South India Silk, Spice and Sand

A Journey Through South India

March 4 - 23, 2016

20 Days • 49 Meals

Escorted by David McKane

Admire the magnificent scenery of India! (D Craig)

The lands of India have long fascinated world travellers for their immense diversity: no country allows the freedom of religion and cultural expression that exists throughout India, encompassing as it does the ancient Hindu and Buddhist sects, the Moguls (Islam) and, more recently, the British Raj (Christian).

This unique journey has been planned to bring us to the less visited regions of southern India, where lifestyles have been less affected by outside influences and India’s deeply religious roots, whether they be Hindu or Christian, are very easily observed on a daily basis.

This very special itinerary has been designed to take members into the Temple Towns of the south, cruising through the backwaters of Kerala and soaring to the Hill Towns of the south. Here we will discover magnificent rock carvings by the seashore, stroll through congested temple complexes of Tanjore and Madurai, marvel at the spice markets, wildlife preserves and magnificent beaches in Kerala. Everywhere we go we will admire the magnificent scenery, religious traditions, and uncomplicated lifestyles of the south.

This journey is designed for adventurous travellers, who are looking to discover something new and different and who are willing to accept and to appreciate the cultural differences that they will encounter.

Our group size will be strictly limited and we urge you to enrol early.

March 4, Friday Depart Canada Group members from across Canada gather in Toronto for the direct overnight Emirates Airbus 380 flight to Dubai.

March 5, Saturday Dubai / Chennai Arriving in Dubai this evening, we make a direct connection for the continuing flight to Chennai.

March 6, Sunday Chennai Upon arrival at Chennai very early this morning, we will be met and taken directly to our hotel with our rooms ready on arrival. Breakfast is at leisure later this morning with free time to recover from the long journey. Following lunch, we will explore Chennai which served as the economic and political capital of the East India Company from the 17

th

Century onwards. Highlights include Fort St George which marks the beginning of Chennai as an important trade centre and, within the fort, St. Mary’s Church, the first English church in India and the oldest British building to survive. In the area known as Mylapore we will visit the 16

th

Century Kapleeswarar Temple as well as the fruit and flower market. In the Government Museum and Art Gallery, we shall see galleries dedicated to traditional art and bronzes. Rain Tree Hotel (2 nights) BLD

March 7, Monday Kanchipuram / Mahabalipuram Visit San Thome Basilica, containing the tomb of St. Thomas, the apostle who doubted and, who in later life, lived and preached here. Continue south to Kanchipuram, one of Hinduism's seven most sacred cities. This "Golden City of a Thousand Temples" dates back to the early Cholas in the 7

th Century, one of early India’s richest

dynasties. While only 70 of the original 1000 temples remain, the most important is the Kailasanatha Temple. Kanchipuram is also known for its silk weaving and we will be rewarded with a visit to a nearby village to see the craftsmen at work on their looms. After lunch we continue to Mahabalipuram and enjoy the balance of the day to relax by the sea. Ideal Beach Resort (2 nights) BLD

March 8, Tuesday Shore Temples, Mahabalipuram Visit the 7

th Century rock hewn monuments, better known

as the Shore Temple, an UNESCO World Heritage site. The central monument (of the seven first built here) is the only surviving example of a temple built of rock which was quarried elsewhere and brought to this site. The best-known of the rock carvings is the immense bas-relief which is sculpted in fascinating detail on a huge whaleback-shaped rock, depicting the descent of the Ganges to the earth, the penance of Arjuna and myriad characters from the Mahabharata. We also visit the Five Rathas, a set of

INCLUSIVE FEATURES

Return airfare to India from Canadian cities listed

Accommodations in first class and deluxe hotels and resorts as well as traditional hotels of South India, as indicated or similar

49 meals included as noted in the itinerary (B - 17 breakfasts, L - 15 lunches, D - 17 dinners)

Services of your tour escort and a professional guide in the destination

All gratuities and taxes for included services, including airport departure taxes

Visa fee for India for Canadian passport holders

Airport transfers in Canada or equivalent value

TOUR ESCORT

Born in Ireland, the Rev David McKane has travelled the world and served pastoral charges across Canada. One of his duties with the United Church took him on an in depth fact finding journey through India. He is looking forward to this return journey and in sharing this adventure with you.

CT RATING 3.5 - Challenging: India is a truly unique destination, offering opportunities to experience different cultures, lifestyles and religions. Our accommodations will be very comfortable, and in most cases deluxe. Days have been designed to ensure a comfortable pace, but local conditions away from the hotels may be basic with limited facilities. Visits will entail walks over rough surfaces and potentially will involve many stairs. All members must be in good physical health, capable of handling themselves and their luggage, to fully enjoy this journey.

monolithic rock carved temples that display the evolution of Dravidian style architecture. Remainder of the day is at leisure. BLD

March 9, Wednesday Pondicherry A short drive brings us to Pondicherry, the only French colony in south Asia, and a state where we can still experience the Parisian influence in both buildings and lifestyles. Visit Auroville (City of Dawn), an experimental community from the 1960’s and Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community (founded by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother). Highlights in Pondicherry include Raj Nivas, Romain Rolland Library and the museum. Enjoy a leisurely walk in the French Quarter. (132 km/2 hr) The Promenade Hotel (1 night) BLD

March 10, Thursday Kumbakonam / Swamimalai Since earliest times, the Ganges has always been the most sacred river to Hindus. This morning we shall visit a temple dedicated to the king who brought waters from the Ganges to the south, arriving in time to experience the morning prayer ceremony. Our home is a traditional spa resort set in a quiet area of greenery, a perfect place to relax. After lunch we will visit the ancient town of Darasuram to see the Airavatesvara Temple, a Hindu temple of striking Dravidian architecture, considered a “sculptor’s dream in stone”, and one of the oldest of the Chola temples. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by Rajaraja Chola in the 12

th

Century, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a storehouse of art and architecture and has some exquisite stone carvings. (177 km/3 hr) Paradise Spa Resort (2 nights) BLD

March 11, Friday Tanjore Tanjore is a treasure house of antiquities and treasures. This morning we shall visit a local village, explore its village and its local market and take a ride in a bullock cart. Next we explore the Raja Museum which contains a collection of Chola sculptures in bronze and granite while the Sarawati Mahal library contains over 40,000 rare books and palm leaf inscriptions. The Brihadeshwara Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 10

th

Century by Chola king Rajaraja 1 is a classic example of Chola architecture. Over a period of 12 years, the very sacred inner sanctum and Gopuram of the temple was carved from a single piece of granite weighing around 80 tons. (84 km/2 hr) BLD

March 12, Saturday Chettinad / Madurai Enjoy a leisurely drive to the dream-land of Chettinad, with its majestic temples and palatial country mansions crammed with priceless artefacts, a prime destination for heritage visitors. Visit one of these estates to see how the wealthy once lived. The delectable Chettinad cuisine, made with freshly ground hot and spicy masalas, has every kind of delicacy to tantalize your palatal desires. Savour the Chettinad cuisine at lunch today which will be served in authentic style on a banana leaf. Continue to Madurai, known as the temple city of south India. This evening, we visit Meenakshi Temple to witness the daily prayer ceremony when the temple bronze of Lord Shiva is carried to the bed chamber of Parvati. (180 km/5 hr) The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai Madurai (2 nights) BLD

March 13, Sunday Madurai Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati (Meenakshi) occupies the centre of this important city. With its majestic stonewalls and 12 towers (‘Gopurams’) rising out of the busy city bazaar were built in the 17

th Century by Nayak rulers. The high point of the

temple is the Hall of a "Thousand Pillars", built in the 16th

Century; every pillar unique and each sculptured in Dravidian style. Not to be missed here are ‘Musical Pillars’ – each pillar when struck produces a different musical note. Surrounding the temple is a massive bazaar which continues as it has for centuries, an opportunity to step into the past. Later, visit the remains of the Tirumala Nayak Palace - a gracious building in the Indo-Saracenic style, noted for the stucco work on its domes and arches. BLD

March 14, Monday Madurai / Periyar Enjoy our drive through traditional farmlands and up into the western Ghats (or hills), taking us to the former hill station of Periyar. After settling at our hotel, transfer to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary for a boat cruise deep into the park. In times past, Periyar was noted for its tiger population. While tigers are extremely rare we can hope to see herds of elephants, wild boar and sambar deer by the water's edge as well as varieties of birds. (160 km/4 hr) Shalimar Spice Garden Resort (2 nights) BLD

March 15, Tuesday Periyar This morning we shall learn why these exotic and fertile hills are known as the land of spices. This landscape is diffused with exotic spice plantations, green carpets of endless tea gardens and lush tropical forests. Following our guided introduction to the spice gardens we will be given a cooking demonstration at the plantation followed by lunch. This afternoon is at leisure with options to relax at our resort, to take a guided walk in the reserve, to go for ride on an elephant or to visit a tribal museum. BLD

March 16, Wednesday Periyar / Cochin This morning we descend from the highlands passing a variety of traditional plantations (coffee, tea, coconut and more) to Cochin, one of Kerala’s oldest and most picturesque cities. On arrival, we will enjoy a an introduction to Keralan Syrian Christian cuisine followed by lunch at the residence of Nimmy & Paul. Nimmy is a cookery instructor with more than 10 year’s experience, teaching traditional Kerala cuisine to visiting travelers. (162 kms/4 hr) Spice Fort Hotel (2 nights) BLD

Meenakshi Temple (D Craig) Vendor at a local market (D Craig)

Fishing nets of Cochin (D Craig)

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Tour Cost in Canadian Dollars (per person)

Land Only (Join Chennai / Leave Kovalam) ................... $4,195 Toronto ........................................................................... $5,895 Ottawa / Montreal ........................................................... $6,195 Halifax ............................................................................. $6,295 St. John’s ........................................................................ $6,395 Winnipeg ......................................................................... $6,295 Regina / Saskatoon ........................................................ $6,495 Vancouver / Edmonton / Calgary .................................... $6,465 Victoria ............................................................................ $6,495 Single Supplement .......................................................... $1,725

Airfares from other gateways are available on request. Airfares and air carriers are subject to change and will be confirmed prior to final payment. Refer to inclusive features for details.

Tour price is based on sharing a twin-bedded room at hotels. Prices are based on a minimum 20 members and on rates, taxes and fees effective April 2015 and are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. Note: Members will require a Visa for India. Visa cost is included however some members may be required to obtain their own visa depending on location of residence.

The prices above DO NOT INCLUDE the cost of comprehensive insurance which is available on a optional basis and is highly recommended. Insurance premiums vary with the cost and length of the trip as well as the age of the passenger. For passengers up to and including 74 years of age on departure date premiums will range from $283 to $353pp. Cost supplements will apply for members aged 75 - 85 years from $200 - $392pp. Clients 86 years and older and/or clients residing outside Ontario – please contact our staff for procedures. This insurance is effective from the date of confirmation and carries limitations on pre-existing medical conditions. Check our website for the most current information. Refer to enrollment form for general information and conditions.

Final payment will be due December 18, 2015.

To reserve your places on this tour, complete the enclosed enrollment form, indicating the tour you wish to join and your home city, and forward it with your deposit of $600 per person to:

CRAIG CANADIAN GROUP TRAVEL LTD

1092 Mount Pleasant Road Toronto ON M4P 2M6

Tel: 416-484-0926 or 1-800-387-8890 / Fax: 416-484-8143

Email: tours@craigtravel.com / www.craigtravel.com

March 17, Thursday Cochin This morning we shall explore Old Cochin beginning with St. Francis Church (the first European Church in India, built in 1562 by St. Francis), the traditional Mattanchery Dutch Palace, a double-storied wooden palace, particularly noted for its murals, with scenes from the Ramayana. The Jewish Synagogue (constructed in 1568) is the oldest in commonwealth. By water’s edge, see the unique "Chinese Fishing Nets", introduced by Chinese traders in the 14

th Century. Finally enjoy a walk through the

Fort Kochi area with its historic 500 year old Dutch and Portuguese buildings, still amazingly well preserved. This evening we are in for a special treat, the Kathakali Dance Show, India's most spectacular dances. Arriving early, watch the dancers as they apply their very bright and elaborate make up, costumes and masks. BLD

March 18, Friday Alleppey / Houseboat After a leisurely start, we drive down the coast to Alleppey where we embark on our houseboats for an overnight backwater cruise, the most romantic way of experiencing this most beautiful region of Kerala. Each of our rustic barges has 2 to 4 comfortable bedrooms, a lounge and dining area, small bathroom and kitchen (where the staff will prepare our meals). The cruise takes us through canals

and lagoons to small islets and villages, providing glimpses of village life, as locals go about their daily life - washing clothes, cleaning dishes, harvesting coconuts and dates. At a small village, enjoy a drink of fresh coconut water while toddy is made for the locals. Relax onboard as the sun sets amongst the coconut palms while our staff prepares a home cooked meal. We anchor for the night and enjoy a very quiet and relaxing evening on board. (55 km/1 hr) Spice Routes Luxury Houseboats (1 night) BLD

March 19, Saturday Houseboat / Alleppey / Kovalam After breakfast we return to Alleppey and drive south along the coast to Kovalam, one of the most beautiful beaches in India. Our resort, styled from traditional mansions, sits on a bluff overlooking the beach and offers wonderful views of the sea and coast (with elevator access). Our journey through the tropical landscape of Kerala gives a great idea of how the local people live. Enjoy the balance of the afternoon by the sea. (165 km/3.5 hr) BLD Travancore Heritage Resort, Heritage Home (4 nights)

March 20, Sunday Kovalam / Cape Cormorin After an early breakfast we will drive to Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari), the southernmost point of India, where three seas meet together. A most sacred spot, the area is known for its spectacular sunset and moonrise. The Vivekananda Rock on the island is a noted pilgrimage site for Indians as is the memorial to Thiruvalluvar and the temple of Kumari Amman (the virgin lady) and Gandhi Memorial. We will also visit the famous wooden palace at Padmanabhapuram. Members wishing a little break may spend the day at our resort. BLD

March 21/22, Monday / Tuesday Kovalam Enjoy the final days of our journey at leisure by the sea. Styled after traditional Kerala architecture, the resort consists of a number of old mansions and nalukettus that have rebuilt in the resort. Enjoy incredible views of the sea from the bluff and explore the delightful gardens. Nearby attractions include the Padmanabhapuram Palace - the ancient palace of the Travancore Kings, Srichitra art gallery and Napier museum as well shopping opportunities. BD, BD

March 23, Wednesday Dubai / Canada Very early this morning we fly to Dubai where we make a connection to Airbus 380 for the direct Emirates flight to Toronto with connections to our homes across Canada.