulldayexcursiontothetribalvillagesofJambughoda.MostofthepeoplelivinginandaroundJambughodaare‘Rathwas’&‘Nayaks.’TheyaresuperstitiousandGod-fearingpeople.Theentrancetotheirhomeisthrougharichlycarvedwoodendoorwithfigurinesandtribalicons.ThefrontisusuallydecoratedwithPithorapaintingsforwhichtheRathwasareknown.Theydonotliveinhamlets.Theirdwellingsareseparatedfromeachotherbyconsiderabledistance.WewillvisitthetribalmuseumofChhotaUdaipur,whichhasalargecollectionoftribalartifacts.Manytribalartifactsarealsobroughtforsaleinthe‘haats’(weeklymarkets)inthecityandnearbyvillages.Nov20Day4:Jambughoda–Palitana(320km/6-7hrs)/VijayVilasPalace(B,LD)Wedepartat8amforthe4hourdrivetoLothal,tovisittheexcavationsofaHarappansitedatingbackto2400-1600BC,knownforitstownplanning,scientificallydesignedharborandsophisticateddrainagesystem.Inthedialectofthelocallanguage,Lothalmeans'themoundofthedead.Thesitewasdiscoveredintheyear1957,followedbyexcavationsdonebytheArchaeologicalSurveyofIndia.Lunchatalocalrestaurant.Continueapprox.3hoursdrivetoPalitana.Ouraccommodation,VijayPalace,islocatedinsidethevillage,about6kmfromPalitanatown.DinneratVijayVilasPalace.Nov21Day5:Palitana/VijayVilasPalace(B,LD)In themorningwevisit thePalitana temples locatedatopShatrunjayaHillsandcrownedwith863temples,eachrivalingtheotherforitsbeautyandmagnificence.Thisisoneofthemostaweinspiringsightstodevoteesandvisitorsalike.Thepeakisa3kmclimbofover3500stepsfromthebase,whileon each temple one can see detailed carvings, beautiful idols and images, jeweled statues andintricatetorans.Theclimbtothetopofthetempletakesapprox2hrs.ThosewhocannotclimbDoli/Liftchairsareavailable(paydirect).Lunchstopattraditionalrestaurant.Thisafternoon,wewillhaveawalkinthevillageandvisittheeveningmarketofPalitana.DinneratVijayVilasPalace.Nov22Day6:Palitana-Ahmedabad(220km/5hrs)/HyattRegencyAhmedabad(B,D)Departat8amforthedrivetoAhmedabad.Onarrival,check-intohotelandlunchonyourown.

ThisafternoonwevisittheSabarmatiAshram,situatedonthewesternbankoftheSabarmatiRiver.Thisashram,foundedin1918byMahatmaGandhi,whorevitalizedthetextileindustryhere,becametheheadquartersduringthestruggleforIndianIndependenceanditisbefittingthatitisnowprimarilyaspinningwheelfactory.ThiseveningweenjoyatraditionalGujrativegetariandinnerwithlocaldanceandmusicatVishala,anauthenticallycreatedGujraticraftsvillagecompletewithtraditionallydecoratedmudhutswherepottersandweaversareatwork.HerewevisittheVechaarUtensilsMuseumwithitscollectionof2500Gujratiutensils.Nov23Day7:Ahmedabad-ShamlajiFair/HyattRegencyAhmedabad(B,L)FulldayexcursiontoShymalaji(120kmoneway).AttendKatikPurnimafestival.AlargenumberofdevoteesarrivetotheShamlajiFaironfootoroncamelcarts,singingdevotionalsongs,someevendancingandcarryingbannersbearingsacredsymbols.TheygotoworshipthedeityandbatheinthesacredwatersoftheMeshwoRiver.AmongtheAdivasis,theBhilcommunityhasincrediblefaithinthepowersofShamlajiwhotheylovinglyrefertoasKaliyoDev(DarkDivinity).Thefairisanimportanttradedestinationforpeopletobuysilverornaments,metal-ware,clothandgarments,alongwithmanyotherannualhouseholditems.ThetempleofShamlajistandsonthebanksoftheriverMeshwo,invenerationofLordVishnu.TheriverMeshwomeandersoveritsrockybedinthevalleyimmediatelybelow,andthewatersofasplendidnaturallake,ofgreatbeautysparkleamidthewell-woodedhills.Itisbelievedthatthisshrinehasexistedforatleast500years.Builtofwhitesandstoneandbricks,ithastwostoriessupportedonrowsofpillars.ItisprofuselycarvedandepisodesfromsacredepicsoftheRamayanaandMahabharataareengravedontheouterwalls.It’sbeautifuldomedceilingsandatraditionalnorthIndianspireoverthemainshrineaddtothemagnificenceofitsopencourtyardaccompaniedbythecarvingofalife-sizeelephant.SakshiGopalorGadadharisablackrepresentationofLordVishnuworshippedattheShamlajiTemple.ThisisoneoftheraretemplesofLordKrishnainwhichcowidolsarealsoworshippeddepictinghischildhoodasacowherd.FortheVaishnavites,ShamlajiisoneofthehundredandfiftyfourmostimportantplacesofpilgrimageinIndia.ReturntoAhmedabadforovernight.Dinneronyourown.Nov24Day8:Ahmedabad-VauthaFair/HyattRegencyAhmedabad(B,L)Thismorningwedrive40kmsouthwestofAhmedabadtoattendtheVathuaFairheldeveryyearwheretworivers,theSabarmatiandtheVatrakmeet.LikemostfairsitesinIndia,thisalsohasbothmythologicalandcontemporaryreligiousassociations.TheVauthaMelasiteis3squaremilesinarea.LegendssaythatKartikSwamiorKartikeya,thesonofLordShiva,visitedthesite.ThisiswhythefairisheldduringKartikaPurnima,thefullmoonnightofthemonthofKartik,correspondingwithNovember.ThesiteisalsoknownasSaptasangam,attheconfluenceofsevenrivers.ThemostimportantShivatemplehereisthetempleofSiddhanath.WhatismostsignificantaboutthisfairisthatitistheonlymajoranimaltradingfairinGujarat.About4,000donkeysarebroughteveryyearforsale,usuallyby'Banjara'(gypsy)traders.Thesedonkeysarepaintedinanarrayofcolorsanddecorated.Camelsarealsowelldeckedoutandsoldonthesanddunesbytherivershores.NOTE:thepresenceofthedonkeysduringthisdayofthefaircannotbeguaranteed.WereturntoAhmedabadandvisittheAdalajStepWell,builtin1499byQueenRudabai,wifeoftheVaghelachief,Veersinh.Thisfive-storystepwellwasnotjustaculturalandutilitarianspace,butalso

aspiritualrefuge.Itisbelievedthatvillagerswouldcomeeverydayinthemorningtofillwater,offerprayerstothedeitiescarvedintothewallsandinteractwitheachotherinthecoolshadeofthewell.Dinneronyourown.Nov25Day9:Ahmedabad-Poshina(210km/4hours)/DarbargadhPoshina(B,L,D)WestartthedaywithavisittotheexcellentCalicoMuseumofTextiles,(itisprivatemuseumandrestrictedtoverylimitednumberofentrancesperdayandtheydonotallowadvancedbooking).Themuseumexhibitsspectacularantiqueandmoderntextilesincludingraretapestries,wallhangingsandcostumesfromalltheregionsofGujarataswellastherestofIndia.Seeavarietyoftextilesrangingfromincrediblylong,colorfulembroideredwallhangingstoZarisarisembroideredingoldandweighing9kg.Alsoondisplayareoldweavingmachines.NOTE:bringyourownwaterinside,itisstuffy,novendorsinside.LunchandthenwedrivetoPoshina,abeautifulplacesurroundedbyGarasiaandBhilvillages.OurAccommodation:DarbargadhPoshina-AHeritageHomesetinthetriballandsoftheArravallis.TheownersofthisancestralfortinviteyoutoexploretheAdivasiandGarasiatribalcultureofNorthGujaratandSouthRajasthan,enjoyfreshhomecookedmeals,featuringrecipespassedonfromgenerationtogeneration,andindulgeinthehospitalityofafamilythatruledPoshinaforeightgenerationsbeforeindependence.Dinnerandeveningatleisure.Nov26Day10:Poshina/DarbargadhPoshina(B,L,D)Today’sexcursionbyjeepoffersfascinatingglimpsesintoruralIndianlife.Thedrivethroughthepicturesquecountrysidewillincludevisitstotheremotevillagesofthe‘Adivasi’and‘Garasia’tribalswhowillalsogiveyouarcherydemonstrationsandpastoralpeoplelikethe‘Rabaris’whokeepcamels,sheepandgoat.WeshallwalkthroughPoshinavillage.Imagineamarketbustlingwithactivitywhereyoucanwatchcolorfulwomenfromthetribalhamletsandtribalmenunloadingtheirproduce.Youwillbeabletoobservecraftsmenatwork-forgingswords,daggers,bowsandarrows,pottersmakingterracottahorsesandotherfigurines,besidesclayutensils,jewelerssellchunkyornamentstothetribals.TheJaintemplesbuiltin1214A.DandtheancientrichlycarvedShivatemplearealsoworthavisit.Next,traveltoChatrangandBediVillagesofGowalaandGaraciatribes.YouwillalsovisittheKumbhariaJaintemple,pottery&terracottahorsevillageofSalekaandfewtribaltemples.Nov27Day11:Poshina–Patan-Modhera–Bajana(240km/5hrs)/RoyalSafariCamp(B,L,D)MorningdrivetoPatantovisitsomeofits100JainTemplesandtheUNESCORaniKavaSteps(ancientstepwell).Ashort10kmfurther,westoptovisittheexquisiteSunTempleinModhera,situatedonthebanksofthePushpavatiRiver.Hereyouwillseewomenofallagesfromveryyounggirlstoelderly,dressedinbrightyellows,orangeandredsrepresentingandhonoringthesun.WethenvisittheSalvifamily,masterweaversofthecolorfulPotalasilkincludingtheancientartofdoubleikat.Thisisquiteaspecialtreat!WecontinuetoBajanaVillageinLittleRaanofKutch.LittleRaan(desert)ofKutchisasaltmarshlocatedneartheGreatRannofKutchinKutchdistrict.TheareaisalsoknownasDasada.Itisfamousastheworld'slastrefugeoftheIndianWildAss(Khur)

fortheconservationofwhichithasbeendeclaredastheIndianWildAssSanctuary.CapableofreachinghighspeedswhengallopingacrosstheRann,thewildassisusuallyseeninsmallherds.TheLittleRannofKutchisabirdingparadiseandhasbeendeclaredaRamsarSite.BirdshereincludeSteppe,Imperial,andShort-toedEagle,HoubaraBustard,flamingos,pelicans,storksandcranes.ThebestbirdingisduringthewintermonthsfromOctobertoMarchwhenwaterfowlgatherinvastnumbers.ThesearethemonthswhenDemoiselleandCommonCrane,andLesserFlamingoareseeninincrediblylargenumbers.Thoughableaklandscape,itisrichinbiodiversityandisanecologicallyimportantareaforwildlife.ItisalsohometovariousuniquemammalsapartfromwildAsssuchtheIndianWolf(Canisindica),DesertFox(Vulpesvulpespusilla)andNilgai(Boselaphustragocamelus).Theareaissurroundedbytribalvillages,makingthestayherefascinatingandespeciallyexcitingforphotographers.OvernightatRoyalSafariCamp(cottages,westerntoilets,runninghot/coldwater).AfantasticmixofrusticcomfortinaruralsettinginBajanaVillage.TheKutchDistrict(akaTheBanni)runsfromBajanatoBhuj.Overthenextthreedayswewillvisitdiversetribalvillages.Theysharesomesimilaritiesbuthavedistinctivedifferencesintheirlifestylesandartisantalents.Nov28Day12:Bajana/RoyalSafariCamp(B,L,D)EarlymorningsafariacrosstheLittleRannvisitingthe‘bets’,islandsontheancientseabedthatarenowhighergroundscoveredwithgrassandscrub.These‘bets’supportavarietyofwildlifeincludinggorgeouslesserflamingos,greatwhitepelicans,commoncranes,waterbirds(bharamiduck,grayleggoose,homeduck,barheadedgoose),blackbuck,bluebull,hyenasandtheGudkhur(Asiaticwildass)thatarenotfoundelsewhere.Returntoresortforbreakfast.Afterwards,wewillembarkonanexcursiontothe'RannofKutch'tovisitthepastoralsettlementsandvillagesoftheKutchhiTribes.TheBanni(akaTheKutch)grasslandintheKachchhDistrictofGujaratisanareaof2500kmandisoftenreferredtoasthelargesttropicalgrasslandinAsia.TheBanniishometogreatbiologicaldiversity,having37grassspecies,275birdspecies,anddomesticatedanimals,likeBanniBuffalo,KankrejCattle,sheep,goat,horsesandcamel,aswellaswildlife.Bannigrasslandsalsosupportatleastthreespeciesofthreatenedplants,threespeciesofreptiles,fivespeciesofbirdsandfivespeciesofmammals.Duetoits’numerouslarge,mediumandsmallsizedwetlands,theBanniattractsmigratorybirdstobreedandrestinwinter.TheBanniisalsohometo22pastoralistcommunities.TheMaldharis,ethnicgroupisspreadacross48settlementsin19Panchayatis(ancientgoverningsystem;villagecouncil)andwithapopulationofcloseto40,000people.TheMaldharisrightstograzetheBanniarederivedfromhistoricalrulersoftheregionwhograntedtheserightsinreturnforagrazingtax.Todayaround80,000animals,mostlyBannibuffaloandKankrejcattle,grazeintheBanniandcloseto100,000litresofmilkareproducedintheBannieveryday.TheregionalsoservesasabreedinggroundfortheBannibuffaloandtheKankrejcow,forsaleinmanyotherspartsofthecountry.Thereareabout16differenttypesofembroideryintheKutch,eachbelongingtoadifferentcommunity,withdifferentmotifsandpatternsthatgivethemavisualidentity.Themostwellknown,withitschainstitchesandcountlessmirrors,istheRabariembroidery.

TheRabarisareawanderingcommunityknownfortheirextraordinarycapacityforsurvivalandadaptationinthearidregionsofGujaratandRajasthan.WevisitthepastoralVadiaraandKharapatRabaris.Nov29Day13:DriveBajana-Bhujodi-Bhuj/HoteliLark.(B,L)Departingat8amwedrive(190km/4.5hrs)toDhamdka,theblockprintingvillage.WestopforlunchatarestaurantinShyamakyali30minutesbeforearrivaltothevillage.Afterwards,wecontinue1.5hrdrivetoBhujodiVillagetomeetthenomadicRabariwhoweavecamelwoolonpitloomsintoblanketsandshawls.ClosetoBhujodiVillage,(pendingtheiropenhours)wevisitChandabenShroff'sproject,theShrujanorganizationwhichstartedasasmallfamilyproject,andnowhasanetworkofover2500craftswomenspreadacross85villages.Currently,Shrujanworkswith16differentstylesofembroidery,donebyavarietyofcommunitiesandtribalgroups.Theirexcellentexhibitdisplaysthevariousembroiderystyles.Continue15km/30minutedrivetoBhuj.WeestimatearrivalinBhujtobe4:30pmNOTE:Bringtoiletpaperforthedrivetoday.Thereareverycleanroadsidetoilets,traditionalstyle.Nov30Day14:Bhuj/Hotelilark(B,L,D)AfulldaytovisitvariousfascinatingtribalvillagessurroundingBhuj.Eachtribecanbeidentifiedbyitstraditionalattireandspecializesinadifferentformofhandicraft.Youwillseeavarietyofhandicrafts,includingtextiles,vegetablecolordyeprinting,Roganart(waxprinting),glassbeadwork,woolenshawls,leatherarticlesandmore.TheBanniareasurroundstheGreatRaanofKutch;thevillagesofHodka,KhawdaandLudiyaarelocatedintheBanniarea.LudiyaisthemostbeautifuloftheBannisettlements.TheBanni(akaTheKutch)tribaldwellingsaremadeofroundmudhutscalled`bhungas‚withasinglecentralsupportpoleandathatchedortiledroof,allsurroundingalargecommunitycourtyard.Thewomentendtobeshywithmalevisitors,butarehospitableandwillwelcomeyouintotheirhomes.Theyhaveanexquisitepersonalcollectionofembroideredquiltsandgarments.Walls,shelves,graincontainersandcupboardsarefashionedinmudwithdecorativedesignswashedwithlimepasteandembeddedwithmirrorsthatthrowhundredsofshimmeringreflections.Departthehotelat8am.WestartwithavisittoNironaVillage(40km/1hrdrive)withitsfabulousRoganart(waxprinting)&bellmaking.Next,approx35km/50minfromNirona,wevisitBhirandiyaraVillage,abeautifulKutchvillagewhereeverymemberisanartisaninsomemediumofart.Continuingapprox15km/25min,westopforlunchinHodkavillage.Afterlunch,wevisitthepicturesqueLudiya(akaGhandiGram)villageoftheMeghwaitribeoftheKutchwithitsdecorativecircularhuts,25km/40mindrive.Continuing,a60km/1.5hrdrive,we’llvisitsomelocalweavingfamiliesinSumarsarvillage,famousforScoofEmbroidery.Inthisarea,wealsovisittheKalaRakshaTrustinSumrasarSheikhvillage,agrassrootssocialenterprise,dedicatedtopreservationoftraditionalarts.KalaRakshaproducessomeofthemostexquisitelyhandembroideredandpatch-workedproductsmadeinKutch.Theirmuseumexhibitsexcellentsamples.

Inaddition,time-permitting,westopbytheKalaRakshaVidyalaya(InstituteofDesign).ReturntoBhuj30km/45min,approx5:30pm.WeenjoyafarewelltraditionalThalidinner(allveg)atHotelPrince.Dec1Day15:Bhuj–Bombay-DepartBhuj,themajortownofKutch,isanoldwalledcity.Therearewallswithinwalls,attractivegateways,oldpalaceswithintricatecarvings,andstrikingbrightlycoloredHindutemples.ThisisIndiabeforethetouristinvasion.

ThismorningwevisittheKutchMuseumandPragMahalfollowedbyawalkintheoldcity.

We’llenjoyourlastIndianmeal,lunchatalocalrestaurant.AfterlunchtherewillbeashortvisittothehouseofMr.AlliMohamadIsha,atieanddyespecialist,foraninteractiveworkshopontheart.

TransfertotheairportfortheflighttoMumbai,9w340dep5:15pm,arr6:35pm.Onarrival,transfertohotelbyhotelshuttlebus.Roomsforwash/change.Takehotelshuttletoairportforflighthome.

PRICE:$4110basedonminimum4people.SingleroomSupplement:$915PlusAirfares(estimates/exactTBDwhenbooked)Bombay-Vadodara$125,Bhuj-Mumbai$135Includes:Accommodationwithdailybreakfast.OnenightBombayatKohinoorContinentalTwonightsJambughodaatJambughodaPalacehttp://jambughoda.com/TwonightsPalitanaatVijayVilasPalacehttp://www.heritagehotelsofindia.com/gujarat/vijay-vilas-palace.htmlThreenightsAhmedabadatHyattRegencyAhmedabadhttps://ahmedabad.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.htmlTwonightsPoshinaatDarbargadhPoshinahttp://www.poshina.com/TwonightsBajanaatRoyalSafariCamphttp://www.theroyalsafaricamp.com/TwonightsBhujatHotelIlarkhttp://www.hotelilark.com/RoomforwashandchangeatKohinoorContinentalonlastdayMeals:DailyBreakfast,12Lunches,10DinnersTransportfor2-3peopleinA/CToyotaInnova;4-6peopleinA/CTempoTravelerasperitineraryArrival/departuretransfersasperitineraryonthetourdatesProfessionalaccompanyingguideinGujaratthroughoutfromVadodara-BhujLocalTribalguidesinChotaUdaipur&PoshinaMonumententrancefeesStillcamerafeesJeepSafari,Naturalist&entranceintheLittleRannofKutchPortageathotelsanddomesticairportsBottledwaterinthevehicle(2litrebottlesperdayperperson)IndiaGovServiceTax5%DoesNotInclude:Internationalair,visafee,travelinsurance,tips,videofeesifany,mealsotherthenmentioned,personalexpensessuchaslaundry,phonecalls,alcoholicdrinks