Day 01 ARRIVAL BENGALURU
This journey begins in the capital city of
Karnataka, Bengaluru. This city was built in 1537
and it was the headquarters of the British
administration from 1831 to 1881, providing
many a fascinating vignette of Southern heritage.
Here, it is a journey into timeless India, a web of
moods, a city rich in the treasures of history,
from temples and shrines to forts and palaces to
distinct and delicious cuisine.
Day 02 BENGALURU – MYSORE
Start your day with a tour of the city of Bangalore
visiting the Lal Bagh which has a variety of old
trees, fountains, lotus pools, terraces, and an
assortment of tropical and sub-tropical herbs.
Visit the brilliantly painted and carved summer
palace of Tipu Sultan, the Bull Temple with its
monolithic bull statue, and drive past the
magnificent Neo-Dravidian structure, Vidhana
Soudha, the government secretariat and
legislative assembly.
Later drive to Mysore, known as the 'Cultural
Capital of Karnataka', offers an insight into the
lifestyles, cultures, and traditions of its erstwhile
rulers. The palaces and temples around the city
speak volumes about the heritage and architecture of medieval times and the
kind of patronage the
city received from its rulers.
In the evening, experience the best the city has
to offer. Discover how the royals of Mysore led
their lives and get to taste some delicious local
dishes on the way.
Day 03 MYSORE
Post breakfast proceeds for a city tour of Mysore by
visiting Maharaja’s Palace built in 1911-12. It
is a veritable treasure trove of exquisite carvings
and works of art from the world over. Later visit
the Rajendra Art Gallery which has some
remarkable selections of paintings by Raja Ravi
Varma, Nicholas Roerich, and traditional paintings
in the Mysore style. Also, visit Chamundi Temple
on a hill high above the city.
Day 04 MYSORE - COIMBATORE
Leave the city behind and continue further to
Coimbatore. Situated at the foot of the Nilgiri
Hills, Coimbatore is a thriving cosmopolitan city
renowned for its textile industry, pleasant
climate, and a 34-meter-tall Adiyogi Shiva Statue
that is the largest bust sculpture in the world.
Your stay in Coimbatore is not planned in the city
but in the outskirts of the ashram of Satguru –
the spiritual Guru of modern India known for his
theory of inner engineering.
Day 05 - 06 COIMBATORE
Two days in the Ashram to participate in different
activities at Isha Yoga Center for self-transformation, where you can stay and
dedicate
time towards your inner growth.
Day 07 COIMBATORE - MADURAI
Post breakfast drive to Madurai, the temple town
is like a beautiful gem of the South, planned in the
shape of a lotus with the Meenakshi temple at
the center.
Late evening, visit the Temple to attend the night
ceremony at the temple. This is a ceremony that
takes place every evening when the temple
bronze of Lord Shiva is carried to the bed chamber of Parvati.
The procession is accompanied by religious
prayer and temple music. (Note – Non - Hindus
are not allowed inside the inner sanctum of the
temple)
Day 08 MADURAI
Start a little early today to visit the famous
wholesale flower market in the city.
Just north of Sri Meenakshi Temple, the daily
flower and vegetable market is a labyrinth of
bustling laneways strewn with aromatic herbs
and vegetables.
Post breakfast at the hotel revisit the magnificent
Meenakshi Temple which is an outstanding
structure dedicated to Minakshi the “fish-eyed goddess” and the consort of
Shiva who also has a
temple dedicated to him. Since Minakshi is the
presiding deity, the daily ceremonies are first
performed at her shrine. This is a living temple
and each shrine has priests performing rituals in
front of them there is also a temple
elephant.
Also, visit the elegant Thirumalai Nayaka Palace
which was built in 1636 in the Indo-Mughal style.
Its 15 domes and arches are adorned with
stuccowork. Its Celestial Pavilion, an arcaded
octagonal structure, is curiously constructed in
brick and mortar without supporting rafters.
Take a Rickshaw tour in Madurai where you will
cover the narrow streets and visit a variety of
markets around the Meenakshi temple. This gives
you a chance to feel the local life and observe the metal
pot-making, towel-making, and weaving units. Also, visit the Gandhi Museum.
Day 09 MADURAI - PUDUCHERRY
Leave the city behind and continue further to
Mahabalipuram with Puducherry, the final
destination of the day, a town with French
cultural heritage. Split into two parts, Puducherry
is, on one hand, a bustling Indian Market town,
and on the other hand, towards the sea, the
streets are emptier, cleaner, and decidedly
European.
The evening is free for your own exploration.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through her 3 km long
beach or hop into one of the beachside café for
some delicious French–infused food while the
sea breeze sets everything else right.
spellbinding experience. Those looking for some
more immersion together with some
adventure, set out to paddle through the local
countryside.
An onward journey that meanders between the Arabian Sea and
the Backwaters gives way to
Kochi. As the Italian writer rightly spoke Kochi,
with her charming old churches, charismatic
bungalows, and huge Chinese fishing nets
against the backdrop of her crimson skies
creates a stark contrast to her uber-cool
atmosphere. Traditional in thought yet
flamboyant in appearance makes Kochi the
perfect set for you to experience the best of
both worlds.
Day 10 PUDUCHERRY
On the tour of Pondicherry, you will visit Sri
Aurobindo Ashram founded by the philosopher-saint Sri Aurobindo in 1926 to put
into practice
his ideals of a peaceful community. Its spiritual
tenets represent a synthesis of yoga and
modern science. It is also his final resting place.
You will also visit the Pondicherry Museum,
which has sculptures, archaeological finds, and
memorabilia of the French colonists. See the
Sacred Heart Church with its Gothic
architecture and stained glass windows.
The old town of Pondicherry has a unique
charm, which captivates the hearts of visitors.
To experience the spirit of Pondicherry, it is
essential to walk through the old town and
closely observe the nature of its architectural
traditions.
Take a stroll along the lanes and by lanes of
Pondicherry's French Quarter (Ville Blanche or
'White town'). Many streets retain their French
names and French-style villas are a common
sight. In the French Quarter, the buildings are
typically colonial style with long compounds and
bright red and yellow walls and full of
bougainvillea.
Day 11 PUDUCHERRY
Post-breakfast proceeds for an excursion to an
experimental township. The Auroville city,
conceived by Mirra Alfassa (The Mother) the
spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, was built
initially as a city where people could live with
peace and progressive harmony, above all
creeds, politics, and nationalities.
Lunch (vegetarian) will be arranged at Solar
Kitchen, which is the most popular lunchtime eatery
in Auroville.
Day 12 PUDUCHERRY - CHENNAI
Post breakfast drive to Chennai airport to board
the flight for your onward destination.
*If you cancel when your spot is confirmed and outside of 60 days until departure, you can receive a trip credit for your down payment minus the $100 cancellation fee.
