Guest Blog Features

High Passes and Cultural Crossroads: A Photo blog on Ladakh

Rahul Balyan

Its was less than a five kilometres hike, but it has left me winded because of the altitude, and a cough that I have been nursing for a week.

Read More

Beyond the brochure: Shilpa Sharma's inclusive travel vision with Breakaway

Geetika Sachdev

Shilpa Sharma, Co-founder of fashion and lifestyle brand Jaypore and restaurant Mustard, spills the beans on how her love for travel led to the creation of Breakaway, and more.

Read More

A Pioneer In Promoting TODA Embroidery

Anuradha Halan

Evam Piljen Wiedemann was a mother-figure for many Toda women. She encouraged them to embroider textiles for sale at a time when they ...

Read More

IndianYards: Empowering Women in Coonoor Through Craft

IndianYards

Our focus is to provide a livelihood for women from tribal and rural communities and craft is the medium for achieving this”, say Sunita Suhas and ...

Read More

Exploring the Slow Movement in India

Carl Honore

This insightful PDF delves into the rise of the Slow Movement in India, discussing its impact on various aspects of life, from food to fashion.

Read More

Pochampally Vlog: A day in Pochampally Handloom Park

Ruby Singh

Discover Pochampally, a weaving village in Telangana, where traditional Ikkat fabrics are crafted. Explore the...

Read More

Delhi Textile Trail: A Journey Through Threads, Textures

Jitaditya Narzary

The first leg of the Textile Trail, was at a place that had a lot to do with indigo. This repeatedly kept reminding of another walk I did back in February...

Read More

7 Superb Guided Journeys in India

Soity Banerjee

Get a fresh perspective on your wildlife shots with inputs from Kalyan Varma. The naturalist-cum-wildlife photographer conducts travel photo workshops to places from Borneo.

Read More

Beyond the Brochure Experience

Nisha Verma

Shilpa Sharma, Founder, Breakaway, claims, “India is waking up to the concept of niche and slow travel. There is a sizeable segment of travellers worldwide who want to be able...

Read More

V&A exhibition on India's textiles inspires Richard Mellor's Holiday

Pashmina Paradiso

INDIAN slow-travel firm Breakaway specialises in authentic, immersive trips such as a six-day Kashmir By Hand small-group adventure that will introduce ...

Read More

Exploring India’s Markets: A Glimpse into Local Life

Tamasin Foote

We have had an amazing time. I cannot thank you enough for all you have done to make our stay extraordinary. Everything went like...

Read More

Exceptional Local Guides: Bringing History and Culture to Life

Doug Davis

Given our friend Susan Weltman's recommendation we had the highest expectations of Break-Away. These were equaled and exceeded. We could not...

Read More

Explore The Textile Tours of a Small Part of India

Susan Weltman

This was my fifth trip to India and the best – though I think I always say that!  The last trip, to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Bombay/Mumbai...

Read More

Travel with Textiles | 10 Textile Destinations in India

Rashi Wadhera

In between all the gota patti, jersey half-saris, embellished gowns and subtle sheers, we tend to forget the splendour, understated opulence...

Read More

Nature’s Wonders in the Rann of Kutch

Wilda Campbell

In January 2015 I joined 3 good friends to travel to Kutch with Breakaway Tours making all the plans and arrangements. One of our party was Indian...

Read More

Travel Insights: Delhi, Mumbai, Rajasthan, and Beyond

Kristi Gasaway

Due to the fact that I used to work in the hospitality industry, I know how important feedback is to you regarding the very special trip you planned for us.

Read More

Hand in Hand with Jaypore/Breakaway Journeys

Viveck Krishnan

We flew directly into Srinagar from Bengaluru and checked into our charming, well appointed homestay in the city. Although it was directly in the path...

Read More

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Mumbai

Sharell Cooks

There are just two weeks remaining until the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Mumbai. It's one of the city's biggest and anticipated festivals of the year.

Read More

Textile Travel | The Maheshwari Weavers

Brinda Gill, The Quilter

For centuries India has been seen as a land of sacred natural sites interwoven with age-old stories. One belief tells us that the Hindu god Shiva...

Read More

A pioneer in promoting Toda embroidery

Brinda Gill, Selvedge Magazine

“Evam Piljen Wiedemann was a mother-figure for many Toda women. She encouraged them to embroider textiles for sale at a time...

Read More

Adhering Natural Dyes with Lodhra

Brinda Gill, Selvedge Magazine

“Lodhra is a sentiment that connects us with rich traditional heritage and to our roots going back to ancient times”, says Dr Pushyamitra Joshi, Founder...

Read More

Madurai Sungudi: Whispers of Migration and Assimilation in its Tie-Dyed Designs

Brinda Gill, Selvedge Magazine

The Madurai Sungudi is a sari with tie-dyed designs. It is produced by descendants of weavers who migrated from Saurashtra in Gujarat, a state in west India...

Read More

Exploring Offbeat Travel and Unique Craft Trails in India

Geetika Sachdev

Our article on offbeat travel in India, featuring unique craft and textile trails, is published in India Today. Explore hidden gems and immersive experiences.

Read More

Exploring Kutch: A Vibrant Journey Through Textiles & Culture

Puneetinder Kaur Sidhu

Discover Kutch's rich textile heritage, from ajrakh to patola, meet master artisans, and explore breathtaking landscapes in this unforgettable adventure.

Read More

Reviving India's Timeless Weaves: Himroo, Paithani & More

Puneetinder Kaur Sidhu

Celebrate India's rich textile heritage with stories of skilled artisans, intricate crafts like Himroo and Paithani, and the efforts to preserve them.

Read More

Journey Through Kutch: Textiles, Culture, and Timeless Art

Puneetinder Kaur Sidhu

Explore the vibrant textile heritage of Kutch, from ajrakh block printing to intricate embroidery, and meet the artisans keeping...

Read More

Curated Travel Stories

Bindu, we had a really great trip and Ajit our guide went the extra mile to make us comfortable and our trip memorable as he was such a fount of knowledge. Thank you Shobha Hebbar IWA. Bindu thank you for giving us a memorable tour of Kanyakumari and Tiruvananthapuram. It covered the most beautiful and important aspects of history, culture and local food . The hotels stay was good. Mr Ajit, Mr. Jagadeesh and Mr. Shibu made our travels smooth and easy. Appreciate all the efforts that they put in to make this an amazing breakaway! Thank you and wishing you the best.
Sadiya Khaleel International Women Association President
Jaipur—All excellent Bindu. Thank you from my heart! Jodhpur—Just arrived at Daspan House in Jodhpur. You need to change your tag from “letsbreakaway” to “be blown away”! 😊 Yes indeed. All excellent! This place is amazing! (Kaner) For Delhi—-The day was magnificent! Absolutely amazing….and then the textiles at Kamayani…wonderful. the Kamayani “shop” wasn’t a shop but a treasure trove of the most spectacular textiles, and great light in which to photograph them.
Sheila Chakravarti Jaipur, Jodhpur, Delhi Textile Tour – Nov 2024
You made it special for each one of us, Manish! I couldn’t have thought, imagined this one without the finesse, detail, perfection you ingrain into every level with so much ease! Thanks Let’s Breakaway…. 🥂here’s to many more… soonest! Bindu, thanks for being the eye & ear 24 x 7, easier when it’s not remote but you did it with aplomb. So grateful for all the friendships I have made this trip Cherish each one of you
Molshri ,Varanasi Textile Tour – Nov 2024
Dear Shilpa and Bindu, Thank you for a memorable trip to Mysore and Coorg. Kushalappa and his mom were incredible hosts(best!)and the estate is truly unique with water bodies and a tributary of the Cauvery running through it We had no electricity or internet for a major part of our stay and this just added to the magic Incredible Kodava food each day Thank you for creating this experience for us.
Pankaj Wadhwa Mysore & Coorg – July 2024
Bindu at Breakaway helped us plan a great 9-day itinerary in Ladakh. We had 4 nights in Leh, and 1 night at Pangong. The hotels and homestays in Leh were very good and the food was always good too. The drivers organised for us (2 cars for 7 people) were courteous and safe. But the best part of it was a 3N/4D trek (35 -40km) with outdoor camping. On the trek, everything went like clockwork, and even the meals cooked by the traveling crew in makeshift kitchens was delicious. The main guide for the trek was excellent and as a wildlife expert he also entertained us with many stories of spotting snow leopards!
Prashant Sardesai, 7 paxs on Ladakh trip – June 2024
We sent our parents on a nice, leisurely vacation using Breakaway, and we’ve never been happier with our choice of a travel company! Bindu understood exactly what we wanted out of this trip and planned it meticulously to the last detail. Our parents had so much fun, they’re already planning their next trip. Thank you Bindu, Praveen (guide & driver) and everyone else at Neemrana, Coonoor for your hospitality and personalized attention. We very much appreciate your role in helping create beautiful memories for our parents!
Renu, Coonoor – May 2024
Team Breakaway has been amazing in coordinating the travel and stay for our Company’s business travel all across India and Sri Lanka. Thank you Sonia for being so accommodating and supportive through last-minute flight changes, ensuring our team was taken care of from the mountains of Uttarakhand to the seaside towns in Sri Lanka. Thank you!
Nina D’Costa for Diaspora Company India & Srilanka – April 2024
I absolutely love Lucknow. It’s like nothing else I’ve seen in India. I had a great day. Noor is lovely and I loved exploring the Bazaar, except unfortunately many of the artisan workshops were closed because it is a special day in Ramadan I believe. She was very knowledgeable and told me so much. By the way, the shopping is fantastic here. I love all the embroidery. I spent a lot of time with Mita as you know. We had so much in common and talked all about her projects. Then all the garments came out. Everything beautiful. I could have spent the whole day there.
Andrea Morris, Lucknow – April 2024
Best Travel Agency for trips in India. Super professional! We had a great time! Can recommend this agency to everyone who wants to have a lifetime experience in this beautiful country!
Herbert family of 15 paxs Jaipur trip – March 2024
I traveled to India recently for book research, and I am so glad I was introduced to Shilpa! First, about our tour with Breakaway: Shilpa and Bindu customised a tour of the golden triangle. All three tour guides were great in their own way. Bindu was lovely to deal with and super responsive at all hours. She facilitated a wonderful five days in Agra, Jaipur, and Delhi. Now, about Shilpa: This woman is a powerhouse. She proved to be an invaluable resource for my research, connecting me with anyone she thought might be helpful. I am incredibly grateful that our paths crossed and for her tireless work. If you’re looking for a unique experience in India and are willing to splurge, Breakaway is the place for you. Don’t sleep on it.
Frimet Goldberger, Delhi Agra Jaipur – March 2024
Went on a textile trail to Kolkata with Breakaway, and had one of the best cultural inmersions. It was completely curated to my needs. And Bindu ma’am is a sweetheart, hands down the best facilitator!
Stuti Singhania, Kolkata – March 2024
Best Travel Agency for trips in India. Super professional! We had a really great Time! Can recommend this agency to everyone who wants to have a lifetime experience in this beautiful country !
Herbert Family of 15 paxs, Jaipur Trip – Mar 2024
I traveled to India recently for book research, and I am so glad I was introduced to Shilpa! First, about our tour with Breakaway: Shilpa and Bindu customized a tour of the golden triangle. All three tour guides were great in their own way. Bindu was lovely to deal with and super responsive at all hours. She facilitated a wonderful five days in Agra, Jaipur, and Delhi. Now, about Shilpa: This woman is a powerhouse. She proved to be an invaluable resource for my research, connecting me with anyone she thought might be helpful. I am incredibly grateful that our paths crossed and for her tireless work. If you're looking for a unique experience in India and are willing to splurge, Breakaway is the place for you. Don't sleep on it.
Frimet Goldberger, Delhi Agra Jaipur – Mar 2024
First trip to India – outstanding experience with Breakaway from planning through execution. The Breakaway team was always very responsive and connected us with the best hotels, guides and drivers. Highly recommend !! The team at Breakaway was wonderful to work with. From the moment we set foot at the airport in Delhi and were met by the support team til our last passage back through security every element of the trip we felt like royalty. Satish was a great guide in Delhi and Bharat was really terrific during our time in Agra. Bharat was particularly helpful in navigating a minor health issue on our last day. All told a once in a lifetime experience made special by the team at Breakaway.
Bob Philips, Delhi and Agra – Jan 2024
Had such an amazing travel experience with Breakaway. Shilpa and Bindu worked with us over a few weeks to create the perfect itinerary throughout Rajasthan, and as high as our expectations were, everything was even more perfect than we’d imagined. The hotels, the activities, and the destinations all exceeded expectations. We elected to go off the beaten path a little bit, and we truly felt like that’s the experience we got — not a touristy approximation of it. Bindu was so helpful with mid-trip questions and requests, and we ended the trip so excited to return. Can’t recommend Breakaway highly enough.
Alex Keane, Rajasthan, Delhi Agra – Jan 2024
First trip to India - outstanding experience with Breakaway from planning through execution. The Breakaway team was always very responsive and connected us with the best hotels, guides and drivers. Highly recommend !!
Stephen Cucchiaro, Delhi, Agra & Jaipur – Dec 2023
Amazing experience exploring the textile industry of Jaipur and beautiful monuments. It was a 1st class experience. The communication was professional and warm and I particularly appreciated all the tips and suggestions outside of our itinerary. I would definitely plan future trips with Bindu and her team. Nothing was too much trouble. It was the trip of a lifetime.
Andrea Morris, Jaipur – Dec 2023
My friend and I did a craft and textile trail of Kutch via Breakaway, and it was a mind-blowing experience. Breakaway had arranged everything thoughtfully. Our stay was comfortable, and the itinerary was as per our needs. Bindu of Breakaway was always available on call to help us out whenever we needed guidance/assitance. Special thanks to Shabri, our facilitator, for explaining everything in detail, including the processes involved in the art and craft, and sharing wonderful anecdotes and stories from the region. I highly recommend Breakaway for curated trips that take into account specific requirements and interests.
Swetha Kannan Kutch – Dec 2023
First trip to India - outstanding experience with Breakaway from planning through execution. The Breakaway team was always very responsive and connected us with the best hotels, guides and drivers. Highly recommend !!
Stephen Cucchiaro, Delhi, Agra & Jaipur – Dec 2023
We really enjoyed our trip to Hampi, Kochi, and Munnar areas with Breakaway. We had some ideas in mind, and Breakaway took them and created a custom itinerary. They accommodated our travel constraints and suggested the best options for flights, hotels, and accommodations. It worked out very smoothly. I'll never forget the beauty of Kerala's nature, and the spectacular landscapes of Hampi. This was our second time with Breakaway, and we hope to be back again 🙂
Aline & Karan, Hampi, Kochi, and Munnar – Dec 2023
Amazing experience exploring the textile industry of Jaipur and beautiful monuments. It was a 1st class experience. The communication was professional and warm and I particularly appreciated all the tips and suggestions outside of our itinerary. I would definitely plan future trips with Bindu and her team. Nothing was too much trouble. It was the trip of a lifetime.
Andrea Morris, Jaipur – Dec 2023
Hi Bindu, just want to say a huge thank you for organising our trip. It was created to see so much creativity and to learn so much about textiles in India! And we met some lovely people on the way! Thank you!
Ella Nicholson, Jaipur, Chennai & Pondicherry – Oct 2023
I recently participated in a several-day textile tour organized by Breakaway in and around Calcutta. Since I myself weave, it was an incredible experience for me to be able to meet and share my experiences with many designers and creators, and to see artists and artisans at work. The scale of the places visited ranged from quite simple, hidden rural workshops to workshops with museum-quality pieces or a salon of internationally famous designer.
Kati Murbach-Schmidt W. Bengal Textile trail – Oct 2023
Thank you for the excellent arrangements during our TN trip. The driver Ananda Kumar was very good, courteous and reliable. Shiva was excellent. He explained everything so well and in sufficient detail. He was also flexible to accommodate our specific needs. We spent two hours in the temple, and felt we could have spent even more time. Thank you for arranging such a great guide. Abt Chidambara Vilas. Great experience. Mr. Senthil gave an awesome personalised house tour. Thanks for the stay suggestion!
Naimish ,Chettinad & Madurai – 2023
My experience with breakaway has been fantastic. I’ve done two trips with them so far. Both to ladakh, one with family and the other as a solo female traveller. Breakaway was able to provide a unique experience both the times. Even though I did most of the routine tourist circuit, they were able to curate the itinerary such that I got a taste of ladakhi culture beyond what a general tourist would. As a solo traveller on an 18 day trip , I felt very safe going with Shilpa and Bindu at breakaway. Bindu was constantly in touch, and also suggested some fantastic places to visit and local folks to meet while I was there. They even managed to convince a pottery studio that was closing for the season to remain open for an additional day so I take a workshop with them! Their strong, reliable network (interpreters, hotel owners, drivers, trekking guides, etc) in Ladakh was a key factor for why I felt so safe. They really did go the extra mile to create a unique, fulfilling experience and I look forward to visiting more places with them!
Kanchi Dave, Ladakh – Aug 2023
We wanted to thank you for all the hard work that you have done around our trip. It was a wonderful experience and I’m amazed by your attention to detail and continued follow up. Thank you again. We really appreciate it.
Ravi Akella, Kashmir & Ladakh – July 2022

Start typing and press Enter to search

View more
Shopping Cart
WhatsApp

Write to us