Gujarat Textile Tour

Arrival in Ahmedabad and transfer to hotel; Ahmedabad is Located on the banks of the river Sabarmati, the city was founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah in 1411. Today it is one of the fastest growing cities of India and is an immense repository of tradition, history & culture. Its famous walled area is one of the finest examples of community living & the city thrived as the textile capital & was nicknamed “Manchester of the East' in 1888. This multicultural city is home to some of the finest Indo-Saracenic mosques & Jain temples. The Sidi Sayed Ni Jaali with its delicately curved branches in a masterpiece carved in stone. The elaborate havelis of wealthy Guajarati Sethias are part of the city's living heritage. In the early 20th century Ahmedabad grew an important center for nationalist activities after Mahatma Gandhi established two ashrams in the city- the Kochrab Ashram in 1915 and Sabarmati Ashram in 1917.The thriving city has always been the financial capital of Gujarat and after independence; international architects like Louis Kahn and Le Corbusier were commissioned to build modern architectural marvels in the city. While the former built the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) building in brick, le Corbusier designed the Shodhan and Sarabhai Villas, the Sanskar Kendra and the Mill Owner's Association in stark concrete. Like any other mega-polis, Ahmedabad straddles the ancient and modern with equal poise.Afternoon - visit Gandhi Ashram, Shreyas Folk & Art Museum, and Institute of Indology. Evening Market at Law Garden displays beautiful textile handicrafts of Gujarat. Vishalla is a restaurant with traditional Gujarati food in village surroundings. It has Vichar Utensil Museum worth visiting. The museum houses a unique collection of utensils. Overnight at hotel.

• After breakfast drive to Dasada 90 km enroute visiting Adalaj Step well, Patan. Adalaj Step-well: Situated 17 km north of Ahmedabad, this step well at the village of Adalaj is another fine example of magnificent architectural form. 'Adalaj Vav' is richly carved. Every pillar and wall surface is covered with leaves, flowers, birds, fishes and friezes of ornamental designs. Patan: Home of the famous Patola silk saris, Patan is a beautiful old town with Jain temples and carved wooden houses. Rani Ki vav (step well) is an excellent example of subterranean architecture of Gujarat. The exclusively carved side walls, pillars, beams, series of steps & platforms lead to the elaborately carved water well. Every surface is adorned with finely chiselled sculptures of maidens & Hindu deities, religious motifs & geometrical patterns.
• Drive to Dasada. Overnight at hotel.

Today morning enjoy morning safari to Little Rann Of Kutch, then drive to Bhuj. The Little Rann of Kutch: The highlight of this sanctuary is the Asiatic Wild Ass or 'Gudkhur' that is endemic to the region & is one of the most endangered species in the world. Other mammals that could be seen are Nilgai, black buck antelope, Chinkara gazelle, Indian wolf, Indian desert foxes, jackals & lesser cats. Also is a paradise for bird watchers. The key dry land birds are McQueen's houbara bustard, chestnut bellied & spotted sand grouse, Indian courser, 13 species of larks & sparrow larks, 5 of quails (including buttonquails), thick-knee, desert warbler, desert & variable wheatear, Aquila eagles, short toed snake eagle, six species of falcon & three harriers. Five species of vulture have been recorded. Apart from all these you can hope to see greater & lesser flamingo, three species of pelican, spoonbill, demoiselle & common cranes, and a number of ducks in flocks of several thousand during winters. Overnight at hotel.

Bhuj - Bhuj is an amazing place; People are really fantastic and the city of Bhuj is really relaxed and you can just wander around without hassle and there is plenty to see. It is the most magical region in all of India. Life in a very different traditional way is fascinating. - The women are amazing with their magnificent silver jewellery and heavily embroidered dresses. Here you will come across master craft people' expositioning their traditional art, turning out master pieces every day. Their ornaments, clothes, utensils, everything they use - will make you feel as if you have stepped into lifestyle museum leaving you spellbound the tribal villages, specializing in different forms of handicraft including embroidery, block printing and tie and dye. Colour and eye for design is the keynote of Gujarat handicrafts, and is an expression of their rich traditional heritage and personal artistic talent.The museum has been a center of attraction for scholars due to its large collection of Kshatrapa inscriptions, carious archaeological objects, and fine collection of arms & specimens of various crafts of Kutch region. Other places of interest at Bhuj are- Cenotaphs of Kutch rulers, Snake Temple at Bhujiyo Hill Fort, Swaminarayan temple, Vegetable market, Hatkeshwar temple & Alfred High School. Overnight at hotel.

• After Breakfast drive to Muli via Wadhwan.Wadhwan was a princely state of the Jhala Rajput clan, which ruled many important salute states of Saurashtra. The Rajmahal was built in the late 19th century by HH BAL Sinhji and was earlier called BAL Vilas Palace. The palace is splendidly located in 13-14 acres of park like grounds with tennis courts, lily ponds, fountains, out-houses and cricket pitches. The centerpiece is a beautiful pillared courtyard with marble statues, fountained pleasure pool and marble sit-outs. Visit to 2nd Oldest Swaminarayan Temple in the World, Famous Wooden Haveli, Mandavraiji Sun Temple, Jhombai Temple with War Memorial & Famous Ancestral Step well.
• Half-Day Textile & Craft Tour in and around Muli Somasar, Muli (4 kms) - known for its Silk & Cotton Weaving (Patola).
• Sayla (10 kms) - known for Ikkat silk weaving and the intricate beadwork on fabrics Sejathpur (20 kms) - known for its beadwork. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Jamnagar. Jamnagar or the city of Jams was one of the most important princely states of Saurashtra. Today, the 200km long Jamnagar coast is dotted with several industries run by corporate giants in the region. Jamnagar itself is a centre for the brass industry, bandhani fabrics and zari work. But it’s the princely past that attracts visitors-the Pratap Vilas Palace in a renaissance style, the 16th century Darbargarh Palace with a festival of stone sculptures, the impressive Willingdon Crescent, the museum at Lakota Island Palace of Jamsa-rovar Lake and statues of famous cricketing prince Ranjit Sinhji. Also worth seeing are the Maqbaras, the colorful sculpture of Sonapuri and the Jain temples in the city centre. Overnight at hotel.

After Breakfast, drive to Ahmedabad Airport/Railway station.