- Overview
- Itinerary
- Inclusion's
- Exclusion's
- Gallery
- Reviews
- FAQ
- Downloads
Lead your heart and body to indulge in a totally different experience of a sightseeing tour of the famous city in Gujarat, Bhuj which is known to be the ultimate stop to see a unique arts, crafts and communities and a travel along the off beat roads.This four day tour will be a perfect fit for you if you are looking forward to have a distinct tour in the not much explored places of India. It would be helpful to you to overcome the bustles and hussles of your routine life.The Rann of Kutch and Mandvi Beach are two other prominent destinations you will cover during this amazing tour. This guided tour includes food, accommodation and transportation during the whole tour.
04 Nights - Bhuj
Itineraries
Day 1
BY AIR / BY TRAIN – ARRIVE BHUJ
Arrive Bhuj and transfer to your hotel.
The historic city of Bhuj derives its name from the Bhujiyo Dungar, a hill, overlooking the
present day Bhuj town. Bhuj is a typical example of a desert town located between two
geographical features - Bhujiyo Dungar on the east Hamirsar Lake on the west. Bhuj, the
major town of Kutch, is an old city established in 1510. With its surrounding wall, the
atmospheric bazaar area, crenelated gateways, old palaces and striking temples the town still
retains a medieval character. Every Nov/Feb it hosts the annual Rann Utsav festival.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 2
IN BHUJ
After breakfast visit the Banni Villages. Visit Ajrakhpur and Bhujodi.
The artisans of Ajrakhpur specialize in Ajrakh – a Block Printed cotton cloth used traditionally
by local herdsmen with natural dies. Its geometrical and nonfigurative motifs often mirror those
appearing in Islamic – influenced Indian architecture.
Later stop at Bhujodi – a village skilled in traditional Bandhani (tie & dye), block printing and
weaving. Here you can view live demonstrations and buy anything from shawls to blankets from
the artisans directly. Bhujodi is also a centre for Piltoom weaving, Mewada Embroidery Wood
Carving. Nearby is the Hiralakshmi Crafts Park – a nonprofit undertaking by the Ashapura
Group of Companies that works with artisans throughout Kutch to show their skills and retail
their crafts.
Not far from Bhujodi is Shrujan, a non-profit working to complement rural women’s income
through the enhancement and marketing of their embroidery products. Shrujan has a store,
design centre, manufacturing unit and an impressive collection of embroideries on site. One can
also tour the campus which utilizes traditional and environmentally sensitive architecture.
Types of Embroideries: Aahir Embroidery, Soof Embroidery, Chakan Embroidery, Jat Fakira
Embroidery, Jat Garasiya Embroidery, Kambiro Khudi Embroidery, Katri Embroidery, Kharek
Embroidery, Mukko Embroidery, Neran Embroidery, Pakko Embroidery, Rabari Embroidery.
Overnight at hotel
Day 3
IN BHUJ
Today after breakfast proceed for day excursion to Banni villages. ( North Bhuj)
Amidst the Desert land of infinite dimensions, are suspended, quaint little villages. These are the
last villages on the India-Pakistan border. Here you will come across master craft people
exposing their traditional art, turning our 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.
Nirona: The village of multiple talents! The village of Nirona is the only place in the world where
the tradition of Rogan art is still practiced (a method of producing dyes from natural resources
and castor oil and creating intricate and long-lasting designs on silk and cotton). Rogan art is a
rare craft that is not well known even in India. Because of its rare qualities, it is practiced by
only one family in India and they reside in Nirona village in Gujarat. They would be happy to
teach you a trick or two in the intricate Rogan painting.
Nirona also offers the chance to see artisans making copper bells. The Luhars in Nirona have
been preserving the craft of making copper bells over seven generations. The art form originally
comes from Sindh and some sister villages in Pakistan too make similar bells but with carvings
on the surface.
Another family in Nirona is practicing wood lacquering. Raw lacquer in various colours is
passed with great skill on the wooden object of focus in beautiful waves. The work they do is
mainly focused on household items like jewellery boxes and kitchen utensils and is known to
last more than 30-35 years. If the lacquer work starts to lose its sheen, just apply some oil on it.
Visit the Bhirandiyara – is a favorite Tea stop for locals and visitors alike on the road to Khavda.
The village boasts of a delicious sweet – fresh Maavo. This milk-based sweet is best when eaten
hot. Most of the roadside stalls sell Maavo. The local Meghwal Community has exquisite
embroideries and skillfully decorated, colorful Mud Bhungas.
Ludia Village is comprised of several hamlets belonging to the Meghwal Samma Communities.
The latter community, primarily herdsmen, is more conservative when it comes to tourists.
Gandhi nu Gam, populated by the Meghwal community, features beautifully Painted Bhungas.
The Kanjari (Blouses) of the women and the Bhunga decoration of this village are especially
colorful.
Khavda pottery is an art form of Khavda, North Kutch. While the men do all the throwing in
terracotta, the women handle all the surface decoration which in this northern Kutch village of
Ludia is primarily in the form of painting.
The potter gets mud from a specific acre (A lake) area near village. It is called Rann ka mitti.
This soft clay is shaped into a pot on a potter’s wheel and left to dry in shade, then Kumbhar
women use red, black, and white clay-based paints to decorate each piece of pottery with
distinct community-specific designs. After a while, it is cleaned and put in the sun to dry and
then baked in a furnace, powered by simple and locally available fuels of dry wood and cow
dung. The vessels are coated with a thin wash of geru (red color). The pots of Khavda get their
red colour from Geru, a type of soil (ocher/ umber), and the black and white dots and stripes
are also made with natural material. Finished pieces lie aside, ready for drying. The terracotta
pots of Khavda are distinct from the ones we may see elsewhere, because of their painting and
form which is a result of repeated cleaning at every stage of the process of their making.
White Rann : the spectacular sight of boundless white desert is the stunning creation of nature,
unique to this world.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 4
IN BHUJ – BY ROAD – 65 KMS / 01 HR – BHUJ TO MANDVI (ONE WAY)
After breakfast proceed for day excursion to Mandvi.
Visit Kala Raksha Trust, a grassroots social enterprise, is dedicated to preservation of traditional
arts. Envision this broadly, as holistic encouraging of the creative capacity of the artist.
Comprising artisans, community members, and experts in the fields of art, design and museums,
Kala Raksha was founded on artisan initiative in 1993 in the desert region Kutch, in India.
Uniquely committed to documenting existing traditions, the Trust maintains a collection of
heirloom textiles housed as a local Museum. Artisans participated in establishing this Museum.
Thus it embodies a simple but revolutionary concept: involve people in presenting their own
cultures. Kala Raksha Centre is located in Sumrasar Sheikh, 25 km north of Bhuj.
Here, the museum, production unit, shop and guest house inhabit structures that adapt
traditional architecture to contemporary function. A model for community development, the
Centre is locally managed and operates with solar power.
Kalaraksha Vidhyalaya: Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya is an initiative of Kala Raksha Trust. In its
second decade, Kala Raksha sought to address India’s most pressing need: Education. In October
2005, the Trust launched this institution, whose environment, curriculum and methodology are
designed for traditional artisans, as a new approach to the rejuvenation of traditional arts.
Project Director Judy Frater was awarded an Ashoka Foundation Fellowship to realize the
project. In March 2009 she also received the Sir Misha Black Medal for design education.
Later continue to drive to Mandvi.
Mandvi is located on the banks of the Rukmavati River, barely one km from the Arabian Sea at
the Gulf of Kutch. The town has a very pleasant climate throughout the year and it was a
summer retreat of the Kutch Maharaos. The centre of attraction at Mandvi is the Vijay Vilas
Palace, a royal abode set in the middle of well-laid gardens with water channels and marble
fountains. The architect and craftsmen from Jaipur designed and constructed the palace in 1920
AD. The palace has all the elements of Rajput architecture and draws largely on the plan of
palaces of Orchha and Datia. The central high dome on the pillars, the Bengal domes on sides,
the windows with colored glass, carved stone Jaalis, domed bastions at the corners, extended
porch and other exquisitely stone carved elements, make the palace worth visiting. It owns a
private beach, maintained in an eco-friendly manner to preserve its pristine beauty. It is an
example of the traditional skill of craftsmen of early 20th century.
Visit Ship building yard. On the banks of the Rukmavati River, just south of the bridge, you can
visit the still-active shipbuilding yard. Craftsmen still assemble ships out of wood, for local or
international guests, and you can feel free to watch them work. It gives us an opportunity to
watch handmade ship being built which will make one truly appreciate craftsmanship. The
process is long and elaborate and shoddy workmanship means risking sailors lives.
Later drive back to Bhuj.
Overnight at hotel
Day 5
BY AIR / TRAIN – DEPARTURE BHUJ
After breakfast visit the Kutch Museum, formerly known as the Fergusson Museum. The Kutch
museum is the oldest museum in Gujarat. This museum is built in the Italian style and located in
picturesque surroundings on the banks of the Hamirsar Lake. The museum has a large
collection of Kshatrapa inscriptions, various archaeological objects, arms and specimens of
various crafts of the Kutch region.
The Cenotaphs Complex or Chattardi was built of red stones. These tombs were ruined by the
successive earthquakes since 1819.
Kera is mainly known due to the 10th century old temple of Lord Shiva.
Prag Mahal was constructed by Rao Pragmalji II who appointed a famous architect, Colonel
Henry Saint Wilkins to design Prag Mahal, who had earlier designed Deccan College, Sasoon
Hospital, Ohel David Synagogue. Prag Mahal took about 10 years to get built at the cost of 20
lakh rupees.
Aaina Mahal Palace was built by Rao Lakhpatji in 1750 AD. Aaina Mahal is a part of a large
palace complex. It is a two Storey building with Darbar Hall, hall of mirrors, and suites for royal
family. In the 18th century, the Rao Lakhpatji sent a local craftsman Ramsingh Malam to Europe
to perfect his skills in glassmaking, enamelling, tile making and iron founding. After he returned
back, he constructed the Aaina Mahal with the hall of mirrors of Venetian glass.
Later in time transfer to Bhuj Airport / Railway Station to board flight / train for your onward
journey to your next destination.
|
Hotel Category |
Cities |
Hotels |
Per Person Prices |
|
Standard Hotel |
04 Nights - Bhuj |
Prince Residency or Similar |
INR 19,150 /-* Per Adult on Twin Share basis INR 5,900 /-* Per Adult / Per Child with Extra Bed INR 5,300 /-* Per Child No Bed Below 05 years old child are complimentary* |
|
Deluxe Hotel |
04 Nights - Bhuj |
Ilark or Similar |
INR 25,800 /-* Per Adult on Twin Share basis INR 10,950 /-* Per Adult on Single INR 10,300 /-* Per Child with Extra Bed Below 05 years old child are complimentary* |
|
*We are not holding any rooms *Rooms and fares are subject to availability at the time of confirmation |
|||
- - 04 Nights accommodation at the mentioned hotels.
- - Meal Plan – Daily breakfast at all the hotels.
- - All transfers, city tours and transport services by AC VEHICLE.
- - All India Tourist permit vehicle as per the above itinerary.
- - Road taxes, parking fee, fuel charges, interstate taxes.
Exclusions:
- Airfare (International / domestic / Internal)
- Travel Insurance
- RT-PCR test
- No Guide Services
- Tips for local guide and driver
- All services not mentioned as included
- Entrances which are not mentioned
- Meals which are not mentioned
- Early check and Late check-out from the hotel
- Medical expenses if required.
- Any expenses caused by reasons beyond our control such as roadblocks, accidents and any Medical evacuations.
- Anything which is not mentioned under “Inclusion”
Notes:
- 5 % GST (Additional on payment) applicable on package cost.
- Above price is valid for travel till 30th September 2023.
- Price quoted is based on minimum 2 passengers travelling together.
- The Hotel check-in time is 14:00 PM and the check-out time is 12:00 PM.
- We are not holding any Rooms / Services and same subject to availability at the time of booking.
- Any change in the number of passengers will change the entire cost.
- Fares and rates are subject to change at the time of booking
No Details Found
There are no reviews yet.