Fabric of SOUTHERN India

Day 1 | Friday 2 January
Arrive Chennai
Arriving at Chennai Airport, you will be met and transferred to our hotel. As flights are on an individual basis, we have a relaxed first afternoon to settle in. Overnight Chennai.

Day 2 | Saturday 3 January
Chennai To Pondicherry
Meeting our Tour Leader after breakfast this morning, we depart Chennai and drive to the seaside city of Pondicherry, once the centre of French trading interests in India. Here we visit Colors of Nature, a research centre focused on creating an environmentally friendly indigo-dyeing process. In our hands-on workshop we can try several fabric-dyeing techniques with natural indigo. After lunch in a local restaurant, we continue to Atelier Shanti, a rehabilitation centre that provides workshops in dyeing yarn, weaving and embroidery for local women, who have a safe place where they can live and work. The city’s colonial history is turbulent, with French involvement preceded by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Danes, and the British before Pondicherry was restored to the Union of Independent India in 1954. The city is a fascinating blend of east and west and a lasting French influence can be seen in the city’s architecture and town planning, as well as its language, cuisine, and local culture. There is time to relax before our welcome dinner this evening. Overnight Pondicherry (B, D)

Day 3 | Sunday 4 January
Pondicherry
Often referred to as the French capital of India, Pondicherry, or Puducherry, is a vibrant, coastal city with an old world charm. Today we discover its quaint streets, beginning with a sightseeing tour of the French Quarter by cycle-rickshaws. We will then be treated to an exquisite Creole lunch at a private home, after which there will be time to do some shopping or just enjoy a coffee in one of the many local cafes, with the rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight Pondicherry (B, L)

Day 4 | Monday 5 January
Pondicherry
Our final day in Pondicherry is devoted to a day of relaxation and independent exploration. You may like to walk along the seaside promenade, take a wander across the canal to the Tamil Quarter of town or simply explore the French Quarter at your leisure. Pondicherry has much to offer so a day here is a must. Overnight Pondicherry (B)

Day 5 | Tuesday 6 January
Pondicherry to Chennai
Departing Pondicherry we return to Chennai. Known as Madras under colonial rule, the city became one of the major commercial and administrative centres of the British East India Company and a bastion of the British Empire. With temples dating back to the 7th century BCE and one of the largest collections of heritage buildings in India, the city today is a unique blend of ancient traditions and cultures co-existing with modern day industry and commerce. En-route to Chennai we visit the Dakshinachitra Living Museum, an open-air cultural space dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of India’s southern states. Arriving at our hotel, there is time to relax before our evening dinner. Overnight Chennai (B, D)

Day 6 | Wednesday 7th January
Chennai
This morning we drive to Kalakshetra for a Kalamkari workshop. Deriving its name from the word ‘kalam,’ which means pen, ‘Kalamkari’ refers to a particular, intricate style of hand-painting onto cloth. First used to portray scenes from sacred texts such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, these paintings were often displayed as decorative backdrops in temples, depicting the stories of deities. The process of creating a Kalamkari painting is as elaborate as the delicate and detailed designs — there are 23 meticulous steps, including bleaching, softening and sun drying the fabric, preparing and mixing natural pigments, applying each colour individually and rinsing the fabric between every colour application. This introductory workshop will give you the basics of the process. Returning to Chennai, the evening
is at leisure. Overnight Chennai (B, L)

Day 7 | Thursday 8 January
Chennai to Pollachi
We have an early start this morning as we head to the rail station to board the Shatabdi Express to Coimbatore, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu and a centre of thriving commerce and business. The seven-hour journey offers the wonderful experience of train travel in India and affords time to watch the varying landscapes of the south. We arrive in the bustling urban centre of Coimbatore, home to a large number of textile units, earning it the nickname ‘Manchester of the South’. Following check-in to our hotel, there is time to refresh before dinner. Overnight Pollachi (B, L, D)

Day 8 | Friday 9 January
Pollachi
We begin the day with a workshop on Kolam, an integral part of daily Southern Indian tradition. Originating in Tamil Nadu, Kolam is the painting of geometric and floral patterns with rice flour at the entrance to the home, as a symbol of welcome and goodwill. It is a meditative as well as artistic practice and is a common sight in Southern India. After free time for lunch, we continue on to the Ethicus Textiles Centre, an incredible farm-to-fashion label. Launched in September 2009, in Mumbai, Ethicus was the first ethical fashion brand in India, founded by a husband-and-wife team who have turned a background in traditional cotton production into an ethical and sustainable enterprise. Growing their own organic cotton, they work with local handloom weavers and traditional artisans from across the country to create world-class textiles for local and international customers, controlling the process “from seed to sari”. During our visit we will have a chance to see how the Ethicus products are handcrafted using traditional weaving techniques on revived jacquard handlooms of the Pollachi region. We return to our hotel with time to freshen up before dinner. Overnight Pollachi (B, D)

Day 9 | Saturday 10 January
Pollachi To Munnar
After breakfast, we enjoy a spectacular 6-hour drive through the mountains of India’s Western Ghats to the beautiful former hill station of Munnar. This drive takes us through lush green protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries, as well as tea plantations, and we may even see some of the fauna native to the region, such as the Bonnet Macaque or Giant Squirrel. After checking into our hotel, we meet for afternoon tea followed by a relaxed stroll around the grounds. The evening is at leisure. Overnight Munnar (B, L)

Day 10 | Sunday 11 January
Munnar
Today is devoted to rest and relaxation, allowing for every opportunity to truly enjoy the spectacular grounds and services of our beautiful resort and the local town. You may wish to partake in an early morning bird-watching walk, a leisurely exploration of the plantation, or simply cozy up with a book in the quiet library. The evening is at leisure. Overnight Munnar (B)

Day 11 | Monday 12 January
Munnar
Today we will head to Aranya Naturals, a unique and extraordinary cooperative established in 1991 to educate and further rehabilitate differently-abled children & young adults. Aranya Naturals’ mission has been to impart vocational education, further generating sustainable livelihood possibilities upon graduation. Using the forests of Munnar as their paint box, Aranya’s specially-abled artists draw on a palette of colours used to paint in the dye making process, and their textiles are dyed in natural dyes, with the waste water treated and recycled for use in the gardens at Srishti. Here we will undertake a natural dyeing and printing workshop using dyes made from indigo, pomegranate shells, tea waste, eucalyptus leaves, eupatorium or Nilagiri Kozha, mulberry leaves, lemon grass, turmeric and marigold flowers. With these, artisans create beautiful textiles and garments with decorative techniques such as wax resist block printing, clamp and tie dyeing. We may try our hand at some of these skills and learn the basic techniques of natural dyeing in our hands-on workshop. In the afternoon there is time to explore the Munnar bazaar where you can find local products such as tea, spices, chocolate, aromatic oils and handicrafts. Dinner tonight is in our hotel. Overnight Munnar (B, D)

Day 12 | Tuesday 13 January
Munnar to Kumarakom
Departing Munnar this morning we head to Kumarakom to board our local kettuvalam or houseboat for a unique night on the backwaters of Kerala, where we will enjoy a seamless blend of comfort and luxury as well as authentic Kerala cuisine. This region was made famous as the setting for Arundhati Roy’s classic novel The God of Small Things and is renowned for its network of rivers and canals, palm-fringed lakes and lush paddy fields. Overnight Kumarakom (B, L, D)

Day 13 | Wednesday 14 January
Kumarakom To Kochi
This morning we disembark and drive 3 hours to Kochi, a centuries-old port town with a remarkable history. Once an important spice trading centre from antiquity, trading with the Romans, Persians, Arabs and Chinese, its colonial era saw it controlled by the Portuguese, the Dutch and finally the British, and today it remains an important commercial and maritime hub. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a walking tour of the town’s European style streets, before stopping for a group lunch. In the afternoon we will experience a performance of the famed and uniquely Keralan Kathakali dancers, who honour the age-old art of storytelling using eye and body movements only. We return to our hotel where the rest of the evening is at leisure. Overnight Kochi (B, L)

Day 14 | Thursday 15 January
Kochi
We depart after breakfast for Chendamalagam Village, nestled on the banks of three rivers and part of the ancient port complex of Muziris. An important part of world trade routes in the region, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Phoenicians and Arabs traded in spices, ivory, teak, cotton fabric and other goods here, and the area is deeply influenced by the centuries of ancient empires, as well the Portuguese, Dutch and English who came later. On our visit to the village, we explore what was once the home of the Devanga Chettiars – master weavers to the Rajah of Cochin. This weavers’ community still remains and sustains itself by producing hand woven cotton saris, dhotis and household linens. After lunch we return to Kochi for a tour of the Fort Kochi area, a charming seaside area known for its Dutch, Portuguese, and British colonial architecture, and elaborate bamboo fishing nets at Fort Kochi Beach. In the afternoon we return to the hotel, with the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight Kochi (B, L)

Day 15 | Friday 16 January
Kochi To Bengaluru
We have an early start this morning for our short flight to Bangaluru. On arrival we will transfer to our hotel with time to freshen up and have a light group lunch. In the afternoon we enjoy a walking tour of Bengaluru’s most iconic and historic locations, including the 400-year-old Chickpet market in the heart of Bengaluru’s famed silk saree trade. In addition to silk there is a vast array of fabrics, spices, copper and brass pots and much more. We return to our hotel with the afternoon at leisure. Overnight Bengaluru (B, L)

Day 16 | Saturday 17 January
Bengaluru
After breakfast, our first stop for the day is a wood-block printing workshop at the Tharangini Studio. Founded in 1977, the studio is dedicated to teaching traditional techniques to inspire textile enthusiasts and designers, and ensures environmental stewardship through local sourcing, minimal waste, and organic GOTS certified dyes. After lunch we pay a visit to the Registry of Sarees, a research and study centre with an interdisciplinary approach that enables design, curatorial and publishing of projects in the area of handspun and handwoven textiles. We will also have time to view their two collections of South Asian textiles, one representing the most comprehensive study of Khadi ever undertaken and an eclectic survey of textile traditions from the region. The centre ensures the long-term preservation of these fragile works of art by maintaining suitable environmental conditions as well as providing a space for research through our reference library dedicated to the study of textiles, art, culture and design. We return to our hotel where the rest of the evening is at leisure. Overnight Bengaluru (B, L)

Day 17 | Sunday 18 January
Bengaluru to Mysuru
We depart after breakfast this morning on arguably one of the most scenic drives in the region. Stopping in one of South India’s most enchanting cities, Mysuru’s history spans six centuries as the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore and is treasured for its royal heritage and splendid palaces. Mysore silk, one of the most famous textiles in India, is exclusively made in Mysore. Here we will see the process of grading cocoons and spinning the fabric. On arrival, we visit Kodiyala, a small village in Srirangapatna Taluk, which is home to the Padmashalis or “Lotus Weavers” and it is here that they extract the silk from the cocoons. Despite its size, Kodiyala has an illustrious past, belonging to one of the major weavers for the royal family of Mysore and patronised by Tipu Sultan, the great Tiger King of the 18th century. We return to our hotel where the evening is at leisure. Overnight Mysuru (B, L)

Day 18 | Monday 19 January
Mysuru
We begin our final day with a tour of the Government Silk Factory, founded in 1912 by Sri Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodiyar, the Maharaja of Mysore. Spread across several acres, the Mysore Silk Factory primarily focuses on silk weaving and the distribution of silk products, which are manufactured and supplied to meet the needs of the royal family and provide ornamental fabrics for their armed forces. Here, we observe the fascinating process of silk manufacture, from cocoon to finished silk. We then embark on a walking tour to learn more about the history and culture of Mysuru and its historical centre, which takes us past many of the city’s magnificent monuments, temples, and public buildings, as well as the centuries-old Devaraja Market, a lively bazaar filled with spices, silk, and sandalwood. After lunch at a local café we visit the magnificent Amba Vilas or Mysore Palace. After the original palace, home to the Wadiyar dynasty of the Kingdom of Mysore, was destroyed, a new and spectacular palace was built between 1897 and 1912. Designed by Henry Irwin, an English architect, the style is that of Indo-Saracenic architecture, with elements from Islamic, Rajput, and Gothic architecture styles. We return to our hotel with time to freshen up before our farewell dinner. Overnight Mysuru (B, L, D)

Day 19 | Tuesday 20 January
Depart Mysuru
Our tour ends after breakfast this morning. Transfers will be arranged to Bengaluru airport. Please check your travel plans for onward flights from Bengaluru. (B)