Discovering Bhuj

Curated Tours

Discovering Bhuj - A Journey Through Textile Traditions and Cultural Riches

Immerse yourself in Gujarat’s vibrant textiles and crafts, starting in Bhuj with the regal Prag Mahal and Aina Mahal. Explore the Kutch Museum and the Wazir family’s exceptional textile collection. Discover the intricate Ajarakh printing art in Ajarakhpur Village and the diverse crafts at the LLDC Museum. Witness Sumrasar Village’s Ahir and Soof embroidery, Hindu Meghwal woodwork, and unique Nirona Village crafts like Rogan and lacquer art. Conclude with the breathtaking sunset over the Great Rann of Kutch, encapsulating Gujarat’s rich cultural heritage.

Gujarat

Summary

Duration

4 Nights

Season

October-March

Price

Price available on request.

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overview

itinerary

prices

essentials

Unveil the vibrant textiles and crafts of Gujarat: Start in Bhuj, where the majestic Prag Mahal and Aina Mahal showcase a blend of opulent architecture and intricate European influences. Immerse yourself in the rich textile heritage at the Kutch Museum and the Wazir family’s exceptional collection. Journey through Ajarakhpur Village to see the art of Ajarakh printing, and explore the LLDC Museum’s diverse Kutch crafts. Continue to Sumrasar Village to witness Ahir and Soof embroidery, and the Hindu Meghwal community’s unique artistry. Conclude your adventure in Nirona Village with its distinctive Rogan and lacquer arts, and marvel at the expansive Great Rann of Kutch, where the vast salt desert and sunset vistas encapsulate Gujarat’s artistic splendor.

Journey Highlights

Visit Prag Mahal, Aina Mahal and Kutch Museum.
Visit the Wazir Family for their unique textile collection.
Evening attend the aarti or prayer ceremony at Swaminarayan Temple.
Visit Ajarakhpur Village & meet the Dr. Ismail Khatri.
Visit LLDC Museum – Living and Learning Design Centre.
Visit Ahir embroidery & Rug Weaving.
Visit the Sumrasar village & Nirona Village.
Visit the Marwada Meghwal Community.
Evening Sunset and visit Rann of Kutch.

Reasons to go

Heritage

Offbeat

Artisan Traditions

Bhuj Exploration

Gujarat Heritage

Handcrafted Beauty

Historic Gujarat

Textile Journey

Textile Treasures

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1

Arrive Bhuj airport – Day trip to Kutch.

Day 2

In Bhuj – Day trip to Ajarakhpur Village & Visit LLDC Museum – Living and Learning Design Centre.

Day 3

In Bhuj- Day Sumrasar village & Nirona Village

Day 4

In Bhuj- Day trip to Marwada Meghwal Community & evening visit Rann of Kutch & witness sunset.

Day 5

Bhuj Airport Departure.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival and Immersion in Bhuj

The guests arrive at Bhuj and are escorted to the hotel by our representative.

This afternoon we may visit the Prag & Aina Mahal, amongst the largest palaces within the Darbargadh walled complex.

Prag Mahal is named after Rao Pragmalji II, who commissioned it in 1865. The palace is made of Italian marble and sandstone from Rajasthan.

Aina Mahal’s 18th-century elaborately mirrored interior is a demonstration of the fascination with all things European – an inverted mirror of European Orientalism – with blue-and-white Delphi-style tiling, a candelabra with Venetian-glass shades, and the Harding lithograph series The Rake’s Progress.

After this we proceed to visit the Kutch museum – the oldest museum of Gujarat. Here witness displays of textiles and handicrafts of Kutchhi people.

Further, we drive to visit the Wazir family. The Wazirs have been collecting rare textiles from all over the Indian sub-continent for over half a century. AA Wazir, the family patriarch, is an encyclopedia on the various textile traditions of Gujarat and the Indian subcontinent.

This evening we attend the evening aarti “prayer ceremony” at Swaminarayan temple of Bhuj.

Day 2

Textile Tour in Bhuj

This morning, after the breakfast, the guests driven to Ajarakhpur Village an estimated 30-minutes drive. The village is famous for Ajarakh printing art done by Khatri artisans. They use wooden blocks with natural and vegetable dyes only. It’s different from the block printing of other areas.

The guest may meet Dr. Ismail Khatri who is the master of natural dyes and received the doctorate degree from UK university! As this is the only family who kept alive this art.

Further drive towards LLDC Museum, located in Ajrakhpur, Kutch, which houses an international-standard crafts museum that has received wide appreciation from visitors all over the world. The museum complex houses 3 galleries, a library, and a crafts studio for artisans practicing various crafts – for example, weaving, block-printing, pottery, and metal work of Kutch.

After lunch, the guests proceed towards a small village famous for the traditional way of Rug Weaving. They use only natural wool as well as camel hair with natural and vegetable dyes only.

Remaining evening is at leisure and a special curated meal would be recommended this evening.

Day 3

Further Exploration of Textile Art

This morning, the guests drive to the Sumrasar Village, an estimated 26 kms / 30 minutes drive. The village is famous for Ahir and Soof embroidery. The Sodha tribes live here and they are experts in asymmetrically embroidered striking pieces. There is a grass root organization called the Kala Raksha center that contains samples of heirlooms that have been created by ancient tribes.

The guests can visit the workshop of weavers who are very creative and always keep trying to create something new with traditional Kutchhi weaving done on a pit loom.

After that visit Hindu Meghwal community who came as refugees from Pakistan during 1971 war and producing a lovely art – Soof embroidery and engaged in woodwork which is also famous in its own right.

Further drive towards the Nirona village which is famous for 3 unique crafts. Rogan art done on fabric with castor oil and natural pigments. Copper bell art and lacquer art.

Day 4

Textile Traditions and the Rann of Kutch

This morning, after breakfast the guests driven to visit the textile that was made by a woman from the Marwada Meghwal community, known as a Kanajari. The pieces have very fine & detailed embroidery & mirror work.

The guests can also learn the techniques of quilt making. As each and every community has different styles of quilting.

Further drive towards the great Rann of Kutch, an estimated 1-1.5 hour drive / approximately 85 kms.

The Rann of Kutch is famous for its white salty desert sand and is reputed to be the largest salt desert in the world. ‘Rann’ means desert in Hindi which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Irina’ which also means desert.

The sunset at the Great Rann of Kutch is considered mesmerizing beyond words.

Day 5

Departure

After a final breakfast in Bhuj, guests check out from their hotel and drive to Bhuj Airport, concluding their immersive journey through the rich cultural and textile traditions of the region. The experience leaves an indelible mark, blending the historical grandeur of Bhuj with the vibrant textile artistry of Kutch.

Memories Captured
Gallery

Nagaland

Kashmir

Ladakh

Gujrat

Ladakh

Hampi

Uttarakhand

Madhya Pradesh

Hampi

What people are Saying
Testimonials

Some moments and anecdotes shared by our guest’s!

We would like to thank Anecdotes for a great trip they organized for us in Kashmir! We look forward to many more journey’s together

Mrs. Padmavathy Srinivasan

USA | 10 Apr, 2023

Just returned from an exhilarating 6 day trip to beautiful Kashmir. The planning and arrangements were done by Anecdotes, were nothing short of perfect! Would highly recommend that you entrust the planning and execution of your next trip to them. I know I will. Thank you team Anecdotes!