PHOTO GALLERY FOR TEXTILES AND TAJ MAHAL: INDIA 2009

Dyer's assistant standing in first dyebath, used to mordant the cotton cloth

Dyer's assistant standing in first (ecru) dyebath, used to permeate cotton cloth with mordant.

Dyer showing the fermented indigo leaf mixture for dyeing cloth

Dyer showing the fermented indigo leaf mixture for dyeing cloth.

Boys and men using fine chisels to carve intricate designs in wood to make printing blocks

Boys and men using fine chisels to carve intricate designs in wood to make printing blocks.

Woman printing cloth with woodblock

Woman printing cloth with woodblock.

Woodblock printer artist finishing up a large cloth, using wooden blocks.

Woodblock printer artist finishing up a large cloth, using wooden blocks.

Completed hand-printed cotton bedspread

Completed hand-printed cotton bedspread, printed with hand-carved woodblocks, using discharge and positive dyes,

Wind Palace sandstone building façade

Wind Palace' sandstone building façade, Jaipur

Hand-painted tiles on wall in Jaipur blue pottery demonstration shop

Blue tile wall at the Jaipur pottery place.

Wood fire bath that cloth rolls through to be dyed

Dyeing cloth solid background color by rolling through hot bath over fire.

Silkscreening gold details onto sheer sari fabric

Hindu stone temple

Visiting an ancient carved stone temple

Tying silk threads for ikat resist dye cloth

Tying silk threads for ikat resist dyeing process

Finished double ikat patola cloth

Completed silk fabric with double (warp and weft) ikat resist.

Women at market, wearing colorful outfits

Colorfully dressed women shopping at the local market.

Individual bungha rooms at Dasada village

Thatched rooms in charming village hotel in north.

Village hotel grounds with peaceful garden

We spend a free day here, relaxing in the quiet countryside.

Embroiderers share a joke.

Expert embroiderers share a joke.

Painted house in Kutchi area

Painted house in northern Kutchi area

Rabari girls show off embroidered dresses

Rabari girls show off embroidered dresses.

Detail of hand-tied resist on silk fabric

Detail of hand-tied resist on silk fabric.

Closeup of hand-printed cloth, using wood blocks

Detail of hand-printed cloth, using wooden blocks.

Southern India

Rubber trees being tapped, with plastic to protect liquid rubber from the rain.

Rubber tapping process with plastic to prevent rain from contaminating liquid rubber; southern India

Tea plantation, Kerala State

Tea plantation, southern India

Yellow flowers in Spice Forest, so. India

Flowers in the spice gardens, Kerala area, southern India

Individual room bungalows at Spice Village

Delightfully comfortable individual bungalows at Spice Gardens area hotel.