Grand South India Tour

Grand South India Tour
March 30th till April 14th
2013
www.namastetoursindia.com
Version: 2013/03/12
Leo Jo Estercam
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Contact us
Namaste Tours Pvt. Ltd.
Our clientele includes tourists from across the international arena, from places as far-off and varied as the USA,
Mexico, Canada, U.K., South Africa and Sweden. Mr.Balasubramanyan ( Bala ) Director - Sales and Marketing
Bala brings with him an experience of more than 14 years in the Tourism industry. He is responsible for the business
development. His easy going nature makes him everybody's friend. His enthusiasm towards work is contagious and he brings
out the best from every member of the Namaste team.
Contact Person : Mr. Balasubramanyan (Bala)
O-130, DLF Shopping Mall, Arjun Marg, DLF Phase I
Gurgaon, Haryana-122002 (India)
Ph :
+(91)-(124)-4040636/4040637/4057638/4057639
Fax :
+(91)-(124)-4040635
Mobile : +(91)-9811116317 (Bala),
+(91/-9811297273 (Ms Deepa)
Click to Call Free Send SMS / Text Message
Email : [email protected], [email protected]
Ms Deepa- Director - Finance and Administration
Deepa has over 5 years of experience and heads the Finance and
Administration. A very caring lady, she radiates warmth and affection.
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30 MAR 2013 (SAT) ARRIVAL MUMBAI
Lufthansa BRU-MUM 09:00 > 23:59
On arrival at Mumbai International airport meet and greet by our representative and transfer to hotel
Overnight at Mumbai
Tucked away around a quiet corner in Byculla, the heart of Mumbai,
Comfort Inn Heritage is the perfect business traveller's stop-over.
A short drive from either of the three key railway terminus (CST, Mumbai
Central, Dadar), 18 Kms from the domestic and 21 kms from the international
airport, all over multiple flyovers, makes it a dream to arrive. Even better,
corporate Mumbai - Bombay Stock Exchange, Colaba, Nariman Point, Worli,
Lower Parel - is just 15 minutes away. And if you are a nature buff, Jijamata
Udyan, the Mumbai Zoo, is a stone's throw away. Comfort Inn heritage is
ideally situated for easy accessibility.
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31 MAR 2013 (SUN) MUMBAI – BANGALORE (FLIGHT)
After breakfast at hotel proceed for visit of Mumbai.
Morning after breakfast visit the Elephanta Caves (closed on Mondays), 9 km off the coast of Mumbai and an
hour’s ride by motor launch from the Gateway of India.
The cave temples of Elephanta date back to the 7th century. Four rows of
massive columns cut into solid rock from three magnificent avenues, lead to the
outstanding three-headed sculpture representing Brahma the Creator, Vishnu
the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. Dedicated to Shiva, the beauty and
power of these phenomenal sculptures depicting the various manifestations of
Shiva is overpowering.
You will see various activities for children in this island.
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Later city tour of Mumbai, visiting
 the 19th century Jain Temple with its silver doors,
 the Kamala Nehru Park and
 the Ferozshah Mehta Gardens known as the Hanging Gardens of Bombay
and
 the Towers of Silence where the Parsis dispose their dead.
 the Mani Bhavan where Mahatma Gandhi spent 17 years of his life
working for the freedom of India.
 the Prince of Wales Museum (closed on Mondays), which has an excellent
collection of miniatures.
Jain Temple
Kamala Nehru Park is a park in India covering an area of 4,000 square feet (370
m2).[1] Located at the top of Mumbai's Malabar Hill, it is named after Kamala Nehru, the
wife of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
A place frequently visited by schoolchildren, it has little to offer by way of entertainment
apart from a structure shaped like a shoe. The shoe structure is inspired by the nursery
rhyme "There was an old woman."
From the garden, one can see the spectacular view of the city, Chowpatty Beach, and
Queen's Necklace (Marine Drive).
The Hanging Gardens, Mumbai, in Mumbai, India, also
known as Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, are terraced
gardens perched at the top of Malabar Hill, on its western
side, just opposite the Kamala Nehru Park. They provide
sunset views over the Arabian Sea and feature numerous
hedges carved into the shapes of animals. The park was
laid out in 1881 over Bombay's main reservoir, some say
to cover the water from the potentially contaminating
activity of the nearby Towers of Silence.
A Dakhma (Persian: ‫ )دخمه‬also known as Cheel Ghar in Hindi and Tower of Silence
(not a translation) in English, is a circular, raised structure used by Zoroastrians for
exposure of the dead, particularly to scavenging birds.
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The type of construction is not specified by the name. The common dakhma or dokhma
(from Middle Persian dakhmag) originally denoted any place for the dead. Similarly, in
the medieval texts of Zoroastrian tradition, the word astodan appears, but today denotes
an ossuary. In the Iranian provinces of Yazd and Kerman, the technical term is deme or
dema. In India, the term doongerwadi came into use after a tower was constructed on a
hill of that name. The word dagdah appears in the texts of both India and Iran but, in
20th-century India, signified the lowest grade of temple fire
The term "Tower of Silence" is a neologism attributed to Robert Murphy, who, in 1832,
was a translator of the British colonial government in India. It is not the literal meaning
of "Avestan (sic) dakhma" as suggested by the Encyclopædia Britannica. While the stem
dakhma- does exist in the Avestan language, its meaning there is not conclusively
established. The contexts indicate a negative connotation and that it does not signify a
construction of any kind.
Mani Bhavan
Mani Bhavan, located at # 19, Laburnum Road in the Gamdevi precinct of downtown
Mumbai, acted as the focal point of Gandhi's political activities in Mumbai between 1917
and 1934.
Mani Bhavan
The mansion belonged to Revashankar Jagjeevan Jhaveri
and the Mani family prior to that, Gandhi's friend and host in
Mumbai during this period.
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After the visit in time transfer to airport to board flight for Bangalore
Flight Details:
Flight Name / Number:
Departure from Mumbai:
Arrival at Bangalore:
Proposed class:
1,000 km
Air India / AI 607
1730 Hrs
1905 Hrs
Economy
On arrival at Bangalore airport meet and greet by our representative and transfer to hotel
Overnight at Bangalore
Hotel Pai Viceroy, Jayanagar, Bangalore
Mailing Address
: #1504, 16th Cross, 9th Main
Jayanagar 3 Block
Bangalore - 560 011
Karnataka, India.
Telephone
: +91 - 80 - 26535400
Email
: [email protected]
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01 APR 2013 (MON) BANGALORE – HASSAN (187 Kms and 04 Hrs Approx)
After breakfast at hotel proceed for tour of Bangalore.
Visits
 Bull temple - built in the Dravidian style over a monolithic bull, presumably by the founder of the city
Kempa Gowda.
 The summer palace of Tipu Sultan, the botanical gardens of Lal Bagh laid out by Hyder Ali, the ruler of
Mysore, in the 18th century, covering 240 acres with a wide variety of exotic trees and plants. It has a
glass house, built on the lines of the Crystal Palace of London, which is the venue for fruit, flower and
vegetable shows twice a year.
 The magnificent post-Independence government building - Vidhan Soudha is a landmark in modern
construction. Built in 1954, it is of granite, in the Neo-Dravidian style of architecture and houses both the
legislatures and the secretariat..
 Later we also visit Kemfort Shiva Temple
Bull Temple
The Bull temple of Bangalore is dedicated to Nandi Bull, the vahana (vehicle) of Lord
Shiva. Situated in Basavanagudi, this temple has been built in the Dravidian style of
architecture. Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bangalore, got the Bull temple built during
his time. This temple counts amongst the oldest temples of the city and draws devotees
from all over the country. Read on to know more about the Bull Temple of Bangalore,
India.
There is huge idol of Nandi Bull inside the temple,
measuring 4.5 m in height and 6.5 m in length. This
idol is said to have been carved out of a single rock.
The bull also has a small iron plate on its head. As per
the tradition, this plate prevents the bull from growing.
Providing a great backdrop to the statue are the idols
of God Surya and Goddess Chandra, on their chariots.
It is believed that the Vishva Bharti River originates at
the feet of this statue.
The legend goes that the Bull Temple was built to appease a bull that used to consume
and destroy all the groundnuts and peanuts cultivated in this area. It is also said that
after the temple was built, the bull stopped damaging the
crop. As a celebration of this incident, the farmers of
Basavanagudi organized a Groundnut Fair (Kadalekai
Parase), near the temple. This fair continues till date and is
attended by the people of Bangalore in large numbers.
Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace
Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace was the summer residence of
Tipu Sultan till his death in the year 1799 during the Fourth
Anglo-Mysore War. Its construction was started by Hyder Ali within the walls of the
Bangalore Fort and completed during the reign of Tipu Sultan in the year 1791. This
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magnificent structure has been built entirely with FRENCH ROSE Wood and stands
adorned with pillars, arches and balconies. There is also a small museum in the palace
which is open to public.
Vidhana Soudha
Vidhana Soudha counts amongst the most impressive
as well as the most magnificent buildings in the
Bangalore city of India. It is mainly famous for
housing the Legislative Chambers of the state
government. The three hundred rooms of Vidhan
Soudha accommodate approximately twenty-two
departments of the state government. The building
rises to a height of almost 46 m, making it one of the
most imposing structures in the city of Bangalore.
Built in the year 1956, Vidhana Soudha of Bangalore boasts of exquisite Dravidian
architecture. It was built under the then chief minister of Karnataka, Mr. Kengal
Hanumanthaiah, as a tribute to Indian temple architecture. The chief engineer of Vidhan
Soudha, B.R. Manickam mainly made use of granite to get the edifice constructed. In the
following lines, we have provided more information on the architecture of the Vidhan
Soudha of Bangalore, India.
Architecture
Constructed purely out of granite and porphyry, Vidhana Soudha is adorned with four
domes on its four corners. Embellishing the entrance of the buildings is the Four-headed
Lion, the national symbol of India. The Cabinet room has a huge sandalwood door, which
has been beautifully carved.
Vidhana Soudha of Bangalore can be accessed from all the four directions. However, the
admission to the building has been restricted and one has to take prior permission before
visiting its interiors. Vidhan Soudha looks breathtakingly beautiful on Sunday evenings
and on public holidays, when it is floodlit. The lights are kept on from 6:00 to 8:30 in the
evening. A sightseeing tour of Bangalore is incomplete without a visit to the Vidhana
Soudha.
Kemfort Shiva Temple
The Shiv Mandir was founded on 27/03/1995 on the day of Mahashivratri inaugurated by
Jagadguru Shri Shri Shri Bharathi Theertha Swamiji of Shringeri Matt. The specialty of
the temple is the statue of Lord Shiva which is about 65 ft tall. Another special feature is
the 32 ft tall statue of Lord Ganesha. The main deity is the Lord Bholenath for which
special poojas and abisheks are performed and besides this, they also have a special
abisheka ling where devotees themselves are allowed to perform the abisheka.
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The entrance of the temple is quite small and a passing by visitor will hardly notice it.
We took two entry tickets for Rs. 4 and a camera ticket for Rs. 25. At the entrance there
is a huge statue of Lord Ganesh. It is the 32 feet Vignaharan Ganapathi. Ganesha also
spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of
the best-known and most worshiped deities in the Hindu pantheon. Although he is known
by many other attributes, Ganesha’s elephant head makes him easy to identify. Lord
Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of
Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha, Vighneshvara), patron of arts and
sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. He is honored at the start of rituals and
ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions.
After the visit drive to Hassan on National Highway 48 (187 km ~4 hours). On arrival at Hassan check in at
the hotel
Overnight at Hassan
START at Bangalore
30 km
NH-4
Start from Bangalore Railway Station and take Tumkur Road NH 4 towards Yeshwantpur
Nelamangala
44 km
NH-48
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At Nelamangala, Turn Left on NH 48
Kunigal
72 km
Continue on NH 48
Channarayapatna
40 km
Go Straight with NH 48
END
at Hassan
Nelamangala
Nelamangala is located on NH-4, around 27 km away from Bangalore city towards
Tumkur and Mumbai. [2] It has a beautiful park at Binnamangala, Vishwa Shanti
Ashrama (a place for excursion and spirituality) with huge statues of Panduranga, Geeta
Mandir, Ashtalakshmi Temple, Vinayaka Temple, the beautiful Vishwaroopa Vijaya Vittala
statue along with a park to relax. One can also find many Dhabas(Punjabi restaurant)
located throughout the strech of National Highway(NH4).
Nelamangala also famous for its Udbhava Ganesha Temple where once in a year
celebration takes place.The speciality lies in the roadside trees, almost 50 years old
planted by Late.Ragi Siddaramaiha Shetty a local business man.But now number of trees
are reducing due to the Government development planns .But u can see the trees today
also. Nelamangala is a connecting place for Madhure Shanimahatma Temple, which is 14
km away from Nelamangala.
Kunigal (Kannada: ಕುಣಿಗಲ್)
The derivation of the name is said to be Kuni-Gal (dancing stone), Shiva having danced
here according to a legend.
Three streams rising in Shivaganga, namely, Nalini, Nagini and Kamala are said to unite
their waters here.
It is said that the Ganga King Shivarama was the governor of this place. In 785 A.D. one
Veera Kambala Raya is said to have laid the foundation for the fort here. The place which
was an agrahara during the Hoysalas came into the possession of the Magadi chief who
enlarged the town and the fort.
The Narasimha temple here is a large structure of the Hoysala period altered during the
Vijayanagara days. But it contains a figure of Janardana said to have been brought from
Huliyurdurga.
The large Someshvara temple has a mahadwara in the south and an udbhava linga. The
Padmeshvara temple in the Hoysala style consists of a garbhagriha, a shukanasi and a
navaranga.
The three-celled Venkataramana temple has a good figure of Shrinivasa.
The Shivarameshwara temple, a new one, has a figure of Mahishasuramardini made in
the Ganga style and is said to have been brought from Kortagere.
The place has a stud farm, continuing to exist from the days of Haidar Ali and is famous
for sericulture and also beedi rolling.
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Channarayapatna (ಚನನ್ರಾಯಪಟಟ್ಣ
ಪುರಸಭೆ)
148 km from Bangalore and 37 km from the district headquarters, Hassan.
Taluk is centre of attraction in the international tourist map because of existence of
world's tallest monolith in the form of Sri Lord Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola.
This place is having both religious and historical importance. Lakhs and lacks of tourists
tress pectille of caste, religion, region list this place. Other tourist places like Navile
Nageshvara temple at Navile village, Sri Lakshminarshima swamy temple at Nuggehalli,
Anekere Channakeshava are few among 564 temples in this taluk. Many of these
temples have been built adopting hoysala’s style of architecture.
On August 5, 2007, the magnificent statue of Shravanbelagola was voted by Indians as
the first of Seven Wonders of India[2]. 49% votes went in favor of this 1000-plus year
old marvel of human architecture and religious faith.
Being a popular religious centre, the district houses several worship sites and centres.
The three major revered shrines of the destination are Chandramouleshwara Temple
on the Garudadwara, Channakeshava Temple of Chalukya style and Kote Ganapati
Devasthana. The fort temple of Chandramouleshwara featuring a statue of standing
Shiva is one of the holy sites in Channarayapatna. The destination has ancient locations
such as Anekere and Nuggehalli that comprise shrines dating back to Hoysalas and
Cholas, respectively.
Southern Star Hotel
Bm Highway | Opp. Big Bazaar, Hassan 573201, India
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02 APR 2013 (TUE) HASSAN – MYSORE
(115 Kms and 03 Hrs approx)
After breakfast at hotel proceed for visit of Halebid and Belur temples.
The twin temple towns of Belur and Halebid for a glimpse of Hindu temple art at its glorious best. In the 16th
century, Belur-Halebid (both towns are spoken of in the same breath) are at the heart of the throbbing Hoysala
Empire. The Hoysalas were huge patrons of art and architecture and built massive temples that have survived
the ravages of time. Some of the sculptures are so exotic, erotic and eloquent – that you expect them to speak or
move.
Belur and Halebid
Halebid also know as Dwarasamudra (gateway to the seas) in ancient times is in Hassan
district. Halebid is approx 27 kms away from Hassan and was the capital of Hoysala
Empire. It flourished as the capital of the Hoysala Dynasty for about 150 years.
Halebid (also pronounced as Hale'beedu) literally
means 'the old city'. Beedu also stands for layout or a
place of human habitat. The Hoysalas ruled this city
for about 150 years. Then it was sacked by the armies
of Malik Kafur in the early 14th century, after which it
fell into a state of disrepair and ignore.
The temples of Belur and Halebid are best known for
their south Indian architecture. The temples at both
these places are built by renowned architect Jakkanna
Acharya (Amarashilpi Jakanaacharya). The temples
are carved with scripts of Hindu mythology. The 12th century temple at Belur has many
figures known as Madanikas or dancers. It has many pillars of different designs. Later
the capital was shifted to Dwarasamudram (Halebid).
Both these temples have carving of Puranas, the Upanishads and other mythological
characters from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. With these exquisite designs one
loses himself in its beauty.
The 12th century Chennakesava Temple at Belur is the symbol of Hoysalas over the
Cholas in the great battle of Talakadu. The exterior is covered with a variety of
intricately-carved sculptures and friezes. The interior contains exquisite panels A tall
stone pillar in the temple courtyard is balanced, amazingly, only by its centre of gravity.
It is said that this temple was started in 1116 AD and took nearly 103 years to complete.
Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana. The main structure is star shaped on a raised plat form.
Small shrines of Kappe Chenningaraya, Soumyanayaki, Andal, surround the temple. The
two other temples from the Hoysala dynasty are the Vir Narayan and the Chennigaraya
temple.
Later drive to Mysore.
En route visit Shravanbelagola – A proposed heritage centre of India, is one of the most famous pilgrimage spots
for the Jain community in South India. The place represents the richness of Hoysala art. It lies in Hassan district of
Karnataka. The sleepy little town of Shravanabelagola is crowned by two hills named Chandragiri and Vindyagiri
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with a “belagola” named Kalyani in between. The term “belagola” stands for an ancient white pond. At the base of
the two hills is a “Mutt” where Jain Muins reside. Also, there is a Sanskrit Pathsala where Sanskrit and Shastras
are taught.
@ 52 km from Hassan:
Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola
(Kannada:
ಶರ್ವಣಬೆಳಗೊಳ
Śravaṇa
Beḷagoḷa) is a city located in the Hassan district in the
Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore.
The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa
Beḷgoḷa is one of the most important pilgrimage
destinations in Jainism, one that reached a peak in
architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage
of Western Ganga Dynasty of Talakad. Chandragupta is
said to have died here in 298 BC after he became a Jain
monk and assumed an ascetic life style.
Shravanabelagola "White Pond of the Shravana" is
named with reference to the colossal image of Gommaṭa
- the prefix Śravaṇa serves to distinguish it from other
Belagolas with the prefixes Hale- and Kodi-, while
Beḷagoḷa "white pond" is an allusion to the pond in the
middle of the town. The Sanskrit equivalents
Svetasarovara, Dhavalasarovara and Dhavalasaras used
in the inscriptions that support this meaning.
Some inscriptions mention the name of the place as
Beḷguḷa, which has given rise to another derivation from the plant Solanum ferox or
Hairy-Fruited Eggplant. This derivation is in allusion to a tradition which says that a pious
old woman completely anointed the colossal image with the milk brought by her in a
gullakayi or eggplant. The place is also designated as Devara Beḷgoḷa "White Pond of the
God" and Gommaṭapuram "city of Gommaṭa" in some epigraphs. The epithet
Dakshinakasi "Southern Kasi" is applied to it in some modern records.
Continue drive to Mysore. (85 km)
On arrival at Mysore check in at the hotel
Overnight at Mysore
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HOTEL PAI VISTA, NILIGIRIS ROAD,
MYSORE
35/A, Bangalore-Nilgiri Road
Mysore - 570001.
Karnataka, India.
Telephone :+91 - 0821 – 2521111
Email: [email protected]
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03 APR 2013 (WED) MYSORE
After breakfast at hotel proceed for visit of Mysore
The Mysore Palace, built in 1912 in the Indo-Saracenic style, exudes a grandeur that is unmatched. The Golden
Royal Elephant throne, the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana Mandap and the Gallery are the main attractions here.
Amba Vilas Palace
The Palace of Mysore (also known as the Amba Vilas Palace) is a palace situated in the
city of Mysore in southern India. It is the official residence of the Wodeyars - the
erstwhile royal family of Mysore, and also houses two durbar halls (ceremonial meeting
hall of the royal court).
Mysore is commonly described as the City of
Palaces, however, the term "Mysore Palace"
specifically refers to one within the old fort. The
Wodeyar kings first built a palace in Mysore in
the 14th century, it was demolished and
constructed multiple times. The current palace
construction was commissioned in 1897, and it
was completed in 1912 and expanded later
around 1940.
Mysore palace is now one of the most famous
tourist attractions in India after Taj Mahal with
more than 2.7 million visitors.[2] Although
tourists are allowed to visit the palace, they are not allowed to take photographs inside
the palace. Price of admission for foreign tourists is 200 INR., and for Indians 40 INR. All
visitors must remove their footwear to enter the palace.
The regent of Mysore, Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhna, commissioned a British architect, Henry Irwin, to
build yet another palace in its place.[3] The construction was completed in year 1912. But slowly the
beautification of the fort was also taken up and the inhabitants of the fort were slowly shifted out to newer
Extension built outside. The present Public Durbar Hall wing was also added much later around 1940.
Drive up the Chamundi Hill, 13 kms away. Halfway up is the Nandi Bull, a 4.8 m monolith. Right on top is the
2000 year old Chamundeswari temple, dedicated to the Patron goddess of the Royal family.
Also visit Somnathpur.
Evening Brindavan garden.
Chamundi hills
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The hills' average elevation is 1,000 meters.
According to legend, the demon Mahishasura, king of the
area that is currently Mysore, was killed by the Goddess
Chamundeswari (also Chamundi) after a fierce battle.[1]
The hills are named after the goddess, and a temple
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honors her in the hills. The temple has a beautiful idol of the goddess.
The temple has always been patronised by the rulers of
Mysore. In earlier days, the Maharajas of Mysore would
ride the ceremonial Dasara elephant during the annual
Dasara festival; since the seventies, the idol of Goddess
Chamundi is taken on an elephant.
A panoramic view of the city is seen from the top of the
hills. Among other landmarks, you can see the race
course, the Lalitha Mahal palace, Mysore Palace, Karanji
and Kukkarahalli lakes.
Chamundi's main hill features a long stone stairway leading to the top of the hill. There
are 1,008 steps in all, with the first 600 steps being steeper than those higher up. En
route to the top, the steps pass the large statue of Nandi the bull; the statue is about 16
feet high and 25 feet in length. Nandi is the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Shiva. Local
monarch Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar directed the steps' creation in 1664 and the
installation of the statue of Nandi.
Climbing the steps of Chamundi Hills is a popular way
of keeping fit among the locals in Mysore. The main set
of a thousand steps takes anywhere between 12 to 60
minutes to climb, depending on an individual's fitness
levels.
Some individuals climb only till the Nandi statue, which
is about 700 steps, then run on the downhill road to the
other side of Chamundi Hills for about 2 kilometers, and
climb another set of 600 steps to the top. This set of
steps at the back of the hill is less used and provides a different challenge for climbers
seeking exercise.
Somanathapura
Somanathapura ಸೋಮನಾಥಪುರ (also known as Somnathpur) is a town located 35 km
from Mysore city in Mysore district, Karnataka, India. Somanathapura is famous for the
Chennakesava Temple (also called Kesava or Keshava temple) built by Soma, a
dandanayaka (commander) in 1268 CE under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the
Hoysalas were the major power in South India.[1] The Keshava temple is one of the finest
examples of Hoysala architecture and is in a very well preserved condition. The temple is
in the care of the Archeological Survey of India as a protected heritage site and visitors
are allowed only from 9:00AM to 5:30PM.
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The lion at Somnathpur
The temples in Somnathpur are not as widely known as the ones in Belur and Halebid,
though they all are from the same period. Somnathpur is more representative of the
age, since it did not suffer destruction as much as Belur and Halebid did and hence offers
a better view of the period's architecture. Often it is referred to as the poor cousin of
Belur and Halebid. Somnathpur's temples adhere to the typical Hoysala style of
architecture, where the temple is designed as a mini cosmos with scenes carved on the
walls including Gods, Goddesses, dancing girls, musicians, gurus and all kinds of animals
including elephants, lions, cows and monkeys.
Statue of Lord Vishnu, Somnathpura, Karnataka & Entrance Porch, trikuta vimana
Its unique design and perfect symmetry are ignored amidst the farms and agricultural
lands of surrounding villages. It is visited more by foreign tourists than domestic.
At the temple, the outer walls are decorated with a series of star-shaped folds and the
entire surface is covered with carved stone plaques. The walls above the plinth are also
carved with exquisite figures of gods and goddesses, taken from the Hindu puranas, and
meticulously arranged in vertical panels.
The most widely known temple is the one dedicated to Keshava, built around 1268 AD by
which time the Hoysalas had completed 260 years in power. However, the temples of
Somnathpur were not built by the king, but by popular army commander Somnath. He
founded a village on the banks of the Kaveri River and then embarked on constructing
temples in a bid to further his immortality.
The temple itself, stellar in shape, has three profusely carved pinnacles with a common
Navranga and stands on a raised platform.
The three sanctum sanctorums once housed beautifully carved idols of Kesava,
Janardhana and Venugopala. Today, the idol of Lord Kesava is missing but the other two
still adorn the sanctum sanctorums in their original form
Brindavan Gardens
The Brindavan Gardens, a celebrated beauty spot in this part of India is world famous for
its symmetric design. It is one of the most beautifully laid out terrace gardens in the
world. The creation of this garden in the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam site has been the
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achievement of Sir Mirza Ismail, the then Dewan of the princely State of Mysore. The
beautification of the whole dam complex was conceived by Sir Mirza Ismail. Modeled on
the design of the Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir in the Mughal style, the garden is
enriched with a number of terraces, parterres, fountains, running and cascading
waterchannels, water chutes, lush green lawns, flower beds, shrubs and trees. Today,
the Brindavan Gardens is world famous for its ethereal beauty, grandeur and
illumination/ musical fountain.
Located in the Krishnaraja Sagar dam site in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district, the
Brindavan Gardens is at a distance of 24 Km. from the famous cultural heritage centre of
Karnataka – the city of Mysore, and 143 Km. from Bangalore, the capital city of
Karnataka. The Krishnaraja Sagar dam is built across the river Cauvery, one of the
principal rivers in South India. The Cauvery rises in the hills of Brahmagiri – in
Talacauvery, Kodagu District in the Western Ghats and traverses Eastwards in Karnataka
for about 320 Km. before entering Tamil Nadu and finally joining the Bay of Bengal. The
dam is named after Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV during whose rule the Chief Engineer, Sir M.
Vishveswaraya engineered the construction of the dam. The River Cauvery below the
giant dam divides the garden into two parts.
Overnight in Mysore
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HOTEL PAI VISTA, NILIGIRIS ROAD, MYSORE
35/A, Bangalore-Nilgiri Road
Mysore - 570001.
Karnataka, India.
Front Office Manager :
+91 9945615420
Sales
:
+91 9945278118
Telephone
:
+91 - 0821 - 2521111
Fax
:
+91 - 0821 - 4265065
Email
:
[email protected]
Mysore en omstreken
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Leo Jo Estercam
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04 APR 2013 (THU) MYSORE – OOTY
(125 Kms and 03 Hrs Approx)
After breakfast at hotel check out and drive to Ooty. On arrival check in at the hotel.
126 km (about 2 hours 40 mins)
Nanjangudu (It’s 24km from Mysore)
Nanjangudu is a religious spot. It is known for its Srikanteshwara temple.
The legend of the temple is that Shiva
consumes poison and Nanjundu digested it
and became Vishakanta. The deity of this
temple Nanjundeswara and Srikanteshwara is
famous as the one that cures diseases of the
worshipper. In the olden age, a Muslim ruler
by the name of Ali Khan had his elephants eye
cured by this God. And since then, the deity is
also known as Hakim Nanjundu where Hakim
means doctor in Urdu language. The ruler
offered an emerald necklace in appreciation here.
This place is also known as Dakshina Kashi of the South. Great Warriors like Tipu Sultan
have had close associations with this place. Every year a car festival is carried out here.
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Chariot festival is also one of the highlights of this place. The best time to visit this place
will be weekdays between 6 am to 1:30 pm and evening 4 pm to 9 pm.
Cholatemple or Nanjangudu Temple or Srikanteshwara.
Gundlupet (59 km from Mysore)
Gundlupet is the last town in Karnataka en route to Ooty
Later proceed to visit Ooty Lake, Rose garden, Botanical Garden, etc.
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Ooty
Ooty lake is located in Ooty in the Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, India. It covers an area
of 65 acres.[3] The Boat house situated by the lake, which offers boating facilities to
tourists, is a major tourist attraction in Ooty.
Ooty rose garden
Angel statue in Ooty rose garden.
Ooty has a unique tropical mountain climate, hence the garden has the ideal climatic
conditions for growing of roses. Temperature variation is less and the rainfall distribution
is uniform in the locale, which results in a long flowering season. The garden is visited by
thousands of tourists throughout the year and even in winter, when it is not the
flowering season.
Initially, when the gardens were developed, 1,919 varieties of roses with 17,256 rose
plants were planted.[ Today this garden has more than 20,000 varieties of roses of 2,800
cultivars. It is one of the largest collection of roses in India.
The collection of roses include Miniature Roses, Ramblers, Hybrid Tea Roses, Yakimour,
Polyanthas, Papagena, Floribunda and roses of unusual colours like green and black. The
varieties of rose plants planted here were assembled from different sources around the
world.
The garden has been laid out with rose tunnels, pergolas and bowers with rose creepers.
The slopes of the garden also features Nila Maadam, an observation platform. From the
Nila Maadam, tourists can observe the entire rose garden.[5][8] The garden also features
a statue of an angel amidst the roses
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Ooty botanical garden
This garden was laid out
in 1847 by the Marquis of
Tweedale and is spread
over 55 acres. Lush green
well maintained lawns,
rare tree species (like the
cork tree which is
probably the only such
tree in India, the paper
bark tree and the monkey puzzle tree - monkeys cannot climb this tree), a 20 million
year old fossilized tree, an Italian-style garden bordering a clear pool, a vast variety of
flowering bushes and plants in myriad hues (exotic and ornamental), fern house with a
vast range of ferns and orchids, are some of the many highlights of this garden. A flower
show along with an exhibition of rare plant species is held every year in the month of
May at this garden. The Garden is maintained by the Horticulture Department of the
Government of Tamil Nadu and has a very wide variety of plants that include different
types of roses, imported shrubs, rare flowering plants etc.
Overnight at Ooty
The Monarch
Off Havelock Road,
Ooty.
Phone : 91 - 423 - 2444408, 2444418, 2444420
Mobile : 91 - 98430 07775
Email : [email protected], [email protected]
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05 APR 2013 (FRI) OOTY – COCHIN
(275 Kms and 06 Hrs Approx)
After breakfast at hotel check out and drive to Cochin. On arrival check in at the hotel
 280 km, ~5 ½ hours
Coimbatore
Coimbatore (pronounced [kɔəjmbaːʈɔrɪ]), also known as Kovai, pronounced [kɔʋaːəj], is
the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the 15th largest urban
agglomeration in India with a metropolitan population of over 2 million. It is a major
commercial centre and has often been referred to as the "Manchester of South India".
Palakkad
(Halfway)
Palakkad , previously known as Palghat, is a large town and municipality in the state of
Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2 and is the administrative
headquarters of the Palakkad District. Palakkad is the seventh most populous town in
Kerala and lies near the Palghat Gap, a pass or natural depression through the Western
Ghats ranges, and connects Kerala to the plains of the state of Tamil Nadu to the east.
Palakkad Fort – Fort dating from 1766, built by Hyder Ali
of Mysore. In 1784, after a siege which lasted eleven days,
the British Colonel Fullerton stormed the Fort. Later it fell
into the hands of the Zamorin’s troops, but was recaptured
by the British in 1790. This well-preserved fort is also
known as Tipu's (Tipu Sultan, son of Hyder Ali) Fort. Today
there is a functioning jail and Hanuman Temple in the fort
grounds.
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Jain Temple of Jainimedu – Situated on the western border of Palakkad town and not
far from the railway station, this is an historic Jain Temple. The area around the temple
is known as Jainimedu. This is one of the few places in Kerala where vestiges of Jainism
in Kerala have survived without substantial damage. The granite walls are devoid of
decoration. The temple, 9.8 m long and 6.1 m wide, consists of four divisions with
images of Jain Thirthankaras and Yakshinis in three of them. Kumaran Asan wrote his
monumental poem Veena Poovu (the fallen flower) at a Jain house here during his brief
stay with his master Sri. Narayana Guru.
Kalpathi One of the 21 Agraharams of Palakkad District on the banks of the Kalpathy
river, famous for its annual Ratholsavam (Temple car Festival) and annual music festival.
One of the oldest settlements of Tamil Brahmins in Kerala, it dates back to the 15th
century.
Malampuzha Dam and Gardens - Situated about 10 km North from Palakkad Town,
Malapuzha Dam was completed in 1955 and is the largest reservoir in Kerala. The spot is
also known for its scenic beauty and sprawling gardens. It is one of the major attractions
in this part of Kerala.
Evening transfer for Kath kali dance show
Kath kali: - 'Katha' means story and 'Kali' means dance. As
the name suggests Kath kali is a beautiful amalgamation of
dance and drama. More precisely, Kath kali is a harmonious
blend of five forms of art namely, Sahithyam (literature),
Sangeetham (music), Chithram (painting), Natyam
(acting) and Nritham (dance). 'Total Theatre' is the word often
used to describe this highly evolved art.
Overnight at Cochin
Grand Hotel
M.G. Road, Ernakulam
Cochin 682 011 Kerala, India
Tel: 0484 2382061
email:[email protected]
website:
www.grandhotelkerala.com
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06 APR 2013 (SAT) COCHIN – KUMARAKOM – HOUSEBOAT
(77 Kms and 02 Hrs Approx)
(Normal check out time is 1200 Hrs)
After breakfast at hotel check out and proceed for city tour of Cochin
Visit the Jewish Synagogue - built in 1568 AD contains Grand Scrolls of the Old Testament and the copper plates
containing the privileges granted to the Jews by the Cochin rulers. The floor of
the synagogue is paved with exquisite Chinese hand painted tiles.
The Dutch Palace was built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin
Raja in 1555 AD. 17th century murals depicting scenes from the Indian epic,
the Ramayana can be seen here.
St Francis Church, built originally by the Portuguese in 1510 AD is believed
to be the first church built by Europeans in India. Vasco da Gama was
originally buried here. The Chinese fishing nets can be seen at the entrance of
the harbour. The Chinese through trade contact taught this technique of catching fish.
Paradesi Synagogue
The Paradesi Synagogue is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of
Nations,[2] located in Kochi, Kerala, in South India. It was built in 1568 by the Malabar
Yehudan people or Cochin Jewish community in the Kingdom of Cochin. Paradesi is a
word used in several Indian languages, and the literal meaning of the term is
"foreigners", applied to the synagogue because it was historically used by "White Jews",
a mixture of Jews from Cranganore, the Middle East, and European exiles. It is also
referred to as the Cochin Jewish Synagogue or the Mattancherry Synagogue. The
synagogue is located in the quarter of Old Cochin known as Jew Town, and is the only
one of the seven synagogues in the area still in use. The complex has four buildings. It
was built adjacent to the Mattancherry Palace temple on the land gifted to the Malabari
Yehuden community by the Raja of Kochi, Rama Varma[disambiguation needed]. The
Mattancherry Palace temple and the Mattancherry synagogue share a common wall.
Dutch Palace
Dutch Palace is more popularly known as Mattancherry
Palace. It is located at Palace Road, 10 km from
Ernakulam city, Kochi. The palace was constructed by
the Portuguese and presented to the then Rajah of
Kochi, Veera Kerala Varma. The Rajahs of Keralas made
subsequent renovations of the palace, giving it a Hindu
texture. In fact, it has become one of the best
testimony of the Hindu Temple Art.
The Dutch Palace in Kochi is a two stored building built
around a central courtyard. This traditional style of architecture is known as 'nalukettus'
in Kerala. The entrance of the palace is arch shaped, which leads to the suite of public
rooms. The rounded doors and windows, the masonry walls of Dutch Palace gives it a
European look.
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St. Francis Church of South India
St. Francis CSI Church, in Kochi , earlier called Cochin, originally built in 1503, is the
oldest European church in India and has great historical significance as a mute witness
to the European colonial struggle in the subcontinent. The Portuguese explorer, Vasco
da Gama, died in Kochi in 1524 when he was on his third visit to India. His body was
originally buried in this church, but after fourteen years his remains were removed to
Lisbon.
A: Dutch Palace
B: Paradesi Synagogue
C: St. Francis Church
Later proceed for Kumarakom. (63 km)
Later transfer to the Jetty to embark the Houseboat and cruise along the backwater towards Alleppey. The
cruise would take you through villages, paddy fields, markets etc.
The places covered on the way are Kochi - 4km -> Palluruthy - 9km -> Chandiroor 7km -> Chammanadu - 6km -> Thuravoor - 6km -> Pattanakkad - 24km ->
Thanneermukkom - 17km -> Kumarakom.
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Be transported to a paradise where land, sea and sky, come together in a union of elements. As you float on a
Kerala backwater, the beauty of the serene waterways and quaint inlets and creeks along the coast of Kerala will
enchant you.
Overnight on Houseboat
Alleppey Houseboats Cruise ( Day cruise)
Day Cruise Cost
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Cost includes
Houseboat Day cruise in Non Ac Houseboats from 1230 hrs to 1800 hrs
Welcome Drink
Lunch( veg/Non Veg-)
Evening Tee with snacks
Itineray
Guests can check in at 1200 hrs, we will welcome you with fresh tender coconut water
and start cruise after a short briefing introduction, relax and enjoy the canals and rivers
and backwater, at 1300 hrs houseboat will stop for lunch, with lavish menu of traditional
kerala cuisine 1500 hrs it will continue its cruise covering beautiful rivers and canals with
palm trees and small houses near to it, villages paddy fields, churches, etc, you can get
out and get an experience of Toddy( soft liquor made from Coconut it is safe pure and
sweet.
Houseboat day cruise in kerala backwaters will be memorable with the mind-blowing
view of canal systems and endless lagoons, Paddy fields, rivers joining the backwater,
small houses on small stretch of land.
There are villages in allover these backwater but the land area is very small, the view of
backwater birds, people working in paddy fields, toody taping, fishing in backwater or
people using small canoes as mode of transportation, Big houseboats, Alleppey
Houseboats, motorboats country made boats used by tourists, small resorts, heritage
homes are specialty of this area.
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07 APR 2013 (SUN) ALLEPPEY – PERIYAR
(155 Kms and 04 Hrs Approx)
After breakfast in the houseboat check out and drive to Periyar. On arrival check in at the hotel
Periyar Tiger Reserve, 777 sq km in area is set in a rich,
mixed deciduous forest, interspersed with open areas of tall
grass. Periyar has a splendid artificial lake dotted with
snags of dead wood, which provide a perch for water birds;
darter, grey heron, egret and kingfisher. It is one of the
finest habitats for the Asiatic elephant. These enormous
mammals swim in the waters and streams and usually they
can be observed during the boat ride. Periyar also holds,
apart from Tiger leopard, sambar, wild dog, barking deer,
the lion tailed macaque, the Nilgiri langur.
Afternoon you will proceed for visiting Periyar National Park for evening game viewing by boat.
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Overnight at Periyar
Phone
: 00-91-4869 223286 , 223287
Fax
: 00-91-4869 223894
Address
: Hotel Treetop, Thekkady, Idukki Dist , Kerala , Pin 685 536
E-mail
:
[email protected]
[email protected]
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08 APR 2013 (MON) PERIYAR – MADURAI
(160 Kms and 04 Hrs Approx)
After breakfast at hotel check out and drive to Madurai. On arrival check in at the hotel
Later proceed for visit of Madurai Temples.
THIRUMALAI NAYAK PALACE: It is a magnificent palace that was built by King Thirumalai Nayak with
valuable assistance of an Italian architect in the year 1636.
SREE MEENAKSHI TEMPLE: It is one of the most prominent among the temples of Madurai. It is dedicated
to Lord Shiva who was known here as Sundareshvara and his wife Parvati or Meenakshi.
Evening revisit MEENAKSHI TEMPLE to witness evening ceremony when lord Shiva is carried to
Meenakshi’s chamber.
We rijden vandaag de deelstaat Tamil Nadu in. Via een mooie slingerende bergweg, vele
vlooiende aapjes en kleine dorpjes. Hoe lager we komen hoe heter het wordt.
Madurai betekend Stad van de honing (madu= dorp en rai=honing).
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Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal (Palace)
Thirumalai Nayak Palace is a 17th-century palace erected in
1636 AD by King Thirumalai Nayak, a king of Madurai's
Nayaka dynasty who ruled Madurai from 1623–59, in the
city of Madurai, India. This Palace is a classic fusion of
Dravidian, Islamic styles. The building, which can be seen
today, was the main Palace where the king lived. The
original Palace Complex was four times bigger than the
present structure. In its heyday, Tirumalai Nayak Palace at
Madurai was considered to be one of the wonders of the
South.[1] This palace is situated 2 km south east of the
Meenakshi Amman Temple.
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi
Amman Temple or Tiru-alavai (IAST mīnākṣi
Amman Kovil)
(we kopen nog even snel voetbandjes). Het is een
stad in een stad, uit de 17e eeuw en kenmerkt zich
door 12 torens van verschillende hoogtes met daarop
duizenden kleurrijke beelden van Kali, Vishnu,
Parvati en vele anderre goden. Onder begeleiding
van oude Tamilhymnen wordt Shiva iedere avond om
21.00 naar de slaapkamer van de godin Meenakshi
gebracht en de ochtend erop weer terug.
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In het tempelcomplex ligt de gouden lotus vijver.Vroeger baden Hindoes in het heilige
water maar nu niet meer.
Als we op de trappen gaan zitten zien we een aantal Kingfishers (ijsvogels)in prachtige
blauw groene kleur. We kunnen zelfs op ons gemak foto's maken.
Na al de pracht en praal verlaten we de tempel weer aan de noord zijde.Net voor we
naar buiten gaan zien we de tempelolifant aan komen lopen. We wachten even tot hij
op zijn plaats staat. Ik ga erheen en geef 50 roepie die hij met zijn slurf aanpakt en
doorgeeft aan zijn begeleider. Vervolgens krijg ik een aardige harde klop op mijn hoofd
met zijn slurf en schud hij met zijn hoofd. Zo ik ben gezegend. Ik mag nog een foto
maken en de olifant tilt zijn slurf omhoog om te poseren.
The temple is a historic Hindu temple located in the southern banks of river Vaigai in the
temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Parvati who is known as
Meenakshi and her consort, Shiva, named here as Sundareswarar. The temple forms the
heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city of Madurai. The complex houses 14 gateway
towers called gopurams, ranging from 45-50m in height, the tallest being the southern
tower, 51.9 metres (170 ft) high, and two golden sculptured vimana, the shrine over
sanctum of the main deities. The temple is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, and
has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature, though the present structure is
built during 1623 to 1655. The temple attracts 15,000 visitors a day, around 25,000
during Fridays and gets an annual revenue of sixty million . There is an estimated
33,000 sculptures in the temple and it was in the list of top 30 nominees of the "New
Seven Wonders of the World". The annual 10 day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival
celebrated during April–May attracts 1 million visitors
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Overnight at Madurai
Ph: +91-452-4356666 (Hunting lines)
Fax: +91-452-4373333
Email: [email protected]
url: http://www.royalcourtindia.com
No.4, West Veli Street,
Opp: Railway Station,
Madurai – 625 001
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09 APR 2013 (TUE) MADURAI – CHETTINADU
(98 Kms and 02 Hrs Approx)
After breakfast at hotel checkout and drive to Chettinad. On arrival check in at the hotel.
S.A.R.M. House (Behind Raja's Palace)
11, Ar. Street
Kanadukathan – 630103, Near Karaikudi
Tamil Nadu, South India
Tel - +91 4565 273080, Mob - +91 94434 95598
www.chettinadumansion.com
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Chettinad is one of the lesser known and important tourist attractions with its
Mansions, Palaces, and laidback villages and last but not the least its cuisine.
Chettinad is a village but its grandeur lies in the yesteryears. It was one of the richest
cities with its colossal mansions and palaces but some of them has lost its sheen and are
in dilapidated conditions. It used to be hub of trade merchants.
Places to visit
1. Chettinad Houses KaraiKudi, Pallathur, Athangudi and Kothamangalam have the
Most lavish houses in the Chettinad.
2. Chettinad Palace The Chettinad Palace at Kanadukathan ant it was buit in 1912.
3. Koviloor - 4 km Ancient Shiva Temple.
4. Kundrakudi - 9 km Arulmigu Murugan. Temple.
5. Pillaiyar patti - 12 km Karpaga Vinayagar Temple.
6. Nemam - 12 km Sri Jayam Konda Soleeswarar Temple.
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Kanadukathaan
Chettinad Mansions: The Chettinad Mansions are one of the important tourist
attractions of Chettinad. The mansions are well-decorated with beautiful interior designs
which makes it unique. Many film shootings are taken in these mansions.
Chettinad Palace: The Chettinad Palace stands as an example depicting the style of
architecture of Chettinad. The palace was constructed by Alagappa Chettiar in the year
1912. The stained glass, teak, tiles, granite and iron work truly in the Chettinad Palace is
a beautiful and skillful art which attracts the tourists from all over the world. The palace
is built with Spanish tiles, Italian marbles, Athangudi tiles and the pillars of Burmese
teak which adds an extra beauty to this 100 year old building.
Scattered over the whole place, each temple has its own tank called oorani where water
lilies are grown and used for holy rituals. Even today much of Chettinad's daily tidings
are centered around the festivities of the temple. Among the many famous temples are
Vairavan Kovil temple, Karpaga Vinayakar temple, Kundrakudi Murugan temple,
Kottaiyur Sivan temple and Kandanur Sivan temple.
The Chettinad palace located at Kanadukathaan, built in 1912 opten to visitors Burma
teak, granite pillars, stained glass and imported Italian tiles used. - similarly towns like
Karaikudi, Pallathur, Athangudi, and Kothamangalam, have the most lavish houses in
Chettinad.
Karaikudi
(15 km – 21 min )
Mathur: The Mathur temple is a little over 5 kms from Karaikudi,
that can be reached not long after passing Iluppakudi. Burial urns
found in the vicinity indicate that there were settlements here more
than 1500 years ago. The temple is rich with sculptures, and there
is a unique piece at the entrance to the mahamandapam, where the
steps, the two flanking elephants and the pedestals for the two doorkeepers have all
been hewn from one stone. The nearly 70-foot tall rajagopuram here has been
constructed in five storeys. The vizha mandapam or the festival hall in front of the
rajagopuram or the main tower, at the entrance was built in 1949 and can seat 500
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persons within the hall and another 500 around it. The main deity here is Lord
Ainootheswarar and his consort Periyanayaki.
Karaikudi is located in Sivagangai district between Thiruchirapalli - Rameswaram High
road. It got its name because of the famous plant called "karai" which is widely spread
over this area.
The city is known for Sri Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple, also known as Shiva
temple which has 108 statues of Ganapathi. Sekkalai is located at the northeast of
Karaikudi, and was known as Jain Kunda Puram. In the North-east of Karaikudi is Muthu
Pattinam which is known for Muthu Mariamman Temple. At the centre is Kallukatti where
the famous temple Koppudaiamman is located. The river Thennar flows through south
Karaikudi. "Tamil Thai Kovil," "Kamban Manimandapam," the "Vallal Allagappar Statue,"
"Kaviaraser Kannadhasan Manimandapam and Statue" brings honour to Karaikudi.
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Pillayaipatti
(15 km – 21 min )
Pillaiyarpatti: The best known of the Nagarathar clan
temples, Pillaiyarpatti, about 12 kms from Karaikudi on
the road to Madurai. It attracts visitors in large numbers
from all parts of India and abroad. The Karpaga
Vinayagar here is a huge bas-relief in a cave hewn out of
a hillock and is a splendid example of the art of the South
India sculptor. The tall sculpture is more than 6 feet tall
and dates back to the 5th Century A.D. The Rajagopuram
is on the eastern entrance and rises in five storeys. The temple is rich in stone and
terracotta sculptures. There are 30 bronzes in the temple that date from the 10th
century. The main deities here are Karpaga Vinayagar, Lord Thiruveswarar and his
consort Sivagami.
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This is an ancient rock cut temple. Scholars says
that Lord Vinayaga is the Lord of wisdom, As
Vinayagar satisfies the wishes of his devotees like
Karpagam tree, he is also known "Karpaga
Vinayagar". Here Lord Vinayaga appears with 2
hands unlike in other places where he is seen with 4
hands. Also he is seen seated without
Angusapasam, with his legs folded and stomach not
touching the Asanam in the form of "Artha Padma"
Asanam. The word Vinayaga means "Incomparable
Leader" Devotees worshipping Valamburi Vinayagar seated facing towards north, will be
blessed with all wealth.
The deity of this temple is known as "Marudeeswarar" as Marudha tree (In Sansscrit
Arjuna Virutcha, The Botanical name is Termanalia Arjuna) worship is followed in this
temple which indicates that this temple in an ancient temple. The sculptur of
pasupatheeswarar, "A cow worshipping Lord Siva by offering his milk" is the special
feature of this temple. Also kubheran the Lord of wealth had worshipped at this temple.
Also adding to the sprituality Goddess Laxmi, Saraswathi and Durgai are found together
at the same sport.
Ponnamaravathi
(32 km – 44 min)
Is also famous for its temple and the important among them is Malayandi Temple.
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Nagara Koil: The people of Chettinad moved on from their settlement
to other villages not far from their first settlement and, there were nine
main clusters of villages. To each of them the Pandya King granted a
temple in perpetuity. The nine temples thus became the family temple
for each group and each cluster evolved as a subdivision of the Chettiars
or what might describe as a fraternal clan. The clan temple tradition is
that a wedding is recognized only if the bride and bridegroom receive
wedding garlands from their respective clan temples. The moment the
wedding is registered, the bridegroom becomes a pulli.
Ilayathangudi: The first of the clan temples was in Ilayathangudi and it is 25 kms from
Karaikudi on the road to Kunrakudi, passing Nemam, Keelasivalpatti and Avinipatti on
the way. It is said to have been granted to the Nagarathars in 707 A.D. The temple is
known for its great sculptural value and it has the biggest tank, "oorani" of all other
temples. Legend has it, that this was the resting place of the gods and it explains the
village's name with a syllable break-up that is as follows: ilaippu meaning tiredness,
attru meaning to remove and gudi meaning place.
Vairavanpatti: The Vairavanpatti temple is on the Karaikudi-Madurai road, about 15
kms from Karaikudi. A splendid 19th century temple tank is testimony to Dravidian
architectural skills. Behind the Nagarathar choultry Vairava Theertham, a sacred spring
said to have miraculous powers. The temple has 23 bronzes, all dating to the first
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renovation, and 12 vahanams. The temple also has several striking wall paintings, 37 on
the Vairava Puranam and 43 on the Ramayana. There are also painting of scenes from
the Mahabharata. The main deities here are Lord Aatkondanathar and Sivapurandevi.
Soorakudi: The Soorakudi temple is about 10 kms from Karaikudi on the road to
Kanadukathaan and the Chettinad railway station. The soorai shrub also abounds here
and is given as an explanation for the name of the village. The temple has ten vimanams
and two gopurams. Its rajagopuram to the east, comprises five storeys and is richly
embellished. Another striking feature of the temple is the sculptured pillars on the
corridor around the shrines of the main deities. This is one of the temples of the
Nagarathar clan that is held in high regard for its sculptures.
Velankudi: The last clan temple is the Velankudi temple that is located on the
Karaikudi-Thiruchirapalli road, about 10 kms from Karaikudi, in an area abounding in
vela trees. With just 46 pullis and a membership of less than 200 in its four villages, this
is smallest temple clan among the Nagarathars. A curious feature is that their numbers
have not changed for over a hundred years. The result is a temple to which scant
attention has been paid towards renovation. The last kumbhabhishekam for the temple
was performed in 1937. The temple was granted to the Nagarathars in 718 A.D.
Iraniyur: About 25 kms from Karaikudi on the Pillaiyarapatti road, near
Keelasivalpatti, is the Iraniyur temple. There are 50 bronzes here, a splendid Nataraja
dating to the 12th -13th century period. One of the bronzes belong to the 16th century,
another in a 5-metal alloy of the 17th century, a dozen from the 19th century and the
rest from the 20th century. Two groups of beautiful paintings grace the Lakshmi
mandapam. Opposite the Rajagopuram is one set of paintings done in the Vijayanagar
style during the first renovation and another in the 1940s during the second renovation.
The latter displays the Ravi Varma influence.
Overnight at Chettinad
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10 APR 2013 (WED) CHETTINADU – TRICHY – THANJAVUR
(125 Kms
and 03 Hrs Approx)
After breakfast at hotel, check out and drive to Tanjore. En route visit Trichy.
Trichy (Thiruchirapalli), an ancient town in the Cauvery delta, was a Chola citadel in 2 BC. The present town
and the fort were built in by the Nayak kings of Madurai.
The fascinating temple town of Srirangam is on an island in the Cauvery. Seven concentric courtyards encircle the
temple and town. Dedicated to the Lord Ranganathaswamy, the temple has 21 magnificent gopurams and is
adorned with exquisite sculpture.
Srirangam (Tamil: ஸ்ரீரங்கம்), Old name is Vellithirumutha gramam and Tamil
name is Thiruvarangam (Tamil: திருவரங்கம்), is an island and a part of the city of
Tiruchirapalli (also known as Trichy or Tiruchi), in South India.
Srirangam is bounded by the Kaveri River (also known as Cauvery river) on one side,
and the Kaveri distributary Kollidam (Coleroon) on the other side. Srirangam is home to
a significant population of Srivaishnavites (followers of Lord Vishnu, one of the
triumvirate of Hindu Gods the other two being Lord Siva, the Destroyer and Lord
Brahma, the Creator.
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Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
The main gopuram of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
White Gopuram at Srirangam Temple
The seven walled enclosures of Srirangam
Srirangam is famous for its Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a major pilgrimage
destination for Hindus (especially Srivaishnavites) and the largest temple complex in
India.
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According to the temple's website, Srirangam can be considered the biggest functioning
Hindu temple in the world, as it covers an area of about 631,000 square metres
(6,790,000 sq ft) with a perimeter of 4 km (10,710 ft). Srirangam claims to be the
biggest functioning temple; Angkor Wat is bigger but non-functioning.
Srirangam is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines (Swayam Vyakta
Kshetras) of Lord Vishnu. It is also considered the first, foremost and the most important
of the 108 main Vishnu temples (Divyadesams). This temple is also known as
Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam, Bhogamandabam. In the
Vaishnava parlance the term "KOIL" signifies this temple only. The temple is enormous
in size. The temple complex is 156 acres (0.63 km2) in extent. It has seven prakaras or
enclosures. These enclosures are formed by thick and huge rampart walls which run
round the sanctum. There are 21 magnificent towers in all prakaras providing a unique
sight to any visitor. this temple lies on an islet formed by the twin rivers Cauvery and
Coleroon.
The Srirangam temple complex is composed of 7 concentric walled sections and 21
gopuram (monumental tower). The gopuram of the temple is called the Rajagopuram and is
236 feet (72 m) tall, the tallest in Asia.
The temple has seven prakaras (elevated enclosures) with gopurams articulating the
axial path, the highest at the outermost prakara and the lowest at the innermost. In
historic times, just after the construction of this temple, the city of Srirangam lived
completely within the walls of this temple and hence is quoted as an example of Hindu
religious utopia - during its peak of existence.
The three sacred Ranganatha temples on the banks of the Kaveri are:



Adi Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapattana
Madhya Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Shivanasamudra
Antya Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam
There is a gopuram fully made of gold, which is protected by electrical fence.
Clothes such as Silk Sarees, Dhoti, Towels, etc.., used for religious purposes are
auctioned here.
Inside the temple compound, there is a separate temple for the goddess Andal.
On arrival at Thanjavur, proceed for hotel check in.
Visit the magnificent temple of Brihadeeshwara built about 1000 years ago by Raja Raja Chola, UNESCO
World Heritage Site. This temple is a living testimony to the sculptural and architectural excellence of the Cholas.
Also visit the Thanjavur Palace partly built by the Nayaks in 1550 AD and partly by the Marathas.
Visit the Saraswathi Mahal Library which has an extensive collection of over 30,000 manuscripts, palm leaf
inscriptions and books.
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Brihadeeswarar Temple
The Peruvudaiyar Koyil (Tamil: ெபருவுைடயார் ேகாயில், peruvuḍaiyār kōyil ?), also
known as Brihadeeswarar Temple and Rajarajeswaram, at Thanjavur is a Hindu
temple dedicated to Shiva and a brilliant example of the major heights achieved by
Cholas in Tamil architecture. It is a tribute and a reflection of the power of its patron
Raja Raja Chola I. It remains India's largest temple and is one of the greatest glories of
Indian architecture. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living
Chola Temples".
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This temple is one of India's most prized architectural sites. The
temple stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the
16th century. The vimana — or the temple tower — is 216 ft (66 m)
high and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Kumbam
(or Kalash or Chikharam) (apex or the bulbous structure on the top)
of the temple is not carved out of a single stone as widely believed.
There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single
rock, at the entrance measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet
high. The entire temple structure is made out of hard granite
stones, a material sparsely available in Thanjavur area where the
temple is. Built in 1010 AD by Raja Raja Chola in Thanjavur, Brihadeeswarar Temple,
also popularly known as the ‘Big Temple', turned 1000 years old in 2010.
Thanjavur Maratha palace
The Thanjavur Maratha Palace Complex, known locally
as Aranmanai, is the official residence of the Bhonsle
family who ruled over the Tanjore region from 1674 to
1855.
Saraswathi Mahal Library
The Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji’s Saraswathi Mahal Library is one among the few libraries
in the world with texts of the medieval period. It is a treasure house of knowledge
carefully fostered and nurture by successive dynasties of Nayaks and the Marathas of
Thanjavur. It contains a rare and valuable collection of manuscripts, books, maps and
paintings on all aspects of Art, Culture and literature, The Encyclopedia Britannica, in its
survey of the Libraries of the world, describes it as “the most remarkable Library was
made a Public Library in 1918
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Overnight at Tanjore
Hotel Oriental Towers
2889, Srinivasam Pillai Road
Thanjavur - 613 001
Tamilnadu, India
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11 APR 2013 (THU) TANJORE/THANJAVUR – CHIDAMBARAM –
PONDICHERRY
(173 Kms and 3 ½ Hrs Approx)
After breakfast at hotel check out and drive to Pondicherry. En route visit Chidambaram.
Chidambaram: Where Shiva is believed to have performed his cosmic dance, the tandava nritya, is a traditional
temple town where history merges with mythology to create a deeply religious ambience. The focal point of the
town is the awe - inspring Nataraja Temple, built by the Cholas in the 9th century to honor their patron deity,
Shiva as Nataraja, the "Lord of Dance". The temple has an unusual hut - like sanctum with a gold - plated roof,
the huge, colonnaded Shivaganga Tank, and four colorful gopuras.
Chidambaram Temple
(120 km – 2 ½ hours )
The ancient Chidambaram Temple (Tamil: சிதம்பரம் ேகாயில் ) is dedicated to Lord
Shiva in his form of the cosmic Dancer (Nataraja நடராசர்). It
is one of the five dancing halls (Sabha) of Nataraja and the
most famous one. Chidambaram is the Kanaka Sabha
(Golden Hall). It is also one of the Panchabhoota Sthalams representing five basic elements. This is the Akasa Sthalam
representing 'Space' among the Pancha Bootha Sthalams. For
Saivites all over the world this is the most important Siva
Temple. The stand alone word "Kovil" would automatically
mean Chidambaram Temple to Saivites. The others are Tiruvannamalai (Thejo sthalam - Fire) Kanchipuram (Prithvi
sthalam - Earth) Srikalahasti (Vayu sthalam - Air)
Tiruvanaikaval (Trichy) (Appu sthalam - Water).
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The temples at Kalahasti, Kanchipuram and Chidambaram all stand on a straight line at
79' 45" east longitude - truly an engineering, astological and geographical wonder. The
Chidambaram temple houses the Akasha Lingam of Shiva and is considered one of the
greatest Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu. The Govindaraja shrine adjacent to the Nataraja
Shrine was constructed in 1639 C.E. by a Cholas. Nataraja in Chidambaram Temple has
been sung by many Tamil saints including the Tevaram Trio - Sambanthar,
Tirunavukkarasar, Sundaramurti Swamigal. Manikkavacakar attained Mukti in
Chidambaram by becoming one with Nataraja. The other Saiva saint of importance who
attained mukti here is Nandanar. Nandanar, born in a caste of untouchables became
exalted by his bhakti, that even the most conservative Brahmins of Chidambaram
worshipped him. Chidambaram hosts the most ancient set of the 108 Karana stone
carvings, the key dance movements of Nataraja. The temple complex is spread over 40
acres (160,000 m2) in the heart of the city. Many thousands of devotees come to this
auspicious temple to pay homage to the dancing Siva.
The temple houses the Shiva and Vishnu in the same complex,where a devotee can have
darshan of Lord Shiva and Lord Govindaraja(Lord Vishnu) from a single place. The
Govindaraja temple is also among the 108 dhivya desams of Vaishnavites.
Temple Story
The story of Chidambaram begins with the legend of Lord Shiva strolling into the Thillai
Vanam (Vanam meaning forest and thillai trees - botanical name Exocoeria agallocha, a
species of mangrove trees - which currently grows in the Pichavaram wetlands near
Chidambaram. The temple sculptures depicting the Thillai trees date back to the 2nd
century CE).
In the Thillai forests resided a group of saints or 'rishis' who believed in the supremacy
of magic and that God can be controlled by rituals and 'mantras' or magical words. The
Lord strolls in the forest with resplendent beauty and brilliance, assuming the form of
'Pitchatanadar', a simple mendicant seeking alms. He is followed by his Grace and
consort who is Lord Vishnu as Mohini. The rishis and their wives are enchanted by the
brilliance and the beauty of the handsome mendicant and his consort.On seeing their
womenfolk enchanted, the rishis get enraged and invoke scores of 'serpents' (Sanskrit:
Nāga) by performing magical rituals. The Lord as the mendicant lifts the serpents and
dons them as ornaments on his matted locks, neck and waist. Further enraged, the rishis
invoke a fierce tiger, which the Lord skins and dons as a shawl around his
waist.Thoroughly frustrated, the rishis gather all their spiritual strength and invoke a
powerful demon Muyalakan - a symbol of complete arrogance and ignorance. The Lord
wearing a gentle smile, steps on the demon's back, immobilizes him and performs the
Ánanda Thaandava (the dance of eternal bliss) and discloses his true form. The rishis
surrender, realizing that this Lord is the truth and he is beyond magic and rituals.
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Natraja Temple
(built 9th-12th centuries onward)
The Shri Shiva Nataraja temple, also called Shri Sabhanayaka temple, Chidambaram,
India. Notes by Raja Deekshitar
The temple of Shiva Nataraja (Shri Sabhanayaka) of Chidambaram is one of the great
temple complexes of South India. Chidambaram is situated some 250 km south of
Chennai, about 10 km from the Bay of Bengal. (11°24’ North and 79°43’ East). The
temple is the heart of the town with the complex measuring 18 hectares in total. The
temple is a living religious institution, and it is therefore still developing.
The complex has a
rectangular shape and is
orientated on the cardinal
directions. It is structured as
five concentric courtyards or
prakaras, four of which are
accessible to the public, the
fifth being only accessible to
the priests as it lies within
the walls of the main
sanctum. The prakaras are
separated by approximately
10 meter high granite walls .
The two outermost walls
have four entrance ways in
each of the sides. But
whereas the gateways and
gopurams of other South
Indian temples are
orientated aligned into a
cross, here the gopurams are
placed in an asymmetrical
pattern.
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The fifth prakara, between the outer (fourth) wall and the third wall of enclosure, is in
use for gardens. The four gopurams, pyramidal shaped temple gateways, are situated in
the fourth prakara wall. Within this wall we find the main temple as well as the sacred
tirtha or water place, and many subsidiary shrines and buildings.
Chidambaram  Pondicherry ( 70 km 1 ½ hours )
On arrival at Pondicherry check in the hotel. Later proceed for tour of Pondicherry.
The main tourist draw in Pondicherry is Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where Sri Aurobindo and the Mother spent their
time for the uplift of society. Pondicherry also has an amusing beach alongside Promenade and has some
ancient monuments. Some of the other charming destinations include Auroville, the Church of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus and the Bharti and Bharthidasan Memorial museum. In its credit it has the birth-place of
Subramanya Bharathy, the great Tamil poet and also the birth place of world famous film director M. Night
Shyamalan.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Bharti Museum Chinnasami Subramania Aiyar is his personnal name. The title
"Bharathi" (Tamil Bharathi = Goddess Saraswathi ) conferred to him in 1893 in the
Sabha of court-poets in recognition of his poetic talent-later it became his pet-name.This
is the place where the legendary Tamil poet Mahakavi subramania bharathiar lived after
arriving here in 1908.
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Auroville belongs to nobody in particular.Auroville belongs to
humanity as a whole. But to live in Auroville, one must be the
willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness.Auroville will be the
place of an unending education, of constant progress, and a
youth that never ages.Auroville wants to be the bridge between
the past and the future. Taking advantage of all discoveries
from without and from within, Auroville will boldly spring
towards future realisations.Auroville will be a site of material
and spiritual researches for a living embodiment of an actual
Human Unity.
There are several of churches that are worthy of a visit.One of the most beautiful is the
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus located on South Boulevard. It is built in the
Gothic style and has three stained glass panels in a corridor behind the altar which
exhibits the life of Christ. The Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges on Rue Dumas was built
in 1865. The church has an oil painting of Our Lady of
Assumption that was donated by Napoleon III. The Eglise de Notre Dame de Lourdes
situated in Villiyanur on the outskirts of Pondicherry is built on the same pattern as the
Basilica at Lourdes in France.
Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple (located François Martin
Street) was in existence before the French came and settled in
Pondicherry i.e. before 1666. In 1668 the French after
obtaining permission from the English had constructed a Fort
adjacent to Manakula Vinayagar Temple. Sri Manakula
Vinayagar Temple was constructed on the banks of a sandy
pond and in view of it only it is called as Manakula Vinayagar
Temple.
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Overnight at Pondicherry
Hôtel du Parc
5, Jawaharlal Nehru street,
Pondicherry,
India - 605 001
Telephone: +91 413 222 6591 to 94
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12 APR 2013 (FRI) PONDICHERRY – MAHABALIPURAM (100 Kms and 02 Hrs
Approx)
After breakfast at hotel check out and drive to Mahabalipuram.
On arrival check in at the hotel. Later proceed for visit of Mahabalipuram.
Mahabalipuram, derived from 'Mamallapuram' (Tamil: மாமல்லபுரம்) is the prior and
colloquial name of a town in Kancheepuram district in Tamil Nadu, now officially called
Mamallapuram. It has an average elevation of 12 metres.
Mahabalipuram was a 7th century port city of the South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas
around 60 km south from the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The name Mamallapuram is
believed to have been given after the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, who took on the
epithet Maha-malla (great wrestler), as the favourite sport of the Pallavas was wrestling.
It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7th and the 9th centuries,
and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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It is renowned for its series of charming RATHAS and the spectacular carved relief depicting ARJUNA’S
PENANCE.
The magnificent SHORE TEMPLE built by king Rajasimha in the seventh century houses the shrines of both
Shiva and Vishnu while the Varaha Cave is a rock-cut mandapam with two incarnations of Vishnu — Varaha
and Vamana — besides scenes of kings and queens. The KRISHNA MANDAPAM has a bas-relief of Lord
Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill on his fingertips.
Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) is an example of monolith Indian rock-cut architecture
dating from the late 7th century, located at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage
site and village 60 km south of the capital Chennai.
Each temple is a monolith, carved whole from a rock
outcropping of pink granite. The five monolithic shrines
are named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima,
Yudhishthira, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. Four
shrines have pyramidal roofs. The shrines represent
diversity of Dravidian architecture of the time and it is
likely that their original design traces back to wood
constructions.
South of the hill (some 200 meters away) is a complex of rock-cut shrines called the
Pancha (five) Rathas (chariots) named after the heroes of the Mahabharata, which are,
possibly, not their original names. It is here that one sees architecture in action and
every crucial stage of its evolutionary process. A closer
look at the shrines will enable to see how the artist
carved each shrine out of the living rock, beginning from
the top and working downwards. Chisel markings and
unfinished parts of the shrine add much to our
admiration of the Herculean task of cutting the hard
granite rock, from top to bottom, chip by chip, to
fashion an entire temple.
The first Ratha is named after Draupadi (the common
wife of the five Pandav brothers, the heroes of the
Mahabharata). The square shrine has a simple peaked
roof, similar to a thatched hut, with decorated corners.
This roof design was never used again in southern Indian architecture but was
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transmuted into a miniature hut motif and placed at every horizontal level of subsequent
rathas, and later temples, throughout the region. The next shrine is the small elegant
Arjuna Rath, which, like the Dhamaraja Rath, is a square building with distinct
horizontal levels on its pyramidal roof and small roof motifs along the edges. The final of
the tower or shikhara is dome-shaped with little window-like openings on its faceted
sides. This form of tower was to serve as the prototype for all later southern Indian
temples. After this successful experiment it was merely a question of increasing the
number of levels, and refining and multiplying the miniature roof motifs along its sides.
The central shrine of this group is named Bhima Ratha and has a huge rock-cut barrelvaulted roof like a large thatched hut. This experiment was not accepted in subsequent
centuries as the appropriate model for the tower above the sanctum, but was used
instead for the crown of all the tall gopurams or gateways leading into the walled
enclosure of the temples of southern India.
SHORE TEMPLE
The Shore Temple (built in 700-728 AD) is so named
because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is a
structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from
the 8th century AD. It was built on a promontory sticking out
into the Bay of Bengal.
The village was a busy port during the 7th and 8th century
reign of the Pallava dynasty during the reign of
Narasimhavarman II.
KRISHNA MANDAPAM
Descent of the Ganga
Sometimes called Arjuna's Penance is an enormous relief (29 meters by 13 meters)
sculpted on two huge boulders. A cleft in the rock enabled rainwater to cascade down
between the two boulders, simulating the descent of the mighty river Ganga. This cleft is
the focus of the entire composition and every image seems to away towards it. The river
has water serpent deities, the naga raja and his wife, and people bathing and playing
beside its banks. The water as it fell collected in a pond, which must have been
decorated with real lotus flowers, fish, and frogs to complete the realism of the relief.
The frieze has been carved on either side of the descending waters. Overhead the sky is
peopled with flying figures of gods and gantharvas, all celebrating the coming to earth of
the celestial river.
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Mythology explains that a sage Bhagirath requested the mighty Ganga (a river appearing
as the Milky Way in the heavens) to fall down to earth to wash away the sins of the dead
and the ashes of the thousands of his relatives. In the upper left hand corner one can
see Bhagirath standing in a yogic posture, meditating and performing (for he is all skin
and bones) strenuous tapas to appeal to the river goddess. Shiva was requested to bear
the brunt of the might of the river on his head for
no one else could support such a burden. He is
seen coming up beside Bhagirath and offering his
assistance, accompanied by his ganas, followers.
As the river descends, all of nature responds to her
fertile presence and cleansing spirit. Animals, lions,
docile deer, and a delightful family of elephants
with their young (on the right) come towards the
river to pay their obeisance. A touch of humour, so
characteristic of Indian art, is introduced with a cat
imitating Bhagirath's tapas, standing on one hind
leg meditating. While the cat has gone spiritual,
tiny mice frolic in gay abandon. Seated to the right
of the relief on a boulder is the celebrated portrait
sculpture of a monkey family, busy preening one
another and playing with the baby.
Overnight at Mahabalipuram
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Sea Breeze Hotel
No.18 Othavadai Street
Mamallapuram
Mamallapuram 603104
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13 APR 2013 (SAT) MAHABALIPURAM – KANCHIPURAM – CHENNAI
(55 Kms and 01 Hrs approx)
After breakfast at hotel, check out and drive to Chennai. En route visit
Kanchipuram.
KANCHIPURAM, the fabled city of a thousand temples. It is one of the seven
sacred cities of India. There are 650 stone inscriptions here belonging to
different dynasties. The temples reflect the maturity and efflorescence of
Pallava art and the ornate and often imposing embellishments were produced
later by the Chola, Vijayanagar and Chalukyan kings. There is solemn grandeur,
a grandiosity of vision and ornamental excess in the temples here. The temples to visit include Kanchi
Kamakshi Temple, Kanchi Kudhi Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple, Ekambaranatha Temple.
(67 km, ~ 1 ½ hour)
Kanchipuram or Kanchi (previously romanized as Kāñci-pura, Conjevaram, is a
temple city. It served as the Capital city of the Pallava Kingdom. It is also known by its
former names Kanchiampathi, Conjeevaram, and the nickname "The City of Thousand
Temples". It is now the Administrative headquarters of Kanchipuram district.
Kanchipuram is located 72 kilometers from Chennai.
Kanchipuram is considered one of the seven holiest cities to the Hindus of India. In
Hinduism, a kṣetra is a sacred ground, a field of active power, a place where moksha,
final release can be obtained. The Garuda Purana enumerates seven cities as providers
of moksha, namely Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Avantikā, Dvārakā and
Kanchipuram. The town is considered sacred both to Hindu gods Shiva and Vishnu.
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Among the major Hindu temples in Kanchipuram are some of the most prominent Vishnu
Temples and Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu like the Varadharaja Perumal Temple for
Vishnu and the Ekambaranatha Temple which is the "earth abode" of Shiva. Kamakshi
Amman Temple, Kumara Kottam, Kachapeshwarar Temple, and the Kailasanathar
Temple are some of the other prominent temples.
Kanchipuram is also famous for its hand woven silk sarees.
Here’s an opportunity to discover one of India’s most intriguing places! A city of a
thousand temples… Kanchipuram is one that will leave you in awe! A picture perfect
destination, Kanchipuram is not just known to house some of India’s most spectacular
temples but is also considered to be the second holiest city after Varanasi.
A city with a glorious past, its history can be traced back to the pre Christian era with
the place being mentioned in Patanjali’s Mahabhashya written in the 2ndcentury. The
erstwhile capital of the Pallavas, Cholas, Vijayanagar dynasty, and the Muslims, each of
these dynasties being art lovers have left behind some enriching architecture to
remember them by in the form of splendid temples and other monuments that have
made this city a must feature in your tourist itinerary.
Being a temple city, temples here are the prime attraction, and while one may not find a
thousand temples here today, the 126 temples, some dating back to the 7th century, will
promise to have you spellbound with their South Indian style of temple architecture
(Dravidian style).
Kanchi Kamakshi Temple
The Kamakshi Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Kamakshi, one of the
forms of the goddess Parvati. It is located in the historic city of Kanchipuram, and is
popularly associated with Sankaracharya, one of the greatest Hindu gurus. The
Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, the Akilandeswari temple in Thiruvanaikaval near
Tiruchirappalli and this Kamakshi are the important centers of worship of Parvati as the
mother goddess, in the state of Tamil Nadu. The temple was most probably built by the
Pallava kings, whose capital was Kanchipuram, around 6 C.E.
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The main deity, Kamakshi, is seated in a majestic Padmasana, an yogic posture
signifying peace and prosperity, instead of the traditional standing pose. The goddess
holds a sugarcane bow and bunch of flowers in the lower two of her arms and has a
pasha (lasso), an ankusha (goad) in her upper two arms. There is also a parrot perched
near the flower bunch. There are no other Parvati temples in the city of Kanchipuram,
apart from this temple, which is unusual in a traditional city that has hundreds of
traditional temples. There are various legends that account for this fact. One of them
according to Kamakshivilasa is that the Goddess had to absorb all the other shakthi
forms to give a boon to Kama, the Hindu god of love. Another legend attributes it to the
Raja Rajeswari pose of the deity that signifies an absolute control over the land under
the deity's control. Legend has it that Kamakshi offered worship to a Shivalingam made
out of sand, under a mango tree and gained Shiva's hand in marriage.
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Kanchi Kudhi Temple
Kanchi Kudil was born of a desire to use an
ancestral property to innovatively impart the
heritage of Kanchipuram in a manner that would be
accessible to tourists visiting such an historic place
like Kanchipuram.
It
provides an opportunity for tourists to understand
and grasp how local people lived in a small town like
Kanchipuram a century ago.
Additionally, Kanchi Kudil provides a place to relax
and enjoy a traditionally cooked meal, while also
having access to acceptable, standard amenities especially clean toilets.
Within the city limits of Kanchipuram, Kanchi Kudil is conveniently located on the road
leading to the Kailasanather Temple.
Kamakshi Amman Temple
Dedicated to goddess Parvathi, the Kamakshi Amman
Temple is also one of the places Sakthi is worshipped.
While the original structure dates back to the 7thcentury
the time of the Pallava dynasty, it was rebuilt in the10th
century by the Chola kings. The temple is known for its
golden “gopuram” in the centre along with a golden
chariot which is taken out in processions on Fridays.
Apart from these one can also find a shrine dedicated to
Sri Adi Shankaracharya over here.
Ekambaranatha Temple
Of the many temples here, the Ekambaranatha
temple is probably one of the most amazing temples
extending over 11 stories! One of the largest temple
structures of S. India, it sprawls over 12 hectares of
land, with significant contributions made from each of
the dynasties that once ruled the land. Home to some
brilliant sculptures and a thousand pillared mandapan
(hall), here Shiva is worshipped as Prithvi or earth, one
of the five basic elements of the physical world. The
temple premises is also home to a mango tree that is over 3500 years old, the four limbs
of the tree represent the four Vedas and it is said that a fruit of each of these limbs
tastes different even though they all belong to the same tree!
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Later proceed for Chennai (ex Madras).
Visit Chennai was developed as a British trading post, and as such, most of its attractions have a distinct
colonial influence. Stretched over an area of 13 km, MARINA BEACH is the second longest beach in the
world.
The ST. GEORGE FORT, built in 1653, is currently used as the state government/’s secretariat. SAN
THOME Cathedral was built around 14th/15th century and is another colonial structure worth visiting.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the KAPALESHWAR TEMPLE is the oldest temple in Chennai
St. George Fort
The year 1644 adds another glorious chapter in the history of the South Indian city
Chennai, then known as Madras, conferring upon it a gift of the St. George Fort along
the shores of Bay of Bengal. Historically famous as White Town, the fort has taken its
name from St. George who is believed to have a significant influence in the region during
that era and whose birthday coincides with the day of completion of the construction of
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the fort. The fort is considered to be the first establishment of the British in India.
Initially erected as a trading post, it later served as the origin of the modern Indian
Army. A live example of the military architecture
marvel, the St. George Fort is probably the most
noticeable ancient monument in Chennai. The fort
holds great historical importance and is looked
after by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Towards the end of the 17th century, the East
India Company was fully established within the
territory of India, with British primarily focussing
on the trade and economic activities. However, as
the time passed, the company felt the need to
have a permanent trading station. The dream was
realized when it acquired the coastal land from a chieftain of Vijay Nagar. The company
built the fort on this land and expanded their activities. It served as a home away from
home for the officials of the East India Company. Furthermore, this helped in the
development of the city Madras, now Chennai.
Primarily, the St. George Fort is divided into two sections: St. Mary's Church and the Fort
Museum. St. Mary's Church enjoys the status of being one of the oldest surviving
churches built by the British in India as well as the oldest Anglican Church on the land of
India. This beautiful building, established in 1680 has stood the test of times and still
holds the splendour of the yore. The tombstones in its graveyard are incomparable and
are seen as the oldest one in India. Another fascinating structure here is the 150 ft tall
Flagstaff, made entirely of teakwood. Though the original flagstaff is no more to be seen,
its relics are still visible. The church is famously known as the 'Westminster Abbey of the
East'.
San Thome Basilica
San Thome Basilica is a Roman Catholic (Latin Rite)
minor basilica in Santhome.
It was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers,
and rebuilt again with the status of a cathedral by the
British in 1893. The British version still stands today. It
was designed in Neo-Gothic style, favored by British
architects in the late 19th century.
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Kapaleeshwarar Temple (Tamil: கபாlஸ்வரர் ேகாவில் Kapālīsvarar Kōvil) is a
temple of Shiva located in Mylapore, a suburb of
Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The form
of Shiva's wife Parvati worshipped at this temple is
called Karpagambal (from Tamil, "Goddess of the
Wish-Yielding Tree"). The temple was built around
the 7th century CE and is a good example of
Dravidian architecture.
According to the Puranas, Shakti worshipped Shiva in
the form of a peacock, which is why the vernacular
name Mylai (Mayilāi) was given to the area that
developed around the temple - mayil is Tamil for
"peacock". The original idol of this temple is kept in Jina Kanchi (Mel Chitamoor) near
Tiruttani.
Transfer to International airport.
14 APR 2013 (SUN) DEParTure CHENNAI
Hotel check out and in time transfer to International airport to board flight for onward journey...
Lufthansa : CHE - BRU 01:40 > 10:25
TOUR ENDS
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Geschiedenis van India
3000-2600 vC
Ontstaan rond de Indus (Pakistan)
Steden : Harappa, Mohenjo Daro
Citadel, gemeenschappelijke schuren, straten en huizen in rasterpatroon,
waterreservoirs en bakstenen riolen.
Agrarisch
Handel : met Mesopotamië en Egypte
Materialen : koper, brons, ivoor en hout; kenden katoen en ijzer (wagens).
Volk : Dravidiërs
Er was een schrift maar het is nog niet ontijferd.
2600-1750 vC
Induscultuur
Verval door stijging van de zeespiegel
1500 vC
Dravidiërs en Ariërs (Arya = edele)
Ariërs kwamen uit Kasachstan & Iran – brachten godsdienst mee
Gingen over van veeteelt naar landbouw
Gondleggers van het Sanskriet
Veda’s (een verzameling heilige boeken) werden mondeling overgedragen
(Védisme)[1500-1100 vC]
Later werd dit Hindouïsme genaamd
Leer is verder uitgegroeid tot een mengkroes van godsdiensten
 Pad naar bevreiding uit de kringloop (leven, dood, wedergeboorte)
 Levenkwaliteit op aarde verbeteren dmv zingen, dansen, genezen,
astrologie, beeldhouwkunst en bouwkunst
 Moreel juist gedrag
Basis van ket Kastensysteem
Goden zijn natuurelementen (Wind, Zon en maan, Water, regen, donder, ...)
Dravidiërs ontwikkelden Boeddhisme (566 vC) en Jaïnisme (599 vC)
waaruit later (??) het Hindouïsme rond de Brahman kwam.
1200-600 vC
Periode van de Brahmanas
700-500 vC
Koning van Magadha (Noord-Oosten)
Steden als Kashi (Varanasi) en Ayodha Shravasti
Kenden banken en het schift (Brahmi)
600 vC
Koninkrijk na Gupta door Harsha in Kanauj (noorden van Delhi)
Zuid India had Tamil-cultuur (drie volken : Chola, Chera en Pandya)
Chola-rijk tot de 13e eeuw in het zuiden.
500 vC
Mahavira (Jaïnisme)
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Ontstaan van het Boeddhisme welk zijn invoed zag toenemen gaande naar
300 vC.
Nirvana = ‘uitdoving van de kringloop’ van wedergeboorte
300 vC
Koning Ashoka
Mauryarijk en Boeddhisme
Luidde het einde in van het Brahmanisme.
326 vC
Alexander de Grote verkent de streek en de Grieken worden gestopt door
Ryhoo Maurya.
Na Ashoka heropleving van Bramanisme meer versniperd.
320 vC
Maurya : Krishna en Rama (incarnatie)
200 vC
Terug Ashoka
Wijze Bharata (200vC – 200 nC)
Negen belangrijke gevoelens
1. verrukking
2. plezier
3. verdriet
4. boosheid
5. energie
6. angst
7. afschuw
8. verwondering
9. kalmte
100 vC
Einde van Maurya
Het zuiden onafhankelijk onder het rijk Andhra (  Andhra Pradesh)
In het noorden de Zijderoute : smeltkroes van culturen en religie.
50 nC
Kama Sutra toegeschreven aan Vatsyayana
300-400 nC
Gypta dynastie in Noord-India
455-540 nC
Einde van de Gypta dynastie door de inval van de Hunnen (uit Mongolië)
300-1000 nC
Middeleeuwen
In het zuiden het rijk van de Karnataken waren sterk op zee.
711 nC
Islamisme
Inval van de Arabieren in noord-oosten maar teruggedrongen tot 1193 nC.
Periode van moslimoverwicht.
1000 nC
Ghaznévides (Arabieren) en regio van Delhi
Tempels worden verwoest, Islam enige godsdienst, Hindous worden vermoord.
1336-1565 nC
In het zuiden het laatste grote Hindoerijk gesticht door Vijayanagar
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1469 nC
Stichting van het Sikhisme door Namak
1500 nC
Mongolen (Turken - Babur) voor 300 jaar
Musulman
1556 nC
Akbar (kleinzoon van Brahma) [1556-1605]
Universele tolerantie, succes periode
Fatehpur Sikri (smetkroes tussen moslin en hindou)
1600 nC
Eerste Engelse nederzetting
Bouw van de Taj Mahal en Rood Fort door Sjah Djahan [1628-1657]
1700 nC
Portugese, Engels (1763) en Franse (1754 in Pondicherry) nederzettingen.
Einde van het Mongol imperium en Engelse colonie
1885 nC
Nehru : Nationaal congres
15/8/1947
Onafhankelijkheid
Ontstaan van Pakistan door Nahra (Moslim)
Nehru, Ghansi en Patel gouverneurs van India
1949 nC
Afsplitsing Cachemire
Boeddhisme
De vier menselijke doelen
1) Moreel juist gedrag (Dharma)
2) Materiële welvaart (Artha)
3) Genot (Kama)
4) Ultieme vrijheid (Moksha)
Cyclische kosmos
De tijd is onvoorrselbaar uitgestrekt en cyclisch
Scheppergod – Brahma
Elke dan van zijn leven = 8,640 miljoen jaar
Schepte het universum in de ochtend en ’s avonds (de Kalpa) na 4,320 miljoen
jaar stond hij toe dat de orde instortte en weer chaos ontstond. Hierbij was het
begin van de schepping.
Eerste periode ( 1,728,000 jaar – Kritayuga)
Wereldse verlangens, geen angst, haat of ziekte
Tetrayayuga (1,296,000 jaar)
Gebruik van offers en andere riten om de verloren staat terug te vinden
Dvaparayuga (846,000 jaar)
Deugdzaamheid was teruggelopen, tegenslag en eerste ziekten
Mensheid werd door zelfzuchtig verlangen gedreven
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Kaliyuga (432,000 jaar)
Huidig tijdperk
Deugd voor ¾ teruggedreven
Politiek door middel van dwang bedreven
Natuurrampen, ziekten, mensen moeten in steden wonen
Aan het einde van de cyclus herbegint hij.
Hindoeïsme
Afgeleid uit het sanskriet Sindhu.
Betekend ‘zij die bij de rivier wonen’
Veel gebruiken
Vereerde schepsels
Shiva : associatie met de stier
Koe = aarde en vruchtbaarheid
Brahma : vervoerd op eeb wilde gans
Saravati & zijn gezellin godin van de kunst : vergezeld met een witte zwaan
Vishnu : gedragendoor Garuda (half reus half adelaar, mensenarmen, gevederde
vleugels en dikke buik)
Rama (Vishnu’s aardse afstammeling) bijgestaan door zijn aap-begeleider
Ganesha (oudste zoon van Shiva en Parvati) : olifantskop. Begeleider was een
klein muisje
Vasuki : koning van de naga’s – slang
Jainisme
Afgeleid van het sanskriet jina (veroveraar)
Leraar Mahariva
Bevrijding uit eindelose kring van wedergeboorte
Vijf geloften
1. niet liegen
2. niet stelen
3. kuisheid
4. geen bezittingen hebben
5. geweldloosheid
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JAIN
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jain )
Jainism ( /ˈdʒeɪnɪzəm/; Sanskrit: जैनधमर् Jainadharma, Tamil: சமணம் Samaṇam, Bengali:
ৈজনধমর্ Jainadharma, Telugu: జెన
ౖ మతం Jainamataṁ, Malayalam: ൈജനമതം Jainmat,
Kannada: ಜೈನ ಧಮರ್ Jaina dharma), is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of nonviolence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and
practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the
soul toward divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul
that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the
state of supreme being is called a jina ("conqueror" or
"victor"). The ultimate status of these perfect souls is called
siddha. Ancient texts also refer to Jainism as shramana
dharma (self-reliant) or the "path of the nirganthas" (those
without attachments or aversions).
Jain doctrine teaches that Jainism has always existed and
will always exist, although historians date the foundation of
the organized or present form of Jainism to sometime
between the 9th and the 6th century BCE. Like most ancient
Indian religions, Jainism may have its roots in the Indus
Valley Civilization, reflecting native spirituality prior to the
Indo-Aryan migration into India. Other scholars suggested
the shramana traditions were separate and
contemporaneous with Indo-Aryan religious practices of the
historical Vedic religion.
Contemporary Jainism is a small but influential religious minority with as many as 6
million followers in India and growing immigrant communities in North America, Western
Europe, the Far East, Australia and elsewhere. Jains have significantly influenced and
contributed to ethical, political and economic spheres in India. Jains have an ancient
tradition of scholarship and have the highest degree of literacy for a religious community
in India. Jain libraries are the oldest in the country.
Ahimsa (Non-violence)
To cause "no harm" to living beings (on the lines of "live" and "let live"). The vow involves "minimizing"
intentional as well as unintentional harm to another living creature. There should even be no room for any
thought conjuring injury to others, let alone talking about it or performing of such an act.
Besides, it also includes respecting the views of others (non-absolutism and acceptance of multiple views).
Satya (Truthfulness)
To always speak of truth such that no harm is caused to others. A person who speaks truth becomes trustworthy
like a mother, venerable like a preceptor and dear to everyone like a kinsman. Given that non-violence has
priority, all other principles yield to it whenever there is a conflict. For example, in a situation where speaking
truth would lead to violence, it would be perfectly moral to remain silent (for you are neither being untrue, nor
causing violence by way of truth)
Asteya (Non-stealing)
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Not to take into possession, anything that is not willingly offered. It is the strict adherence to one's own
possessions without desiring for the ones that belong to others. One should remain satisfied by whatever is
earned through honest labour. Any attempt to squeeze material wealth from others and/or exploit the weak is
considered theft. Some of the guidelines for this principle follow as under:
 Always give people fair value for their labor or product.
 Not to take into possession materials that are not earned or offered by others.
 Not to take materials into personal possession that have been dropped off or forgotten by others.
 Not to purchase materials as a result of being cheaper in value, if the resultant price reduction is a result
of improper method of preparation. For instance, products made out of raw materials obtained by way of
pyramid schemes, illegal businesses, stolen goods, etc., should be strictly prohibited
Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
To exercise control over senses (including mind) from indulgence. The basic intent of this vow is to conquer
passion, thus preventing wastage of energy in the direction of pleasurable desires. During observance of this
vow, the householder must not have a sensual relationship with anybody other than one's own spouse. Jain
monks and nuns practice complete abstinence from any sexual activity.
Aparigraha (Non-possession, Non-materialism)
To observe detachment from people, places and material things. Ownership of an object itself is not
possessiveness; however, attachment to the owned object is possessiveness. For householders, non-possession is
owning without attachment, because the notion of possession is illusory. The basic principle behind observance
of this vow lies in the fact that life changes. What you own today may not be rightfully yours tomorrow. Hence
the householder is encouraged to discharge his or her duties to related people and objects as a trustee, without
excessive attachment or aversion. For monks and nuns, non-possession involves complete renunciation of
property and human relations.
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HOTELS ENVISAGED:
The Hotels mentioned below or similar on Bed & Breakfast basis
Days
City
3* Hotels
4* Hotels
Day 01
Arr Mumbai
Comfort Inn Heritage
Fariyas
Day 02
Mumbai / Bangalore
Pai Viceroy
Monarch Luxor
Day 03
Bangalore / Hassan
Southern Star
Hoysala Village
Day 04
Hassan / Mysore
Pai Vista
Regalis
Day 05
Mysore
Pai Vista
Regalis
Day 06
Mysore / Ooty
Monarch
Fortune Sullivan Court
Day 07
Ooty / Cochin
Grand
Ferns
Day 08
Cochin / Kumarakom
Houseboat
Day 09
Alleppey / Periyar
Tree Top
Greenwoods
Day 10
Periyar / Madurai
Royal Court
Fortune Pandiyan
DAy 11
Madurai / Chettinad
Chettinad Mansion
Day 12
Chettinad / Tanjore
Oriental Towers
Ideal River View
Day 13
Tanjore / Pondicherry
Du Parc
Anandha Inn
Day 14
Pondicherry / Mahabalipuram
Sea Breeze
Chariot Beach Resort
Day 15
Mahabalipuram / Chennai
Check Out
Departure
TOUR PRICE:
Minimum Paying Person
Price inUS $ on Double sharing basis
3*Hotels
4* Hotels
02 paying person
US $ 1239 per person
SUPPLEMENT AIRFARE (Subject to change)- Economy class
Sector
Flights
Mumbai / Bangalore
AI 607 (1730 / 1905 Hrs)
US $ 1433 per person
Fare
US $ 78 per person
Note: The above quoted airfares are based on current airfare. In case of any increase on the date of issue, the
differences would be payable extra.
Cost Includes:
 Accommodation in the above mentioned hotels or similar category hotels
 Accommodation in twin sharing basis.
 All hotels on Bed and Breakfast basis except on houseboat where all meals are included
 Arrival / Departure assistance by NAMASTE Representative.
 Transfers, sightseeing’s and excursions in Air-conditioned Vehicle
 One time monument entrance fees
 Service of English speaking local guides at Mumbai, Bangalore, Hassan, Mysore, Ooty, Cochin,
Madurai, Chettinad, Trichy, Tanjore, Chidambaram, Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram,
Chennai
 All currently prevailing taxes
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Price Excludes:
 Any expenses of personal nature such as telephone calls, tips, use of payable items in room mini bar, any
kind of alcoholic non-alcoholic beverages (unless specified)
 International / Domestic Air Fare
 Cost incurred in obtaining visa, airport taxes, insurance etc.
 Cost incurred in case of hospitalization or evacuation
 Tips gratuities given to drivers/ guides, restaurant waiters etc.
Note: Please note in case of any revision on tax structure, air/ train fare or fuel price between now and
time of travel the difference would be debited/ credited to you.
Hotel indicated in the list above would be the most preferred hotels for the tour. In case of rooms not
available in the hotels in the list, we will provide alternative hotels of similar category.
Even the hotels of similar category of similar category are not equally priced. Therefore while booking
alternative hotels if there is a difference in price the same will be charged as supplement. However, we
will absorb marginal difference.
We reserve the right to revise the tour price in case of any substantial revision in government tax
structure, fuel price or air/ train fare. However, we will absorb marginal difference.
Contact us
Namaste Tours Pvt. Ltd.
Contact Person : Mr. Balasubramanyan
O-130, DLF Shopping Mall, Arjun Marg, DLF Phase I
Gurgaon, Haryana-122002 (India)
Ph : +(91)-(124)-4040636/4040637/4057638/4057639
Fax : +(91)-(124)-4040635
Mobile : +(91)-9811116317 (Bala), 9811297273 (Ms Deepa)
Click to Call Free Send SMS / Text Message
Email : [email protected], [email protected]
From: Namaste Tours - Aneesh [[email protected]]
Sent: woensdag 3 oktober 2012 8:50
To: 'Leo Jo Estercam'
Subject: RE: Grand South India Tour
Sensitivity: Private
Dear Leo,
Warm greetings from Namaste Tours!!!
I hope you are doing well at your end……….
Please find the accommodation and flight status as per your tour programme.
Accomodation status
Date
Place/City
30 to 31 Mar’13
Mumbai
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Hotels
Comfort Inn Heritage
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Nights
01
Status
Confirmed
5/14/2015
31 to 01 Apr’13
01 to 02 Apr’13
02 to 04 Apr’13
04 to 05 Apr’13
05 to 06 Apr’13
06 to 07 Apr’13
07 to 08 Apr’13
08 to 09 Apr’13
09 to 10 Apr’13
10 to 11 Apr’13
11 to 12 Apr’13
12 to 13 Apr’13
Bangalore
Hassan
Mysore
Ooty
Cochin
Kumarakom
Periyar
Madurai
Chettinad
Tanjore
Pondicherry
Mahabalipuram
Pai Viceroy
Southern Star
Pai Vista
Monarch
Grand Cochin
Houseboat
Treetop
Royal Court
Chettinad Mansion
Oriental Towers
Du Parc
Sea Breeze
01
01
02
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Please note we have upgraded the hotel at Mumbai and have replaced the proposed hotel with Comfort Inn
Heritage. To know more about this hotel please find the website of the hotel:
http://www.comfortinnheritage.com/about.html
Flight status
Date
31 Mar’13
Sector
Mumbai - Bangalore
Flight
AI - 607
ETD – ETA
1730 – 1905 Hrs
Status
Confirmed
I hope you will find the above is in order.
We remain at your services for any other additional information or clarification you may require.
Thanking you for your co-operation and assuring you of ours at all times.
Kind Regards
Aneesh
Leo Jo Estercam
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VISA & Passpoort
Leo Jo Estercam
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Leo Jo Estercam
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Flight information
Leo Jo Estercam
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Leo Jo Estercam
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https://www.lufthansa.com/online/myportal/lh/fr/my_account/my_bookings/application?l=en&cid=1000241&ac
tion=callback&command=finish-corchange&filekey=7WKFY9&lastname=Estercam&newcor=FR
Leo Jo Estercam
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Leo Jo Estercam
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NAMASTE TOURS PVT LTD
O – 130, DLF Shopping Mall, Arjun Marg,
DLF Phase – I, Gurgaon (Haryana)
Tel: + 91 124 – 4040636 / 637 Fax: + 91 124 – 4040635
E-mail: [email protected]
www.namastetoursindia.com

Date
27 September 2012
To
In

Namaste Tours Pvt. Ltd
Gurgaon / INDIA

CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION LETTER
Dear Sir / Madam
Ref: Travel Arrangements in India
I/We wish to pay US $ 1317 + 3.5 % (Bank service charge + service tax) = US $ 1363 towards the travel
arrangements in India
I / we wish to pay you the 50% deposit for our travel arrangements and therefore send you the following
authorization form.
“I , Leo Estercam ,
Hereby authorize Namaste Tours Pvt. Ltd / Gurgaon India
To debit my CREDIT CARD VISA 4552 1809 6059 7858
For US $ 1363 towards the payment for tour arrangements in INDIA
This payment is being made by me / us against travel arrangements / services that would be taken by us during
our tour in INDIA. I / We agree to pay this amount and confirm that it will not be disputed by me/us later.”
Sign (exactly as on the card)
Name (exactly as on the card) _LEO ESTERCAM_____
Expiry date on the card
__12/12___
Passport Number _EH 535204____
Date of issue & expiry _20090402 & 20140401
ONLY MASTER / VISA CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED.
Leo Jo Estercam
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NAMASTE TOURS PVT LTD
O – 130, DLF Shopping Mall, Arjun Marg,
DLF Phase – I, Gurgaon (Haryana)
Tel: + 91 124 – 4040636 / 637 Fax: + 91 124 – 4040635
E-mail: [email protected]
www.namastetoursindia.com
Date
To
In


CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION LETTER
09 February 2013
Namaste Tours Pvt. Ltd
Gurgaon / INDIA
Dear Sir / Madam
Ref: Travel Arrangements in India
I/We wish to pay US $ 1317 + 3.5 % (Bank service charge + service tax) = US $ 1363 towards the travel
arrangements in India
I / we wish to pay you the balance 50% deposit for our travel arrangements and therefore send you the following
authorization form.
“I Leo Estercam,
,
Hereby authorize Namaste Tours Pvt. Ltd / Gurgaon India
To debit my CREDIT CARD _VISA 4454 7248 2644 9892___________________________________
For US $ 1363 towards the payment for tour arrangements in INDIA
This payment is being made by me / us against travel arrangements / services that would be taken by us during
our tour in INDIA. I / We agree to pay this amount and confirm that it will not be disputed by me/us later.”
Sign (exactly as on the card) ___________________
Name (exactly as on the card) __LEO ESTERCAM________________
Expiry date on the card
_____12/15___
Passport Number EH 535204_____ Date of issue & expiry 02/04/09 01/04/14___
ONLY MASTER / VISA CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED.
Leo Jo Estercam
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Leo Jo Estercam
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Leo Jo Estercam
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