HIMACHAL & PUNJAB WITH SARA DENNIS
A 17 Day Tour
10 MARCH-26 MARCH 2023
£3022 per person. £1060 single supplement
AMRITSAR – DALHOUSIE – DHARAMSHALA – MANALI – SHIMLA – NEW DELHI
TOUR OVERVIEW
This wonderful textile journey, led by Sara Dennis, takes in the best of Himachal & Punjab, combining the iconic sites of each state with a series of immerse textile workshops and demonstrations. With stays in Amritsar, Dalhousie, Dharamshala, Manali, Shimla & New Delhi, observe the regional differences in textiles, sample the local cuisine and discover the spiritual ambience of each destination.
ARTIST OVERVIEW – SARA DENNIS
After a career in nursing and the forces, Sara gained a first-class degree in Art History and Museum Studies from Lancaster University. She graduated Royal School of Needlework Future Tutor Programme in 2017 winning the Outstanding Achievement Award. Having led a peripatetic life, she has collected many experiences and influences. Now settling in Lancaster, she remains drawn towards the ethnic and eclectic. As well as Day Classes, the Certificate and Diploma, Summer Intensive Certificate and Degree modules at Hampton Court Palace and Williamsburg, VA for The Royal School of Needlework, Sara has also taught at the Victoria & Albert Museum, The British Library and The Royal Free Hospital. She is the textile expert on The Repair Shop (BBC 1). Sara enjoys curating various exhibitions and volunteers with Combat Stress and SSAFA. She has a studio in Lancaster Castle from where she hopes to continue to develop and teach.
ITINERARY OVERVIEW
| Day | Activity | Location | Accommodation |
| Day 1 | Arrive in Amritsar and transfer to your centrally located hotel. After settling in with a free afternoon, in the early evening head to the Golden Temple for to witness the poignant Palki Ceremony. | Amritsar | Ranjit’s Svaasa |
| Day 2 | Amritsar is the spiritual capital of the Sikhs and a full day guided tour of the city today will unveil its majestic beauty. The Golden Temple is undoubtedly the city’s most iconic monument and the starting point of today’s excursion. Visits to the Jallianwala Bagh Garden and the Partition Museum follow before an evening visit to the Wagah border ceremony that occurs every evening at sunset on the India – Pakistan border. Full of pomp and flair, soldiers from both sides parade and lower the two nations’ flags in a ceremony punctuated with theatrics. | Amritsar | Ranjit’s Svaasa |
| Day 3 | This morning, head to the village of Phulkari for an immersive experience in the making of textiles products in Punjab. Observe a demonstration on how saris, bed covers, home furnishings and Jutti (embroidered footwear) are produced with opportunities to try the processes yourself. This evening, back in Amritsar, enjoy a cookery demonstration and dinner with a local family. | Amritsar | Ranjit’s Svaasa |
| Day 4 | Today we bid farewell to Amritsar and head towards Dalhousie, a quiet hill station in northern India renowned for its spectacular natural beauty. The journey will take approximately 6 hours but the scenery is beautiful and ever changing. Upon arrival, explore the local market of Dalhousie and admire the colonial heritage of St. Johns and St Patricks Church on a guided waling tour. | Dalhousie | Grand View Hotel |
| Day 5 | Head to Chamba today to observe the production of the Chamba Rumal, an embroidered cloth handkerchief. In the town, you’ll also have time to observe Kangra Art Paintings and visit the Laxmi Narayan Temple before heading back to Dalhousie with an evening at leisure. | Dalhousie | Grand View Hotel |
| Day 6 | A full morning’s drive is required today to reach Dharamshala, home of the exiled Dalai Lama. In the afternoon, head to the Tibetan Handicrafts Centre in McLeod Ganj, where Tibetan artists produce carpets on traditional looms and which provides a living for thousands of Tibetans living in exile. | Dharamshala | Fortune Park Moksha |
| Day 7 | This morning visit the Norbulingka Institute to explore workshops and observe Tibetan artisans as they practice the ancient Buddhist art forms of statue-making, thangka painting, thangka applique, as well as the decorative arts of woodcarving, wood painting, tailoring, and weaving. At the end of day, you can pay a visit to Deden Tsuklagkhang temple, a magnificent example of Tibetan religious architecture, displaying some of the finest work done by Norbulingka artists, and the perfect place for prayer and reflection. | Dharamshala | Fortune Park Moksha |
| Day 8 | This morning, head to the Kangra Fort, the largest and the oldest fort in Dharamshala and built for the royal Rajput family of Kangra. Proceed to the nearby Maharaja Sansar Chandra Museum which displays a magnificent collection of miniature paintings, royal clothing and textiles laced with gold and silver thread. In the afternoon return to Dharamshala to visit the Tibetan Museum, original created to help educate the exiled Tibetan community on the values of democracy, human rights, environment protection, freedom struggle, as well as to strengthen the Tibetan spirit and collective pride through presentations on Tibet’s rich history and culture. | Dharamshala | Fortune Park Moksha |
| Day 9 | A full day’s drive is required today to reach Manali, a quaint hill station surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal mountain ranges. Mandi marks the half-way spot is the perfect place for a lunch break, surrounded by the verdant and beautiful landscape. | Manali | Shivadya Resort Manali |
| Day 10 | In Manali, today we attend a workshop on the production of Pula, where grass and buckwheat stem are converted into a rope-like form. The workshop is led by women from the Seraj valley who will expectedly demonstrate the processes involved. | Manali | Shivadya Resort Manali |
| Day 11 | This morning visit the artisans of the Bhuttico Weavers Society based in the heart of the Kullu Valley. Here you will gain an insight in the complete shawl making process and observe the production of stoles, mufflers, caps, socks and purses. In the afternoon, head into the local village for a demonstration on patoos weaving before returning to Manali in the late afternoon. | Manali | Shivadya Resort Manali |
| Day 12 | The journey from Manali to Shimla will take approximately 8 hours, although a leisurely lunch break is factored into the day in either Mandi or Bilaspur. Shimla lies in deep in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a beautiful region that enjoys a cool climate and beautiful views of pine forests and river valleys. Upon arrival, the remainder of the day is at leisure. | Shimla | The Oberoi Cecil |
| Day 13 | Meet your local guide for an encompassing tour of Shimla. Highlights include the Vice Regal Lodge, renowned for its colonial architecture and its pivotal role in the partition of India; the Shimla State Museum; the Sankat Mochan Temple and the Gaiety Theatre located on the bustling Mall Road. | Shimla | The Oberoi Cecil |
| Day 14 | The day is completely free for independent exploring or simply to enjoy the facilities of your hotel. | Shimla | The Oberoi Cecil |
| Day 15 | This morning, take the toy train from Shimla to Kalka, an incredible experience that takes you through lofty pine forests, lush green valleys and mist mountains. Upon arrival, connect with the Shatabdi express and continue to Delhi, arriving in the evening. | Delhi | Maidens Hotel |
| Day 16 | After a leisurely breakfast visit The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum commonly known as National Crafts Museum which is one of the largest crafts museums in India run by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Later proceed for an orientation tour of New Delhi followed by a visit to the Dilli Haat to explore the Handicrafts of Local craftsmanship from various Indian State. | Delhi | Maidens Hotel |
| Day 17 | Transfer to the airport for your flight home. |
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