Explore the Ancient Culture of Tamil Nadu. 7 Days Tour

offered by supplier M16678 (read about supplier)

Key Information:
Tour Duration: 7 day(s)
Group Size: 2 - 10 people
Destination(s): India
Specialty Categories: Pilgrimage/Spirituality
Season: November - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 2625 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 3000 US Dollar (USD)

Tamil Nadu, the heartland of South India is a peninsula surrounded by three oceans, a region of great natural beauty. Culturally rich, Tamil Nadu is an unforgettable panorama of unique temples and temple cities, overwhelming in their detail of sculpture and grandeur of scale. Many of them are as much a part of everyday life as they were centuries ago. It is a region vibrating with community life, bazaars, smells, colour, dance, music and worship. The people of this region are known for their friendliness and welcoming smiles.

Chennai, formerly Madras, has the relics of doubting Thomas one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, the Theosophical Society Gardens with the second largest banyan tree in the world, Kalakshetra Arts village and the Kapaleshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. We will also visit the textile town of Kanchipuram, known as one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism and 'the town of a 1000 temples', where we will visit the world famous silk weavers. A short distance away is the sea side village of Mahabalipuram, the 'city of seven pagodas' and the shore temple, a UNESCO designated world heritage site from the seventh century.

At Tiruvanmalai, we will visit the Ramana Maharishi Ashram and join thousands of local pilgrims in the annual full moon festival of Deepam Girivalam. We will circumambulate the sacred mountain of Arunachala, considered Shiva's lingam of fire. At Pondicherry, the picturesque French colonial town by the ocean, we will visit the ashram of Sri Aurobindo who tried to bring a blend of yoga and modern science. Close by, is the planned transnational utopian community of Auroville inspired by the evolutionary vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, the centre of which has the beautiful golden meditation temple, the Matri Mandir. Meetings and discussions will be arranged with teachers and local people to gain further insight into the widsom and local culture. This will be an exceptional chance to see India that few travelers have the opportunity to experience.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1, November 28th: Chennai.

Day 2, November 29th: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram.

Day 3, November 30th: Mahabalipuram-Tiruvanmalai.

Day 4, December 1st: Tiruvanmalai.

Day 5, December 2nd: Tiruvanmalai - Pondicherry.

Day 6, December 3rd: Pondicherry/Auroville.

Day 7, December 4th: Pondicherry - Chennai.

Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.

Supplier Information

Location: India
Joined InfoHub: Jun 2007
Client Request Served: 16

Shantum Seth is a Buddhist practitioner and an ordained teacher (Dharmacharya) in the Zen (Dhyana) tradition of the Vietnamese Master, Thich Nhat Hanh. Shantum teaches in India and abroad and has been leading pilgrimages since 1988. He was brought up in India and speaks the languages of the areas to be visited. He has...

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