Art and Craft Trail through Golden Triangle and Shekhawati

What this tour is about: This is a 6 Night/ 7 Day exploration of Indian art and craft, both traditional and contemporary. Delhi is a major center of modern Indian art and houses excellent collection of Indian masters. It also has a vibrant street art scene. The Shekhawati region has a stunning collection of mural paintings which adorn the walls of many traditional mansions. In this tour, we will also visit Jaipur - a major center of crafts, with many jewelry and textile workshops. And of course, we will marvel at the magnificent Taj Mahal, a vision in marble.

Things you can do in this Art and Craft Trail:

	Delhi:
	Delhi is the epicenter of a vibrant scene in arts, crafts, and textiles. We start the tour with a curated visit to some of Delhi’s interesting art galleries including the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA). Next, we will look at some of the street art in the Lodhi Colony. We will also attend an interactive session with a textile curator to understand the Indian fabric traditions of weaving, dyeing, printing, embellishment, and painting. A tour of the New Delhi and Old Delhi is also included.
	Shekhawati:
	The Havelis of Shekhawati are famous for their ornate mural paintings. It's an amazing open-air art gallery dating back to the 17th century with frescoes that highlights the appreciation of arts by the wealthy merchants of the region. The themes for the paintings range from history and mythology to British contraptions and horse carriages.
	Jaipur:
	Jaipur has traditionally been a paradise for art and craft lovers. As a part of this tour, we’ll participate in a hands-on block printing and create our own piece of craft. We will also be visiting the pink city and the Amer Fort.
	Agra:
	The Taj Mahal is best seen at dawn when the first rays of the sun light up the marble beautifully. Going at dawn is also a good way to beat the heat and the crowds. Apart from the Taj, we would visit Agra Fort, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

How to plan your tour:

Write to us telling us how many days you have, what your hotel budget per night is, and what your special interests are. We’ll design a tour that is specific to your needs. We’ll recommend multiple hotels in each city within your budget; you can review and select the one you want. We’ll also arrange transportation and guided tours.

You can choose to travel by plane, train or car, or a mix of the three. For convenience and flexibility, the best way to see this tour is by road, with a private car and driver.

You can start this tour in Delhi, then go to Shekhawati, followed by Jaipur, and end with Agra.

Here's an outline of a suggested itinerary:

	Day1 - Sun - Delhi Art Trail (introduction to contemporary and traditional Indian art, curated visit to art galleries in Delhi), followed by the street art of Lodhi Colony. Afternoon tour of New Delhi (British Delhi), and Bazaar walk and a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi (Mughal Delhi).
	Day2 - Mon - Introduction to Indian textiles (an interactive session with a textile curator to see Indian fabric traditions of weaving, dyeing, printing, embellishment and painting; also learn about the Indian sari and its draping styles). Afternoon visit to Qutb Minar and Humayun's Tomb. Evening walk through the ruins of Hauz Khas.
	Day3 - Tue - Drive 6hrs to Mandawa. Walk through the gorgeous painted Havelis of Shekhawati, the "largest open art gallery in the world"
	Day4 - Wed - Drive 3hrs to Jaipur; rickshaw ride and heritage walk through the Walled City.
	Day5 - Thu - Visit Amer Fort, and afternoon hands-on textile block printing workshop in Bagru
	Day6 - Fri - Drive 5hrs to Agra; on the way visit the stepwell at Abhaneri and the ruins of Fatehpur Sikri. Sunset view of the Taj Mahal from the other side of the river.
	Day7 - Sat - Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise (closed Fridays). Visit Agra Fort. Drive 4hrs to Delhi airport. Optional: on the way visit the Wildlife SOS elephant and bear sanctuary en route.

For more information, and an itinerary best suited to your interests, write to deepa@magictoursofindia.com / magictours@live.com, or call us at +91 98677 07414

When: All days of the week. Timings are flexible based on your convenience