Day 1

• ARRIVE CHENNAI (formerly Madras), CAPITAL OF TAMIL NADU

• Settle in Hotel Taj Coramandel

• WELCOME DINNER with architect, cultural preservationist and activist Thirupurasundari Sevvel.

Day 2

• MADRAS LITERARY SOCIETY. Thirupurasundari Sevvel will introduce us to Tamil history, traditions, architecture, and the historic Literary Society’s programs to promote and preserve Tamil culture. She will also conduct a red-oxide workshop, typical of Tamil flooring.*

• Lunch

• Afternoon shopping or rest

• Dinner

**Red oxide flooring is a traditional, organic, sustainable form of flooring integral to Tamil culture and in popular revival. Artisans will guide us in this hands-on workshop, and you will take home your own oxide sample work.

Day 3

• Early departure for MAHABALIPURAM, UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. Monolithic monuments, rock cut reliefs and underwater temples by the Bay of Bengal. Mahabalipuram was an important economic center of maritime trade during the Pallava era. Visit the SHORE TEMPLE 700-728 AD, one of oldest stone temples in southern India. See the monolithic Descent of the Ganges, considered the world’s largest outdoor relief; series of rathas (chariot shaped temples); cave temples, and “Krishna’s butterball.”

• Lunch by the sea

• Proceed to PUDUCHERRY (former French Indian territory, Pondicherry) and settle into Gratitude House, a unique heritage residence restored using Tamil-Franco techniques.

• Late afternoon tour of Heritage Town and Bay of Bengal promenade

• Dinner

Day 4

• AUROVILLE—Visit the utopian universal community dedicated to human unity. Learn about Auroville’s culture and mission, the philosophy and guiding principles of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Visit the central focus of the city—the Matrimandir--for meditation/reflection. Massage, Ayurvedic sessions can be booked

• Lunch at Auroville 

• Return to Pondicherry.

• Afternoon rest/shopping/walk along the Bay of Bengal

• Dinner

Day 5

• FRENCH INSTITUTE OF PONDICHERRY visit

• LUNCH: Cooking for and dining with school children in Pondicherry

• Pondicherry leisure

• Dinner on your own

Day 6

• DEEPAK CHOPRA’S DUNE ECO VILLAGE AND SPA for Ayurvedic session, pool swimming, yoga, beach time

• Lunch at Dune Eco Center

• Afternoon rest/shopping in Pondicherry

• Dinner and preparation for Chidambaram visit 

Day 7

• Early departure for Chidambaram and the THILLAI NATARAJA TEMPLE. Tour the temple; learn its history and culture; hear explanation of the temple’s architecture and symbolism; witness the hundreds of exquisite dance reliefs of the temple’s devadasis (sacred dancers). Discussion of the role of the devadasi in temple life and their decline under British colonialism. Engage in a special puja for our group with Deekshithar priests; personal reflective time/meditation at the temple.

• LUNCH Palagaram

• Check into Akshaya Hotel

• Afternoon rest

• Evening visit to KALI AND PATANJALI TEMPLES

• Dinner: Sri Krishna Villas

Day 8 

• Dawn puja at THILLAI NATARAJA TEMPLE (optional)

• Visit to ANNAMALAI UNIVERSITY Department of Music and Dance. Meet Dr. Esther Pradeeba, Head of the Dance Program, award winning scholar and author, and observe her conduct a Bharatanatyam (south Indian classical dance) class/rehearsal.

• LUNCH Morty’s Cafe, Sri Krishna or Palagaram

• Visit to a LOCAL HOUSE/S and NEIGHBORHOOD

• Depart for UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE: BRIHADISVARA TEMPLE at GANGAIKONDACHOLAPURAM. A refined and playful masterpiece of Dravidian architecture temple completed by Rajendra Chola I in 1035, it was the capital of the Chola kingdom for over 250 years.

• Dinner and settle in at MANTRA KOODAM, Kumbakonam

Day 9

• Early departure from Mantra Koodam for UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE: AIRAVATESVARAR TEMPLE, DARASARAM. Constructed under Rajaraja Chola II and finished in 1166, this temple was once the capital of the Chola empire. A great patron of dance, this temple holds exquisite stone reliefs depicting dancers and musicians of the court. It is one of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture.

• LUNCH

• Visit to handwoven silk saree artisans and Kalamkari fabric painting.

• DINNER at Mantra Koodam

Day 10

• Early departure for UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE: THANJAVUR’S BRIHADESWARA TEMPLE, the grandest of the Chola temples, consecrated by Raja Raja Chola I in 1010 AD and the prototype for Chola temples. 

• THANJAVUR MARATHA PALACE; THANJAVUR KALAIKOODAM or ART GALLERY with its collection of Chola bronze sculptures 

• SARASWATHI MAHAL LIBRARY and its ancient palm leaf manuscripts

• Settle in, relax, swim at SVATMA; option for sound therapy and other recuperative activities

• DINNER at SVATMA

Day 11

• Travel to KARAIKUDI 

• Visit CHETTIAR MANSIONS en route 

• Settle into THE BANGALA**

• Rest, swim, massage 

• Dinner

**The Bangala was named #7 on Condé Nast Traveller “Top Restaurants Awards 2019” list. https://www.cntraveller.in/story/karaikudi-bangala-chettinad-7-top-restaurant-awards-2019-list/

Day 12 

• COOKING CLASS at THE BANGALA

• LUNCH 

• Visit NAGARATHAR TEMPLES 

• Rest, swim, local shopping, etc. 

• Dinner

Day 13

• Expedition to RAMANATHASWAMY TEMPLE, RAMESWARAM. This temple, at the southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu, just across from Sri Lanka, is considered one of more sacred pilgrimage sites in India. It is where Rama (Ramayana) went to expiate his sins after the great battle with Sri Lanka’s Ravana in order to retrieve his wife Sita whom Ravana had kidnapped. Twenty-two tanks hold water from various places in India, each representing an event in the Ramayana epic. To be washed with those waters is penance, bringing oneself closer to moksha (liberation). The temple has a magnificent corridor, the longest of any temple in India.

• DINNER, The Bangala

Day 14

• COOKING CLASS at THE BANGALA

• LUNCH

• Visit TERRACOTTA HORSES to local villages’ guardian deity, Ayyanar

• FAREWELL DINNER, The Bangala

Day 15

• Depart The Bangala for MADURAI

• Visit the GANDHI MEMORIAL MUSEUM

• LUNCH 

• Tour MEENAKSHI TEMPLE and attend special evening puja

• Settle into The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai

Day 16

• Madurai Airport for flight to Chennai 

• Departure for US from Chennai

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of Insight India Tours and Cholan Tours.