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Hindus and Christians in South India Tours

Duration: 14 Nights / 15 Days
Places to Visit: Chennai (Madras) - Mahabalipuram - Triuchupalli - Kulitalai - Madurai - Munnar - Kottayam - Cochin - Chennai
Highlight of Tour: India's South has a unique character. Hindu monuments of great antiquity survive, where you can experience probably the world's most ancient living faith.
You will explore some of these ancient soaring temples, dedicated to Shiva or Vishnu, and stand shoulder to shoulder with their devotees.
India has ancient Christianity, too. St. Thomas is said to have visited in AD 52, and established the faith here. You will be able to join pilgrims at the San Thomas shrine containing his relics, and meet Syrian Orthodox Christian communities which predate the first European church in India by 1200 years.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive - Chennai (Madras)
Early morning arrival at Chennai (Madras). Check in at hotel.
Afternoon visit to 7th century Kapaleeshwara Temple.

Day 2: Chennai
Visit San Thomas Cathedral, and St. Thomas Mount.

Day 3: Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Chennai
All day visit to the World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram (90 minutes' drive along the coast road) to see the extraordinary 10th century rock sculptures and shore temple.

Day 4: Chennai - Triuchapalli
Train to Tiruchirapalli (Trichy). Check in at hotel.

Day 5: Triuchupalli
Climb the spectacular Rock Fort, and see the huge Ranganathaswamy temple of Lord Vishnu.

Day 6: Triuchupalli - Kulitalai - Triuchupalli
1 hour drive to Kulitalai, to Bede Griffiths' Shantivanam Ashram, for a whole day in the meditative environment and routine of the ashram.

Day 7: Triuchupalli - Madurai
Drive or train to Madurai. Check in at hotel.. Visit the Gandhi Museum.

Day 8: Madurai
Explore the great temple of Shree Meenakshi, said to contain 33 million sculptures.

Day 9: Madurai
Meander through Madurai's exciting bazaars, textile and craft markets.

Day 10: Madurai - Munnar
Drive to Munnar, hill station and centre of tea production. Overnight at hotel. Visit tea plantations and enjoy the hill air.

Day 11: Munnar - Cochin
Return to sea level, to the ancient port of Cochin. Stay at hotel

Day 12: Cochin
Visit the cathedral, and the oldest European church in India. See Cochin's famous synagogue, dating from 1568.

Day 13: Cochin - Kottayam - Cochin
All day visit to Kottayam, an important centre of the ancient Syrian Orthodox Church.

Day 14: Cochin
Day for shopping and leisure in Cochin.

Day 15: Cochin - Chennai / Depart - Chennai
Early afternoon flight to Chennai for late night transfer to airport for flight to onwards journey .

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