Textiles of Western India with Anne Kelly

A 17 Day Tour

November 2022

£2647 per person. £840 single supplement

DELHI – BIKANER – JAISALMER – POKHRAN – JODHPUR – UDAIPUR – AHMEDABAD

TOUR OVERVIEW

Led by award winning textile artist, author, and tutor Anne Kelly, explore the best of the west on a comprehensive 17-day itinerary of Western India. A discovery of textiles awaits, through a series of workshops and demonstrations, complemented by guided tours of enigmatic towns and cities and plenty of opportunity to meet the locals of the region.

ARTIST OVERVIEW – ANNE KELLY

I love to honour and repurpose old textiles, using hand and machine embroidery, vintage thread and string to add texture and character. My work has been described as ‘small worlds’ trapping and preserving pieces of embroidery and objects within it. I use a ‘netting- like’ machine embroidery stitch over the whole surface of the work. I further embellish with hand stitching and couching using a variety of media.

I have led three textile tours to India with Colouricious, to West Bengal, Jaipur and Gujurat. I also have made teaching and exhibition trips to Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada.

I am an award winning textile artist, author and tutor based in the UK, exhibiting and teaching internationally for guilds, groups and educational institutions. My four books for Batsford represent my project and collaborative work. My heavily embroidered fabric collages are reminiscent of tapestry work and my signature stitching technique is applied to a variety of surfaces. I use mixed media and print to further embellish my work. My work is represented in private and public collections in the UK and abroad. I am listed in the Crafts Council Directory, a member of the Embroiderers Guild and the Society for Embroidered Work.

My second book ‘Textile Nature’ was launched at the Knitting and Stitching Shows’ in 2016. It has been reprinted and sold around the world. My third book ‘Textile Folk Art” was published in 2018 and links my continued interests in working with groups, nature conservation and folk art. It was launched at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. My fourth book ‘Textile Travels’ is due out in October 2020 and will accompany a solo exhibition at the Ruthin Craft Centre in Wales in 2021.

ITINERARY OVERVIEW

Day Activity Location  Accommodation
Day 1 Arrive in India’s bustling capital and transfer to your hotel. After an included lunch with your group, head out to Delhi’s Craft Museum which celebrates the diversity of handicrafts in the nation. Delhi Maidens Hotel
Day 2 After breakfast, head to Old Delhi for a guided tour of the cloth and embellishment market where colourful fabrics with intricate designs and sold in vast numbers. Being one of the largest markets in Asia for clothing materials, accessories, ready made garments, and Indian and ethnic wears, Old Delhi Market is often labelled the cheapest clothes market in Delhi. After lunch, proceed to the Dilli Haat, an open-aired food plaza and craft bazaar. Delhi Maidens Hotel
Day 3 This morning we leave Delhi by train in the direction of Bikaner, arriving in the mid-afternoon. Surrounded by the Thar Desert, Bikaner is a vibrant desert town, perhaps best known for its 16th century Junagarh Fort. Upon arrival and after checking in to your hotel, the evening is free to stroll in the old Bikaner or to visit the Jain temple. Bikaner Narendra Bhawan Bikaner
Day 4 On a guided sightseeing tour of Bikaner, the highlight will undoubtedly be a thorough exploration of the Junagarh Fort. Build on the plains of the Thar desert, its rugged bastions, ornate interiors and graceful pavilions are sure to impress. In the afternoon, visit the Raisar village to observe the production of rugs and shawls. Bikaner Narendra Bhawan Bikaner
Day 5 En route to Jaisalmer, make a short stop at a school specialising in miniature painting for a demonstration on the traditional Bikaner artform. The journey to Jaisalmer will take approximately 6 hours, but the scenery is beautiful, crossing the Thar desert. Jaisalmer Fort Rajwada Hotel
Day 6 After breakfast, proceed for a city tour of Jaisalmer city visiting Jaisalmer Fort, Patwon Ki Haveli, Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli and Salim Singh Ji Ki Haveli. Jaisalmer fort was built in the 14th century and the impressive structure is beautiful complemented by sweeping views of the Thar Desert and beyond. In the afternoon, discover the intricate process of puppet making in a local village. Jaisalmer Fort Rajwada Hotel
Day 7 This morning, we travel by road to Pokaran where upon arrival, a series of workshops and demonstrations await. Discover the processes of pattu weaving, trying the methods yourself under the expert supervision of the master weavers. Later, visit a Potters colony, who produce terracotta pottery using traditional methods. Pokhran The Fort Pokaran
Day 8 Continue your exploration of western India in Jodhpur, reached after a 3-hour drive from Pokaran. Dubbed “The Blue City”, most houses in the old city of Jodhpur are painted a beautiful shade of indigo. While Jodhpur is largely a sprawling modern metropolis, enclosed within its old city walls is a labyrinth of winding, narrow medieval streets, and bazaars which will be explored on an afternoon tour of the city, culminating at one of the largest forts in India, the majestic 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort. Jodhpur Hotel Pal Haveli
Day 9 This morning head to the small but character village of Pipar and participate in an expertly led workshop on block-printing. The PIPAR print enterprise, employs vast numbers of members of the local community who help produce intricate and colourful designs printed on silk fabrics and using natural vegetable dyes. Spend the morning at the enterprise, trying the methods yourself before returning to Jodhpur after lunch. Afternoon at leisure. Jodhpur Hotel Pal Haveli
Day 10 This morning, discover the highly skilled process of Banhej, a tie-dying technique that produces a variety of patterns like Leheriya, Mothra, Ekdali and Shikari depending on the manner in which the cloth is tied. After lunch, make the short trip to the Salawas village to observe and participate in a demonstration in durrie weaving. Jodhpur Hotel Pal Haveli
Day 11 Today we drive to Udaipur, stopping at the beautiful Jain temples of Ranakpur en route. The temples are surrounded by dense tangled forests and one of the most important pilgrim sites for the Jain community in the world. Udaipur Trident
Day 12 On a full day city tour, explore the best of Udaipur including visits to the Jagdish Temple, the City Palace and Saheliyon-ki-Bari. Your tour also includes a picturesque boat ride on the serene waters of Lake Pichola. Udaipur Trident
Day 13 This morning, we take a short drive to Delwara, on the outskirts of Udaipur to visit a compelling enterprise – Sadhna: A Women Enterprise. The program employs over 700 women artisans, the majority of which come from the slum areas of southern Rajasthan. If time allows, a guided tour of the temple complex of Nagda and Eklingji will follow, before returning to Udaipur. Udaipur Trident
Day 14 The morning will be spent on the road, travelling from Udaipur to Ahmedabad, a journey which takes approximately 6 hours. Upon arrival, the rest of the day is at leisure. Ahmedabad The House of MG
Day 15 With a resident of Ahmedabad and an experienced guide, discover the highlights of the city through the eyes of a local. Wander through the Old Quarter, browse the old bazaars, explore the tradition of heritage houses and the region architecture and visit the 19th century Swaminarayan Temple and the Juma Mosque. Return to your hotel for lunch before participating in a Kalamkari workshop and later, visit Shreyas Folk Museum and local market. Ahmedabad The House of MG
Day 16 Take the midday flight from Ahmedabad to Delhi, and spend a final night in the capital close to the airport. Delhi Novotel New Delhi Aerocity
Day 17 Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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