The Indian subcontinent is vast and varied with many geographical regions, influenced by climate and natural resources. Over generations a wide variety of textiles have evolved according to local resources, creating distinct styles and traditions.
India Unbound offers a selection of individually designed Textile Tours of India showcasing the textiles specialities of each region. Discover textiles created from hand-loom weaving of various threads, techniques applied, unique designs and the many styles throughout India.
These India textile tours showcase the wide variety of styles and traditions.
In the arid regions of the North and North East, we offer an Indian tour with an eclectic mix of city and rural visits.
Gujarat is home to diverse ethnic and semi-nomadic tribal groups, who have their own traditions and some of India’s most exquisite hand-embellished crafts, which includes Kutchi embroidery with mirror work, bandhni tie and dye and hand printed textiles. The ancient city of Ahmedabad houses the Calico and Textile Museum, India’s premier textile museum. In Rajasthan known for its Forts and Palaces, artisans in the village of Bagru, just outside Jaipur, have been hand-block printing for over 350 years.
South India offers a diverse and fascinating variety of textile related experiences. This in-depth textile tour of India provides the opportunity to work with raw materials under the guidance of local specialists. Educational workshops offer a strong focus on hands on and in-depth interaction with elaborate cotton embroidery, fine needlework, natural dying, weaving and silk productions using both traditional and contemporary methods.
India Unbound’s India textile travel to West Bengal explores the rural country side and fertile farmlands where Silk has a long and rich history, historically worn by Mughal nobility.
Visit bustling cities and small villages seeking out the traditional methods behind weaving. The artisans here are famous for making Sarees. The Tangail sarees contains tiny repeating patterns, giving the feel of embroidery work. The Baluchari sarees are woven from tussar silk, a natural deep golden colour, rich in texture, woven on punch-card looms. Visit textile villages, local markets and weaver’s studios. Meet, engage and learn techniques and weaving methods.
Our tours of India include Odisha, an eastern Indian state on the Bay of Bengal, known for its tribal communities. This itinerary has a focus on the rich diversity of craft and the variety of techniques that have been used for generations. Travel into the tribal heartlands and meet India’s most ancient indigenous communities where many artisans are in isolated villages residing with age old customs, creating brilliant workmanship on cotton, silk, and tusser textiles. The weavers of every region work in their own unique style.
Odisha is famous for silk and cotton single-ikat “weft-ikat” textiles. The weavers here produce a striking range of sarees with a brilliance, glaze and texture. Discover these textiles woven from cotton tie-dye, silk and coarse cotton.
The textile tours of India from Australia displayed below are example itineraries. We specialise in creating personalised itineraries to suit individual interests and requirements such as duration, standard of accommodation, specific interests and pace of travel, so please get in touch with us if you would like to receive a tailor made itinerary for a customised textile tour or any holiday in India.
South India offers a diverse and fascinating variety of textile related experiences. This educational journey offers an opportunity to work with raw materials and textiles from the various regions with the guidance of like-minded and passionate specialists.
Travel through the white desert of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and the red desert of Rajasthan on a private tour of intriguing and contrasting landscapes of North India with a spotlight on the long history of textiles and their influence in these regions.
A textile journey commencing in the Bay of Bengal, travelling north through rural country side and the fertile farmlands of West Bengal, high into the cool fresh air and forested mountains of the Himalayas. Visiting bustling cities and small villages seeking out the history and traditional methods behind weaving and textiles in this region.
Textile traditions are woven into many communities of Central India and are renowned for the highly developed and rich skills of their weavers, craftsmen, and artisans.
Gujarat has a long tradition of cottage scale textile production and artisanal craftsmanship. This itinerary focuses on the many small communities who are keeping such traditions alive.
This 17-day journey through the North East of India showcases the region’s textile traditions.
A textile journey through Odisha, an eastern Indian state on the Bay of Bengal, known for its tribal cultures. This itinerary has a focus on the rich diversity of craft textiles in Odisha and the variety of techniques that have been used for generations.