Designer Cathy Pope is taking tours to India where her jewellery is made.
If you’d told Cathy Pope five years ago that she’d be taking small group tours to India she wouldn’t have believed it.
People kept asking if she’d do a tour. Three years ago it happened and she’s discovered that clients want to experience India through her eyes.
“I always say to people that I’m not a tour guide, but I’ll make sure you enjoy yourself and see my India,” Pope says.
That means spending time in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan where Cathy Pope jewellery is made. It’s Pope’s favourite city in India – a country she has now visited more than 16 times, and the pink city is one place she believes every traveller to India needs to experience at least once.
Neemrana Fort-Palace, Jaipur.
“It’s beautiful, it’s picturesque with stunning buildings and has this inner part of the city where people live. The city palace and all the majestic buildings are there. It’s completely overwhelming and crazy. It’s like this whole world inside another world,” she says.
Jaipur is also her favourite place because it’s the gemstone capital of India – a manufacturing hub with an abundance of jewellery vendors.
It’s also where many textiles are block printed by hand using carved wooden blocks and natural dyes and her tours include a half day learning how to block print onto fabric in a little village just outside Jaipur.
Block printing textiles in Jaipur.
Jaipur is a place that continually stirs her creativity. “It’s colourful, has amazing smells everywhere. Good and bad but mostly good. It’s vibrant, there’s always something going on and there’s just so many things to stimulate the senses and ideas, like colour combinations, flood in.”
Cathy Pope tours also include jewellery making with Pope and one of her makers, Santosh.
As well as a night at an art deco Royal Palace – now a small hotel run by the royal family of the province in nearby Karauli where there’s the opportunity to dress up in a sari and tie turbans.
Cathy Pope with one of her makers Santosh.
She met the royal family after doing some work with a woman’s cooperative started by the Maharani (Queen). The cooperative now make the jewellery pouches for Cathy Pope Jewellery.
Side trips on the tour include a day in Jodhpur – the blue city and after eight days of soaking up the culture and the sights it culminates with sunrise at the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Along the way there are palace visits, shopping, cooking classes, Mehndi (henna tattoos), swimming, relaxing, rickshaw rides, temple and village tours and of course an early morning cycle tour through the old city in Jaipur.
Final stop – the Taj Mahal in Agra.
While Pope is now confident to travel through India on her own, she works with a certified guide and has good support people in each place.
She recalls her first solo visit to India in 2009, describing it as a rough trip where she was harassed, became ill and came home “defeated”.
Despite that first trip not working out, India had got under her skin. She’d discovered an orphanage for disabled children in a remote part of India and wanted to help. Back home she organised a film fundraiser, raising $11,000 for the orphanage and returned to teach them how to sew.
With the Royal family of Karauli.
Working as wardrobe supervisor on film Apron Strings (2008) inspired that first trip. “I got a taste of India, the colours, culture and meanings behind everything and the vibrancy of the country and I was curious.”
She has two tours planned for September / October 2026 (one is already sold out), and one for South India in 2027 is also in the works.
CATHY POPE’S INSIDER JAIPUR GUIDE
Old City (The Pink City)
Founded in 1726 and famously painted a terracotta “pink” in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales, Jaipur’s Old City is a sensory jolt – in the best way. Within its historic walls you’ll find the royal residence at the City Palace, centuries-old temples, bustling markets and a hive of traditional industries including gemstone cutting, jewellery making and textile production. It’s noisy, chaotic and utterly compelling.
New City
In contrast, the New City is all wide streets, modern neighbourhoods (where I stay), contemporary designer boutiques, excellent restaurants and a rising art scene. On the outskirts you’ll find major textile and jewellery manufacturing districts – home to my main factory and a fascinating look at Jaipur’s craft economy.
The Johri Restaurant
A Michelin-starred gem offering modern Indian fusion cuisine. Set deep in the Old City down a narrow lane, it’s a luxurious oasis amid the commotion.
Native Cocktail Room
A chic, modern bar known for bespoke Indian-inspired cocktails. The perfect evening stop after a day of markets and monuments.
Half Light Coffee Roasters (C-Scheme)
The best flat white in Jaipur. A calm, contemporary spot when you’ve had your fill of masala chai – lovely, but a bit much all day.
Wholesale Flower & Vegetable Market (Early Morning)
Hidden inside the City Palace complex, this is one of Jaipur’s most exhilarating experiences. At 7am the market comes alive as restaurants and families stock up for the week. Women weave quickly through the crush balancing crates of produce on their heads; the air is thick with coriander, tomatoes, jasmine and marigolds destined for temple offerings. Sip a fresh ginger and cardamom chai and watch the city begin its day.
City Palace
A city within the city, the palace complex is where the Jaipur royal family still resides. Wander through its temples, courtyards, museums and artisan shops – there’s always something happening and always something to see.
Johari Bazaar
A must for gemstones, ethnic jewellery and Jaipur’s famous bead strands. Expect enthusiastic sellers and a fair amount of haggling, but this is the place to immerse yourself in the Old City’s energy and craftsmanship.
Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds)
One of Jaipur’s most photographed façades – an intricately latticed honeycomb built for royal women to watch street life unseen.
Govind Dev Ji Temple
The largest Hindu temple in the Old City. Join the early morning aarti ceremony where hundreds gather to chant. The collective energy is powerful – deeply spiritual, moving, and an unforgettable Jaipur experience.
Amer Fort and Village
About 11km from Jaipur, Amer Fort is Rajasthan’s most famous hilltop palace, built by the Mughals in the 1500s. Its vast courtyards, ornate halls and panoramic views are breathtaking.
Sunrise Cycle Tour
See the Old City as it wakes – traffic-free, golden light, and a gentle introduction to Jaipur’s rhythm. Cycle through narrow cobblestone laneways, visit Govind Dev Ji Temple, glide past City Palace and finish with breakfast at our guide Raju’s family home.
India Art House (Old City)
An extraordinary trove of Indian antiques, art, textiles and collectible jewellery. Set aside at least an hour – though you could easily lose several. On my last visit I unearthed a 200-year-old set of iron scales… a fitting find for a Libran.
Anokhi
No trip to Jaipur is complete without exploring Anokhi, the brand that revitalised Rajasthan’s ancient block-printing heritage. Expect high-quality textiles, beautiful cuts, and homewares far superior to mass-market versions. Their café is a perfect mid-shop pause.
