South India

Group members from across Canada gather in Toronto for the direct overnight Etihad Airways flight to Abu Dhabi.

Following a direct connection, we continue our journey to Chennai. On arrival in the early evening, we transfer directly to our hotel. 

The Residency Towers (2 nights)

After breakfast we explore Chennai, capital of the East India Company from the 17th century onwards. Highlights include Fort St. George, the foundation on which the company grew and St. Mary’s Church, the first and oldest English church in India dating from 1680. In Mylapore, visit the 16th century Kapaleeshwarar Temple as well as the fruit and flower market. In the Government Museum and Art Gallery, we shall see galleries dedicated to traditional art and bronzes. The remainder of the day is at leisure. 

Visit San Thome Basilica containing the Apostle, known as “Doubting Thomas”, who in later life, lived and preached here. Continue to Kanchipuram, one of Hinduism's seven most sacred cities. This "Golden City of a Thousand Temples" dating back from the early 7th century and onwards, is one of early India’s richest dynasties. Only 70 of the original 1,000 temples remain, the most important one being the Kailasanathar Temple. Kanchipuram is also known for its silk weaving. Visit a village to see the craftsmen at work on their looms. Continue to Mahabalipuram with time to relax by the sea. (60 km /2 hrs) 

MGM Beach Resort (2 nights)

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mahabalipuram, home to remarkable 7th-century rock-hewn monuments, including the iconic Shore Temple. Unlike the nearby rock-cut structures, the Shore Temple is one of the earliest stone-built temples in South India and the only surviving structure of the legendary "Seven Pagodas" once believed to stand along the coast. The most important carving is the immense bas-relief sculpted in amazing detail on a huge whaleback-shaped rock depicting the descent of the Ganges to the earth. Another highlight is the Five Rathas, a set of monolithic carved temples that display the evolution of Dravidian style architecture. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

A short drive brings us to Pondicherry, the only French   colony in South Asia and a state where we can still experience the Parisian influence in both buildings and lifestyles. Visit Auroville, the City of Dawn, an experimental community from the 1960’s as well as Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community founded by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Highlights in Pondicherry include Raj Niwas, Romain Rolland Library and the museum. Enjoy a leisurely walk in the French Quarter. (125 km/2.5 hrs)

Le Pondy Hotel (1 night) 

Since ancient times, the Ganges has always been the most sacred river to Hindus. Visit a temple dedicated to the king who brought waters from the Ganges to the south and attend the morning prayer ceremony. After lunch, we will visit Darasuram and the Airavatesvara Temple, a Dravidian  temple considered as a “sculptor’s dream in stone”. Built by Rajaraja Chola in the 12th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a storehouse of art and architecture dedicated to Lord Shiva. (185 km / 6 hrs) 

Sangam Hotel (2 nights)

Visit a local village to explore its market and take a ride in a bullock cart. The Raja Museum contains a  collection of Chola sculptures in bronze and granite while the Sarasvati Mahal Library contains over 40,000 rare books and palm leaf manuscripts. The Brihadeeswarar Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 10th century by Chola Emperor Rajaraja I, will amaze us with its very sacred inner sanctum. The Gopuram of the temple was carved from a single piece of granite weighing around 80 tonnes.

We take a leisurely drive to the dream-land of Chettinad, noted for its majestic temples and palatial country mansions. Visit one of these estates to see how the wealthy once lived. The delectable Chettinad cuisine, made with freshly ground masala spices, has amazing flavours to tantalize your taste buds. Savour the Chettinad cuisine at lunch today which will be served in authentic style on a banana leaf. Continue to Madurai known as the temple city of South India. This evening, we visit Meenakshi Temple to witness the candle lit prayer ceremony when the temple bronze of Lord Shiva is carried to the bed chamber of Parvati. (180 km/5 hrs) 

Courtyard by Marriott (2 nights)  

We visit the remains of the Tirumala Nayak Palace. Explore the busy city centre by rickshaw, passing through the various markets en route to the massive Meenakshi Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. The temple’s towering stonewalls and 12 towers, called ‘Gopurams’, were built in the 17th century by Nayak rulers. The high point of the temple is the Hall of a "Thousand Pillars", built in the 16th century. Every pillar is unique and sculptured in Dravidian style. The ‘Musical Pillars’, when struck, produce a different musical note. Around the temple is a massive bazaar, functioning as it has for centuries. This is an opportunity to step into the past.

Take in the scenic farmland views before ascending into the Western Ghats, or hills, taking us to the former hill station of Periyar. After settling at our hotel, transfer to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary for a boat cruise deep into the park. In times past, Periyar was noted for its tiger population. While tigers are extremely rare, we can hope to see herds of elephants, wild boar, sambar deer and varieties of birds by the water's edge. (160 km/4 hrs) 

Shalimar Spice Garden Resort (2 nights)

We’ll learn why these exotic and fertile hills are known as the land of spices. This landscape is diffused with exotic spice plantations, green carpets of endless tea gardens and lush tropical forests. Following our guided introduction to the spice gardens we will be given a cooking demonstration at the plantation followed by lunch. Remainder of the day is at leisure. 

We descend from the highlands this morning, passing coffee, tea, and coconut plantations on our way back to the backwaters of Kerala, the region this coastal state is best known for. Set on the shores of Vembanad Lake, with its own private lagoon, our deluxe resort is noted for its beautiful grounds and spa facilities. It’s the perfect place to unwind with a relaxing massage. (120 km / 4 hrs) 

Zuri Kumarakom (1 night)

After a leisurely morning at our resort, we board our houseboat for a roundtrip Alleppey overnight cruise. This is the most romantic way to experience the backwaters of Kerala. Each barge has 2 to 4 comfortable bedrooms, a lounge, a dining area, a small bathroom and a kitchen where the staff will prepare our delicious meals. The cruise will take us through canals, lagoons, and past small villages providing glimpses of daily life such as locals washing clothes, cleaning dishes, harvesting coconuts and dates. Enjoy a drink of fresh coconut water while toddy is made for the locals. Relax onboard as the sun sets amongst the coconut palms while the staff prepare a home cooked meal. Anchor for the night and enjoy a quiet and relaxing evening on board. 

Blue Jelly Cruises (1 night) 

After a delicious breakfast while cruising to Allepey, we rejoin our coach for the drive into Cochin, Kerala’s oldest and most picturesque city. On arrival, we will be treated to an introduction to typical Syrian Christian cooking at the residence of Nimmy and Paul. Nimmy is a cookery instructor with more than 10 years’ experience, teaching traditional Keralan cuisine to visiting travellers. We then enjoy the lunch that Nimmy has prepared for us. This afternoon we have a brief introduction to the old city en route to our hotel. 

Fragrant Nature Cochin (2 nights) 

We explore Old Cochin beginning with St. Francis Church which was the first European Church in India built in 1562 by St. Francis. Explore the traditional Mattancherry Palace, a double-storied wooden palace particularly noted for its murals with scenes from the Ramayana. Later, we will continue to the Jewish Synagogue constructed in 1568, the oldest in the commonwealth. By the water’s edge, see the unique Chinese fishing nets introduced by Chinese traders. Walk through the Fort Kochi area with its historic 500 year old Dutch and Portuguese buildings, still amazingly well preserved. This evening we are in for a special treat, a Kathakali dance performance, one of India’s most spectacular dances. Experience the artistry of the performers as they transform through intricate makeup, costumes, and accessories, bringing their characters to life. 

After a free morning to explore the heart of the city, have a late lunch and a harbour cruise before we transfer to the airport to catch our flights back to Canada.

Arrive in Toronto and continue to our homes across Canada.