L’Inde du Sud classique

Day 01: CHENNAI

Visit Chennai (Madras), capital of the Tamil Nadu region: bronze art gallery at the Government Museum, fruit and flower market, the High Court, Marina Beach; Fort Saint George, Santhome Cathedral, Kapalishwara Temple.

 

Day 02: CHENNAI-MAHABALIPURAM – PONDICHERRY

Visit to Kalakshetra Foundation, an artistic and cultural academy of Indian art and crafts, Bharatanatyam dance and Gandharvaveda music. Continue to Mahabalipuram. Visit Mahabalipuram, a seaside and shopping resort with its

numerous temples: the shore temple, The five Ratha (Pancha Ratha). Night in Pondicherry.

 

Day 03: PONDICHERRY

Visit the remains of the colonial era and the Indian districts: the neo-Gothic church of the Sacred Heart (18th century), Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (1791), Our Lady of the Angels; a sanctuary dedicated to Ganesh, that of Varadaraja Perumal dedicated to Vishnu in Dravidian style. Rickshaw ride in the old French districts, the white city, with its colonial architecture (18th century). Visit the Sri Aurobindo Museum and the Ashram, then the city museum with its collection of bronzes and sculptures from the Pallava and Chola dynasties.

 

Day 04: PONDICHERY-GANGAKONDACHOLAPURAM-DURASURAM – KUMBAKONAM

In Gangaikondacholapuram, Shivaite sanctuary (11th century). Visit to the magnificent Airavateshvara temple (12th century) in Darasuram. In Swamimalai, visit to a factory of bronze sculptures using the lost wax method, with the different stages of manufacturing. Introduction to traditional recipes from South India before tasting. In the evening, Bharatanatyam dance show.

 

Day 05: KUMBAKONAM-TANJORE-CHETTINADU

On the way, visit Tanjore with the Brihadeeswara temple, Shiva sanctuary of the Chola dynasty (year 1000) and the Palace with a collection of bronzes from the 11th/12th century. Continue to Chettinad: discovery of the palatial houses built by the caste of rich merchants Chattiars. Not far away, the Ayyanar sanctuary with its wonderful terracotta horses and sites of craft traditions (weaving, tile workshop, etc.). Walk in the fruit and vegetable market, and in the Karaikudi bazaar.

 

Day 06: CHETTINADU-MADURAI

Cultural and religious capital of the Tamil country with its imposing temple protected by its gopurams which dominate the old city. Departure by rickshaw for a visit to the Tirumalaya Nayak palace and the Meenakshi temple, dedicated to the goddess Shiva.

 

Day 07: MADURAI -PERIYAR

Continue to Periyar National Park and its spice and tea plantations. The nature reserve is home to buffalo, antelope, sambar, wild boar, elephants, leopards, porcupines and more than thirty tigers. Visit the spice plantation and take a boat ride in Periyar National Park.

 

Day 08: PERIYAR – ALLEPEY

Route to the backwaters, installation on board a houseboat, a traditional sampan to discover a labyrinth of canals and lagoons lined with coconut trees and rice fields. Night on a houseboat

 

Day 09: ALLEPEY – COCHIN

Ideal city to stroll with its old houses, its large spice warehouses, the cheerfulness of its inhabitants and all its trinket shops. Walk in the old city: Fort Cochin; the Chinese nets; the church of Saint-François, the oldest European church in India. Visit of the synagogue (1568), of the palace of Mattancherry (Dutch palace) and its wall frescoes of scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and puranic legends. In the evening, show of Kathakali, costumed drama, singing and dancing of Kerala.

 

Day 10: Departure from Cochin

Free morning for a walk in the old quarters; transfer to the airport

 

 

Included:  Full board, superior hotels, accompanying guide, air-conditioned bus transport and site entrances

Not included:  International airfare, entry visa to India, insurance, drinks and tips for driver and guide

Included:  Full board, superior hotels, accompanying guide, air-conditioned bus transport and site entrances

Not included:  International airfare, entry visa to India, insurance, drinks and tips for driver and guide