Destinations Covered:- Ahamdabad – Gondal – Junagadh – Gondal – Bhuj – Villages Around Bhuj – Mandvi – Around Mandvi – Dasada -Patan – Danta/Palanpurdanta – Poshina – Ahamdabad – Jambugodha – Chhota Udepur – Baroda – Silvassa- Baroda/Surat/Mumbai
Duration:- 17 Nights – 18 Days
In spite of being one of India’s most modern and affluent states, Gujarat’s rural areas are is known for the colourful attires of its people from the pastoral groups that roam the desert and semi-desert region of Kutch in the northwest to the tribal groups of the hills along its eastern boundary.
Day-1: AHMEDABAD Arrive at Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is a major centre of traditional and contemporary textiles, and many crafts thrive here like Mata-ni-pachedi narrative cloth paintings and block-printing.
Stay at House of Mangaldas Girdhardas, a heritage hotel owned by a former textile industrialist family. Day-2: AHMEDABAD At Gondal, visit the 1748 AD Naulakha Palace which houses the erstwhile ruling family’s private collection of beadwork, textiles, brassware, hand-painted toys and silver crafts, the centre promoting weaving at Gondal, and the historic buildings of Gondal. Evening tour of Bharwad and Rabari villages around Gondal. Stay at Riverside Palace/Orchard Palace, both of which are decorated with textiles from the former Maharanis’ collections.
Day-3: GONDAL – JUNAGADH – GONDAL Drive to Junagadh where you can see gem-encrusted carpets, wardrobes and tapestery of the Nawab at the museums. A historic city, Junagadh has 3rd century BC Buddhist relics, medieval fort, mausoleum complexes, palaces, etc. Return to Gondal. Day-4: GONDAL – BHUJ (259km) Drive to Bhuj calling in on the way at Rajkot to see the Watson Museum which has good examples of Gujarat’s craftsmanship skills, and Rashtriya Shala working to revive hand-weaving. Stay at Hotel Prince.
Day- 5 & 6: VILLAGES AROUND BHUJ Visit villages of Hindu pastoral groups like the Ahirs and Rabaris, Islamic pastoral groups like the Muthwas and Jaths, artisans like the Meghwals, and Sodha Rajput immigrants from Thar Parker area now in Pakistan at their respective villages, and see their beautiful embroidery techniques.
Stay as on day-4 or at Shaam-e-Sarhad, a rural retreat.
Day-7: BHUJ – MANDVI (60km) Drive to Mandvi, which is a tie-and-dye centre, and stay in a/c tented comfort of the royal resort by the private beach in the palace estate. Visit the dhow-building yard to see ocean-worthy vessels being hand-built. Stay at the palace estate.
Day-8: AROUND MANDVI Visit Rabari villages around Mandvi, including some of the most picturesque in Gujarat, and a Samma village at Pragsar. Stay as on day-7: Day-9: MANDVI-DASADA (320km) Drive from Mandvi to Dasada passing picturesque old towns and villages. Visit Vadiara and Kharapat Rabaris, Jaths, Bajanias, Mirs and other semi-nomadic communities in and around the Rann. Stay at Rann Riders, an eco-resort designed using local materials and handicrafts to resemble a village.
Day-10: DASADA-PATAN – DANTA/PALANPUR (200km) Drive to Danta via Patan where you can watch the Salvis at work on the Patola, one of the richest silk textiles in the world, woven using the rare double-ikat technique. You will also see 11th century monuments at Modhera’s Sun Temple complex and in Patan, and the 12th century Jain temples of Taranga. Stay at Bhavani Villa at Danta surrounded by Bhil tribal villages or at the Balaram Palace Resort near Palanpur. .
Day-11: PALANPUR/DANTA – POSHINA (70km) Drive from Danta to Poshina. Visit the Garasia tribal villages around Poshina and a tribal shrine where Bhils and Garasias from about 90 villages visit. Stay at Darbargadh Poshina.
Day-12: POSHINA – AHMEDABAD (180km) Drive to Ahmedabad and visit the Gujarat Vidhyapith’s tribal research institute museum, Shreyas Folk Museum, and other museums. Stay at House of MG heritage hotel.
Day-13: AHMEDABAD – JAMBUGODHA (190km) Drive to the world heritage site of Champaner, to see the majestic 16th century monuments, and proceed to Jambugodha. Stay at a heritage house near Bhilala and Nayaka villages.
Day-14: JAMBUGODA – CHHOTA UDEPUR (60km) Drive to Chhota Udepur and see the tribal museum. Visit the Rathwa tribal villages around the town to see their picturesque houses with painted walls and terra cotta horses. Stay at Kali Niketan, a heritage house. .
Day-15: CHHOTA UDEPUR – BARODA (100km) Visit the museums of Baroda.
Day-16: BARODA TO SILVASSA Drive to Silvassa. Visit the tribal villages of the Gamits, Warlis, Kunbis, Kukmas and other groups. Stay at Treat Resort/similar.
Day-17: SILVASSA Visit the tribal museum at Silvassa. Stay at Treat Resort/similar.
Day-18: SILVASSA – BARODA/SURAT/MUMBAI
