2018 South India Itinerary web · PDF fileJanuary 3 Mumbai Please arrive by 12:00 pm (noon)....
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South India With Fran Gallo, Arvind Singh & Kelley McHenry January 2 –18, 2018 Meet the natural beauty, stunning architecture, and the intriguing culture of South India. This journey combines daily yoga and a fabulous tour including historical Mumbai, colorful culture, a cooking class, and wild elephants! Explore the 2,000 year-old caves at Ellora and Ajanta that feature monasteries and temples hewn out of rock. Marvel at the intricately carved temples of Madurai, covered in vividly painted figures of deities, mythical creatures and monsters. Cruise on a wooden rice boat through Kochi’s maze of backwaters to observe village life along the shore. Cross over the Western Ghats to Periyar National Park, India’s earliest wildlife sanctuary and one of the best places to see the Asian elephant. Walk in a spice plantation and learn about the many different uses of spices, both in medicine and food and then use them to cook a delicious meal. January 2 Begin your journey to the “land of wonder” January 3 Mumbai Please arrive by 12:00 pm (noon). Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel (Hotel check in time would be 12 noon on this day so let us know if you require earlier check in). Welcome dinner and orientation to India. Overnight at the hotel. WELCOME TO INDIA! January 4 Mumbai Early morning enjoy yoga from 7:00-8:15. Breakfast at the hotel from 8:45-9:30. Later at 9:45 proceed for the city sightseeing tour of Mumbai which includes a combination walking tour of the ‘real life’ of the city as well as a drive past many of its famous sights. We will visit Hanging Gardens which offers a splendid view of the city, Chowpatty Beach, Kamala Nehru Park and also Mani Bhavan where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his visits to Mumbai. Walk through the amazing 'Dhobi Ghat' where Mumbai's laundry is scrubbed, bashed, dyed and hung out to dry. Watch the local train passing close by on which the city commuters literally 'hang out like laundry' - a nice photography stop. Continue to the colorful Crawford market and the Flora fountain in the large bustling square, in the heart of the city. Drive past the Afghan Church, Secretariat of Maharashtra Government and along the Marine Drive which is fondly known as the 'Queen's Necklace’, and visit Gateway of India, Mumbai's principle landmark. This arch of yellow basalt was erected on the waterfront in 1924 to commemorate King George V's visit to this colony in 1911. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the hotel.
Transcript of 2018 South India Itinerary web · PDF fileJanuary 3 Mumbai Please arrive by 12:00 pm (noon)....
South India WithFranGallo,ArvindSingh&KelleyMcHenry
January2–18,2018
Meetthenaturalbeauty,stunningarchitecture,andtheintriguingcultureofSouthIndia.ThisjourneycombinesdailyyogaandafabuloustourincludinghistoricalMumbai,colorfulculture,acookingclass,andwildelephants!Explorethe2,000year-oldcavesatElloraandAjantathatfeaturemonasteriesandtempleshewnoutofrock.MarvelattheintricatelycarvedtemplesofMadurai,coveredinvividlypaintedfiguresofdeities,mythicalcreaturesandmonsters.CruiseonawoodenriceboatthroughKochi’smazeofbackwaterstoobservevillagelifealongtheshore.CrossovertheWesternGhatstoPeriyarNationalPark,India’searliestwildlifesanctuaryandoneofthebestplacestoseetheAsianelephant.Walkinaspiceplantationandlearnaboutthemanydifferentusesofspices,bothinmedicineandfoodandthenusethemtocookadeliciousmeal.
January2Beginyourjourneytothe“landofwonder”January3Mumbai
Pleasearriveby12:00pm(noon).Meetingandassistanceonarrivalandtransfertothehotel(Hotelcheckintimewouldbe12noononthisdaysoletusknowifyourequireearliercheckin).WelcomedinnerandorientationtoIndia.Overnightatthehotel.
WELCOMETOINDIA!
January4MumbaiEarlymorningenjoyyogafrom7:00-8:15.Breakfastatthehotelfrom8:45-9:30.Laterat9:45proceedforthecitysightseeingtourofMumbaiwhichincludesacombinationwalkingtourofthe‘reallife’ofthecityaswellasadrivepastmanyofitsfamoussights.WewillvisitHangingGardenswhichoffersasplendidviewofthecity,ChowpattyBeach,KamalaNehruParkandalsoManiBhavanwhereMahatmaGandhistayedduringhisvisitstoMumbai.Walkthroughtheamazing'DhobiGhat'whereMumbai'slaundryisscrubbed,bashed,dyedandhungouttodry.Watchthelocaltrainpassingclosebyonwhichthecitycommutersliterally'hangoutlikelaundry'-anicephotographystop.ContinuetothecolorfulCrawfordmarketandtheFlorafountaininthelargebustlingsquare,intheheartofthecity.DrivepasttheAfghanChurch,SecretariatofMaharashtraGovernmentandalongtheMarineDrivewhichisfondlyknownasthe'Queen'sNecklace’,andvisitGatewayofIndia,Mumbai'sprinciplelandmark.Thisarchofyellowbasaltwaserectedonthewaterfrontin1924tocommemorateKingGeorgeV'svisittothiscolonyin1911.Afternoonatleisure.Dinneratthehotel.
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January5Mumbai–AurangabadEarlymorningenjoyyogafrom7:45till9:00.Breakfastatthehotel.IntimetransferfromhoteltotheairporttoconnectflightforAurangabadandonarrivalcheckinatthehotel.Departforairportat12:00pmforflighttoAurangabad.Meetingandassistanceonarrivalandtransfertothehotel.Dinnerandovernightatthehotel.
January6AurangabadEarlymorningyogafrom7:00till8:00.MorningexcursiontotheUNESCOWorldHeritagesite,ElloraCaves15kmsfromAurangabad.ThefamousrockcutcavetemplesofElloradepicttheHindu,BuddhistandJainfaiths,andwereconstructedbetweenthe5thand8thcenturiesAD.OfparticularinterestisthearchitecturalmarvelofthemonolithicKailasatemple,theBuddhistVishvakarmachaityaandVihara,theJaincavenumber32,famousforamagnificentYakshistatueandceilingpaintings.Dinnerandovernightatthehotel.
January7AurangabadMorningyogafrom7:00till8:15,laterproceedforthefulldayexcursiontoUNESCOWorldHeritagesite,AjantaCaves.Ajanta’swondrouscavetemplesarecutintotherockysidesofadramaticcrescent-shapedgorge,attheheadofwhichisawaterfallthatdropsoverthemountainriminaseriesofsevenstepstoapoolfarbelow.Datingbacktothe2ndcenturyBC,deepinsidethemountainaretheBuddhistchaitya,viharaprayerandmonasterycaves.Theycoveraspanof800yearswhere,undertheroyalpatronageofrulingdynasties,professionalartistshelpedBuddhistmonkstocreatemagnificentmuralsnarratingthestoryofBuddhainhiscycleofincarnations,whilesimultaneouslycreatingapaintedrecordofthepanoramaoflifeinancientIndia.Etchedandpaintedinmineraldyes,thepaintingshavealanguorousstylizedbeautyandmagicaleloquence.Later,drivebacktoAurangabadandcheckinatthehotel.Dinnerandovernightatthehotel.Eveningfree.January8Aurangabad–Chennai–MahabalipuramIntimetransferfromhoteltotheairporttoconnectflightforChennai(Wewillrequestthehotelforapackedbreakfast,dependingontheoperationoftherestaurant/coffeeshop).MeetingandassistanceonarrivalandtransferreddirectlytoyourhotelinMamallapuram,whichislocatedonthecoastontheBayofBengal.Afteryoucheckin,youwillhavesomefreetimeonyourown.EnjoyYogafrom4:00pmtill5:00pm.Dinnerandovernightatthehotel.
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January9MahabalipuramEarlymorningenjoyyogafrom7:00till8:15,laterproceedforbreakfastfrom8:45till9:30,AfterbreakfaststartyourdayatMamallapuramwithavisittothebeautiful7th-centuryShoreTemplewhichissurroundedbylushgardens,followedbyanexplorationofthecelebratedbas-reliefatArjuna’sPenanceandtheFiveRathas.Theafternoonisatleisureonthebeach,shopping,walkingaroundthetown.Dinnerandovernightatthehotel.
January10Mahabalipuram--TrichyEarlymorningenjoyyogafrom7:00till8:15;laterproceedforbreakfastfrom8:45till9:30.TodayyoucontinuetoTrichy,theoldcitadeloftheCholaDynastyinthemedievalperiod,whereyouvisittheRockFort.Aclimbof434stepsleadstotheancienttempleofGanapationtopandafurtherclimbtoaShivatemple.Dinneratthehotelandeveningrestandrelax.
January11Trichy–MaduraiEarlymorningyogafrom7:00till8:15;laterproceedforbreakfastfrom8:45till9:30.ContinueyourjourneytoMadurai,theoldestcityinTamilNaduandSouthIndia’sgreatesttempletown.Assuch,itisasignificantpilgrimsite.OverthefivehourdrivewewillgetasenseofhowpeopleliveinTamilNaduvillages.Stopforlunch.RestandrelaxuponreachingMadurai.Dinnerandovernightatthehotel.
January12MaduraiEarlymorningenjoyyogafrom7:00till8:15;laterproceedforbreakfastfrom8:45till9:30.Todayyouwillvisitthethousand-year-oldMeenakshiTemple,oneofIndia’slargestpilgrimsiteswithits12toweringgopurams.ItisanunforgettableexperiencetoobservetheritualsandcelebrationduringtheeveningpujaceremonyinsidetheMeenakshiTemple.Later,visittheTirumalaNayakPalace-agraciousbuildingrevealingthepowerandwealthoftheNayakaswhomadeMaduraitheircapitalinthe16thand17thcenturies.ContinuetotheAlagarHillsandTiruparaKundranRocktemple.Dinnerandovernightatthehotel.
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January13Madurai–PeriyarEarlymorningenjoyyogafrom7:00till8:15,thenbreakfastfrom8:45till9:30.AfterbreakfastdrivethroughtheWesternGhatstoPeriyarNationalPark,India’searliestsanctuaryandoneofthebestplacestoseetheAsianElephant.Aftercheckingintoyourhotel,youvisitoneofthespiceplantationsthisareaisfamousforandlearnaboutthemanydifferentusesofspices,bothinmedicineandfood.Dinnerandovernightatthehotel.
January14PeriyarEarlybreakfast.Intheearlymorning(around7am),you'llenjoyaforesttrekinsidetheNationalParkwhichtakes1-3hoursdependingonthegroup’sinterest.Afterthetrekking,drivebacktohotelandtakefreetimeuntillateafternoonwhenyouwilltakeboatrideonthePeriyarRiver.Periyar,meaningbigriver,isthelongestriverintheIndianstateofKerala.Earlyeveningisanicetimeofdaytoseemanyanimalscometothewatertodrink.Lookforriverotters,elephants,Indianbison(gaur),Nilgiriibex,junglecat,slothbear,Indiangiantsquirrel,sambar,andwildpig,tonameafew.
January15Periyar–Kumarakom--HouseboatEarlyinthemorningat7:30amweleavePeriyarforKumarakom,whereyouembarkonyourhouseboatandstartanenchantingcruisealongthebeautifulbackwatersofKerala;justrelaxandlaybackwhileyounavigateslowlythroughthetranquilwaterways.ItisawonderfulopportunitytodiscoverKerala’srurallifestyle.You’llseethatKeralaisknownforitscashewnuts,coirtrade,rice,peppercrops&coconuts.YourchefonhouseboatwillpreparedeliciousKeralaspecialtiesonboard.EnjoyYogaonboard4:00till5:15pm.Dinnerandovernightonboard.
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January16Houseboat–Alleppey–CochinAfterabreakfastonthehouseboat,disembark,saygoodbyetothebackwatersandheadforCochin,Kerala’smostcosmopolitancityandanimportanttradingcenterforspices.Theafternoonisyours,untilyogafrom3:00-4:15.EarlyintheeveningyouwillenjoyKerala’ssignatureperformanceofKathakali,aclassicalformofdance,dramaandmusicthatismorethan400yearsold.ThenheadtothehomeofMariaGeorgeforaSouthIndiancookingdemonstrationanddelicioushome-cookedSouthIndiandinner!Overnightatthehotel.
January17CochinEarlymorningenjoyyogafrom7:00till8:15;laterproceedforbreakfastfrom8:45till9:30.AfterbreakfastyoustartyourexplorationofFortCochin.FollowthefootprintleftcenturiesagobyDutch,Portuguese,British,ArabandChineseandsoakuptheculturalatmosphereasyoustrollalongthequaintnarrowlanesofFortCochintovisittheDutchPalace,StFrancisChurchandIndia’soldestJewishSynagogueinJewTown.LaterheadtotheharborwherelocalfishermenusetheoldChinesefishingnets,introducedanderectedcenturiesago.Dinnerandovernightatthehotel.January18DepartCochinEarlymorningyogaandbreakfast,thencheckoutandheadtotheairporttoconnecttoyourflighthome,takingwithyoumanywonderfulmemoriesandfabulousphotographs!Namaste!
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Tripcost:$4750.Includes:yoga,guidefees,allflightsandothertransportationwithinIndia,5starhotels,breakfastsanddinners,hotelanddrivertips,entrancefees,andguestexpertsonIndianculture.Costdoesnotincludetipforguide,drinks,roomservice,non-groupactivities,personalexpenses,orinternationalairfare.Itineraryissubjecttochangeasneeded.
Adepositof$500willreserveyourspot(fullyrefundablebeforeJune30,2017).50%ofthetotalcostofthetourisduebyJuly30.Iftheretreat/touriscanceledduetolackofparticipants,youwillbegrantedafullrefund.Aminimumof10peopleisrequiredforthetriptooccur.Wedoanticipatemeetingourgoalof10participants.WewillcontactyouafterJuly30toletyouknowifwehavemetourminimumsothatyoucangoaheadandpurchaseyourflight.Pleasesendinyourcheckwiththeregistrationformassoonaspossibletoguaranteeyourplaceandhelpusmakeallthetrainandhotelbookingsinatimelyway.
KelleyMcHenry,triporganizer,isalibrarianatSeattleCentralCollegeandholdsanMAinInternationalStudies,SouthAsiafromtheJacksonSchoolofInternationalStudies,UniversityofWashington.ShehaslivedandworkedinKenyaandtheNetherlandsandtraveledwidelyinAsiaandEurope,butIndiaisherpassion.Inadditiontoacademicstudies,KelleyhasbeentoIndiamanytimes,livedwithIndianfamilies,studiedHindi,andbeenleadingtourgroupstoIndiaforthepast12years.Dr.ArvindSingh,guideandtriporganizer,holdsanMAinIndianHistory&Culture,MAinIndianPhilosophy&Religion,andaPhDinIndianArchaeology.Hehaspublishedthreebooksand16researcharticlesondifferentaspectsofIndianculture,ecology,numismaticsandarchaeology.HewasaSeniorFellowoftheIndianCouncilofHistoricalResearch,NewDelhiandtaughtforseveralyearsatBanarasHinduUniversity.FranGallohasledseveraltripstoIndiaforKnowIndiaTravelandSpiritualIndiaJourneys.ShewasformerlyanEnglishinstructoratGreenRiverCommunityCollegeandnowdevotesherselftoteachinghathayogatoshareitshealingandempoweringeffects.ShestudiedhathayogaatAnandaYogaCentreinNepalandfurtheredherstudiesatVedNiketanYogaAshraminRishikesh,India.ForFran,yoga'smagicisindiscoveringhowtogobeyondwhatweperceiveasourlimitsandintheprofoundsenseofwholeness,peace,andbalanceoneobtainsfromcultivatingayogapractice.www.FranGallo.com.
Formoreinformation,pleasecontactKelleyMcHenryPhone:206-546-2599
Email:[email protected]
