Day 2
BHUJ

AM: Visit the Banni area.
Nerona village – See the rogun art by Khatri tribe, metal bell making by Lohar tribe and wooden lacquer work by Koli tribe.
Bhrindari Village [Jat Tribe] – village has around 250 settlements and each settlement has two to three houses of a family. Houses are decorated with beautiful colours and mirror work on mud walls.
Hodka [Harijan] – See the bungas of harijan community – leather embroidery is the specialty of this tribe.
Ludia [Harijan] – See the bungas with interior decoration in mud with mirror work, also see the embroidery on fabric and tribal jewelry
Overnight in Bhuj – GARHA SAFARI LODGE

Day 3
BHUJ - TARNETAR

After breakfast leave Bhuj for Tarnetar (195 kms/5 hrs approx). On arrival check-in at the camp.

PM: Visit the temple & witness the Tarnetar fair. Tarnetar Fair is held at the temple of Trinetreshwar Mahadev popularly called Tarnetar, which is also the name of the small village where it is located. Trinetreshwar Mahadev refers to the three-eyed Lord Shiva. The old ruined temple that stood at Tarnetar was renovated in 1902. Architectural design belongs to the 14th century. The temple is a protected monument.
Overnight in Tarnetar – TENTED CAMP

Day 4
TARNETAR

Full day at the fair.
This is an exciting and unique fair held annually at Tarnetar in Saurashtra. The fair coincides with the festival at Trineteshwar temple, celebrating the wedding of the legendary Mahabharat hero, Arjuna with Dhraupadi. The fair is a kind of marriage market for the local tribes. The traditional costumes, exquisite jewellery and lively folk dances are the attractions of the fair.
Over 300 stalls are set up on the fair site, selling numerous objects and offering various types of food and refreshments. There are exhibitions of embroidery, a cattle show, competitive sports and finally cultural programmes. The folk music and folk dances are the principal attractions of the fair.
Overnight in Tarnetar – TENTED CAMP

Day 5
TARNETAR - DASADA

After breakfast leave Tarnetar for Dasada (120 kms/3 ½ hrs approx). On arrival check-in at the camp.
Zainabad, situated on a lakeside, close to Little Rann of Kutch on one side and Saurashtra on the other side, is a quaint town endowed with a rich and unique tribal culture and architecture unmatched in variety and beauty.
Evening: Visit the nearby Rabari villages.
Overnight in Dasada – RANN RIDERS

Day 6
DASADA

Early morning take a jeep safari through the Little Rann of Kutch to see the rare species of the “Indian Wild Ass”.
PM: Visit the nearby villages to see local tribes such as Rabari, Koli and Bajania still maintain their rich heritage of lifestyle clothes, jewelry and dances. Their embroidery is exquisite. Visit villages where one can see Negroid Sidhi tribes - people from Gir & Kutch.
Overnight in Dasada – RANN RIDERS

Day 7
DASADA - RAPARA - RAVECHI

After breakfast leave Dasada for Ravechi. On arrival check-in at the camp.
PM: Participate in the fair.
Overnight in Ravechi – TENTED CAMP

Day 8
RAVECHI

This fair is held at Nani Rav, on Bhadrapad Sud 8. It is attended by thousands of people from the local tribes of Rabari, Koli, Kanabi-Patel & Ahirs. The Pandavas built the original temple of Ravechi mata. Ravechi mata is none other than the local Goddess Ashapurji of Kutch - who is the form of Hindu Goddess - Parvati. Her other forms have also been installed in the temple.
Full day participate in the festival.
Overnight in Ravechi- TENTED CAMP

Day 9
RAVECHI - BALARAM

Leave Ravechi for Balaram (5 hrs approx). On arrival check-in at the hotel.
Evening: Visit the nearby Chatrasani village (Marwari Rabbari settlement).
Overnight in Balaram – BALARAM PALACE RESORTS

Day 10
BALARAM

Full day excursion to Modhera & Patan.
Modhera – See the sun temple of the 11th century built by the Solanki rulers. The temple is built on a platform shaped in the form of a lotus in full bloom – the symbol of the sun god – Surya.
Patan – See the Rani ki vav (step wells) constructed by Solanki Queen in 1056 AD. Also visit the Patola workshop.
Overnight in Balaram – BALARAM PALACE RESORTS

Day 11
BALARAM - POSHINA

After early breakfast leave Balaram for Poshina (2 hrs drive approx). On arrival check-in at the hotel.
An ideal break between the popular tourist destinations of Rajasthan and those of Gujarat, Darbargadh Poshina is 180 kms from Ahmedabad. The castle offers an opportunity to stay as the guest of a royal family and explore some of the most picturesque tribal areas in all of India! Visit the 11th-12th century marble Jain temples of Kumbharia, the scenic Songadh lake, the colourful tribal villages, the artisans who work on pottery, terracotta horses, tribal ornaments, bows, arrows, daggers and marble carving.
Overnight in Poshina – DARBARGADH

Day 12
POSHINA - AHMEDABAD

After early breakfast leave Poshina for Ahmedabad (180 kms/4 ½ hrs approx). On arrival check-in at the hotel.

Ahmedabad, founded in the year 1411 AD is located on the banks of river Sabarmati. Ahmedabad has been named after Sultan Ahmed Shah, who was primarily responsible for building it. Today, this city is known as the 'Manchester of the East'. One of the highly industrialised cities in India, Ahmedabad is also India's Textile City.

PM: Visit the incomparable Calico Museum. It is housed in one of the exclusive and magnificent residence of the well-known Sarabhai family. the museum exhibits antique and modern textiles including rare tapestries, wall hangings and costumes. Also on display are various old weaving machines.
Overnight in Ahmedabad – CAMA PARK PLAZA

Day 13
AHMEDABAD

AM: Visit the Siddi Sayyid Mosque which has beautiful carved stone windows depicting the intricate intertwining of the branches of a tree. Visit the Shreyas folk art museum, which displays the folk arts and crafts of Gujrat.
PM: Visit the Sabarmati Ashram also known as the Gandhi Ashram, set up in 1915. This was the nerve center of India’s freedom movement. In 1930 Gandhiji began his famous Dandi march from here. Also visit Juma Masjid and Rani Sipri mosque.
Overnight in Ahmedabad – CAMA PARK PLAZA

Day 14
AHMEDABAD - LOTHAL - BHAVNAGAR

Leave Ahmedabad for Bhavnagar (200 kms) visiting Lothal enroute.
About 80 kms from Ahmedabad lies the excavated Harappan site of Lothal dating as far back as the 2nd millennium BC. In 1954, archeologists discovered a well planned city here, 1.75 kms long and 400 metres wide, sub divided into blocks with rows of houses. Each house had its own bathroom and drainage system. A unique discovery in Lothal is a dockyard – 216 metres long and 35 metres wide, with a 5 m high wall.
After the visit drive to Bhavnagar and check-in at the hotel.
Bhavnagar once the capital of a princely state, Bhavnagar was founded in 1743 and is now a flourishing port on the Gulf of Khambat.
Overnight in Bhavnagar – NEELAMBAG PALACE

Day 15
BHAVNAGAR

Early morning excursion to Palitana (56 kms/1 ½ hrs). In the peninsular Saurashtra region of the Gujarat state, there exists a colossus of 863 Jain shrines atop 1,977 ft. Shetrunjaya hills, set to be a veritable city of temples of exquisite beauty of architectural wonder. Glistening in the sunlight, these temples look like a carefully arranged group of ivory miniatures spanning 500 to 700 years. Some of these marble and stone shrines belong to the 11th century. The river Shetrunji flowing to the south of the hill adds to the scenic charm of the place. The river looks like a silver ribbon when seen from the top of the hill. The approach to these temples is by means of a flight of steps which takes about an hour and half to climb, an hour to see these wonderful temples and about an hour to descend.
Overnight in Bhavnagar – NEELAMBAG PALACE

Day 16
BHAVNAGAR - MUMBAI

Transfer to airport to board flight to Mumbai. Meeting on arrival and transfer to hotel.
PM: Take a short city tour of Mumbai
After dinner transfer to International airport to board onward flight.

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Have a great trip! This itinerary and supplementary information has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it may be subject to change, and DOES NOT form part of a contract between the client and AirCruise.

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