While some go to art galleries, we, at Touch Down India make you travel to the heart of Indian villages where rich cultural heritage still thrives in the form of art. This is one unique luxury holiday experience that ensures that you will come back either with a sill or two or the enthusiasm to entice your inner artists. Lest not forget the most original souvenirs from India that you are going to take back home. You are not travelling to another lodge, hotel or an art museum but an entire living village community.
1. Cholamandal
Where: Tamil Nadu
Welcome to the largest self-sustaining art village in India that is over 4 decades old and has been built on a barren stretch of sand, dedicated to art. It is interesting to note that every single establishment in the village was built by the artists inhabiting it — right from the kitchen walls to their art galleries. You will meet India’s best sculptors here.
2. Saputara
Where: Gujarat
This is a hill station in the Dang district of Gujarat that thrives on an inherent culture of tribal art & craft. What makes it more enticing is that the locals strongly believe that everyone including travellers from across the globe should be taught their local arts. Try your hand at Warli painting, or even craft your own tribal object.
3. Bishnupur
Where: West Bengal
Bishnupur is an art village that is famous for its terracotta temples that dot the entirety of this village. According to the historians, the traditional terracotta craft was developed due to the lack of stones in the area. The village is known country-wide for its terracotta horses — called the Bankura Horse and hand-woven silk Baluchari sarees. We will take a tour of one of the factories to know more deeply the kind of work that goes into producing such fine art.
4. Pochampally
Where: Hyderabad
Fancy silk? Welcome to the village of the traditional silk weavers of Hyderabad. Pochampally inhabits thousands of weavers that work day and night creating intricate saree designs and patterns. The village still continues a rich heritage of dyes, fabrics, and most importantly, the art of Ikkat. A weaving session with one of the local artists is a must-have experience.
5. Shilpagram
Where: Rajasthan
Shilpagram is situated 3km west from Udaipur that houses artists, dancers and performers. If you look beside the dusty rolling countryside, you will find a living museum village spread across 70 acres of land that is a testament to diversity in Rajasthani art and cultures in the form of paintings, colourful displays, sculptures, murals and more. If you are visiting India in December, one cannot miss the famous ‘The Shilpgram Art and Crafts Festival that takes place every year in December.
The interaction with Nature is the founding discourse of any traveller. Recently moving to the mountain village brought me nearer to ground, a look closer at the dance of eternity. I realised there are varied worlds steeped in beauty, innocence and imagination, not bound by false arcades of norms and pretence. Travel stories fascinate me. For me, it’s been about renegotiating newer territories; forever relocating; listening & writing stories.
