"A TOUCH OF SPIRIT" SOUTH INDIA TOUR December 2007
A 24 day journey visiting temples, ashrams and a Tibetan Monastery.
Other activities include:
* world heritage/historical monuments and buildings
* cultural centre & artists village
* 2 nights stay at ‘Quiet Healing Centre’
* backwaters boat trip in Kerala
* Kathakali dance performance
* wildlife sanctuary and elephant camp
* coastal drive and beaches
* school and orphanage visit
* spiritual discourses & hermit caves
* colourful markets
Short Itinerary
Day 1 Chennai – 28th December
Depart Melbourne at 10.10am. Arrive Chennai 10.05pm and transfer to Hotel Abu Palace.
Day 2 Chennai – Mahabalipuram – 29th December
Visit Theosophical Society and Artists colony enroute to Dakshinachitra Cultural Centre. Lunch and look around. Onto Mahabalipuram for o/n Ideal Beach Resort (BLD)
Day 3 Mahabalipuram – 30th December
Morning tour of the 7th century world heritage monuments. Afternoon free for shopping/swimming. O/n Ideal Beach Resort (BD)
Day 4 Mahabalipuram – Tiruvannamalai – 31st December
Morning drive to Tiruvannamalai. Sightseeing, drive around mountain and town. O/n Hotel Aruna Ananthai. (BLD)
Day 5, 6, & 7 Tiruvannamalai – 1st 2nd & 3rd January
Visits to Sri Ramana ashram, Arunachaleshwara temple, Arunachala Mountain and visits to Skandashram and Virupaksha Cave on the mountain, satsung with Sri Ganeshan. O/n Hotel Aruna Ananthai (B & D all days)
Day 8 Tiruvannamalai - Pondicherry – 4th January
Morning drive to Pondicherry and check into Quiet Healing Centre at Auroville (international community). Various healing modalities are offered here. O/n Quiet
(BLD)
Day 9 – Auroville/Pondicherry – 5th January
Visits to Pondicherry (shops and Aurobindo Ashram) and Auroville’s Matri Mandir Meditation and Visitors Centre. Healing therapies. O/n Quiet (BLD)
Day 10 – Pondicherry -Tanjore – 6th January
Leave Quiet with sightseeing enroute to Tanjore. O/n Tanjore Hotel Gnanam (BLD)
Day 11 Tanjore - Trichy – 7th January
Visit Tanjore temple and artists gallery and onto Trichy for lunch. Afternoon visit Vishnu temple/rockfort. O/n Trichy Hotel Femina (BLD)
Day 12 Trichy – Madurai – 8th January
Visit Yogini orphanage and school. Onto Madurai. Evening temple ceremony. O/n Hotel Germanus (BLD)
Day 13 Madurai – Kanyakumari – 9th January
Morning Tour of palace and temple. Drive to Kanyakumari (most southerly point of India) and watch the sunset. O/n Hotel Singaar International (BLD)
Day 14 Kanyakumari – Varkala – 10th January
Witness the sunrise if up early. Visit the Vivekenanda and Gandhi memorials. Drive to Varkala, enroute visiting the Padmanabhapuram Teak Palace. O/n Varkala. Preeth
Beach Resort. (B,L)
Day 15 Varkala – 11th January
Day free (for massage, swimming pool or beach, shopping). O/n Varkala. Preeth Beach Resort.
Day 16 Varkala – Cochin – 12th January
Drive to Kollam for breakfast and on to visit Ammas ashram. Backwaters boat trip at Alleppy. O/n Cochin. The Grand Hotel (BD)
Day 17 Cochin – 13th January
Morning - various sightseeing eg Mattancherry palace, spice markets, chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church where Vasco de Gama was buried etc. Afternoon free to explore and evening Kathakali dance performance. O/n Cochin. The Grand Hotel (BLD)
Day 18 Cochin – Calicut 14th January
Drive to Calicut. Afternoon for sightseeing or swim/relax beach. O/n Kappad Beach Resort (BLD)
Day 19 & 20 Calicut to Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary – 15th & 16th January
Morning drive to wildlife sanctuary. Wildlife excursion and elephant camp. O/n Jungle Retreat (BLD)
Day 21 Mudumalai – Mysore – 17th January
Morning drive to Mysore. Lunch and look around. Visit Zongar Choede (Tibetan)
Monastery where they make small carpets, mats and incense etc. Stay for late afternoon chanting (30 mins) O/n Hotel Kings Court Mysore(BLD)
Day 22 Mysore – 18th January
Morning visit the Maharajahs palace, the fruit & flower market etc. Afternoon free to look around, relax or shop. O/n Mysore Hotel Kings Court (BLD)
Day 23 Mysore – Chennai – 19th January
Morning visit Anjali Ashram. Tour and explanation of their philosophy. Afternoon catch the express train to Chennai. O/n Chennai Hotel Abu Palace (BLD)
Day 24 Chennai – 20th January
Various sightseeing in Chennai and evening drive to airport (BLD)
Cost per person $5,560 twin share ($690 approx for single supplement)
Cost includes airfare, travel insurance, taxes, visa and fees, all accommodation (hotels), meals as indicated, bottled water, air conditioned mini bus, all entrance fees, train, boat, dance performance, airport transfers, local guides, tips and fees.
All enquiries call Pam or John 98177388. Pam mobile 0419472113
