Tourism and textiles are two very important industries to Rajasthan. In Jaipur you can combine both at a hand block printing workshop just out of Jaipur, at Bagru. Natural dyes The printing is done using natural vegetable dyes and colour fixers. During an interactive show and tell session, we learnt things like yellow colour comes from turmeric. Green can be made with … [Read more...]
A week in Rajasthan
Thinking of visiting India? Consider a week in Rajasthan in the north west and visit the coloured cities of Jaipur or Jodhpur, or the City of Lakes - Udaipur. Here are some suggestions for a seven day itinerary. When we had a family dinner prior to my leaving for India, my father said “where are you going? Raspberry?” I said “no Dad, you remember the Raj? (yes) Well I’m … [Read more...]
Delhi and Agra – Romancing History
If you spend any time in India you'll have a love-hate relationship with Delhi - or New Delhi as is also known. It is huge, polluted and congested. But it is also complicated, cosmopolitan and very interesting. If you are wondering what to see in Delhi - the list is long. It is also within easy reach of the Taj Mahal. Delhi History Someone told me once the Delhi is like … [Read more...]
City of Joy and Ghosts – Kolkata
When I was working in Kolkata one of my colleagues was an older gentleman, I think in his ‘70’s. He was older in years but not in groove. His ring tone was ‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You’, and his phone rang a lot. Not mentioning any names. Mr Ghosh. In deference we made the tune our match day anthem, and when the venue team headed off in the morning to get … [Read more...]
The Living Root Bridges of Cherrapunjee
Driving out of Guwahati which has the main airport access for the States of Assam and Meghalaya in North Eastern India, it is the median strip on the highway that forms the border between the two States. This is the road that will take us to the village of Cherrapunjee, famous for the living root bridges that are scattered in the dense bushland around it. Oh, and its also … [Read more...]
