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Fabric Art and Woven Traditions Delegation
To India |
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Program Dates: September 23-October 4, 2007
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Under the auspices of People to People Citizen
Ambassador Programs, a delegation of individuals
with an interest in the fabric arts has been
selected to explore India and learn more about
Indian embroidery and textiles. This delegation will
explore regional arts and crafts from throughout
India. |
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INDIA
India represents diversity in all its forms: people,
religions, customs and traditions, clothes,
dialects, and habits. Even India’s landscape ranges
across the spectrum, from the highest peaks to
rolling plains to coasts on three seas. This
fascinating country, linking East Asia and Europe
but belonging to neither, exudes a deep mystery.
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Proposed Itinerary
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Your itinerary is filled with activities that will not
only expand your knowledge of Indian textiles and
embroidery, but also leave you with a better sense
of the culture and people of India.
Proposed Itinerary
Sunday, Sept. 23, Day 1: New York to Delhi
Depart this evening. (Please note that all flight
and hotel information are subject to change until
final confirmation within 60 days prior to
departure.)
Monday, Sept. 24, Day 2: Arrive in Delhi this
evening
The bustling metropolis of Delhi has been
invaded, destroyed and rebuilt countless times in
its 5,000-year history. Today, it is a sprawling
urban center divided into two parts: Old Delhi, the
classic Indian experience of colorful crowded
streets and historical monuments, and New Delhi,
India’s capital, a city of wide avenues and
government buildings that the British began erecting
in the early 1900s.
Upon arrival you will be met by your local guide and
transferred to the Oberoi Hotel where you will be
greeted with a traditional welcome. Welcoming guests
is an age-old tradition in India. ‘Atithi Devobhava’
translates to “treat your guest as if he were God.”
The guest’s forehead is anointed with the
traditional red ‘tika’ which is considered
auspicious.
Tuesday, Sept. 25, Day 3: Delhi
Program briefing: After breakfast, discuss
the cultural diversity of India and receive further
information on the delegation.
You will take part in a late morning tour of the
modern city of New Delhi – see the Qutab Minar,
a superb example of early Afghan architecture going
back to 1199; the Emperor Humayun’s Tomb, the
architectural precursor to the Taj Mahal in Agra;
and the Houses of Parliament and the
Presidential Palace, both grandiose masterpieces
of the British Raj.
Visit the Crafts Museum situated at Pragati
Maidan in Delhi, which has galleries showcasing
India's rich tradition of handicrafts. Rare and
lovely pieces of art and craft have been carefully
and selectively collected from all over the country.
The tribal and rural handicrafts spotlighted here
include authentically constructed mud huts
delightfully decorated with folk art, woodcarvings,
paintings, paper- mache crafts, embroidery and even
a full-sized wooden haveli from Gujarat.
Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Wednesday, Sept. 25, Day 4: Delhi
Enjoy a morning visit to the National Museum of New
Delhi. Over 2,000,000 works of exquisite art
covering more than 5,000 years of Indian culture and
history are represented here along with various
international pieces.
After lunch at the hotel, visit a local product
design studio and participate is demonstrations
and lessons.
After visiting the studio, explore Dilli Haat.
Situated in the heart of Delhi, the unique Dilli
Haat is an upgraded version of the traditional
weekly market, offering a delightful amalgam of
crafts, food and cultural activities.
Spread over a spacious six acre area, imaginative
landscaping, creative planning, and the traditional
village architectural style have combined to produce
the perfect ambience for a Haat or market place. A
wide variety of skillfully crafted handicrafts,
intrinsic to each part of the country, are available
in this exotic bazaar. These range from intricate
rosewood and sandalwood carvings, embellished camel
hide footwear, to sophisticated fabric and drapery.
Gems, beads, brassware, metal crafts, silk and
woollens....the range is limitless.
Enjoy dinner in the company of students and teachers
of a reputed fashion design institute.
This evening enjoy an optional visit to the
“Lajpat Nagar Market” to visit “Fab India” and other
extensive collections of fabric. A local expert will
accompany the group for an explanation on working
with fabric houses, dye houses and tailors in India.
Thursday, Sept. 27, Day 5: Delhi to Agra
The city of Agra, the quintessence of the grand
Mughal era, reigns to this day in the public mind as
the embodiment of royal grace, imposing architecture
and power. Agra is globally renowned as the city of
the Taj Mahal. But this royal Mughal city has, in
addition to the legendary Taj, many monuments that
epitomize the high point of Mughal architecture. No
tour to India can be complete without paying a visit
to this erstwhile capital of the Mughals and the
city of the Taj Mahal, the world's most beloved
monument. With its laidback lifestyle and its
immense wealth of architecture, handicrafts and
jewelry, Agra is amongst the most remarkable cities
of the world.
This morning enjoy a visit to Old Delhi. You will
head for Shahjahanabad first. Your
introduction to the city will be with a visit to
Raj Ghat – the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
Continue on past the Red Fort, this magical monument
in red sandstone. From there enjoy a rickshaw
ride through the narrow alleys of Kinari Bazaar
and 400 years of old Chandni Chowk.
Drive to Agra this afternoon.
Friday, Sept. 28, Day 6: Agra
Delight in a Sunrise Tour to the Taj Mahal
(Closed to the general public on Fridays) - a
monument to love intricately designed and
constructed in pristine white marble. A mausoleum
built by Shah Jehan for his queen Mumtaz Mahal, the
Taj Mahal is said to have taken 22 years and 20,000
craftsmen to construct. Its perfect proportions and
minutely detailed marble inlays will astound you.
Return to the hotel for breakfast and an afternoon
visit to the Agra Fort, the seat and
stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive
generations. This was the seat of Mughal rule and
administration and the present structure owes its
origins to Akbar who erected the walls and gates and
the first buildings on the eastern banks of Yamuna
River.
Spend the afternoon exploring or shopping
independently.
This evening proceed to the Itimad-ud Daulah,
the beautiful tomb of Mirza Ghiyath Beg. The first
building to be constructed of pure marble in Moghul
India, this two story mausoleum is small but
perfectly executed, with translucent stones etched
into its walls and tracery work adding a delicate
finishing touch.
Saturday, Sept. 29, Day 7: Agra to Jaipur
The delegation will drive from Agra to Jaipur.
Stop at a heritage site en-rote for lunch. Explore
the deserted red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri
dating back to the 16th century.
Sunday, Sept. 30, Day 8: Jaipur
Tour of the City Palace and Jantar Mantar.
Jaipur is known for its many palaces and forts. One
of these major landmarks of the 'pink city' is the
City Palace Complex. The City Palace was built by
Maharaja Jai Singh. Numerous changes and additions
were made to the original structure by his
successors, great modifying the original style. The
architecture of the City Palace is a synthesis of
Rajasthani and Mughal styles. The complex is
comprised of many structures, courtyards, gardens
and buildings. There are many splendid small palaces
and halls in the complex, such as the Chandra Mahal,
Mubarak Mahal and Badal Mahal. There is also a
famous temple called the Shri Govind Temple and a
museum inside, named the City Palace Museum.
IMPORTANT NOTE: A Private Tour of the
Personal Collection of the Royal Family can only be
arranged by written permission from the Royal
Family. Permission has been requested but NOT
granted to date.
Visit the Jewels Emporium where a
demonstration will be given on carving designs from
stones such as jade, garnet and topaz. This is also
known as “Kundankari” in the local language. This
emporium has its own in-house factory craftsmen whom
you can visit and interact with.
After lunch visit “Sanganer” town, located 12
km from Jaipur. In addition to its ruined palaces,
Sanganer has exquisitely carved Jain temples. The
town is entered through the ruins of two tripolias
(Triple gateways). It is an important center for the
crafts industry and produces some of the finest hand
printed textiles, block and screen printers,
papermaking and Jaipur blue pottery.
Return to Jaipur in the evening for dinner in a
local restaurant.
Monday, Oct. 1, Day 9: Jaipur
Drive outside of Jaipur to the ancient capital of
Amber to see the fabulous Amber Fort. Stroll
through the sprawling complex of courtyards and
halls. En route, visit the Palace of Winds,
otherwise known as Hawa Mahal. It’s an elaborate
façade behind which the ladies of the court used to
watch the daily goings on in the streets below.
Later this morning, visit the Indian Institute of
Crafts and Design and interact with the students
for a demonstration and a lesson.
Lunch will be at the Spice Court Restaurant.
After lunch visit Bagru, famous for block
printing on textiles particular to the regions of
Rajasthan and Gujarat. Spend the afternoon visiting
a fabric design and dye factory to see first
hand the vibrant jewel colors of yellow black, red,
and green that play a part in Rajasthani traditional
dress.
Return to Jaipur for dinner at the hotel.
Tuesday, Oct. 2, Day 10: Jaipur to Mumbia
(formerly Bombay)
After buffet breakfast depart for the airport for
your morning flight to Mumbai.
Mumbai (formerly Bombay), situated on the western
coast of India, is a city of glamour and megastars,
of industrialists and business houses, of a
futuristic lifestyle and an amalgamation of the West
with the traditional Maharashtrian culture. Apart
from being the financial capital of India, it is
also the capital of India's most progressive state,
Maharashtra. Mumbai is the gateway of India, the
point of arrival for most of the visitors who travel
to Mumbai on business or holiday. Today Mumbai
stands tall as India's commercial capital and the
country's most cosmopolitan city.
Take an orientation drive around Mumbai. Visit the
Mumbai’s principle landmark, the Hanging Gardens. On
the slopes of Malabar Hills, it offers panoramic
view of Marine Lines and Chowpati Beach, Kamla Nehru
Park and Dhobi Ghat.
Wednesday, Oct. 3, Day 11: Mumbai
Proceed for excursion to a Bollywood film studio.
Depending on the schedule for the day you might be
able to sit in on a shoot for a T.V. serial.
Visit a costume design studio and meet with
designers.
A farewell dinner on the final evening in
India will give you a chance to recap their Citizen
Ambassador Programs experiences.
Thursday, October 4: Day Eleven: Depart
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We work diligently to ensure that
the activities described here are available on your
program. In rare cases, scheduling conflicts,
delays, weather, or circumstances beyond our control
may result in program changes. If substitution is
required, we make every effort to feature comparable
events to retain the content and quality of the
program.
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