DELHI

Our first two full days in Delhi will include a deep dive into craft, cuisine and culture.

On Sunday, we will visit the National Handicrafts Museum, also known as the Crafts Museum, and to Dilli Haat.  The Crafts Museum is a center dedicated to exhibiting various examples of handicrafts, textile and local decor, and to preserve, protect and revive the tradition of local handicrafts.  Dilli Haat is a lifestyle and food market in New Delhi known for its wide variety of handicrafts, textiles, and foods from all over India. 

Monday sees us enjoying a half-day tour of Old Delhi where we can experience a rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk and later a walking tour of Kinari Bazaar & Spice Market.  After lunch, we will proceed to Humayun's Tomb - one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture built in the mid-16th century. 

JAIPUR

After breakfast in Delhi we drive to Jaipur. A city planned according to the ancient Indian architectural science Vastu Shastra, Jaipur is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the Universe through the nine rectangular sectors sub-dividing it. This fascinating city with its romantic charm takes us to an epoch of royalty and tradition.

Once settled into our hotel we will learn about the practice and history of the art form of Rangoli and have the opportunity to try our hands at making our own.

JAIPUR

In Jaipur, we will be joined for our first three days by knitwear designer Nidhi Kansal. Our time here will be a mix of morning excursions to see the amazing sights and relaxed afternoon knitalong time with Nidhi, getting to know all about the contemporary knitting scene in India and starting on the projects that she has designed for us

On Wednesday we will embark on a sightseeing tour including the Amber Fort, the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, and a photo stop at Jal Mahal. Meaning "Water Palace," the Jal Mahal is a majestic structure that stands proudly in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. This architectural marvel is an iconic landmark of the city.

Thursday morning sees us at the Jaipur City Palace - a unique and arresting complex of several palaces, pavilions, gardens and temples. We will also visit Jantar Mantar which features the world's largest stone sundial and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

We begin Friday with a relaxed morning at the hotel before driving out to embark on a unique elephant experience where we will spend time with the elephants followed by lunch together. While at EleDay we will learn about the efforts being made to preserve these magnificent animals, have the chance to observe them in their natural environment and learn about their behavior, diet, and daily routines. In the evening there will be a visit to the home of a local family to learn some traditional Indian and Rajasthani recipes and techniques. After our cooking class, we will enjoy our freshly cooked dinner with the family.

On Saturday we make an excursion to Sanganer where we will embark on a captivating journey into the heart of a town renowned for its rich heritage of block printing and hand-crafted artistry. We will step directly into the world of traditional block printing by participating in an interactive workshop with local artisans. As we experiment with different patterns and colors, we gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry and skill that goes into creating each exquisite block print. 

We continue our explorations today by venturing into the alluring realm of handmade paper factories where we can witness the fascinating process of transforming raw materials into delicate sheets of paper, each imbued with a unique character and charm, and conclude our Sanganer adventure with a visit to a traditional blue pottery workshop and to the narrow streets of the Old Market of Jaipur to experience a gota patti workshop.

We will have the opportunity to continue practicing our block-printing skills on Sunday during an excursion to Bagru where we will create our own pieces of art under the guidance of a mentor and which we then can take with us as mementos of our travels in India.

Returning to Jaipur after lunch we will have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Bapu Bazaar followed by a miniature painting workshop. 

JAIPUR | AGRA | DELHI

After breakfast on Monday we embark on our journey to Agra, breaking up this 4.5 hour drive with stops at Abhaneri, a village in the Dausa district of Rajasthan and known for its ancient Chand Baori Stepwell and Harshat Mata Temple, and at Fatehpur Sikri - a world heritage site rated as one of the best-preserved collections of Mughal architecture in India. Once we arrive at our hotel in Agra, the rest of the day is one to rest or explore as you see fit.

We begin Tuesday before breakfast with a sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal. A spectacular time to visit this white marble marvel on the south bank of the Yamuna River. We will return to our hotel for breakfast before setting out to visit Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon we drive back to Delhi for our final dinner together before departures home on Wednesday.

 Heather loves designing and leading knitting and fiber tours. She’s fascinated with local traditions, unique yarns, and the modern twist added to both by current designers. Her ever-widening exposure to both has led to a long queue of patterns and a dramatic accumulation of stash!  She’s also been trying her hand at new wooly endeavors like felting and spinning. When not knitting, traveling or planning your next trip, Heather tends her small flock of chickens and ducks, volunteers in her local thrift shop, and spends time with her two dogs, her family, and friends in Dunbarton, NH.

Lindsay Roberts, aka  “The Border Tart”, is a dyer, a stitcher, a maker and a lover of words. Inspired by color and pattern and passionate about Indian artisans and textiles, she values most highly all things made by hand. Lindsay uses both indigo and acid dyes to produce a full range of colors in her dye work. Her offerings are sometimes subtle, sometimes bold, but they seldom shout. She’s also a proponent of mindful stitching and hand work of all kinds. In her words, “Making with your own hands brings pleasure, calms the heart rate and imbues each piece with love.” Peruse her hand-dyed yarns and small edition stitching kits here. You’ll also find her images, thoughts and adventures on Instagram at @bordertart. We’re so pleased to collaborate with this wonderful Scottish artisan and teacher.