One thing that has struck me on this trip is that the Indians are an ancient and artistic people. For instance, styles of architecture vary by religion from the minarets and domes of the Muslim to the arches and concentricity of the Hindu, to the stupa (domed monuments) of the Buddhist. Architecture varies also by the time period and region in which it was built. All the World Heritage sites of India we have seen, however, share a great attention to detail and advanced design elements (irrigation, sanitation, water cooling systems, etc.). See the following link for a brief overview of Indian architecture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_India.
Likewise, Indian dress varies widely and expresses the creative artistry of its people. Women's sarees are more varied and colorful in Northern India, where the landscape is at times dry and dull. In Southern India, where the landscape is more colorful, the sarees tend to have less ornamentation and color.
Ever make a potato stamp art project in grade school? The concept is similar to what is done to fabric in parts of India. In the region of Rajastahn, in particular, there is a localized art of fabric block-printing using a variety of vegetable and floral dyes. We visited a textile company in Jaipur to witness the block-printing process. Multiple carved blocks are used (sometimes for a single image, to add detail) and pounded by hand onto cotton fabric. The demonstration we saw was multiple layers of an elephant block print. Once all the block printing is completed on a piece of fabric, it is usually left to dry and "cure" in the sun.....which reacts with the natual dyes used and affects the final color of the piece. Fascinating! I love that this centuries-old art form is still being done today. As you can imagine, even using carved stamp-blocks, no two pieces are exactly alike because they are all hand-applied. This technique is used for everything from scarves and tunics to household items such as bedspreads and pillowcases. The Gujarati region has an equally impressive hand-knotting and tie-dyeing technique that is used to create incredible detail. I purchased a tablecloth with an elephant and floral pattern for our home, from the Rajastahni textile company we visited in Jaipur. Using the tablecloth will remind me of this incredible trip, and of all the wonderful colors and artwork of India! 
Final Sample
My New Tablecloth
For more information from me regarding my travel and study in India, connect with me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alexandra.watson or follow me on Twitter at abcwatson.
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