Women of India

WOMEN OF INDIA travels into diverse communities meeting Indian women from all walks of life. It does so with intelligent and empathetic facilitators who have vast experience in negotiating the complex caste protocols of Indian society. That the women with whom we talk and connect love the experience so deeply is testament to our facilitator's ability to put these women at ease.

This is not a journey with a treatise to prove or a philosophy to support, it is a journey of connection to another culture. The conversations, the time spent together, the warmth and joy in different cultures finding a moment to connect, that is the point of the journey.

Well, that and exploring some of India's most fascinating and culturally rich places - the Golden City of Jaisalmer, the Blue City of Jodhpur, the spiritual heart of India - Varanasi, while starting and ending in Delhi.

If real travel is a journey into another world, then WOMEN OF INDIA is real travel at its most profound, its most joyous and its most human.

WOMEN OF INDIA travels into diverse communities meeting Indian women from all walks of life. It does so with intelligent and empathetic facilitators who have vast experience in negotiating the complex protocols of Indian society. That the women with whom we talk and connect love the experience so deeply is testament to the program and to our facilitator's ability to put these women at ease.

This is not a journey with a treatise to prove or a philosophy to support, it is a journey of connection to another culture. The conversations, the time spent together, the warmth and joy that we experience are the point of the journey.

Well, that and exploring some of India's most fascinating and culturally rich places - the Golden City of Jaisalmer, the Blue City of Jodhpur, the spiritual heart of India - Varanasi, while starting and ending in Delhi.

If real travel is a journey into another world, then WOMEN OF INDIA is real travel at its most profound, its most joyous and its most human.

Delhi: the capital of India
Delhi, our starting point, the complex, throbbing seat of government and home to millions.
Jaisalmer: Rajasthan
Jaisalmer, set in the beautiful Thar Desert, its beautiful fort still standing after 700 years.
Jodhpur: Rajasthan
Jodhpur, the 'blue city' of Rajasthan, calms your eyes after the gold of Jaisalmer.
Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi, the great spiritual magnet of Indians wanting to live a holy life now and secure an even holier death by being cremated on the banks of the Ganga.

The Conversations: Each day, as well as travelling to places of historical and cultural significance, will feature an intimate conversation with India women from all walks of life. Translators familiar with the local dialect and cultural protocols will ask about the lives, aspirations and family of the women we meet.
Questions from Travellers: After the initial conversation directed led by the translators, there will be an opportunity to ask specific questions. These will be interpreted by the facilitators to avoid any cultural embarrassment.
After the Conversations: The conversations are structured so that people stay to enjoy a meal with the group. We have found that this is often the highlight of the experience. For some, it will be the first time they have eaten Western food, or be served, or sit in a cafe. Sharing food together is an act of great significance in India society.

The Adventure Begins: Arrive Delhi and enter into the other world of Dharampura Haveli in the Old City. The adventure begins.
Immerse In The Fable: Fly to the Golden City and start the immersion in the fable that is Jaisalmer.
A Lake In A Desert: A lake in a desert and cenotaphs of the Maharajahs.
Meet The Bhopa Gypsies: When you thought Jaisalmer couldn’t get any richer in culture we meet the Bhopa Gypsies.
A Day In Suraj Haveli: A day embedded in Suraj Haveli listening to the artisans from the Jaisalmer Fort.
Evening In The Thar Desert: Manganiyar Moslems, desert towns and an evening in the Thar Desert.
Blue City Of Jodhpur: Journey to the Blue City of Jodhpur for step wells and more blue than you thought possible.
Stories From Mehrangarh Fort: Stories from Mehrangarh Fort and inspiration in courage and hope at an NGO school.
Holiest City In India: Flights into the holiest city in India - the place where everyone wants to die - Varanasi.
Ancient Stories Of Sadhus: A day of ancient stories of sadhus - Akhara wrestlers - pilgrims and the Ganga.
Streets Of Varanasi: Walking through time and narratives in the streets of Varanasi.
Story Of Buddha: Stories of Tibetans and Buddha at Sarnath.
Back To Delhi: Back to the old world of Delhi.
Visit Delhi Emporium: A time to buy beautiful stuff from an ethically sourced emporium. Last conversations and reflections on the journey?
Part of you leaves today, and part of you never will.

Pragya Gupta: Facilitator
Pragya is a woman of many talents and passions: an accomplished theatre actor with The Creative Arts Academy; a poet published internationally; a short film maker with Best Thriller Award from FICCOC. Beyond that she is Founder of 'BLOOD WARRIORS' - A support group 'by & for' Thalassemia Patients. She is also an active PadSquad Member who spreads awareness of Menstrual Health & Hygiene awareness across Bengal.

Dr Rashmi - Varanasi Mentor

Dr Rashmi is an educator, a geologist and a native of Varanasi. She knows the backstreets of the old city, knows the people and their stories and is woven into the cultural fabric of this intense city. Dr Rashmi will become your guiding light during our stay.

Sona Bhopa: Gypsy Dancer and Mother
Sona is a dancer and jewellery seller in Jaisalmer. She is but one of example of the lives of women we will hear about as she talks to us through translators and guides, her mum and sisters surrounding her. Together with women like Sona will be street sweepers, academics, henna artists and many more women and men who will make the story of women come alive on this journey.

“Everything is recycled in India, even dreams.”

— Shashi Tharoor -

“India lives in several centuries at the same time.”

- Arundhati Roy -

“To other countries, I may go as a tourist, but to India, I come as a pilgrim.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr. -

“I like the evening in India, the one magic moment when the sun balances on the rim of the world, and the hush descends, and ten thousand civil servants drift homeward on a river of bicycles, brooding on Lord Krishna and the cost of living.”

– James Cameron -

“Benares {Varanasi} is older than history, older then tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”

- Mark Twain -

+ INCLUSIONS

- Programs accompanied by Tour Facilitator, Tour Director plus one other translator/cultural guide plus local specialist guides and cultural interactions in Jaisalmer and Varanasi. ...

What is the process of hearing stories from the different subjects on Women of India?

Who are the subjects of the interviews?

Are the people paid?

What is the aim of these conversations?

VANISHING INDIA is an imprint of the market-leading Fabulous Lifestyle Private Limited, part of the Fabulous Media group, one of India's leading marketing networks. It works in association with India Personal Tours [IPT Travel Private Limited] and Explore Himalaya Tours Pvt. Ltd {Explore Himalaya Tours}, two long standing travel companies. Bookings are made through Stripe, one of the world's most secure payment gateways.

Legacy travel companies are working with one of India's leading entrepreneurial entities to deliver on VANISHING INDIA’s simple objective - to revolutionise the way travel is experienced on the subcontinent.

A journey into the lives of women from all parts of Indian society.

WOMEN OF INDIA

WOMEN OF INDIA

Women of India is an act of camaraderie, companionship and enquiry between women from different worlds.

YOUR PLACES

YOUR PROCESS

YOUR PROGRAM

YOUR GURUS

YOUR PALACES & HAVELIS

Maidens Hotel

Gulaal Haveli

Devi Bhawan

Guleria Kothi

YOUR INSPIRATION

DETAILS

FAQs

What is the process of hearing stories from the different subjects on Women of India?

Who are the subjects of the interviews?

Are the people paid?

What is the aim of these conversations?

Do we do other things as well on the Women of India event?

It must get quite emotional listening to these stories?

How would you characterise the Women of India experience?

Can we film the events?

Can you arrange flights to India or Nepal?

Should I arrive early for the trip to acclimatise?

OUR STORY

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