Day 1
Arrive
at
Chennai Airport and be transferred to the Hotel (for those arriving
in the early hours, your room will be included for the night of Jan 16th). Rest
and relax at the hotel or take an optional afternoon shopping trip. Breakfast
and lunch will be available at the Hotel. We will all meet for dinner and orientation
in the Hotel. Overnight in Chennai.
Day 2
After breakfast we'll drive to the holy city of
Kanchipuram (2 hours).
We'll visit the ashram of the Shankaracharya, local temples and silk weavers
and have lunch. In the evening, we'll return to the Hotel in Chennai.
Day 3
After breakfast we'll drive to
Tiruvannamalai (3 hours) and check into
the Ashram of
Sri Ramana Maharishi. After lunch we'll rest and enjoy
the Ashram life and meditate at Sri Ramana's Shrine. Overnight at the Ashram.
Day 4
After breakfast, climb Arunchala Hill, visit the Skandashram and Virupaksha
Cave and meditate at Ramana's hermitage. After lunch we'll visit the Arunachala
Temple and the local saints before Meditating and enjoying the evening chanting
at the Ashram. Overnight at the
Ashram.
Day
5
We'll make an optional early morning pilgrimage walk around
Arunchala Hill
(3 hours), which is recognized as a manifestation of Shiva. Then we visit
the Arunachala Temple for special pooja. Afternoon enjoy the Ashram. Overnight
at the Ashram
Day 6
After breakfast we'll drive to
Pondicherry and check into hotel. After
lunch we visit and, meditate in the Matrimandir at Auroville. Overnight in Pondicherry.
Day 7
After breakfast we'll visit the Ashram and Shrine of
Sri Aurobindo and
some of the local Ashram industries (paper and incense making, etc.). Dinner
will be at the beautiful, French colonial Hotel De L'Orient. Overnight in Pondicherry.
Day 8
After breakfast we'll drive to
Swamimalai (3 hours) and check into the
Sterling, Resort hotel. After lunch we'll begin our visits with the
Naadi
Scroll Readers. Overnight at the
Sterling Resort.
Day 9 and Day 10
We will rest and relax, visit local temples and a bronze icon maker while everyone
has an individual appointment with the Naadi Scroll Readers. There'll also be
time for us each to have a luxurious
Ayurvedic massage. There'll be evening
cultural programs and an early morning Homan (sacred fire ceremony). We'll overnight
at the
Sterling Resort.
Day 11
After breakfast we'll drive to
Tanjore (1 hour) to visit the spectacular
Brihadishwara Temple, the highest in India. After lunch, we'll continue on to
the holy city of Madurai. Overnight in
Madurai.
Day
12
We'll visit the beautifully decorated and multi-colored Sri
Meenakshi Temple,
shop in the bazaars and relax at the hotel. In the evening we'll catch our flight
back to Chennai. Overnight in Chennai.
Day 13
The day will be for sightseeing and last minute
shopping in
Chennai.
We'll rest, refresh and have a final, farewell dinner at the Hotel in preparation
for our evening departures for home.
The price for this entire tour not including your travel to and from India,
is:
US$ 3880 on single occupancy
US$ 3330 on double occupancy
This tour begins and ends in Chennai (Madras). You are required to make your
own travel arrangements to and from Chennai.
