Discover the ancient art of hand block printing and creating the region’s famous Blue Pottery on one of our tours of India by taking an optional visit to Sanganer, just a few kilometres outside Jaipur.  The block-printed cotton fabrics of Jaipur have long been highly regarded for their traditional colourings and exquisite patterns, and are created using ancient methods without any mechanisation.

The different prints and designs vary from area to area and can be an indicator of a person’s village, profession or even marital status. The upper echelons of society had their own designs and the Mughal Emperors’ favoured cotton prints featured delicate floral sprays on a white, pale blue or yellow background.

On this tour we will also learn more about pottery in India on a visit a workshop producing Jaipur’s famous Blue Pottery, which was introduced to the area in the 16th century by Man Singh I.  Jaipur’s Blue Pottery is made out of quartz and powdered glass, which means it is quite fragile but its vibrant blue and green colours make it an eye-catching gift.  You’ll see the craftspeople mixing the quartz and moulding the pots, and even have the chance to try making some yourself!