Textiles of Himachal and Punjab

Delhi, India’s largest city, is incredibly rich in culture and history. Comprising the ancient walled city of Old Delhi and the more modern New Delhi, the city offers an array of stunning architecture, notable monuments and age-old temples, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

On this morning’s tour of Old Delhi, we’ll walk through the narrow streets and lanes experiencing local life and colourful bazaars. We’ll visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. In the historic neighbourhood of Chandi Chowk, we’ll visit the bustling Kinari Bazar, a renowned wholesale market for bridal, wedding and festive accessories including Zari and Gota work, laces, borders and embellishments along with jewellery and traditional clothing. We’ll drive past the Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. Our final visit will be to Raj Ghat, memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

This afternoon we’ll return to the hotel for our first hand-sewing workshop with Karin.

Our focus is on New Delhi today, as our sightseeing continues to UNESCO World Heritage Site Qutub Minar, the world’s tallest brick minaret. Built in the 13th century of red sandstone and marble it features intricate carving and verses from the Quran. Humayun’s Tomb, our third UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the first major garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. Built in 1570, it was the first example of Mughal architecture in India and inspired the Taj Mahal's design. We’ll also drive past India Gate, memorial to the 74,187 soldiers of the Indian Army who died in the First World and Third Anglo-Afghan Wars, Parliament House, the seat of the Parliament of India, and Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India.

Dilli Haat is a permanent open-air market for handicrafts, cultural activities and food. Spread across 6 hectares, it boosts village culture and encourages the rural parts of India to showcase their talents, products and culture. We’ll see handlooms, woodcarving, camel hyde footwear, drapery, gems, beads and much much more!

The National Crafts Museum is one of the largest crafts museums in India. The museum holds over 35,000 rare and distinctive pieces reflecting the continuing tradition of Indian craftsmen through painting, embroidery, textiles, pottery, stone and wood. The Textiles Gallery hosts an extensive collection of traditional Indian textiles, which covers the vast range of hand-woven and handcrafted techniques found throughout India including embroidered fabrics, tie and die fabrics, Ikat fabrics, block printed fabrics and a variety of tribal textiles.

An early start today as we transfer to New Delhi Railway Station for our train to Chandigarh. On arrival, we continue by road to Shimla.

Shimla lies in the foothills of the Himalayas and is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. At an altitude of 2159 metres, the city has a cool climate and beautiful views of river valleys and steep mountains covered with maize terraces.

Please Note: Your luggage will be taken by road from New Delhi to our hotel in Shimla. From Chandigarh, travel by road will be in air-conditioned people carriers as larger vehicles are not permitted in Himachal State.

Our sightseeing tour of Shimla begins with a short ride on the Himalayan Queen Toy Train, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, from Shimla to Tara Devi. Started in 1903, this narrow-gauge line was built to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the rest of the Indian rail system.

Viceregal Lodge, formerly the residence of the British Viceroy of India, houses some of the most ancient articles and photographs from the times of British rule in India. It was here that the partition of India into India and Pakistan was planned on a world map. Built in the 1880s, the structure draws inspiration from the architectural style of the English Renaissance whilst also reflecting elements of the castles of the Scottish Highlands. The interior of the main building is noted for its elaborate woodwork.

Shimla State Museum houses a collection of various types of art and heritage, from within and outside Himachal including ancient stone carvings, masks, Himachali traditional clothing and jewellery, prehistoric artefacts, and Buddhist and contemporary art.

Sankat Mochan Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman. It was established in 1950 and inaugurated in 1966. At an altitude of 1,957 metres the temple also serves as an excellent viewpoint over Shimla city and the surrounding hills.

Our day will end with a leisurely stroll along The Mall, the commercial and social hub of Shimla to Scandal Point, the intersection of The Mall and Ridge Roads. Legend has it that in 1892, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala eloped with a British Viceroy's daughter from this spot, causing a scandal. Here we’ll find Gaiety Theatre, the hub of cultural events in the state. The theatre was designed by the English architect Henry Irwin and opened on 30 May 1887. With a rich history to its credit, the theatre was the centre for entertainment and socialisation, where Viceroy Lord Lytton wrote and staged a play called Walpole, and Rudyard Kipling acted in 'A Scrap of Paper'.

We leave Shimla today to travel to Dharamshala, a serene hill station renowned for its Tibetan culture and spiritual ambience. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile, it also offers stunning views of the Dhauladhar range, vibrant monasteries and lush landscapes.

Kangra Fort, set on a steep hill overlooking the Majhi and Banganga rivers, was built by Kangra’s royal family to protect the city and is the largest and oldest fort in the Himalayas. The fort features a garrison, eleven large defence gates, three stone-carved temples, a giant sculpture of Rishabhanatha, a beautiful courtyard and twenty-one deep treasure wells. The top of the fort offers stunning views of the valley and river below.

Here we’ll also visit Maharaja Sansar Chandra Museum, a beautiful museum boasting collections of items from the royal family including Darbar Hall, the central gallery which has been recreated to show how Rajput Kings held court. There is also the Kangra miniature paintings, said to be the the finest Rajput paintings of India, and the costume gallery featuring royal outfits, textiles made of gold and silver thread and uniforms, all from the royal family’s personal collection. We’ll then see the Maharani’s bedroom, with its silver furniture, and the armoury. We’ll also meet some local artists who will help us understand the art of Kangra miniature paintings. This style of painting is famous for its flowing and refined lines and for its depictions of the rolling hills. The delicate Mughal style was first used to depict Hindu themes.

Back in Dharamshala, we’ll take part in a workshop on Kangra miniature painting. Using traditional techniques and natural colours we’ll be guided by skilled artisans as we learn this heritage craft that reflects Himachal’s rich culture.

This evening we’ll visit the house of a local family, admire their traditional costume and enjoy a simple home-cooked dinner of local cuisine.

The Norbulingka Institute is dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan arts and culture. The studios here produce museum quality artwork using methods that have been practiced and passed down over many centuries. We’ll spend a full day here, firstly exploring the studios and observing the Tibetan artisans and their apprentices as they practice the ancient Buddhist art forms of statue-making, thangka painting, thangka applique, woodcarving, wood painting, tailoring and weaving.

We’ll then join a half-day workshop in either thangka sketching or wood painting.

Our day will end with a visit the Deden Tsuglagkhang Temple, a magnificent example of Tibetan religious architecture, displaying some of the finest work done by Norbukingka artists.

Established in 1998, the Tibet Museum aims to disseminate knowledge of Tibetan history through everyday objects, archives, photographs and personal testimony. The museum's mission is to document, preserve, research, exhibit and educate the public on all matters related to Tibetan history and culture.

The Dalai Lama Temple Complex is the official residence of the 14th Dalai Lama and a major spiritual centre for Tibetan Buddhism. The complex features the Main Temple, Kalachakra Temple, decorated with intricate, colourful murals and frescoes, and Namgyal Monastery, the personal monastery of the Dalai Lama, where monks engage in prayer and debate. We’ll experience the peaceful and serene atmosphere, see Tibetan art and observe or participate in the Kora Walk, a clockwise circumambulation around the complex, lined with prayer wheels, prayer flags and stupas.

This afternoon, we return to the hotel for our second hand-sewing workshop with our expert.

We leave Dharamshala today and travel to Dalhousie, a quiet hill station known for its cool climate and spectacular natural beauty. This charming town is set on the banks of the River Ravi and provides panoramic views of the surrounding snow-capped Himalayan peaks. Dating back to the 1850s, Dalhousie is blessed with an old-world charm reflected in its impressive colonial architecture and quaint historical churches.

This afternoon we’ll stretch our legs after the journey with a walk in Dalhousie to admire the colonial heritage of St. John’s and St. Patrick’s Churches.

The alluring hill station of Chamba is well known for its handicrafts and textiles, particularly the Chamba Rumal, a traditional hand-embroidered art form, used for decoration, which is known for its intricate double-sided embroidery using silk threads on cotton or muslin depicting mythological and folk themes. We’ll meet a local expert for a demonstration before participating in a workshop to create our own embroidered cloth.

Whilst in Chamba, we’ll also visit the local market, the Laxmi Narayan Temple and the Bhuri Singh Museum housing more than 8500 antiquities and objects relating to the art, archaeology, craft and cultural anthropology of the Chamba region.

We leave Dalhousie today and travel to Amritsar in the state of Punjab, 30 kilometres from the Pakistan border. Amritsar is the spiritual capital of the Sikhs and gained its name, meaning Holy Pool of Nectar, from the body of water around the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhism.

Late afternoon, we’ll view the Wagah Border Ceremony that occurs every evening two hours before sunset. Full of pomp and flair, soldiers from both side parade and lower the two nation’s flags in a ceremony punctuated with theatrics.

This morning, at a nearby village, we’ll meet a group of ladies for a demonstration and workshop on Phulkari embroidery. This art form originated in the early part of the 19th century when the odhani (veil or long scarf-like shawl) was decorated with embroidered flowers. In modern times, this vibrant folk art is now not only embroidered on odhanis, but also on saris, bed covers and home furnishings. Phulkari, meaning flower work, is a vibrant embroidery technique using untwisted silk thread on coarse cotton fabric and characterized by dense, geometric, or floral motifs made with a darn stitch on the reverse side.

This evening we’ll visit a local market and witness the Palki Sahib Ceremony at the Golden Temple. The ceremony, taking place twice a day, is when Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scripture) is ceremonially transported from the main sanctum to Akal Takht, the highest seat of temporal authority in Sikhism. The Guru Granth Sahib is carried in a lavishly decorated carriage, often adorned with flowers and gold. The procession is accompanied by soulful kirtan (hymns), rhythmic drumbeats, and prayers.

Today, our last full day in India, we visit a traditional village to experience the timeless art of carpet weaving on a local loom, where skilled artisans create knotted carpets, shawls, and embroideries by hand. Watching them work with precision and care will give us a deep appreciation of the hard work, age-old techniques, and cultural heritage that is passed down through the generations - a true celebration of rural craftsmanship and artistry.

On our return to Amritsar, we’ll enjoy a walk around the city enjoying some sumptuous street food such as Amritsari Kulcha, a crisp-yet-soft leavened bread stuffed with boiled and mashed potatoes, garlic, onions, herbs, and a medley of spices, Jalebi, a vibrant orange sweet made by deep-frying a fermented batter which is then soaked in warm, aromatic saffron syrup and the thick and creamy yoghurt-based drink Punjabi lassi.

The Partition Museum comprehensively charts the partition with a narrative arc that moves from the time before partition, to the independence movement, the early demands for separate countries, and ultimately the Partition and its consequences. Through testimonies of first-generation partition survivors and the every-day objects on display, we’ll learn about what is often seen as one of the cataclysmic events in the history of the Indian subcontinent.