Wednesday 17 January
Wednesday 17th January
London / Chennai : Depart Heathrow by an overnight flight (TBA)
Thursday 18 January - Chennai
Arrive early morning at Chennai International airport and after clearing immigration transferred to your hotel with rooms available for immediate check in. By noon we have a guided orientation tour of the marine city of Chennai!
Friday 19 January - Chennai
Enjoy scrumptious breakfast at the hotel. Today we will visit the Kalakshetra Foundation. Spread over almost 100 acres by the seashore in Chennai, the foundation, as it is known today, is a vital centre for the study and performance of fine arts. We visit the Crafts & Weaving Centre for a demo on Weaving on the traditional looms (10 nos. cotton & 04 nos silk looms), led by expert curators and learned students who are following this art form. Besides, we also get to witness other art forms such as Kalamkari & block printing, dance performance & be part of any special event happening at the foundation. This Weaving Centre produces hand spun silk, silk-cotton, and cotton saris, dance dhavanis, dupattas, and dress materials.
Saturday 20 January - Chennai
After breakfast, we will make our way to a private studio to experience the rich quilts on exhibit especially for us. A curated exhibition preview, Lecture and/or Kowdhi demo (try your hand at a small piece), Trunk show by International Award-winning Quilt artist, Interaction with local quilters over tea and cake, show and tell (bring an item for show and tell), Block exchange (bring a 12” quilt block to exchange with an Indian counterpart). Late afternoon, we plan to visit the local markets especially the famous street of cotton goods.
Sunday 21 January - Chennai / Mahablipuram / Kanchipuram
Driven on the coastal road to Mahablipuram to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shore Temples, Arjuna's Penance and Krishna Mandapam. We enjoy lunch at a beach side resort after which we make our short journey to a small town of Kanchipuram.
Monday 22 January
Morning visit the famous 7th century AD temple having a 10 ft high Shivalinga. Later, we visit the famous silk weaver's colony and try our hands on the silk weaving art form. Witness the weaver’s lifestyle, interaction with them and of course learning their art skill.
Tuesday 23 January - Kanchipuram / Chennai / Bengaluru (by air)
Morning driven back to Chennai airport (60 kms / 2 hrs) to board a short direct afternoon flight to Bengaluru (erst. Bangalore). Time at leisure or a workshop. Overnight in Bengaluru.
Wednesday 24 January - Bengaluru
After breakfast we visit the city highlights of Vidhan Soudha, Cubbon Park, Bangalore Palace etc.
Afternoon, we visit the Museum of Art & Photography. Evening is free for shopping in the famous MG Road showrooms and also try your luck in the local bazaar.
Thursday 25 January - Bengaluru / Mysuru (145 kms / 3 hrs)
We drive south towards Mysuru (erst Mysore). En route we visit the Government Silk Cocoon Market, Asia’s largest silk cocoon market. A treat to your eyes and great photo opportunities. Witness the origin of silk trading in India! Further arrive at Srirangapatna (Seringapattinam) to visit the grand Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace and Museum and the Gol Gombaz.
Friday 26 January - Mysuru
Morning visit to the majestic Mysore Palace of the Wodeyar dynasty. Time at leisure or a workshop. Late afternoon, visit the Brindavan Gardens situated on the heritage Krishna Raja Sagar Dam. If time permits, we will enjoy the sound & Light show at the Mysore Palace.
Saturday 27 January - Mysuru – Ooty (125 kms / 3.5 hrs)
Morning visit the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) Factory & showroom. Afternoon, driven south (15 kms) through the thick forests of Bandipur in Karnataka state and crossing over to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu to halt at the century old Theppakadu Elephant Camp at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. The plot and site of the Oscar winning movie, Elephant Whisperers. Witness elephants being fed and bathed.
Sunday 28 January - Ooty
This morning we ride on the UNESCO World Heritage Mountain Railway - the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) from Ooty – Coonoor. We return by our vehicle. Afternoon, free to enjoy time at leisure with a workshop organised by the expert.
Monday 29 January - Ooty
Morning visit to a Nilgiri Tea garden for a walking tour of the estate followed by the factory & then the tea tasting session. Return to your hotel with rest of the day at leisure. Shopping opportunity in the local market street of Ooty.
Sunday 30 January - Ooty / Coimbatore / Mumbai
Late morning transfer to Coimbatore airport for a short flight to Mumbai for a overnight stay with farewell dinner.
Monday 31 January - Mumbai / London (by air)
After breakfast, transferred to Mumbai international airport for your afternoon flight back to UK.
What’s included?
Daily breakfast and dinners including a farewell meal, 2 lunches, accommodation in 5 star hotels (or best available locally) for 13 nights, internal flight & train, all transport, workshops, local guide, entrance fees to monuments and sights, services of a UK tour manager and a Textile Expert and excursions as set out in the itinerary and the services of a Darjeeling Tours Limited Tour Manager from India to accompany throughout the tour. (Personal and incidental expenses are not included).
Prices
Fully inclusive price from London: £4,700 based on two people sharing
Ground only price (international flights excluded) £3,950
Single supplement: £980
Wednesday 17th January
London / Chennai : Depart Heathrow by an overnight flight (TBA)
Thursday 18 January - Chennai
Arrive early morning at Chennai International airport and after clearing immigration transferred to your hotel with rooms available for immediate check in. By noon we have a guided orientation tour of the marine city of Chennai!
Friday 19 January - Chennai
Enjoy scrumptious breakfast at the hotel. Today we will visit the Kalakshetra Foundation. Spread over almost 100 acres by the seashore in Chennai, the foundation, as it is known today, is a vital centre for the study and performance of fine arts. We visit the Crafts & Weaving Centre for a demo on Weaving on the traditional looms (10 nos. cotton & 04 nos silk looms), led by expert curators and learned students who are following this art form. Besides, we also get to witness other art forms such as Kalamkari & block printing, dance performance & be part of any special event happening at the foundation. This Weaving Centre produces hand spun silk, silk-cotton, and cotton saris, dance dhavanis, dupattas, and dress materials.
Saturday 20 January - Chennai
After breakfast, we will make our way to a private studio to experience the rich quilts on exhibit especially for us. A curated exhibition preview, Lecture and/or Kowdhi demo (try your hand at a small piece), Trunk show by International Award-winning Quilt artist, Interaction with local quilters over tea and cake, show and tell (bring an item for show and tell), Block exchange (bring a 12” quilt block to exchange with an Indian counterpart). Late afternoon, we plan to visit the local markets especially the famous street of cotton goods.
Sunday 21 January - Chennai / Mahablipuram / Kanchipuram
Driven on the coastal road to Mahablipuram to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shore Temples, Arjuna's Penance and Krishna Mandapam. We enjoy lunch at a beach side resort after which we make our short journey to a small town of Kanchipuram.
Monday 22 January
Morning visit the famous 7th century AD temple having a 10 ft high Shivalinga. Later, we visit the famous silk weaver's colony and try our hands on the silk weaving art form. Witness the weaver’s lifestyle, interaction with them and of course learning their art skill.
Tuesday 23 January - Kanchipuram / Chennai / Bengaluru (by air)
Morning driven back to Chennai airport (60 kms / 2 hrs) to board a short direct afternoon flight to Bengaluru (erst. Bangalore). Time at leisure or a workshop. Overnight in Bengaluru.
Wednesday 24 January - Bengaluru
After breakfast we visit the city highlights of Vidhan Soudha, Cubbon Park, Bangalore Palace etc.
Afternoon, we visit the Museum of Art & Photography. Evening is free for shopping in the famous MG Road showrooms and also try your luck in the local bazaar.
Thursday 25 January - Bengaluru / Mysuru (145 kms / 3 hrs)
We drive south towards Mysuru (erst Mysore). En route we visit the Government Silk Cocoon Market, Asia’s largest silk cocoon market. A treat to your eyes and great photo opportunities. Witness the origin of silk trading in India! Further arrive at Srirangapatna (Seringapattinam) to visit the grand Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace and Museum and the Gol Gombaz.
Friday 26 January - Mysuru
Morning visit to the majestic Mysore Palace of the Wodeyar dynasty. Time at leisure or a workshop. Late afternoon, visit the Brindavan Gardens situated on the heritage Krishna Raja Sagar Dam. If time permits, we will enjoy the sound & Light show at the Mysore Palace.
Saturday 27 January - Mysuru – Ooty (125 kms / 3.5 hrs)
Morning visit the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) Factory & showroom. Afternoon, driven south (15 kms) through the thick forests of Bandipur in Karnataka state and crossing over to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu to halt at the century old Theppakadu Elephant Camp at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. The plot and site of the Oscar winning movie, Elephant Whisperers. Witness elephants being fed and bathed.
Sunday 28 January - Ooty
This morning we ride on the UNESCO World Heritage Mountain Railway - the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) from Ooty – Coonoor. We return by our vehicle. Afternoon, free to enjoy time at leisure with a workshop organised by the expert.
Monday 29 January - Ooty
Morning visit to a Nilgiri Tea garden for a walking tour of the estate followed by the factory & then the tea tasting session. Return to your hotel with rest of the day at leisure. Shopping opportunity in the local market street of Ooty.
Sunday 30 January - Ooty / Coimbatore / Mumbai
Late morning transfer to Coimbatore airport for a short flight to Mumbai for a overnight stay with farewell dinner.
Monday 31 January - Mumbai / London (by air)
After breakfast, transferred to Mumbai international airport for your afternoon flight back to UK.
What’s included?
Daily breakfast and dinners including a farewell meal, 2 lunches, accommodation in 5 star hotels (or best available locally) for 13 nights, internal flight & train, all transport, workshops, local guide, entrance fees to monuments and sights, services of a UK tour manager and a Textile Expert and excursions as set out in the itinerary and the services of a Darjeeling Tours Limited Tour Manager from India to accompany throughout the tour. (Personal and incidental expenses are not included).
Prices
Fully inclusive price from London: £4,700 based on two people sharing
Ground only price (international flights excluded) £3,950
Single supplement: £980