Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Mumbai.

Visit The Prince of Wales Museum, now known as “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay”

The foundation stone of this edifice was laid down by the Prince of Wales on the 11 November 1905, and it was established as a museum on 10 January 1922. The Prince of Wales Museum is a Grade I Heritage Building of the city and is counted amongst one of the most prominent museums of India. The complex exhibits a myriad collection of ancient artefacts, artwork and sculptors of the country which give a unique insight into our past. the Prince of Wales Museum is a wonderful manifestation of India's glory and rich past. (Closed on Monday)

Visit to Gateway of India, Mumbai's principle landmark built on the sea front in December, 1911 to memorialize the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to the city. Drive past the Afghan Church. Secretariat of Maharashtra Government and along the Marine Drive which is fondly known as the 'Queen's Necklace'. Victoria Terminus the new name for this station is Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. It is the headquarters of the central railway line in Mumbai. This is a heritage building with brilliant architecture. It is one of the most photographed buildings in India. And Mani Bhavan famously known as Mumbai home to the great leader Mahatma Gandhi. Mani Bhavan served as Bombay home to mahatma Gandhi for seventeen long and very crucial years of his life.

Overnight at hotel

Early morning packed cold breakfast

Later in time transfer to airport to board flight for Ahmedabad.

0905 Hrs Arrive Ahmedabad

Upon arrival at airport meet assist and transfer to hotel

Later proceed for sightseeing tour of Ahmedabad.

Mahatma Gandhi Sabarmati Ashram:- Sabarmati Ashram (also known as Harijan Ashram) was home to Mohandas Gandhi from 1917 until 1930 and served as one of the main centres of the Indian freedom struggle. Originally called the Satyagraha Ashram, reflecting the movement toward passive resistance launched by the Mahatma, the Ashram became home to the ideology that set India free. Sabarmati Ashram named for the river on which it sits River Sabarmati.

Jumma Masjid:- The Jama Masjid of Ahmedabad was probably the largest mosque in the Subcontinent built in this period. Designed as part of a major plan desired by the Emperor Sultan Ahmed Shah.

Mosque of Sidi Saiyyed:- Sidi Saiyyed Mosque is one of most well-known mosques of Ahmedabad, and it's famous ‘Tree of Life Jali’ or latticework done on the semi-circular arch-windows has come to symbolise the city and its grandeur known for its architecture .

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast proceed for guided sightseeing tour of Calico Museum. (CLOSED ON MONDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND STRICTLY SUBJECT TO PERMISSION IN ADVANCE, only 20 PAX ALLOWED TIME: 1015 TO 12:45 Hrs)

In the Morning, experience one of India’s best Textile Museum. The collection of fabrics spanning varied and remote regions of India and exemplifies handicrafts spread across five centuries. The textile was collected with a vision to conserve, build awareness and empower the vast and deep textile heritage of India There are some astoundingly beautiful pieces, displaying incredible virtuosity and extravagance. You’ll see Kashmiri shawls that took three years to make, and double-ikat cloths whose 100,000 threads were each individually dyed before weaving.

After visit Calico Museum return back to hotel.

Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities. Or enjoy hotel in-house activities

Overnight at hotel

OPTIONAL (IF CALICO VISIT NOT POSSIBLE THEN GUEST MAY VISIT SHREYAS FOLK MESUEM)

Morning Visit Shreyas Folk Museum (SUNDAY & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS CLOSED)

TIME : 09:30 HRS TO 13:30 HRS

Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast proceed for Little Runn Of Kutch. En-route visiting Patan and Modhera.

Patan: Patan was an ancient Hind capital before Mahmud of Ghazni sacked it in 1024. Patan is famous for its beautifully designed patola silk saris, you can visit the Museum of National award winner Salvi family to see the weaving of Patola sarees. There is also the renovated Rani-ki-Vav, a step well which boasts of some of Gujarat’s finest carvings and is also a World Heritage Site.

Modhera: Modhera The beautiful and partially ruined sun temple of Modhera was built by King Bhimdev I (1026-27) and bears some resemblance to the later, far better known, Sun Temple of Konark, Orissa. It was designed so that the dawn sun shone on the image of sun God at the time of the equinoxes.

After visiting Modhera continue drive to Little Runn of Kutch.

Upon arrival Check In at hotel.

Overnight at hotel

Early Morning Safari, visit to the Wild Ass Sanctuary at Little Rann of Kutch. The Sanctuary is known for Wild Ass which are found only in the region in India, it is also known for the marshy area where you will see a variety of birds such as flamingo pink, duck, crane, etc.

(Wild Ass Sanctuary open from 16 Oct to 15 June)

After safari return back to hotel for breakfast.

Post breakfast proceed for Bhuj.

Upon arrival Check In at hotel

Later in the afternoon proceed for local sightseeing tour Bhuj visiting Ajna and Prag Mahal.

Aina Mahal: Aina Mahal is an 18th century palace that was built during the flamboyant rule of Lakhpatji. The layout, design and decorations of Aina Mahal were highly influenced by a royal dream that had eventually been converted into reality by an extremely deft craftsman Ramsinh Malam. (AINA MAHAL CLOSED ON THURSDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Prag Mahal: Prag Mahal which may at first seem out of place at the far western edge of India looking more appropriate in France. This is a palace commissioned by King Pragmalji in 1860’s designed by Colonel Henry Saint Wilkins in the Italian Gothic style and built next to the Aina Mahal.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel

Full day shall spent on visiting villages for Workshop / Demo Programs.

Villages like Sumrasar Village which has Kala Raksha a famous Textile NGO with focus on different art work with use of embroidery. The emphasis has been on empowering women in the region by developing their skills with focus on textile handicrafts.

Later in the afternoon proceed to visit Nirona Village.

Nirona Village to see Rogan Art work which is done in only this one Village in Inida also experience Bell Making and Lacquer Work done in the Village.

Overnight at hotel

(Demo/ Workshop can be organized on supplement charge basis)

Breakfast at the hotel

Later proceed for sightseeing tour of Northern Banni Villages.

Visit Northern Banni Villages like Bhirindiyara, Hodka, Dhordo each displaying skills of their artisans that make beautiful embroideries, colorful, inlaid mirrors and leather work. The different villages have people belonging to Rabari, Meghwal, Harijans, Mutwa Community.

After visit return back to Bhuj

Overnight at hotel

(Demo/ Workshop can be organized on supplement charge basis)

Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast proceed for guided sightseeing tour of Ajrakpur and Bhujodi.

Ajrakpur: Visit Ajrakpur to see Ajrak work, Ajrak is a block-printed textile that is resist-dyed using natural dyes including indigo and madder. It is made by Khatris community in Kutch, Gujarat and is distinguished by its colour- blue with red - and its complex geometric & floral patterns.

LLDC Museum: Living and Learning Design Centre (LLDC) is a pioneering new effort of the Shrujan Trust to preserve, revitalize and promote the glorious craft heritage of Kutch. Dedicated to the craftspeople of Kutch, LLDC aims to train, educate and support crafts persons to practise their traditional crafts for contemporary markets so that they can earn a dignified and prosperous living. (Museum closed on Mondays and Public Holidays)

Bhujodi Village: To meet National Award winning weavers known for their Shawls and weaving.

After sightseeing tour of Ajrakpur and LLDC Museum return back to Bhuj.

Overnight at hotel

Early Breakfast at the hotel

After Breakfast check out from hotel, proceed to visit a village to see Ahir embroidery.

Ahir community from Dhaneti or Dhabetee is 26 Kms from Bhuj is one of the many tribes in Kutch region

found their distinctive style of embroidery and famous for their embroidery work & they use mirrors in various shapes, round, lozenge, rectangular, square, triangular, and beak shaped. The embroidery designs are regional, and very specific to their community, playing a significant role in marriage and cultural rituals. The fabric that is produced can be used as table cloths, curtains, bed covers, tapestries, handbags, sling bags, dolls, purses,Torana, home decor and also for personal utilities. The hand-stitched products have a more excellent value than the machinery.

Later proceed for Ahmedabad.

Upon arrival Check In at hotel

Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities

Overnight at hotel.

Early morning packed cold breakfast

Later in time transfer to airport to board fligh for Jaipur

0830 Hrs Arrive Jaipur

Upon arrival meet assist and transfer to hotel

Jaipur was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II. It is a planned city built with ancient Hindu rules as the colonial capital of a richly colorful state. It was made attractive with the pink wash - a traditional color of welcome in 1853 in honor of the visit of Prince Albert.

Upon arrival Check In at hotel

Later proceed for sightseeing tour of Jaipur visiting City Palace City Palace, the former Royal residence, part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Situated near the gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition.

After sightseeing tour proceed to visit Mojri showroom. Mojari is one of the special hand crafted footwear of Jaipur. Also visit textile showroom showcasing amazing textile products like cushions, bed covers, art objects etc. Here you can see carpet weaving and many craftsmen doing block printing preparing different awesome designs with different color themes.

Lac Bangles Making (Demonstration Only) The famous lac bangles of Rajasthan are as old as the city itself. In the year 1727 CE, the then ruler Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur, was very keen on making Jaipur a centre for craftsmen and artisans. He therefore invited lac bangle craftsmen from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The bangles crafted here are handmade, lac bangles and you will find them at Maniharon ka Rasta in Tripolia Bazar. The locality is also home to the community that makes these lac bangles, the Manihars. Making lac bangles was a craft patronised by the royal court of Jaipur, and is still one of the most remarkable handicrafts of this city.

Later in the evening explore famous local bazaar, the winding narrow alleys of the local bazaar which are full of textiles, silverware and handicrafts. Here you will got chance to interaction with local people and try your bargaining skills out there.

(Optional) On this day you can give your fabric to get stitched and on the last night in Jaipur you can get your suit/ Kurta ready.

Overnight at hotel

Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast proceed for guided sightseeing tour of Jaipur.

Morning excursion to Amber Fort (With a Jeep ride or Elephant ride up to the fort entrance). Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise.

Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh Mahal - a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. En-route to Amber Fort, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds.

Later proceed to visit workshop of semi-precious and precious stone jewelry, how the craftsman is cutting and shaping the stones. Also visit some amazing jewelry collections here too. Later proceed to visit silver jewelry showroom, stone showcasing modern, contemporary, and traditional jewelry designs.

We will also visit a textile showroom showcasing amazing textile products like cushions, bedcovers, art objects etc. Here you can see carpet weaving and many craftsmen doing block printing preparing different awesome designs with different color themes.

Lac is the natural resin secreted by a tiny insect collected from trees. The skilled craftsmen then transform this into lac coils to create attractive bangles out it.

Later in the evening proceed to visit Blu Pottery Shop. Blu Pottery in Jaipur is well known craft and is widely recognized for the blue pottery having the Terko-Persian influence. The blue pottery found its origins in Jaipur when Sawai Ram Singh II sent artisans to Delhi to get trained in this Persian art form. Over the years, Rajmata Gayatri Devi, who widely promoted blue pottery, kept the craft alive.

The objects of blue pottery are lamp sheds, crockery, Jewelry boxes, serving trays, flower vases, and bowls etc.

Overnight at hotel

Breakfast at the hotel

Proceed for visiting Bagru.

Bagru is popular for block or wooden printing. Commonly known as 'Bagru Prints', creating these designs involves an exclusive technique in which the preferred design is carved on a wooden block which is further used to reproduce the same design on the preferred fabric. Craftsmen use simple and eco-friendly tools along with turmeric and natural and vegetable dyes to print the cloth. The craftsmen make blue colour from indigo, red colour from madder root, green from indigo mixed with pomegranate juice and yellow from turmeric. Excellent bed covers and other materials are manufactured by these villagers.

Here if time permits, you will also walk around the village and witness the people doing their daily work and clicks come beautiful pictures. (Please note it’s not a planned walk, just a random one)

Later return back to Jaipur.

Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities of enjoy hotel in-house activities.

Overnight at hotel

Breakfast at the hotel

Later at approx 0800 proceed for Agra. En-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri.

Fatehpur Sikri a city predominantly in red sand-stone, situated at a distance of 40 kms from Agra, was built by the Mughal Emperor Jalal-ud-din Mohammad Akbar, in honour of the great Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, the Tomb of Salim Chishti, & the other palaces.

Later continue drive to Agra.

Upon arrival Check In at hotel.

Later in the evening enjoy cooking demonstration followed by dinner with local Indian family.

Overnight at hotel

Early morning Sunrise visit to Taj Mahal.

Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal provides a peaceful and serene experience that is truly unforgettable. Taj Mahal (One of the Seven wonders of the world) is a breathaking white-marble mausoleum commissioned by Mughul emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore described as "the tear-drop on the cheek of time". (Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays).

Later return back to hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast check out from hotel and proceed to visit Agra Fort.

Agra Fort, UNESCO world heritage site is situated just 2.5 Kms from Taj Mahal and major tourist attraction.

Later continue drive to Delhi

Upon arrival Check In at hotel

Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities

Overnight at hotel

Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of New and Old Delhi.

In Old Delhi visit The Masjid-i Jehan-Numa commonly known as Jama Masjid of Delhi, is one of the largest mosque in India. Drive pass Red Fort (Closed on Monday) a marvel in red sandstone. And then takes a glance at the unique local life on an exploration to the bustling and colorful bazaars of Chawri Bazaar by cycle rickshaw. Also visit Raj Ghat memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.

Continue to New Delhi sightseeing tour.

Drive past the Rashtrapati Bhavan (formerly the viceroy's residence),Parliament House & Government Secretariat Buildings. Visit the 12th century Qutab Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted even after 1500 years. Also visit Humayun’s Tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun’s first wife Bega Begum in 1569-70, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect chosen by Bega Begum.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast check out from hotel and you will be transferred to International airport to take flight back home with some great STORIES OF INDIA.

END OF THE TOUR