Choose a morning or afternoon tour, and after Hyderabad hotel pickup, travel by private vehicle through pretty hills to Bhoodan Pochampally, 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the south.
On route, hear about Pochampally’s history, and how its Bhoodan name was added in 1951 when a landlord gave spare land to the locals as part of a land gift (bhoodan) movement.
Learn about the Pochampally ‘ikkat’ weave, a style of tie-dye that see geometric designs transferred onto mainly silk and cotton threads before they’re woven together, creating mainly saris. Local farmers import the raw materials from Dharmavaram, and the finished products are then sold through a village co-operative or exported worldwide.
On arrival, watch the villagers tie-dying and making the ‘ikkat’ textiles in their homes. Note how each member of a household is closely involved, and admire their speed and dexterity.
Then, visit the Swamy Ramananda Thirtha Rural Institute that trains locals in entrepreneurial skills, and explore an art gallery showcasing the artistry of ikkat.
Finally, check out Ponchampally’s famous 101 Darwaja (doors) House. Explore this old house, so-called for its 101 doors, and learn how it came to be before your tour ends with a hotel drop-off in Hyderabad.
