Lothal is one of the most visited spot in Gujarat , Tourists visiting Gujarat visit this ancient city and learn about art , culture , traditions ,way of life in the olden times .The insights are invaluable and visitors from all over the world interested in Architecture and Archeology come to Lothal. Gujarat Holiday Packages customised by Swan Tours includes Lothal in majority of the itineraries.
The tank at lothal is believed to have been a dry dockyard connected by channels to the Sabarmati River Estuarry. Archaeological finds suggest that Lothal’s community traded with distant lands like Egypt.
Gulf of Khambat
Lothal was a flourishing port near the confluence of the Bhugavo- Sabarmati River with the Gulf of Khambat. Thriving between 2400 and 1900BC, Lothal was an extraordinarily well planed city with an upper town called acropolis, warehouses, a paved sanitary drainage network, wells, residential blocks, workshop and a large tank believed to have been a unique dry dock. The archaeological museum at Lothal has prize exhibits like microbead jewellery, copper figures, attractive pottery, weights and measures, navigation tools and sophisticated products. The museum exhibits are evidences of the scientifically advance civilization that thrived in Lothal more than 4000 years ago.
Lothal is superb example of town planning with paved drains and wide passages.
drainage-and-water-distribution
The drainage and water distribution system abd Lothal reflect the maturity of urban planning achieved by the Harappans.
VISITORS GUIDE:
Transport Hubs (Approximate distance);
Ahmedabad Airport/Railways Station 82km
Accommodations:
Utelia offers heritage hotel accommodation near Lothal.
Ahmedabad (82km) offers a large choice of star-rated hotels.
When to visit:
Lothal is open daily from dawn to dusk. The museum is closed on Friday.
For more information on Tourism in Gujarat contact Swan Tours , One of the leading tour operators in Delhi.
The Kathmandu Valley is often labeled a “living museum.” There is certainly plenty to see. In the poorest sections, where you would expect life to be drab, you will find houses with potted plants set along the ledges, a pride and beauty that brighten life. Brilliant, jewel-color saris cascade down from window sills, drying in the wind. If you are wondering what all the posters and hand-painted signs of suns and trees are that cover everything from banks to homes to rocks and trees, they are the symbols of political organizations, leftover billboards from campaigning. Some question why locally produced mailing envelopes do not have the same heavy-duty glue as these slogan-laden posters.
In the mornings, little boys and girls walk single file along the road, dressed in school uniforms, the boys’ hair freshly watered down to their foreheads, the girls’ onyx locks tied in pigtails with big grosgrain rib-bon bows. Children are often tucked between mom and dad on motorbikes, or they ride in front of dad as if they are driving the bike. Usually the kids have wacky, neon-color sunglasses to block the dust from getting in their eyes. The women, wearing saris or Tibetan chubas (wraparound dresses that are a uniquely practical ethnic costume) ride sidesaddle on the motorbikes, a balancing act only outmatched by the huge piles carried on peoples’ heads. A funny sight for sure: men walking ducks or goats on a rope lead, weaving their way around the free-roaming cows that choose to sleep in the road, trucks or not.
This lively backdrop is also home to seven UNESCO-listed World Heritage sites. You can easily visit the stupas at Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, where there are also large Tibetan populations, then stop down at the ghats (platforms) in Pashupatinath to see one of the holiest Hindu temples in the region. For a look at centuries-old lifestyles, inspect the architecture at Patan or Bhaktapur Durbar margs, both are quieter than the Kathmandu Durbar Marg. To round out the big sites, make sure to see another Hindu temple, Changu Narayan, a favorite for some simply because very few people visit. While touring these important architectural landmarks you should also try to get away to a hill station to check out nature’s architecture.
Dhulikhel and Nagarkot are relaxing weekend escapes from the pollution of Kathmandu, or an excellent place to visit if you have a few days left before going home and do not want to stay in the city. Some tour operators suggest flying into Kathmandu and driving straight out to either of these hamlets. You can reach most sites in Kathmandu in a one-hour drive—enabling you to tour the city without having to live under its cough-inducing cloud. The best time to visit Dhulikhel and Nagarkot is from October through April, when the soaring peaks of the Himalaya are almost always visible. Mountain views are less reliable from May through September, but the monsoon countryside is usually a lush, emerald green, and the spring blooms dot the land in rainbow clusters that attract fluttering butterflies in rival brilliant hues.
It is difficult to squeeze all the sites in, but well worth the effort.
At the foot of the King of Mountains – Himavan – flanked by lofty mountains and snow-clad peaks, Himachal, with its lush green forests, bubbling streams, emerald meadows, enchanting lakes and external snows, that make it a veritable cornucopia, nestles in the lap of Mother Nature like her favourite child. It is rightly called the “abode of Gods”.
In this lovely state, there is beauty at every step; with its green meadows of asphodel of hyacinth and celandine, of carmine rhododendron trees surrounded by solemn forests of deodar and towering pines Shimla retains its pristine splendours; the tourney up the Kullu Valley is a rhapsody of colour-in March the apricot trees burst into pink blossom while on the nigher slopes, the giant rhododendrons with their crimson flowers give the impression of trees decked out in gala red lanterns. Early in June the horse chestnuts are in flower, with millions of wild bees humming around them; in July masses of blue and purple iris are splashed over the hill-side and buttercups I range in colour from the familiar golden yellow to the pink red. Fruit farming has been and become even more a major industry in the Kullu Valley. Apples and pears of high quality are plentiful–as cheap as they are luscious–together with cherries, apricots, plums and peaches. In the adjoining Kangra valley, there are several well-laid out tea gardens. Formerly dedicated to the production of green tea for the Afghan market, the planters are turning to the processing of black tea.
Agriculture, Horticulture and Tourism are the most important occupations of the people of the Pradesh and more than 93 per cent of the population is directly or indirectly dependent for their livelihood on these occupations. Horticulture yields a greater percentage of return per acre than the corresponding agricultural crops. Low hills and the valley areas are utilized for growing of cereals and basic agricultural production, while the medium and higher zones are devoted to the development of horticulture. The Himachal Government planned an extensive horticulture development programme, bringing over one-third of the cultivable area in the Pradesh into use. The Agricultural Re-finance Corporation Scheme set aside funds in lacs of rupees to finance individual apple cultivators and orchard owners. Already extensive in the state, Himachal Pradesh got the largest number of prizes in the All India Apple Show. From an area of 3,000 acres under cultivation with a production of 7,000 tonnes of fruit in the state, in 1955, it increased to an area of 1,09,000 acres, 44329 hectares and a production of 1,49,000 tonnes in 1971. A 15 year horticultural development plan will bring 20,000 acres under horticulture every year. There are vast stretches of areas like slopy lands which are unfit for cultivation of ordinary crops and horticulture is the only answer for their optimum utilization. Fruit is the people’s only hope.
Apple-Farms-Himachal-Pradesh
Horticulture is the special feature of Himachal Pradesh economy. With the big strides taken in the state, it has earned the name of the foremost producer of quality apples. With its salubrious climate, Kotgarh offers some of the choicest apples in the country–Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Royal Delicious are some of the best brands, produced also at Kullu. The apple farm in Kotgarh which supplies apples all over India, was started by an American, Donald Stokes, who came on a trip of the Himalayas, and fell in love with the country. He married and settled down in Kotgarh, starting the orchards that bear his name. The name Stokes is almost a byword in the apple country and the circles of choice apple lovers.
fruits-in-Himachal-Pradesh
For the development of horticulture as many as 95 progeny-cum-demonstration orchards have been set up at different elevations to cater to the needs of the cultivators of the surrounding areas With the steady increase, the production has gone up to nearly four lakh tonnes. In Manali, in the Kullu Valley, are many apple and fruit orchards mainly owned by British settlers and local people. Comprising the two erstwhile states of Mandi and Suket, the area under fruits in Mandi is about 15 per cent of the total area under fruits in Himachal Pradesh.
Tourism in Himachal Pradesh has gained importance in the recent times , The tourism experiences in the state include art , craft , history , culture , architecture , culinary , adventure , winter sports and many more . The most popular holiday destinations in Himachal are Shimla , Manali , Dalhousie and Dharamshala , For more details on Himachal pradesh tour packagescontact Swan Tours -One of the leading travel agent in Delhi operating since 1995.
Historical facts about Rajasthan That a Tourist Must Know
Creation of Rajasthan, as a single, unified administrative unit, was created in stages Dholpur and Karauli. Within a week of this, on March 25, 1948, another merger took place forming the Rajasthan Union, unifying the states of Banswara, Bundi, Dungarpur, Jhalawar, Kishangarh, Shahpura and Tonk. Three days later the Maharana of Mewar also agreed to merge Mewar State into the Rajasthan Union, which was renamed the United State of Rajasthan. The process of merger and unification of the princely states of Rajputana was completed on March 30, 1949, with the rulers of all the remaining states of the region, including the princes of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Kota, agreeing to integration. With this, a new unified state, the United State of Greater Rajasthan, was formed, comprising the area of these states, the Matsya Union and the United State of Rajasthan. The Maharana of Mewar was appointed Maharajpramukh and the Maharaja of Jaipur Rajpramukh of the United State of Greater Rajasthan.
A single administrative unit for the whole of the geographical area of Rajputana, however, came into existence only on November 1, 1956, when the centrally administered state of Ajmer was also merged with the United State of Greater Rajasthan. After this merger, the state was renamed Rajasthan. Simultaneously, the offices of the Maharajpramukh and Rajpramukh were abolished and, a governor was appointed in Rajasthan also. Just over a decade later, the privileges and privy purses granted to the ex-rulers and their families were withdrawn by amending the constitution.
The days of the Jaghirdars: Under British protection, many princes and their jaghirdars had severely oppressed their people. Civil liberties and elementary human rights were denied them. The will of the rulers was law. The farmers were entirely at the mercy of the jaghirdars or rajas who enjoyed unlimited and unchallenged authority and power. People in authority often treated the majority of the people as slaves.
Before the advent of British rule, the princes and jaghirdars had spent most of their time on wars, personal feuds and palace conspiracies, and during British rule, indulging in personal whims, luxuries and extrava-ganzas. Their relationship with the public was in many cases limited to collection of land revenue with little concern for welfare activities. As a result, Rajasthan, which was once flourishing and prosperous, gradually became the most economically disadvantaged part of the country.Today once again Rajasthan is flourishing and is the most important tourist centres of the country .Cities like Jaipur , Pushkar , Jodhpur , Jaisalmer, Bikaner are frequented both by Indian and foreign travellers.
There are a number of places around Delhi which are worth visiting after one has seen the city itself in its entirety. Delhi is landlocked by the three states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and all of these offer tourist destinations with easy access. There are hill stations, lake resorts, forests and wildlife sanctuaries and pilgrim centres to be chosen from and each of them is well connected by road, rail or air with the most modem facilities amounting to luxury accommodation and multi cuisine restaurants.
In recent years Haryana has come to prosper as a Mecca for holiday makers and picnickers and about forty tourist complexes and five highway catering centres have come up all over the state. While most of them are located in and around the cities, some have come up in isolated places and these are the ones which have proved to be the most popular. Delhiites make a beeline for these nearby resorts during the winter months, when they can enjoy the lush surround-ings, often lakesides and picnic in the warmth of the sun.
Badhkal is one of the oldest and still the most popular Tourist Resort in Haryana. The great attraction of the lake and lush surroundings draw huge family crowds and bus loads of picnickers in the winters. Facilities: Two centrally air-conditioned restaurants—Mayur and Criy Falcon, Garud and Gray Falcon motel with piped-in-channel n ,ic, Minivet huts, conference hall, bar, bath complex with swim-‘ g pool, sauna, steam bath, massage, boating, angling, kiosks with ibles, children’s playgrounds, camper huts and A/C yacht for joy Tariff Range: Rs. 150/- to Rs. 600/-
#2. Suraj Kund
Location: 8 km from South Delhi
Suraj Kund was once a part of the citadel built by the Hindu king Anangpal but today only the remains of a sun temple and a huge bathing pool can be seen. The attraction here also is a lake where picnickers can do boating and fishing. A colourful crafts Mela is organized here every year to promote tourism both among Indians and foreign tourists.
Facilities: Motel with two channel piped-in-music, snack bar, catering, conference hall, boating, angling, camping, 9 hole golf course, camper huts, putting green, picnicker’s hides and the Hermitage. Tariff Range: Rs. 350/- to Rs. 550/-
#3. Hotel Rajhans (Suraj Kund)
Hotel Rajhans is a part of the sprawling Suraj Kund complex and provides an ideal location for a luxurious holiday only a short distance from the hustle and bustle of New Delhi.
Facilities: Centrally Air-conditioned rooms and suites, 4 channel stereo music, T.V, gift shops, health club and beauty parlour with sauna, steam bath, massage, exercise gadgets, manicure, pedicure, skin care, herbal cosmetics, restaurant, bar, conference halls/banquet halls, swimming pool, billiard room, 9 hole golf course, putting green, tennis court, horse riding, cycling etc. Tariff Range: Rs. 450/ – to Rs. 600/-
#4. Sohna
Location: 56 km. from Delhi
Another popular tourist Resort, Sohna is located in the Aravalli Hills bordering Delhi and is famous for its hot sulphur springs which are believed to have medicinal properties. Located in the Sohna village, just below the Tourist Resort, water is pumped up from the springs and tourists can bathe and sauna in clean facilities.Sohna is also the terminating point for The Statesman Vintage Car Rally which takes place during the peak tourist season and more and more people are able to witness the event.
Facilities: Motel, camper huts, cafeteria, sulphur baths, restaurant and bar. Tariff Range: Rs.175/- to Rs. 325/-
#5. Suitanpur National Park
Location: 46 km. from Delhi
Converted from a bird sanctuary to a National Park, only recently, Sultanpur is a haven for bird watchers who have an opportunity of seeing a number of species of migratory birds. Facilities: Rosy Pelican restaurant, bar, guest house and museum.
#6. Tilyar Lake
Location: 70 km. from Delhi
Although Tilyar is quite far from Delhi, it has become a popular destination for the people who like to explore new places which provide more excitement than the usual Suraj Kund and Badhkal. Facilities: Tourist rest house, green maze, ice cream corner, restau-rant, bar, gift shop, boating, angling, children’s park and mini zoo. Tariff Range: Rs. 275/- to Rs. 300/-
#7. Damdama Lake
Location: 64 Km. from Delhi
Only a short distance from Sohna, the Damdama Complex has become quite popular only recently. The great attraction of boating and other water sports attracts a lot of tourists and travelers.
Facilities: Lake for boating, restaurant, and motel wing, conference hall, bar and lawns. Tariff Range: Rs. 250/- to Rs. 275/-
#8. Aravalli (Golf Course)
Location: 30 km. from Delhi
For the golf lovers of Delhi who do not get an opportunity to play and practice at the already choked Delhi Golf Club, the Aravalli Golf course provides an ideal alternative.
Facilities: 9 hole Golf course, club house with restaurant and bar.
Besides the above the most popular travel itinerary used as an excursion from Delhi is the golden triangle tour package itinerary covering Agra, Jaipur and the extensions such as Bharatpur , Fatehpur Sikri , Ranthambore , etc.
For more details on Delhi sightseeing tours contact Swan Tours, One of the leading travel agent in Delhi since 1995.
Gujarat Tourism’s Hidden Gem – Velavadar National Park
Velavadar National Park is a hidden gem. Covering a comparatively small area of about 34 sq Velavadar is one of the world’s best places to watch the blackbuck, an elegant Indian antelope. This national park is also among the few places where the Indian wolf is proliferating in India and one of the top breeding sites for lesser florican. For birdwatchers, Velavadar is an excellent area to watch Stolizka’s bush chat, saras crane and other grassland birds. In winter, Velavadar’s grasslands play host to one of the world’s largest harrier roosts. The sight of a thousand harrier hawks flying towards the Velavadar grasslands in the evening for their roost is one of the great spectacles of the natural world.
The Velavadar National Park is one of the best places for blackbuck viewing in India. The Savannah-like grasslands with its profusion of antelope is reminiscent of the African national parks.
Velavadar National Park Gujarat
VISITORS’ GUIDE:
Transport Hubs (Approximate distances):
Bhavnagar Airport/Railway Station 65km
Accommodation: The Blackbuck Lodge is an up market resort at Velavadar. The forest department also has accommodation facilities in the national park.
When to visit: The Velavadar National Park is open from mid-October to mid-June. The national park is closed during the rains but the surrounding areas can yield good birdlife including endangered species like the lesser florican that breed here in the monsoon months.
Must Know things for a tourist before travelling to Andaman Nicobar Islands
Provision of Health Service
Still the image of “Kalapani Andaman” in the minds of some public in the mainland dominates and hence it force them to think about mosquitoes, malaria fever etc. OR’, people understand about this lush green marigold sdillgit Hardly one or two cases of malaria are found and a name as such. So it is suggested that health department of these islands should take all steps to eradicate malaria, Andaman Fever etc. by taking proper steps and as a challenge. Merely going to every house and giving some suggestions will not solve the problem and the purpose. The department should find out cause and effect and try to cut at the root cause. The important tourists enter like Port Blair city, Wandoor, Chiddiatappu, Rangat, Mayabunder etc. It is suggested that 24 hrs health service should be provided to the tourists. Serving with smile is absolutely necessary in order to develop the Industry.
Instructions to the Private Accommodations
Tourists are very much particular about the places of stay. During the tourist season, really the tourists face problems due to non- availability of accommodation in the city and in the inter-islands. Though they wish to stay in a costly hotel they are forced to take some cheap accommodation where there is no laundry, laboratory, mosquito net, proper ventilation, protected drinking water facilities and are in bad hygienic conditions. These types of accommodation will make the tourists frustrated and indirectly force them to have a bad opinion about this destination. So it is suggested that the Tourism Department must have a regular checking of all accommodations whether the basic facilities are provided with proper hygienic conditions or not.
Construction of Public Toilets
At present, in Andaman and Nicobar islands there is no ‘pay and use’ toilet. Public toilet facility is totally absent at important beaches like Carbyn’s Cove, Wandoor etc., and parks like Gandhi Park and Marina Park etc. The road sides and other important place are made dirty due to the want of public toilet especially during the festival time. So it is suggested to construct public toilets with the provision of maintenance at important places of the city, important beaches, grounds and parks.
Construction of Mile Stones `and Pillars
Andaman and Nicobar Administration may immediately conduct an overall survey in order to fix the mile stones, concrete pillars, sign pillars and plates etc. Each road, street, lane, footpath, village etc. should be rightly and necessarily named. In some islands, places are termed as ‘ Theen Number’ & ‘Char -giber’ etc. Such names may be replaced by some ‘freedom fighters’ names. For every 3 Kms. tourist maps, e out of concrete plates, of that or nearby locality should be fixed so that the tourists do not face any problem.
Shimla the capital of Himachal Pradesh has a glorious past and a lot of colonial history attached to it. Himachal Pradesh holiday packagesconducted by Swan Tours India give you Insight into Shimla’s past and its most popular tourist attractions, below are some interesting facts on Shimla’s colonial past.
The year 1903 began with a proclamation of the accession and coronation of King Edward VII, made at the Delhi Durbar with all the trappings of Imperial grandeur. It was at this time that Shimla, became really glamorous as the summer capital of an Imperial Power. The Mall, the fashionable shopping centre, took on the look of the Pall Mall and Regency Row in London. Wives of civil and army officers devised crests and imposing uniforms for their rickshaw Pullers, the rickshaws, themselves conforming to the colours and patterns of the crests. The Mall closed to all, but a handful of Indians from top families of the aristocracy, was a riot of colour of the rickshaws and their pullers, coupled with the elegant dresses of their occupants. To the fairyland atmosphere of the evening lights, was added the fragrance of expensive perfumes from Coty, Chanel or other deluxe salons of Bond Street and London’s Mayfair.
Shimla Glorious
On Sunday morning, the Viceroy rode in his magnificent equipage, followed by the Vicerine and aides with their wives making up the lead each in separate rickshaws. The magnificent procession escorted by mounted Vicerory’s guards in liveried splendor of scarlet and gold then moved from the Viceregal Lodge to the elegant and beautiful church on the Ridge overlooking the Mall. As it moved slowly up the incline from Scandal Point crossing, the desired effect of impressing the people with the might, magnificence and majesty of the Empire was achieved among the Sunday morning worshippers and other extraneous elements in the crowd. In the evening, tea dances at Davico’s and Wenger’s amused the elite till it was the time to go to theatre, followed by more dancing at the Davico’s Ball Room which had been built specially with spring beneath the paneled flooring so that milady felt no fatigue even if the dance went on to the wee hours of the morning.
shimla glorious
Life was full, life was good, and Curzon accepted a second term of office. He had not reckoned for his controversy with Lord Kitchener which made life sour for him. After his brilliant achievements in Sudan, Lord Kitchener was sent as Commander-in-Chief to India. One of his first act was to build himself a magnificent residence in Shimla, In the imposing heights of Kufri a long drive-way leads to the elegant Georgian, red-roofed mansion peeping from behind the pines, surrounded by extensive lawns and gardens—this is Wild Flower Hall where Lord Kitchener held his special levee to rival that of the Viceroy. From the moment of his arrival a controversy between the two broke out over the administrative control of the army.
For more information on Shimla in Himachal Pradesh and its tourist attractions contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel agents India.
Situated in Banda district, barely 75 kms from Chitrakoot, and about 83 kms from the temple-town of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, Kalinjar is said to have been one of the strongest forts of northern India. It holds the rare distinction of having daunted even the heretofore unchecked army of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1023. The invaders, it is said, pillaged through most of north and west India, but could not bring down the tough resistance that this mighty fort put up.
Strategically located at the rocky edge of the Vindhyas, it has a 30-m high foundation. Although Kalinjar Fort has some small shrines that date back to the 2nd-4th centuries AD, it is believed to have been built in the 10th century by the Chandela kings who were also the builders of the world renowned Khajuraho temples. The fort remained unvanquished until Akbar conquered it in 1569, and presented it to the most famous of the ‘nine jewels’ of his court, Raja Birbal.
Legend goes that Shiva, after swallowing the poison that turned his kanth (throat) blue, came to rest here. The Neelkanth Temple inside Kalinjar Fort has a 1.15 m-high linga, Shiva-Parvati images, carvings of Vishnu, Ganesha, and Kal Bhairava, among others. Other places of interest inside the fort include Patal Ganga, Pandu Kund, Budha-Budhi Taal, whose waters have curative powers, Mrigdhara spring, and the popular Koito Birth spring, whose waters supposedly cure lepers.
Kalinjar Fort
The fort has two entrances, one which opens on to the city, and the other opens south-west towards Panna, Madhya Pradesh (51 kms). The first entrance has seven smaller gateways which lead up a flight of stairs to the fort: Alam Darwaza, Ganesha Darwaza, Chandi or Chauburji Darwaza, Budhabhadra Darwaza, Hanuman Darwaza, Lal Darwaza and finally the fairly modern Bara Darwaza.
The museum of the Archaeological Survey of India is located in Raja Aman Singh’s palace inside the fort.
Kalinjar Fort
For more information on Kalinjar Fort Uttar Pradesh contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel agents in Delhi.
There are multiple reasons to travel to Gujarat, one of the major motivations for a tourist to travel to this colorful state is the unique art and craft that exists in Gujarat. Gujarat holiday packages conducted by Swan Tours incorporates various destinations and the experiences related to art and Craft in the itinerary.
Gujarat’s deep-rooted tradition of textiles and handicrafts makes shopping in this state an exciting and rewarding experience. The range of handicrafts is diverse, from ritualistic arts, tribal artifacts and vibrant folk crafts to sophisticated metalware, rich silks and kundan jewellery.
The superb heritage of handicrafts goes back thousands of years. Agate stone cutting is said to be an ancient craft of Khambat. Archaeological excavations have shown that metallurgy, pottery, seal cutting, jewellery making and bead crafting reached high standards of maturity at Harappan sites of Gujarat more than 4000 years ago. Fine examples of these crafts have stood the test of time at Lothal.
art-and-Craft-in-gujarat1
The handicraft repertoire of Guajrat has been enriched by centuries of contacts with different lands. The ports of Gujarat facilitated trade with the Middle-east, the African ports, South East Asia and China since ancient times. The Portuguese, the Dutch and the British established trading bases along the Gujarat coast in the medieval period. From the Mughal courts to the British East India Company, the Parsees who landed in Gujarat fleeing religious persecution more than a millennium ago to the post-partition exodus from Sindh to Kutch , various cultural influences have left their mark on the range and quality of crafts for which Gujarat is justly famous. Today, the state is known for its intricate handloom woven cotton, wool and silk textiles, traditional durries and shawls, bandhani tie-dye fabrics, textile and leather embroidery, block prints, appliqué, beadwork, jewellery, metal crafts, woodcarving, lacquered woodcrafts, terracotta crafts, bamboo products, agate stonework, namda (felt-making), ritualistic paintings and other handmade products. NGOs, self-help groups and social responsibility initiatives of corporate houses have helped bring many lesser known and remotely located artisans into the spotlight of tourism in Gujarat.
Bandhani
The Bandhani (a form of tie-dye) is one of Gujarat’s most famous textiles, with the ‘panetar’ and ‘gharcholu’ tie-dyed patterns often considered symbolic of the state. Garments made from tie-dyed fabrics are worn by Gujarat’s brides for important rituals and marriage. The artisans of Jamnagar, Kutch, Surendranagar and other districts of Gujarat are well-known for their wool, cotton and silk tie-dye.
Embroidery is one of Gujarat’s most popular handicrafts. The girls and young women start doing embroidery at a young age to supplement family income, embellish personal clothing and family linen, or to ornament their own trousseau. One of the most striking and popular features of Gujarat’s embroidery has been the use of mirrors secured onto the fabric. In the Kutch and Banaskantha districts, a visitor will find an incredible diversity of embroidery styles depending on the community they visit — Rabaris, Ahirs, Jaths, Mutwas, Meghwals, Sodhas and other communities have their own distinctive styles of embroidery. Saurashtra is also known for its embroidery and applique. Beadwork is another popular craft of women in Saurashtra. This is largely done by Kathi women who attach beads to each other to create shapes and forms similar to the embroidery and appliqué handwork of the area. The beadwork products include ornamental hangings, decorations for bullocks, horses and carts, and everyday objects such as fans and pads used to support heavy water jars.
Kutch-and-Kathiawad
While the Kutch and Kathiawad peninsulas are known for their handwork, the tribal communities of northern, eastern and southern Gujarat are known for the highly ritualistic arts like votive terracotta figures and pithoro paintings, which have importance in rites and festivals. Warli painting and bamboo crafts are specialties of southern Gujarat.
Apart from popular crafts, a number of sophisticated arts, crafts and weaves developed in Gujarat for the Mughal emperors, the numerous princely states of Gujarat and the European colonial powers, some of which continue to thrive even today.
For more information on art and craft holiday experiences in Gujarat contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel agents in India.
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