On the gem trail of Pink City

Gems from the Lunia collection

This seems like a tour that would appeal to those curious about India's handmade jewellery tradition. Shalini Lunkad and Shoba George will be introducing a small group of jewellery enthusiasts to Jaipur's gem showrooms, studios and factories, in a bid to explore the city's deep ties with precious stones - ties that have developed over hundreds of years, with ancient craftsmanship surviving to this day.

A gem artisan at work

Lunkad, who has studied art, design and sculpture during her travels to Jaipur, New York and Florence, is a jewellery curator, who runs a lapidary centre in Jaipur and works with various gemstones. She is a member of the Lunia family that was invited by the erstwhile ruler of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, to set up an establishment purveying luxury goods and jewellery in the state to promote prosperity.

Rambagh Palace

As a way of celebrating and upholding her family's legacy, Lunkad has invited top experts from the field for talks and demonstrations, allowing participants to discover this fascinating world, and add heirloom pieces to their own collections if they wish. George is the founder-director of The Extra Mile, a boutique travel firm that aims to be big on experience, low on impact to the environment.

This tour will include trips to the Amrapali and Gyan museums, private viewings of jewellery collections, and offer a first-hand look at minakari and emerald cutting. At a bead workshop, they get to design their own pieces of jewellery, too. And because a stay in Rajasthan is never complete without a palace experience, you can look forward to a meal at Suvarna Mahal, Rambagh Palace, while you board at boutique hotel 28 Kothi.

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