Recently Team Bloggers Boyfriend visited our favourite country in the world – India, with “India By Hand“. During this India trip, we not only have seen the most beautiful places/landmarks in Jaipur, Delhi, Agra and Udaipur, but also further understand about the local art, India culture and design atmosphere in India.
INDIA BY HAND organises bespoke, curated journeys into the heart of India’s rich and diverse design and crafts landscape. Check out the website here and take a look at recent trip photos on their Instagram. We have visited so many places during this journal, below are some of my personal favourites.
HUMAYUN’S TOMB, NEW DELHI
declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, Humayun’s Tomb is one of the most beautiful places you have to see in person in Delhi, visit here early though! During early mornings, you can witness the place waking up with ray of lights coming through the trees or any gaps in between walls and architectures. The background blended with mist and sunrise pink colours. So glad that we visited Humayun’s Tomb early in the morning, because at the time we had to leave, the place immediately bathed in the crowd.
VISIT INDIA DESIGNER: SUKET DHIR
SUKET DHIR is no doubt my favourite Indian designer to date, an indo-centric, contemporary menswear brand that combines artisanal techniques and luxurious fabrics in classic silhouettes that are styled with subtle intricate detailing and a hint of quirk. I bought a pair of pleated trousers in light blue colours became perfect for my later Udaipur travels.
JAIPUR
This is my second time visiting Jaipur, still in love this city so much. There are so many places you have to visit, even just visiting it without any purposes – wondering around and get lost inside the city, the markets, have your all senses insulted, slowly get used to it and finally fall in love with it….
Jal Mahal Palace, Jaipur
One of my favourite places I visited in Jaipur – Jal Mahal Palace, located on the Man Saga Lake in Jaipur. It is not in her very best condition right now – the lake and the surroundings is very dirty – but I heard the government will soon clean up this beautiful place.
Frozen Music Museum, Jaipur
Frozen Music Jaipur is a dream factory, where the most exquisite ideas, inspirations and designs for the decorative arts are made live. It is basically a white marble heaven, we seen all kinds of art pieces and interior decos are designed and made here.
CASTLE KANOTA, NEAR JAIPUR
AMER FORT
Early in the morning, we we led to a secret mountain path after a jeep ride for a hike where at the end of the hike, we stopped at a place for picnic where we can enjoy the breathtaking view of Jaipur and Amer Fort.
BAGRU VILLAGE, The Block Printing Textile Studio
We drove all the way to the Bagru village from Jaipur to see how the real block printing are hand-made here. At the Block Printing studio, we learnt how the traditional way of fabric and textiles making. It is such a long procedure that requires not only time but also experiences and skills which can not be replaced by machines. The demands for the hand block-printing fabrics are always high and always out of supplies. 90% of the so-claimed hand-printed fabrics in Jaipur consumer and tourist markets are fake.
Very sad that the trip had to come to an end, but I can’t wait to go back soon for the Holy Festival and Diwali.
Here are some tips for you guys if you are travelling to India:
- Medications to bring: insect spray, food poisoning and stomache medications
- Sim cards: There is a Airtel counter at the arrival hall at New Delhi airport, I highly recommand you to buy one there, you get 2-3G data/ day for 30 days with less than 10 dollars. Mobile phone shops outside the airports usually require other documents such as India reference, passport photos etc etc. So get one before you get out of the airport.
- Filtered coffee, if you are a coffee addict. India is a tea country, especially some rurual areas in India, you are lucky to find instant coffee.
- Luggage allowrance. hand-made art and leather goods here are extremely cheap. I bought hand-woven leahter shoes for 5 USD/pair, so get your cash and bargain power ready.
- I heard the tap water here are not very safe, if you have very delicate stomach, make sure to close your mouth in the shower and use bottled water to brush your teeth.
I hope this article helps and encourage you to travel to India one day, because there are (always) so much going on in this country no matter which places you visit and most people here in India are so friendly, curious and fascinating. If you love art, photography, fashion, colours, scents, food or people, or basically, if you love anything! You will find it here. this is heaven for me. Wish I can move to here just taking photos of people all day long! They are always dressed in different colours and textures, super photogenic.
Do share with us if you have any tips you would like other fellow travellers to know before they head to India!
My sponsor INDIA BY HAND organises bespoke, curated journeys into the heart of India’s rich and diverse design and crafts landscape. Check out the website here and take a look at recent trip photos on their Instagram.
