
APPRECIATION LETTERS
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The Spirit of India
Duration : 20 Days / 19 Nights
Destination Covered : Delhi - Haridwar - Rishikesh - Mathura &
Vrindavan - Agra - Varanasi - Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram -
Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Kumbakonam - Darasuram - Gangaikonda -
Thanjavur - Srirangam - Trichy - Madurai - Rameshwaram - Kanyakumari -
Trivandrum
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Day 01: Arrival / Delhi
 Late
night arrival. Meeting and assistance upon arrival as our
representatives welcome you and escort you to your car.
Whilst the room keys and check-in is organized, our
representative would introduce the tour to you and hand over the
documents to you.
Welcome to India, or as we say 'atithi devo bhava' (the guest
is an incarnation of God). Thank you for giving us the
opportunity to serve you!
Overnight at The Imperial - a 5* Downtown Hotel
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Day 02: Delhi
 After
a leisurely breakfast, we proceed on a guided tour of New Delhi,
Visiting such sights as Bahai Temple, Humayun's Tomb (1586), the
Qutab Minar 72 meters high and one of the most perfect towers in
the Persian world. The Iron Pillar which has survived the
vagaries of weather for over 1500 years. Continue with a drive
through Embassy area, the Government buildings (1921-1930) and
Connaught Place, the heart and main shopping district of the
capital.
Later we cross the city and enter into the walled gates of the
Old Delhi. The capital of Muslim India between the 17th and 19th
centuries, Old Delhi seems somewhat anachronistic as compared to
New Delhi. It draws one through congested roads and lanes,
interesting mosques, monuments and forts relating to its
chequered history. Our tour includes visits to the Jamma Mosque
(1650) and drive through the fabled area of Chandni Chowk (aptly
translates to Moonlight Square) where the throngs of shoppers
and vendors meet in the oldest area of Delhi, on to the Red Fort
(1639-1648 built by Shah Jehan the builder of the Taj Mahal in
Agra) to view the inlaid and carved Royal Chambers, on to Raj
Ghat and nearby ghats where the founder of the nation, Mahatma
Overnight at The Imperial - a 5* Downtown Hotel
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Day 03: Delhi
 Following
a leisurely breakfast we will drive to Akshardham Temple.
Akshardham Temple is situated along the bank of the Yamuna
River, adjacent to New Delhi. It is a large complex of temples
made of pink sandstone and white marble. The Akshardham Temple
was built by the Swaminarayan sect as a spiritual center of
prayer and learning and as a resource center for the study of
Indian Culture.
Spread over 30 acres of the Eastern Bank of the Yamuna, the
Akshardham Temple is a synthesis of Indian architectural styles.
The design of the Akshardham Temple is inspired by temples from
different parts of India. The sources include the temples of
Badrinath in North India, Somnath in West India and Konark in
East India. With a complex of temples and shrines set amidst
sprawling lawns, prayer halls and spaces for meditation and
communal gatherings, the Akshardham Temple is a new landmark in
the National Capital Region. The Akshardham Temple is a
religious and cultural highlight of Delhi.
Home Visit & A Welcome Dinner with an Indian Family :
This evening we would visit an Indian family for an Indian home
experience. The evening is designed to give you a 'feel' and
insight into Indian family life as well as experience typical
Indian hospitality and home made Indian food.
Overnight at The Imperial - a 5* Downtown Hotel
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Day 04: Delhi / Haridwar (Dehradun Shatabdi - 0655 / 1122 Hrs)
Haridwar / Rishikesh (23 Kms)
 Transfer
to the train station to board your train to Haridwar
Meeting & assistance upon arrival in Haridwar & we will
drive to Rishikesh
Upon arrival check in to Ananada Spa, which offers an extensive
menu of over 79 body and beauty treatments, integrating the
traditional Indian systems of Ayurveda with the more
contemporary Western spa approach. The spa experience strives to
achieve the ultimate harmony between the physical and the mental
realms of the individual.
With unique focuses on the traditional Indian sciences of Yoga
and Ayurveda, Ananda Spa creates the skillful synthesis between
age-old therapies and modern spa technology. The personalized
therapy and activities programs is designed to meet individual
needs and health goals - de-stress, detoxification and
cleansing, deep relaxation, anti-aging, weight & inch loss,
while also offering guidance in the areas of nutrition and
exercise
Overnight at Ananda Spa
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Day 05: Rishikesh / Haridwar / Rishsikesh (23 Kms - One Way)
 Today
we will have an excursion of Haridwar
Upon arrival we explore the unending list of attractions in
Haridwar is endless. Har-Ki-Pauri, the sacred ghat was
constructed by King Vikramaditya in the memory of his brother
Bhartrihari. Haridwar abounds with several Hindu temples and
Ashrams (Hermitages). More than the architectural designs, it is
the spiritual ambience of the place that is so striking. The
Daksh Mahadev Temple is an ancient shrine situated to the south
of Kankhal town. This temple was constructed by Queen Dhankaur
in AD 1810. Kankhal has several other temples and ashrams too.
The Sapt Rishi Ashram is situated along the Haridwar-Rishikesh
road. The Ganges flows in seven streams in front of this Ashram,
hence this place is also called Sapt Sarovar. The Kanva Rishi
Ashram is situated around 42 km from Haridwar. The ashram is on
the banks of the Malini River along the forest road to Kotdwar.
Other important places to visit are the Bharat Mata Temple, Maya
Devi Temple, Bhimgoda, and Shanti Kunj.
Afternoon we suggest you walk across over the bridge to witness
the fascinating Ganga 'Aarti' (invocation). The golden
reflection of floral diyas in the river Ganges is the most
enchanting sight in the twilight during the Ganga aarti ceremony
at the ghat. The synchronised chanting of prayers that takes
place during the Aarti is a very uplifting experience.
Later evening we will drive back to Rishikesh
Overnight at Ananda Spa
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Day 06: Rishikesh / Haridwar (23 Kms) (1/2 Hrs Drive) Haridwar
/ Delhi (Dehradun Shatabdi - 1810 / 2245 Hrs)
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Day is at leisure for
your independent activities
Evening transfer to the Haridwar train station to board your
train to Haridwar
Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to your hotel
The Imperial
Overnight at The Imperial - a 5* Downtown Hotel
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Day 07: Delhi / Mathura & Vrindavan / Agra (205 Kms)
 Morning
transfer to the train station to board your train to Delhi
Meeting and assistance upon arrival in Delhi & we will
drive to Agra enroute we will visit Mathura & Vrindavan
A land where Shri Krishna was born and spent his youth, has
today little towns and hamlets that are still alive with the
Krishna legend and still redolent with the music of his flute.
Mathura, a little town on the River Yamuna was transformed into
a place of faith after Lord Krishna was born here. Vrindavan, a
village - once noted for its fragrant groves, is where he spent
an eventful youth. There are numerous other little spots in the
area that still reverberate with the enchantment of Shri
Krishna.
A long line of picturesque ghats - with their steps leading to
the water's edge, arched gateways and temple spires extending
along the right bank of the River Yamuna, emphasise the sacred
character of the town of Mathura. The birthplace of Lord
Krishna, "the best known, best loved and most complex of
Lord Vishnu's manifestations" - Mathura is today an
important place of pilgrimage. It is a city of temples and
shrines abustle with the thousands of devotees who come to visit
the city of Lord Krishna. A splendid temple at the Katra Keshav
Dev marks the spot that is believed to be the Shri Krishna
Janmasthan - the birthplace of the Lord, by his devotees.
Another beautiful shrine, the Gita Mandir located on the
Mathura-Vrindavan Road has a fine image of Shri Krishna in its
sanctum. The whole of the Bhagwad Gita is inscribed on the walls
of the temple.
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most popular shrine at Mathura is the Dwarikadhish Temple to the
north of the town, dedicated to Shri Krishna. This was built in
1815 by a staunch and wealthy devotee, Seth Gokuldas Parikh,
Treasurer of the State of Gwalior.
There are a total of 25 ghats (embankments) in Mathura today,
of which the most important is the Vishram Ghat, where according
to legend, Shri Krishna took his rest after killing Kansa.
No pilgrimage to Mathura is complete without a visit to its
kunds (water tanks). Tradition has it that there were 159
ancient kunds in all. Of these only four survive and can be
seen.
Later, we continue to Vrindavan, just 15 km from Mathura, and,
another major place of pilgrimage. It is noted for its numerous
temples - both old and modern. The name Vrindavan evokes the
playfulness and lovable characteristics of Shri Krishna. This is
the wood where he frolicked with the gopis and tenderly wooed
Radha.
Vrindavan today, is noted for its numerous temples. The most
important are, The Madan Mohan Temple, The Banke-Bihari Temple
(1864) is the most popular shrine at Vrindavan. The famous Radha
Vallabh Temple set up by the Radha - Vallabh sect, has the crown
of Radha-Rani placed next to the Shri Krishna idol in the
sanctum.
From here we will continue our drive to Agra
Upon arrival as you are individually checked in at your rooms
at the luxurious Amarvilas hotel, which is one of the best
boutique hotels in the world. The hotel of whimsical charm has
several attractions. However, being in the city of the Taj
Mahal, the most relevant charm of the hotels is the unhindered
view of the Taj Mahal from your bedroom. It is the most
beautiful and an amazingly uplifting sight. Only 600 meters from
the Taj Mahal stands this luxury resort. Discerning travelers
can now appreciate the fabulous Taj Mahal while enjoying
world-class luxury. The elaborate Mughal gardens, terraced
lawns, fountains, reflection pools and pavilions complement the
classical architecture of the hotel
Overnight at Amarvilas
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Day 09: Agra
 We
are about to witness one of the greatest sights of one's
lifetime - the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Before departure for the
monument we shall be served tea/coffee and cookies so that our
eyes open real wide to behold this breathtaking sight. A dawn
visit to the fabled Taj Mahal to witness the magical effects
caused by the reflections of the changing colours of the rising
Sun on this brilliant white marble building.
Afternoon we ride to the massive Agra Fort. The elegant
buildings inside reflect an interesting synthesis of Hindu and
Central Asian architectural styles. Built by Emperor Akbar, the
maze of the courtyards, mosques & private chambers of the
fort echo the story of the Mughal Empire. The Moti Masjid &
other magnificent buildings reflect the skill of the ancient
Indian architects.
Overnight at Amarvilas
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Day 10: Agra / Delhi Delhi / Varanasi (9W 723 - 1040 / 1150
Hrs)
 Morning
transfer to Delhi airport to connect your flight to Varanasi
Varanasi is quite possibly the world's oldest living city.
Religious artifacts link it to the sixth century B.C. Said to be
founded by Shiva, Varanasi's Vedic affiliation goes back to the
beginning of time. It is also a city of many names. The present
name, Varanasi (derived from the names of two nearby rivers) is
mentioned in the Mahabharata. The ancient name is Kashi, the
City of Light. To the devout it is also called Kashika, the
shining one, referring to the light of Shiva. Many others prefer
the anglicized Benares. Revered by Hindus, Buddhists and Jain
alike, Varanasi is considered the holiest city in all of India.
It is presided over by Shiva in his manifestation as
Vishwanatha, Lord of the Universe. Buddha delivered a sermon in
nearby Sarnath and Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, lived in
Varanasi. As a result, more Indians will make a pilgrimage to
Varanasi in their lifetime than any other place.
Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to your hotel
Taj Ganges
Afternoon, we take a short trip to the Buddhist city of Sarnath
.It is here that the Buddha preached his first sermons after
attaining enlightenment.
Evening, we visit the ghats of Varanasi to witness the
performance of Ganges Aarti. We enjoy a special evening cruise
on the Ganges. See the Hindu devotees performing the "Puja"
with lighted lamps. The view is very mesmerizing and the
ambience is spectacular in the backdrop of the beating of
cymbals and bells as well as the incessant chantings. Later
return to the hotel
Overnight at Taj Ganges
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Day 11: Varanasi
 At
dawn we visit the sacred Ganges for a boat ride. Every morning
at dawn hundreds of worshippers can be seen bathing in the
sacred waters. The great river banks are lined with an endless
chain of stone steps-the ghats-that stretch from one end of the
city to the other. The Ghats form an impressive part of the
religious landscape of the city. Proceeding downstream at a
leisurely pace, you would be pointed out the significant temples
and buildings as well as the changing architectural style. Life
and death go hand in hand in Varanasi. While young people seek
prosperity and protection from harmful influences, the older
generation comes to Varanasi to cleanse their souls in the
forgiving waters in preparation for their ultimate dissolution.
Believing that anyone who dies in the river of life in Varanasi
gains freedom from the cycle of birth and death, the City of
Light has become a haven for the sick and aged waiting out their
final days. The smoke that billows from the crematoriums on the
edge of the river gives testimony to their final release from
life's earthly confines. We would dock our boat at Manikarnika
(Cremation) Ghat. On any given day, anywhere from a few dozen to
a few hundred corpses are cremated here; the ghat is assiduous
with activity as the cremated bodies threw up smoke and fire.
Following the boat ride we set off on foot to explore the inner
city. Through a twisted maze of narrow alleys, home to numerous
shrines and pilgrim shops, we walk back a few centuries. Life
here has stood still for years. The homes, the shops and even
the cattle have not changed over the centuries. It is a
brilliant nostalgic experience of timelessness!
 Later
you will visit the bustling Gadolia bazaar where we only have to
walk. You would never have seen so many cycle rickshaws and
heard the cacophony of so many cycle rickshaw bells! It is an
amazing spectacle of colour and lifestyles as you need to watch
out for the pavement shops - especially the pavement dentist
with a laughing set of dentures!!
This evening we will visit temples and the Hindu University at
Benares. First stop would be the Bharat Mata (temple of Mother
India). Inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, it features a huge marble
map of India on the ground floor. Next up, the Durga Temple.
Known for its bright red color and the playful, if sometimes
aggressive, monkeys that run amok there, the Durga Temple is one
of the most imposing architectural monuments in Varanasi.
The university, which occupies a large piece of land at the
southern end of town, is also home to the New Vishwanatha
Temple. The New Temple is modern in design and open to Hindus
and non-Hindus alike. Surrounded by palm trees, it is a splendid
white marble structure that shines in the afternoon sun against
a pale blue sky. Inside, the temple is spacious and airy. The
interior walls are covered with Vedic art above inscriptions
from the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads. In the center of the
first floor is the Shiva linga.
Overnight at Taj Ganges
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Day 12: Varanasi / Delhi (9W 724 - 1440 / 1600 hrs) Delhi /
Chennai (9W 832 - 1655 / 1935 Hrs)
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Following a leisurely
breakfast transfer to the airport to connect your flight to
Chennai, via Delhi.
Meeting & assistance upon arrival & transfer to hotel
Taj Coromandel
Overnight at Taj Coromandel
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Day 13: Chennai / Kanchipuram / Mahabalipuram
 After
breakfast we will drive to Mahablipuram, enroute we will visit
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, a Hindu Holy City and capital of the Pallava
dynasty from the 7th to 9th centuries AD, is renowned for
temples and silk, and you will see plenty of both. The temples
range in date from the 8th to the 17th century. The latest
building was impressive in its size, the height of its gopuram,
the intricacy of its carvings and wealth of colour, but, the
earliest temples, of golden sandstone, are more aesthetically
pleasing, the only colour provided is by a flock of ring-necked
parakeets.
Across the road is a workshop where men sit at a loom, weaving
fabrics that you will recognise immediately as "Madras
cotton". However, Silk-weaving takes place on a grander
scale than the cotton-weaving in this town dotted with cottage
workshops. You could visit a factory where all the processes of
spinning, dyeing and weaving take place. Of special note would
be exquisite wedding saris made to order - the silk is heavily
interwoven with gold thread. The sari and blouse are woven
together so as to ensure a perfect match. From here we will
continue our drive to Mahabalipuram
 Upon
arrival check into your Sea View Cottages at Fisherman's Cove,
built on the ramparts of an old Dutch Fort. Set amidst
whispering casuatia and palm trees. Fisherman's cove is a snug
resort, located Just 32 km from the Chennai airport and 28 kms
from city centre, on a stretch of powder-white beach lies one of
India's most inviting beach resorts: Fisherman's Cove. With its
gracefully swaying casurina and palm trees, and its spectacular
views of the deep blue yonder, it is a heavenly place to unwind.
Afternoon we will visit picturesque villages, crashing
coastline, and rock-cut temples offering a window on daily life
in an ancient Indian kingdom. Visit Mahabalipuram, seaside
capital of the Pallava kings, famed for its shore temples and
remarkable, lifelike rock carvings of animals, deities and
village life 1400 years ago. Good seafood and a fine beach are
among the other attractions to sample in town, before continuing
to Kanchipuram, the golden Pilgrimage City of silks and shrines.
On our way we stop to watch some fishermen hollowing out canoes
from tree trunks. You could also witness similar craft being
hauled out of the sea and fishermen unloading their catch,
watched by fish-eagles hoping, no doubt, for a share.
Overnight at Fisherman 's Cove (Sea view cottage) .
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Day 14: Mahabalipuram / Pondicherry
 Morning
we will drive to Pondichery
Upon arrival check into your hotel Le Dupleix
Afternoon, proceed on a tour of the city. More than anything
else, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother lived for the most parts of their lives, is a major
attraction of this little city. The Pondicherry Museum is home
to some of the most exquisite collections on architecture and
sculpture. Pondicherry also has a pleasant beach alongside
promenade and historical monuments. Some of the other
interesting sites includes the Bharti and Bharthidasan Memorial
museums and the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The French, Britain's strongest rivals for the control of
India, established their foothold here and only relinquished it
in 1954. The town still has the feel of a French provincial
town, with its librairie, epicerie, imposing Hotel de Ville,
memorial to Franco-Indians killed in the Great War, and statue
of Joan of Arc. The houses could be anywhere in southern France
and bear the familiar white numbers on a blue ground. Street
names, too, are shown in white on blue - rue St Louis, rue de la
Caserne and so on. During a pleasant afternoon stroll you could
hear French spoken frequently.
Overnight Le Dupleix (Deluxe Suite)
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Day 15: Pondicherry / Chidambaram / Kumbakonam / Darasuram /
Gangaikonda / Thanjavur
 Morning
we will drive to Thanjavur enoute we will visit Chidambaram,
Kumkakonam, Darasuram & Gangaikonda.
Chidambram is in between two rivers in a 40 acres
temple-complex, it is one of the oldest and magnificent temples
of the South. Shiva Natrala or the Dancing Shiva stands in his
cosmic dance pose in the golden rooted sanctorum. Flanking the
temple are 108 sculptured illustrations of Bharat Natya
Shashtra. In Akash Lingam hidden by a veil, lies the real secret
of Chidambaram.
Kumbakonam is flooded with temples of large size. There are as
many as sixty temples, in and around Kumbakonam within 40-km of
radius. Of the many temples in Kumbakonam, the oldest Shaiva
fane is the Adikumbeshwara and the oldest Vaishnava fane, the
Sri Sarangapani.
Darasuram is a 'Sculptor's dream in stone', musical pillars,
mandapam in the shape of a chariot, a wealth of sculpture and
painting are synonymous with Airavateshvara Temple. The temple
dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a well-preserved example of 12th
century Chola architecture. Darasuram is an ancient town about
380 kms south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu and also boasts a silk
weaving centre. The original name of Darasuram was
Rajarajapuram, which later got corrupted into Darasuram.
We drive through the tropical mountains to Gangaikonda through
the Coleroon river delta.. The ancient town of Gangai Konda
Cholapuram in Tamil Nadu is an hour's drive from Chidambram. It
was the capital of the Cholas till their fall in the 13th
century. This place is well known for the Gangai Konda
Cholapuram temple which was built in 11th century, to
commemorate Chola King's conquest up to the Gangetic plain. The
temple is one of the very ancient temples of Tamil Nadu, built
in the Chola style. The temple is lavishly sculpted with
beautiful stone sculptures including a dancing Ganesha, a lion
headed well and a stunning freeze depicting Rajendra being
crowned by Siva and Parvati.
From here we continue our drive to Thanjavur
Upon arrival check into your hotel Sangam
Overnight at Sangam Hotel (Suite)
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Day 16: Thanjavur / Srirangam / Trichy (65 Kms)
 Morning
tour of the Tanjavur Palace. It has huge halls, spacious
corridors, observation & arsenal towers and a shady
courtyard. Though many sections of the palace are in ruins
restoration work has been taken up. The palace houses a library,
a museum and an art gallery. The Royal museum displays many
items from the kings who ruled the place in past. The eclectic
collection of royal memorabilia can fascinate any visitor. The
Royal cloths, hunting weapons, the head gears and many more such
items are enough to catch the attention of any one. There are
two Durbar halls where the rulers held public meetings. Though
they have not been renovated, they are in good shape.
The Nayak hall of the palace is occupied by the Art Gallery.
This gallery has an excellent collection of artifacts from the
Chola dynasty during the 8th and 9th century. The bronze and
granite statues reflect the height of craftsmanship obtained
during those days. The bell tower which was put under
restoration work, has emerged very different from the rest of
the structure after renovation. But it is worth going up the
tower to have a good view of the surrounding area. Next to the
art gallery is the Saraswathi Mahal Library with an amazing
collection of manuscripts on palm leaves and paper. The library
is not open for the public. But one can always go in the museum
to have a look at the full Ramayana written on Palm leaf or a
set of explicit prints of prisoners.
We will also proceed for sight seeing of Tanjore. See the
beautiful Chola temple of Brihadeeshwara. The temple is capped
by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing
80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 km long
ramp- an old technique used by the Egyptians for building
pyramids. You will also visit the Palace and its Art Gallery,
which contains several granite and bronze statues of the Chola
period.
Later we drive to the district's most important pilgrim centre,
Srirangam, located in an island just 7 kms from Trichi.
Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of river Cauveri on one side
and its tributary kollidam on the other, is a 600 acre
island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic
Sriranganathaswami Temple. Most of it dates from the 14th to
17th centuries, and many people have had a hand in its
construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas
and rulers from Vijayanagar. The largest gopuram in the first
wall on the southern side was completed as recently as 1987, and
now measures 73m.
From here we will drive to Trichy
Upon arrival check into your hotel Sangam
Evening tour of Rockfort Temple. The 83m high Rock Fort is the
only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city. The rock is
one of the oldest in the world-approximately 3.800 million
years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older
than the Himalayas. The sheer abruptness of its rise is a thrill
in itself, but the actual centre of attraction is not the fort
itself, of which very little remains, but the temple at the
summit. 344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where there
are inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century.B.C. Hardly
anything remains of the ramparts but the Main Guard Gate is
still intact. The fort played an important part during the
Carnatic wars and according to an inscription, mainly
contributed to lay the foundations of the British Empire in
India.
At the top of the rock is the Uchipillaiyar Koil, a temple
dedicated to Lord Vinayaka from where one can enjoy a panoramic
view of Tiruchirappalli. A flight of steps leads to the
Mathrubutheswarar of Thayumanaswami temple, dedicated to Lord
Siva where the lingam is a projection of the rock itself. Below
the Siva temple are the two Pallava cave temples that have
beautiful sculptures of the 6th and 7th centuries. At the foot
of the Rock Fort are a tank and a pavilion which are used during
the float festival of the temples. Near the tank is the house
where Robert Clive lived when he was in Tiruchirappalli and
there is an 18th century Church built by Reverend Schwartz of
Denmark
The temple elephant in rock fort temple collects donations,
giving a blessing and hands over the money to his "boss
Overnight at Sangam Hotel (Suite)

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Day 17: Trichy / Madurai (130 Kms)
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Morning, ride to
Tirumayam, which is one of the 108 Divya Desams. Tirumayam has
two cave temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, which
are visited by large number of devotees. Mahendravarman and
Narasimhavarman Pallava built the cave temples, which lie
adjacent to each other.
After the tour we will drive to Madurai
Upon arrival check into your hotel Taj Garden Retreat
After wash & change, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A
gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the
Stucco work on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar
Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple.
Later we will proceed on a tour of Madurai. Madurai is one of
the oldest cities of southern India. It has been a center of
pilgrimage, for centuries. The Meenakshi temple, the main
architectural attraction here, is an excellent example of
Dravidian architecture, with gopurams or multi pillared halls,
covered from top to bottom, in a profusion of multicolored
images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures.
However, besides the temple, our tour includes a walk along the
main street leading to the temple. The well-organized confusion
caused by pilgrims in traditional clothes, pavement shops of all
shades, holy men in robes of different colours etc add an
unmistakable colour and atmosphere to this fascinating Temple
City.
Evening we will witness Bed Chamber Ceremony at Meenakshi
temple.
Overnight at Taj Garden Retreat
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Day 18: Madurai / Rameshwaram
 Morning
we will drive to Rameshwaram
Upon arrival check in Tamil Nadu Tourism Guest House
Rameshwaram is an island situated in the gulf of manner at the
very tip of the Indian peninsula. A very important pilgrim
centre of the Indians. Rameshwaram is the place from where Lord
Rama, built a bridge across the sea to rescue his consort Sita,
from her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama
worshipped Lord Shiva to cleanse away the sin of killing Ravana.
Both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites visit this pilgrimage which
is known as the Varanasi the south. Rameshwaram is significant
for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is incomplete without
a Pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. The presiding deity is the Linga Of
Sri Ranganatha, which happens to be one of the twelve
Jyotirlingas of India. Rameshwaram is also popularly referred to
as the 'Benaras of the south'. In order to attain Moksha it is
believed that the visit to Rameshwaram is mandatory.
We will visit Ramnathswamy temple, which was built in the 17th
century. Situated close to the sea on the eastern side of the
island, this temple is famous for its 1200 gigantic granite
columns. The 54 metre tall gopuram (gate-tower), 1220 metres of
magnificent corridors and the flamboyant columns embellish and
render fame to the temple. The water in each of the 22 sacred
wells in the temple tastes different.
After Ramnathswamy temple we will visit Agnitheertham this is a
place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva, to absolve himself from
the killing Ravana.
Later we will visit Gandamadana Parvatham where you can find
imprint of Lord Rama's feet placed on a Chakra (wheel) is found
in this shrine which is at the highest point on the island at 2
km from Rameswaram.
Overnight at Tamil Nadu Tourism Guest House
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Day 19: Rameshwaram / Kanyakumari
 After
breakfast, we drive to Kanyakumari.
Upon arrival check into your hotel Shringaar.
Afternoon, proceed on a tour of city. Kanyakumari lies at the
southernmost tip of India at the confluence of the Arabian Sea,
the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. This exotic location is
famous for its temples and 'sunrise and sunset' points. The
Kanyakumari Temple or the Kumari Amman Temple on the shore, is
dedicated to a manifestation of Paravati, Shiva's consort, as a
virgin. Parvati did penance to win the heart of Lord Shiva.
Overnight at Hotel Shingaar
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Day 20: Kanyakumari / Trivandrum Trivandrum / Departure
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Transfer to the
Trivandrum airport to board your flight back home.
Overnight at Hotel Shingaar
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END OF SERVICES
We do hope the flavor of India will
remain on your taste buds for all times to come and hopefully would
kindle an indelible fondness for the country and her people; Thank you
for being our guest, and as we say in India 'Please Come back Soon"
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