Acanela Expeditions

Hyderabad artisans workshop:

Trip Highlights:

Welcome to Hyderabad, the city where our journey begins! Over the next two weeks you will:

• Work with some of the best in the design industry, teaching a group of local women how  to make unique clothing and jewelry pieces --- such as a kurtas, zipper bags, clutches, and beaded necklaces.   
• Visit majestic forts, watch a Bollywood movie, dine on succulent curries, and shop in some of the largest textiles markets in the world. 
• Immerse yourself in a completely new culture, and will walk away with a greater love and understanding for the world.

Hyderabad Trip Inclusions:

• 14 days, 13 nights accommodations in basic homestay
• Round-trip airport transfers
• Ground transportation to sewing school
• 14 breakfasts & some dinners
• Two weeks teaching your trade (sewing, design, jewelry)
• Visit to the Majestic Charminar and Golkonda Forts
• Shopping at the local artisan markets
• Visit to Birla Mandir and Moulali Dargah
• Final Fashion show and completion ceremony

Itinerary:

Day 1: Welcome to Hyderabad! We'll take it easy today as we settle in, shop for Indian attire, adjust to the heat, catch up on sleep, and begin familiarizing ourselves with the community and people we will be spending our time with over the next 2 weeks. We will quickly catch on to the rich culture, devotion, and hard-working spirit that exist in India.

Monday to Friday Sewing Instruction:

Day 2: The journey begins!  We will travel to the slum community where our program will take place. The first day is dedicated to meeting the women, explaining the program, and taking part in a traditional Indian inauguration with incense, saffron, and coconut smashing!  We will help the women register, and divide them into the groups they will be working in for the next 2-weeks.

Day 3: Today we will start our first lesson -- educating the women on menstruation and teaching them how to hand stitch reusable sanitary pads using towels, cotton, and buttons. Through these lessons, we will be able to determine their English comprehension and basic sewing understanding, and then determine which level to sort them into for the remainder of the program.  After our first day of instruction we will dine on some delicious Indian food and then possibly head out for a night at the movies!  The intriguing Telagu language, dramatic gestures, and the iconic Indian dancing will entertain you.

Days 4-6: We will continue our teaching each day by reviewing parts of the sewing machine, threading, sewing with newspaper, fabric, and begin on projects suitable for each level. Beginners will start working on sari petticoats and the Intermediate students will complete sari petticoats and begin learning how to make patterns for little girl’s frocks.  In the evenings we will have the opportunities to embark on cultural excursions, such as tours of the beautiful mosques and temples in Hyderabad, a visit to the local textile markets to learn about the beautiful fabrics and artisan goods in India, and a possibly even a cooking class.  We will visit Birla Mandir, a Hindu Temple in the Ambedkar Colony of Hyderabad. Constructed out of 2000 tons of pure white marble, it glows and overlooks the water of Hussain Sagar and a 60 foot Buddha statue. 

Weekend Excursion & Shopping:

Day 7: We will need to get an early start in order to explore all the beauty of both Charminar and Golkonda Fort. You will then be absolutely blown away with the majesty of these two forts.  Charminar a city is known for exquisite bangles and pearls, as well as being a holy Muslim mosque constructed out of bricks made of soil from MeccaGolconda Fort is a 1000 year old fort that had been passed down through each dynasty, walls expanded by each ruler, served as the capital, once home of the Koh-i-Noor and Hope diamonds.

*Those joining us to teach jewelry will gather all of the necessary supplies and materials for your course and students here in the shops of Charminar.

Day 8: Today is why you really came to India... to shop for beautiful textiles!  Today we will spend the entire day exploring the local artisan markets – a designers dream.  The collection of fabric, embellishments, rugs, scarves, and odds and ends will get your creativity going wild!  You might need to purchase an extra bag to take home.

Monday to Friday Jewelry & Sewing Instruction:

Days 9-13: This week, we will also start a 5-day course for a separate group of women to learn how to make unique jewelry pieces, as well as continue our sewing lessons. By the end of the week, they will have learned how to complete a kurta, zipper bag, and clutch using their own fabric – as well as a variety of different jewelry pieces. You will be surprised what these women can do in such a short period of time!  We will top it all off with a fashion show, showcasing of all the student’s work and hand out certificates to each woman who completed the course! Our evenings will be filled with fun activities such as:

• Discovering the pockets of delicious Indian cuisine, delicacies, and desserts that exist in the little villages and townships throughout Hyderabad
• Visiting Mosques, temples, and fortresses – unlike anything you have ever seen
• Shopping for unique Artisan goods that you will be able to take home and use for your own creative projects!

Day 14: As the program draws to an end, we will celebrate all our accomplishments! After the last set of classes, we will hold a fashion show for the women, both sewing students and jewelry students, and their families to showcase all of their hard work over the past two weeks! Each of the students will receive a certificate of participation and achievement.

This Acanela Expedition © is an adventure with unique cultural interactions in primitive villages with basic accommodations and facilities. Embark on this small group exploration prepared to have many hands-on encounters with local peoples and cultures, all while experiencing all the historical & culinary highlights along the way.

Expedition Route:

Expedition Dates:

5 - 18 August 2017 ; 18 - 23 August 2017 (with Golden Triangle Extension)

Prices From:

$1800;  (+ $800 for Golden Triangle Extension - see below)

All inclusive package including accommodation for all nights, in-country transport by private bus, train, or flight, lecture and instruction materials from our expert guides, all activities, and meals as listed on the itinerary. *International Airfare and Visa Fees are not included.

Contact Us: 1-323-657-3496

Call to speak with one of our agents about this trip, or email us at: expeditions@acanela.com

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6-Day Golden Triangle Extension:

Northern India has always been famous for its printed and hand-woven textiles, expecially in the Golden Triangle.  Over the next 6 days highlights include:

• Walking the bustling Markets & Streets of New Delhi - one of the largest cities in India
• Guided Tour of the Taj Mahal - one of the New 7 Wonders of the World
• A visit the Beautiful Pink City of ancient Jaipur, where Forts, Kings, Elephants, and beautiful Textiles are all abundant

Day 1 Arrive in Delhi Today we will take the time to adjust to the time change by having an introductory lesson of Northern India and the textile, art, and design skills we will be learning throughout trip.  We will settle into New Delhi by exploring some of the city’s most spectacular highlights: strolling the Lodi gardens at sunrise, spending the afternoon exploring the bustling textile markets and art bazaars, and climbing to the top of Jama Masjid giving us a view of the old city, observing New Delhi life in a unique variety of situations. In the evening we will take our private bus to Agra in order to be at the Taj Mahal by sunrise.  During our ride we will discuss the history of the beautiful textiles and Indian art that we experienced during our time in Delhi.  

Day 2 & 3 Agra (Taj Mahal) For the best photographs and a unique experience, you have to beat the crowds and get the best light - it’s because of this that those interested in photography can wake up before sunrise to arrive at the Taj Mahal in time to see the sprawling pools, garden, and spectacular monument be bathed in glorious light and color.  After a tour of Taj Mahal, we’ll journey on to an afternoon culinary experience.  We will learn about the Indian use of spices to create not only culinary taste, but facilitate medicinal health, dining on some of the most succulent curries we have ever tasted.  In the evening we will once again depart on our private bus – this time for the beautiful pink city of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and arguably the textile capital of world.  

Days 4 & 5 Jaipur (the Pink City) In Jaipur all your senses will be brought to an extraordinary new level — to the beauty of traditional henna designs, the feel of the hand-woven tapestries, and the flavors of spiced masalas, you will experience tastes and smells unique only to this region of India. Over the course of the next 2 days we will immerse ourselves in guided tours of the textile markets, participate in traditional print blocking classes, take hands-on weaving lessons, and have the opportunity to try cooking courses and yoga lessons.  Each day as we immerse ourselves in the rhythm of this busting city, we will have the opportunity to interact with and teach local Indian women basic sewing skills. We’ll get lost in the sunburnt forts, maneuver the bustling bazaars on winding streets, and both participate in and teach in hands on design courses. 

Days 6: Depart Delhi  After our last delicious breakfast in India we will pack our bags and head to the airport where we will catch our international flights back home.

Professional Guide: Sarah Burroughs of Anne B Designs