Deeper into India 2020: A Textile Journey from The Arabian Sea to the River Ganges - SUTRA global
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Deeper into India 2020:
A Textile Journey from The Arabian Sea to the River Ganges
February 7 - 23, 2020
includes international travel dates
India, with one of the world’s most ancient civilizations, has celebrated textiles and spirituality
since time immemorial. Join two women, one native Indian and one native USAer, both
passionate about the craft and culture of India, on a most unforgettable small-group social
impact tour! Starting in Delhi, and traveling by train, flight, and private vehicle, you’ll appreciate
the intimate learning from a carefully curated team of workshop leaders, artisan families and
local guides.
$3395 per person, based on twin share
$800 Single Supplement Fee (optional; a limited number are available)
Small Group Size: 7 minimum, 12 maximum. A woman-only tour for 15 nights/14 days
Travel for Good: You will be gifted a “swag bag” of hand-crafted goods which directly
support disadvantaged persons living on the margins of poverty. We are committed to
reducing plastic by providing a refillable water bottle and staying, where possible, at
hotels providing filtered water.
Highlights include:
● 7 separate workshops + 3 demonstrations in 5 cities/regions: embroidery, block
printing, silk weaving, fabric painting, dyeing, food and photography. No artistic
experience is needed.
● Architectural Wonders: Tour 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
● Select your own handloom saree (and learn to wear it!) and “digest” the secrets
of an Indian kitchen!
● Stay in a combination of boutique properties, beautiful hotels and
community-driven homestays. All are 3- to 4-star properties hand-picked for their
comfort, personal service, cultural relevance and beauty.
● Social Impact Travel: From reducing our carbon footprint through train travel to
providing opportunities for mindful (but optional) donations to verified projects,
this tour was designed with respect and kindness in mind.
Kim Hammer of SUTRA global, has a lifelong love of
travel and textiles, and pursued a degree in Textile
Design. She has traveled to India annually for the past
decade and considers it her "second home”. She
understands the unique needs of American women
travelling in a country as extraordinary as India! Kim is
excited to collaborate with Kriti Bisht of Miss Guide You
to explore “hidden India”, with (the rare) behind the
scenes access to women artisans in their homes and studios. Kim and Kriti have been
leading tours for more than 8 years; this is their first joint tour. Both will fully escort this
tour.
Together Kim and Kriti present “Deeper into India 2020”, a mindfully-crafted social impact tour, which will conclude with a saree tying workshop and a Celebration Dinner. LANGUAGE: English is one of India’s 22 official languages. Most people in the tourism field, as well as the educated population, learn English from a young age or become fluent through their work. Because Kriti is fluent in both Hindi and English (and 3 other languages!), your cultural understanding and connections with locals goes deeper. OOD: The cuisine is largely vegetarian (sometimes vegan) and served family-style. F Your tour leaders select a wide range of lentils/legumes, vegetables, paneer (cheese) and rice dishes, and Indian breads, so that by the tour’s end, you will have enjoyed a wide variety of foods. Spicing (heat) can be adjusted in many cases according to the group’s tolerance. While most Indian foods (except breads) do not contain gluten, we cannot guarantee there is not exposure to wheat in the restaurant kitchens. FLIGHTS: Your international flight can last from 16 - 30+ hours. There are non-stop flights from Chicago to New Delhi, but most other flights require at least one layover. We provide some guidance for selecting your flight, but the choice and responsibility for your flight is up to you. Travel insurance is required and we discourage selecting non-refundable flights. Please note, we have included your international travel time in the tour dates listed above in order to avoid confusion when booking your flight. You will book your departure flight on February 7, and your return flight on February 23. LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Streets (and even sidewalks!) in India can be uneven and randomly contain potholes, large rocks and other barriers. Stairs can be uneven and without hand-rails. There are 2 overnight trains, and some travelers may be assigned an upper berth. You should be able to walk for an hour at a stretch, and up a few flights of stairs without difficulty. For these reasons, we rate the tour difficulty as “moderate” for middle and upper-aged travelers.
India is a crowded and chaotic country, with streets overflowing with vehicles, animals
and humanity. While we allow some rest time, the cultural experience is full and rich!
Some describe India as “not for the faint-hearted”; this tour is recommended for
travelers who have traveled to second- and third-world countries before, and are
curious, patient and possess humility. It is “a maker’s getaway” with its focus on creating
and connecting with artisans, rather than being on the “typical tourist track”. Those who
have traveled with Kim and SUTRA global journeys in the past will find that, aside from
a few monuments, this tour offers all new experiences!
The India Tour Fee includes:
● Workshops and materials fees; admission to monuments and sites as described,
and local guides.
● Transportation within India (including 2 flights), trains, private vehicles, and
airport transfers
● Breakfast, and 25 (vegetarian plus eggs) other meals
● 3 and 4 star lodging, based on double occupancy. 2 nights overnight train travel.
● Fully escorted by both tour leaders
● Most tips and bottled water
Not Included in Your Tour Fee:
● International airfare
● (Required) travel insurance (trip interruption and health insurance)
● (Optional) Single supplement fee of $800 for your own single room
● Personal expenses; alcohol and other beverages
● 4 meals during your “free time”
● Personal tips
● Passport and visa
● Communications (Wifi, SIM card, etc.)
● Immunizations (recommended)
● Your saree
FEES: A non-refundable registration fee of $1000 is due
September 1, 2019 to hold your place, plus a $800 single
supplement fee if applicable. At this time, we will determine if
we have met the minimum number of participants required to
conduct the tour. (If there are insufficient numbers of
registrants to offer the tour, we will promptly refund your entire
deposit.) After you make your deposit, you will be invoiced for
each subsequent payment. $1200 is due October 1. The remainder of the tour fee,
$1195, is due November 15, 2019.
CANCELLATIONS: Your deposit is non-refundable, except in the event the tour is
canceled. Cancellations made (in writing) by October 10, 2019 will be refunded in full,
minus your deposit. Cancellations made (in writing) by November 1, 2019: 75% will be
refunded, minus your deposit. Cancellations made (in writing) by December 15, 2019:
50% will be returned, minus the deposit. After December 16, 2019, no refund is given.
We recommend purchasing your required travelers’ insurance upon making your
deposit.
BEFORE YOU REGISTER: Before you make your deposit, we request a conversation
to make sure this tour is a good fit for you. We send you a traveler information sheet to
fill out and return, and arrange a phone conversation to answer your questions and
thoroughly describe the challenges and joys of India travel. After this conversation, a
link will be sent with “payment buttons” where you can use your choice of credit or debit
card to make your deposit. By September 1, we will notify you if we have met the
minimum for the tour.
Detailed Highlights of the Tour
● Plan to book your flight to New Delhi (IGI) on February 7 and your return on
February 23, 2020. Due to the time change, you will arrive late on February 8 or
possibly early February 9. You will return to the USA on February 23 or 24. Your
airport transfers are included.
● Your “Welcome to India” Breakfast Orientation will provide the guidelines for
an awesome adventure with your fellow travelers! After orientation, you’ll enjoy
an ayurvedic massage and a visit to the incredible National Crafts Museum for a
preview of the beauty of India’s handmade.
● On this tour, you will experience 3 train rides, 2 flights and private vehicles to visit
6 cities: New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Bhuj (Kutch District) and
Ahmedabad. Each city offers its own specialized textiles, unique
architecture/environment and rich, sacred history.
● Meet a painter and graphic artist for a creativity workshop exploring color. You’ll
also join a photo tour of South Delhi, which will include modern artsy areas and
our first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn some photography skills on your
cell phone, and set up photo shoots as you explore this urban landscape.
● NEW THIS YEAR! The daily puja
ceremony has been performed by Hindu
priests on the bank of the sacred Mother
Ganges in Varanasi since forever; you’ll
have a unique view aboard a wooden boat
tethered offshore at dusk. Varanasi is also
home to weavers creating some of the
finest silk weaving in the world, the brilliant
silk and silver inlay work on Banasari Silk,
often selected for wedding attire.
● NEW! The city of Ahmedabad is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you’ll
meet up with the charming Kirit Chitara, master of the 300-year-old art of sacred
cloth painting known as “Mata Ni Pachedi” (literally, “behind the goddess”),
which depicts narratives from Hindu mythology. Learn about the lives of the
nomadic Devipujak community and ways they keep faith alive through their
painting goddess images and stories on cloth.
● The world-famous Calico Museum of Textiles in Ahmedabad houses an
outstanding collection of sacred and collectible textiles.
EW! Our next destination, Bhuj, is famous for craft and textiles preservation, and is
N
the center of Kutch (District). From local village women, we will learn embroidery and
the fine art of bandhani (intricate tie and dye). Outside of Bhuj lies the Great Rann of
Kutch. Near this salty marsh-desert, you’ll meet artisans who create a rare fabric
painting technique called Rogan Art, which was gifted by Prime Minister Modi to
President Obama.
Southeast of Bhuj, we find Ajrakhpur, a village renowned for elaborate block printing
technique combining printing, resists and natural dyes to create geometric patterns on
fabric. The Khatri community, some of the finest natural dyers of the region, will
introduce you to the 20-step process. As time allows, we will visit the Living and
Learning Design Center, a world-class museum featuring embroideries which will leave
you breathless.
Jaipur is the cultural center of Rajasthan and home to traditional block printing; as time allows, we will see the architectural highlights of the Pink City. You’ll visit the world-famous indigo and block printing village of Bagru, where you will create your own unique scarf using non-toxic pigments and designer wood blocks. No journey to Northern India would be complete without seeing the world’s monument to eternal love, the Taj Mahal. Being able to touch the marble inlaid with semi-precious stones in the early morning light will be a lasting memory. Wander through the Tomb of I’timad-ud-Daulah, sometimes called the Baby Taj, and the Agra Fort, to step back to an earlier time when Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire. In the evening, we will dine at Sheroes, a cafe operated by (and to empower) survivors of acid attack violence. Back in Delhi, we will go to a private home and learn how to transform 7 yards of hand-embellished fabric into an elegant garment! Wearing your saree, we will enjoy a special celebration dinner to complete your “Deeper into India” tour! On our last morning of the tour, a surprise will be offered! The rest of this day is unscheduled, in order to pack and complete your last souvenir shopping. A guide or driver can be arranged. ©Kim Hammer 2019 https://sutraglobalimports.com
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