A 4 day package giving you a first-hand glimpse into the village life. Understand the pillars of an Indian village - the panchayat, the village temple, the village well and the village school. In the village, every community has its rightful place of existence. Join in this package and understand the social weave and its importance.

Duration 3 Nights 4 Days

Destination Sawantwadi

Validity Feb 2011 - Mar 2012

Detailed Tour Itinerary

DAY 1: Arrival in Sawantwadi

Upon arrival at your home-stay in Sawantwadi, you will be warmly welcomed by your Indian host family with a traditional garland and tikka. Your hosts will then assist you with the registration procedure and show you to your room. Upon settling in you will be taken around the home-stay property and given the opportunity to meet and mingle with your host family. After getting to know one another you will have a delicious lunch together. After lunch you can rest for a while. After your afternoon tea, you can visit the  Sawantwadi palace ; if possible  have an interaction with the Queen Mother,and later take a walk in the market. You will also visit the Chitari galli or the Artists lane. In the evening you will enjoy another home cooked dinner and of course a truly relaxing nights’ sleep.

DAY 2: Village Ways

Early morning , you will go on a Nature Trail in the Amboli Jungles. After the trail, breakfast will be in atraditional home stay nearby.  Later back to your place of stay. Freshen up.  Today morning you will spend time interacting with the rangoli artists. Rangoli is the art of designing with coloured powder.  The artist will take thru the journey on how the simple designing has undergone change over the period of time. Lunch will be at the home stay.

Post lunch you will be taken around the village. You will get to experience the various mechanisms that make a village function. You will meet the village headman and interact with him/her. You will also get the opportunity to interact with village self help groups. These groups are essentially for women to make them economically self sufficient. You will be visiting a self help group unit. Tea and refreshments will be served by the local village women. Later you will view a garland making demonstration. Evening you will head back to the home stay.

DAY 3: Puppetry

After breakfast, you will visit the Fruit Research station. Here you will get to see the varieties of fruits. On your way back to the home stay, you will visit the Cashew factory. Here you will see the cashew processing. You can also shop for cashews.  Lunch at the home stay.  After tea you can visit the Pinguli tribal Puppetry village. Enjoy the art gallery in the village.  Dinner will be traditional cooked on fire wood and earthen ware at the home stay.

DAY 4: Departure from Sawantwadi

Today you can sleep in and wake up to have a relaxed breakfast with your host family. After you finish your meal it will be time to pack up your belongings, say your goodbyes to your gracious host family and depart for your onward journey home, surely with many wonderful memories from your trip.

Inclusions/Exclusions

Tour Price Includes:

• 3 Nights Home-Stay Accommodation on Twin Sharing Basis.
• Pick up and drop either from the airport in Goa or from the nearest railway station.
• Traditional Welcome with Garland and Tikka.
• Welcome Drink on Arrival.
• Fruit or Dry Fruit Basket in the Room.
• Complimentary bottle of Mineral Water replenished each day.
• All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) – menu to be discussed on the first day.
• Meals will be local cuisine- vegetarian and non vegetarianInternal Transportation as per Itinerary.
• Escort/Guide Fees as per Itinerary.
• All activities as per the package given above

Tour Price Excludes:

• Taxes.
• Any Travel/Transfer Cost.
• Any Optional Activities.
• Expenses of Personal Nature – Laundry, Calls, Tips, etc.
• Anything not mentioned in the “Tour Price Includes”.
  
  Accommodation**
  
  Home-stay options offer the perfect place for the international traveler as well as the urban Indian visitor to feel ‘at home’ in an Indian rural setting. The homes are carefully designed using local materials and resources.  While staying in a home-stay you will find well-appointed rooms with all the comforts of your own home and even some luxuries to make your stay even more comfortable.

Pricing

**All prices are in Indian Rupees (INR)

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