The project

Rajasthan is still ‘ancient’ India in many ways. This means earning a living without leaving your village is difficult – especially for women. We have therefore, together with local women, created an arts & crafts center in the village of Chandalao, near Basecamp Rajasthan . More than 20 women work at the center, producing traditional Rajasthani textiles and handicrafts items for both local and export markets. The project is run on a "fair trade" basis paying the artisans a good daily wage for their work, caring about the environment and empowering the women in many ways.

This community development project builds on the larger Basecamp Crafts -Masai Mara project, but focuses on providing specific training, capacity building and local jobs linked with arts and crafts, preferably for women and youth in the Chandelao Village outside Jodphur. By helping the artists with marketing and sales, Basecamp has raised awareness within the local community of the advantages of cultivating and developing traditional skills and practices as a part of developing a viable eco-tourism business.

The Chandalao product line includes embroidery, clothes, acessories, home ware and cushions. By creating local jobs and providing a platform for nurturing and developing local cultural knowledge and traditional skills, the project has already rendered a good reputation in the village, and in surrounding areas, and is generating much-needed income to the women and their families.

Basecamp and the Chadelao community appreciate your interest in Basecamp Sunder Rang. This project is an integral part of Basecamp’s responsible tourism concept. Your support is vital to our success.