Golden Sands and Silvery Backwaters of South India
A Transformational Journey of Tropical Yoga and Radiant Meditation
Tour operated in cooperation with Sacred Earth Journeys
February 26 – March 11, 2012
Day 1 Sun, Feb 26: Arrive Kochi (D)
Arrive in Kochi (Cochin) on the west coast of India. Be met at the airport by our representative and be transferred to our hotel in the Fort Cochin area. Kochi is a jewel in the crown of Kerala with its European heritage and true cosmopolitan air. A centre of trade, Kochi merchants began trading spices such as black pepper and cardamom with the Arabs, Dutch, Portuguese, and Chinese more than 600 years ago. A striking scene here is the row of Cheena vala, Chinese fishing nets that line the mouth of the harbour, which leads to the Arabian Sea in Fort Kochi. A leisurely walk through its streets is one of the best ways to discover all that the city has to offer including it’s natural harbour and historical sites. This evening we will gather for our Welcome Dinnerat the Terrace Garden Restaurant where we will first meet Padma and our fellow yogis. (Overnight in Kochi at Grande Residencia)
Day 2 Mon, Feb 27: Kochi (B, D)
After breakfast in the hotel, we meet from 8:00 – 10:00 AM for our orientation meeting along with introductions, setting intentions and our first meditation session to initiate the journey. Afterwards, we leave for a guided tour of Kochi. We visit the St. Francis Church considered the first European-built Church in India, built in 1562 by St. Francis and then continue on to the Mattanchery Dutch Palace, a double-storied palace. The most important features of Mattanchery Palace are the murals in the bedchambers, which depict scenes from the epic story, the Ramayana, Mahabharata. These murals are some of the most beautiful and extensive in India. We then visit the Jewish Synagogue, which was constructed in 1568 and is the oldest in the Commonwealth. While driving along the coastline, at the Harbour’s mouth, you can also catch a glimpse of the unique and still-in-use Chinese fishing nets, which were introduced by the Chinese traders in the 14th Century. Our city tour ends in the Fort Kochi area where you will have time to walk through the historical Dutch and Portuguese areas. Some parts of the nearly 500-year-old Fort are amazingly well preserved.
After breakfast we leave for Munnar (150 kms / 5 hrs including stops), the summer resort of the former British in South India. Situated 1600 metres (5249 feet) above sea level, Munnar is a confluence of three mountain rivers – Mudrapuzha, Nallathani and Kundala. Nestled in the midst of 60 acres of cardamom plantations, our hotel, Windemere Estate, has a harmonic relationship with nature. Manicured tea gardens merge with the lush green forests of the western ghats. After checking into our rooms and getting settled in we enjoy lunch at the hotel.
Later we enjoy an evening yoga and meditation class from 5:30 – 7:30 pm to help us unwind and decompress. Padma will teach a class designed to keep you limber and relaxed. She will guide a peaceful meditation, introducing some yoga philosophy to clarify the kinds of thinking and emotions that arise on a journey in India. We start to explore how Indian philosophy aligns perfectly with the magical experiences of the country. Afterwards, enjoy dinner at the estate. (Overnight in Munnar at Windemere Estate)
Today we enjoy the entire day at leisure for our yoga and meditation practice as well as independent activities. All our meals will be enjoyed at the estate for our convenience.
After another leisurely breakfast at the resort, we continue our retreat with Padma. This morning from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, we enjoy our yoga class, a workshop from Padma’s Modern Meditations Series TV show. This workshop will feature Padma’s unique program, which explores how the many various yogic practices and meditations can easily be applied to everyday, real situations and bring balance, strength, and clarity to your life. You will gain an understanding of how therapeutic and useful yoga can be.
After another leisurely breakfast at the resort, we continue our retreat with Padma. This morning from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, we enjoy our yoga class, a workshop from Padma’s Blissful Living SeriesTV show. This workshop highlights Padma’s decades of expertise with a sublime and unique yoga practice that perfectly integrates pure wellness with blissful spiritual awareness. Learn from a master teacher.
Today we check out of the resort after breakfast and drive to Madurai, the oldest inhabited city in the Indian peninsula, stopping for lunch en route (325 kms / 7 hrs including stops). Upon arrival at our hotel, we will check in and then you can enjoy the afternoon at your leisure to explore this fascinating city.
After breakfast at the hotel we leave for a sightseeing tour of the most important temples in Madurai, the Meenakshi Temple, an enormous temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati or Meenakshi. The temple with its majestic stone walls and 12 towers known as “Gopurams”, which rise out of the swarming streets of the city centre, were built in the 17th century by Nayak rulers. The highlight of the Meenakshi Temple is the “Hall of a Thousand Pillars”, built in the 16th century in Dravidian architecture. Not to be missed here are the “Musical Pillars”, which when struck, produce a different musical note. You then have time to wander about the city and enjoy lunch on your own. Later, we visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace, a gracious building in the Indo-Saracenic style, famous for the stucco work on its domes and arches.
This morning, enjoy breakfast at your leisure. Our yoga and meditation classwill be from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM after which you will have free time until departure for independent activities.
We then continue on to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) to visit the seventh century rock-hewn monuments. The Shore Temple, a World Heritage Monument and the only surviving one of seven, is a unique example of a temple built of rock quarried elsewhere and carried to the shore. The best known of the rock carvings is the immense bas-relief which is sculpted in fascinating detail on a huge whaleback-shaped rock, depicting the descent of the Ganges to the earth, the penance of Arjuna and myriad characters from the Mahabharata story. We also visit the Five Rathas,a set of monolithic rock temples located on a sandy compound and a perfect example of the evolution of Dravidian style architecture. The Rathas have an association to the great epic Mahabharata, which describes the heroes of Mahabharata with their wife Draupadi.
After breakfast, we depart for a sightseeing city tour of Chennai, which served as the economic and political capital of the East India Company from the 17th century onwards. Among the highlights of the city is Fort St George that marks the beginning of Chennai as an important centre for trade. Within the fort is St Mary’s Church, the first English church in India and the oldest British building to survive. We will also spend some time in the Mylapore Temple area visiting the 16th century Kapleeswarar Temple as well as explore the fruit and flower market.Enjoy lunch on your own to sample some of the delicious local fare. Later, in the afternoon, enjoy some free time for shopping and other independent activities. There are so many treasures to be found here in Chennai!
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
Tour Inclusions and Price
Tour Includes:
- 14 nights accommodation in Hotels, Resort, and Luxury Houseboat
- Arrival and Departure Transfers
- Breakfast Daily, 10 Lunches and 11 Dinners
- Transportation by Private Air Conditioned Coach
- Hotel Taxes
- Baggage Handling at the Hotels (1 bag per person)
- Admission to all sites as per itinerary
- All Local Guide services as per itinerary
- Domestic flight from Madurai to Chennai
Special Added Features:
- Travel with Yoga and Meditation Teacher, Padma
- 30 hours of Yoga and Meditation Instruction with Padma
- Private One-on-one Meditation Consultations
- Kochi Sightseeing Tour
- Kathakali Dance Show
- Tour of Tea Estate & Museum with Tea Tasting
- Overnight Backwater Cruise
- Visit Meenakshi Temple and Tirumala Nayak Palace in Madurai
- Prayer Ceremony at Meenakshi Temple
- Visit Kanchipuram
- Visit Mahabalipuram
- Chennai Sightseeing Tour
Tour Does Not Include:
- International Airfare to Kochi (COK) and return from Chennai (MAA)
- Cancellation & Medical Insurance (ask us for a quote)
- Meals and drinks not specified as indicated in the itinerary
- Cost to obtain valid passport
- Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks and telephone calls. Any item that is not specifically detailed on our website or in the final retreat itinerary.
Please read the Terms and Conditions for this tour.
TOUR PRICES:
** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.
Price Per Person (Land Only)
$4,335 payments via check or money order
$4,563 payments via credit card
Single Supplement
$1,374 payments via check or money order
$1,446 payments via credit card
Pre-Paid Gratuities
$180 payments via check or money order
$189 payments via credit card
Note: Pre-paid gratuities to cover guides, drivers, waiters, baggage handling, etc. Your local Tour Guide will carry and disburse these funds so that you can relax and enjoy your trip, knowing that everyone assisting you is being taken care of properly.
Note: The single supplement is ONLY for those who would like to secure a private room throughout the tour, at the indicated additional price. If you are not traveling with anyone you know and would like to share a room, we will be happy to work to find you a suitable roommate. Per our Terms and Conditions, registration for the tour will be held open until two weeks before the departure date in order to try to match everyone with a roommate. If by that date we have not been able to match you with a suitable roommate, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. An early registration will facilitate this process.
Travel Insurance
Body Mind Spirit Journeys highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact BMSJ’s preferred insurance provider, Access America
If you need additional information or have questions, please call Access America directly at 800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.
For Flight Assistance and Ticketing, call: 631-624-7612 or email horst@rmctravelight.com