EDUCATIONAL and CULTURAL TOURS

223 Angas Street, Adelaide SA 5000 T (08) 8223 1272 ●●●● F (08) 8232 3690 ●●●● E tours@wea-

sa.com.au

TTA 183 ATAS AA11046

E&OE

PHOTOGRAPHS: Muhammad; Wesley Olson; Strudelt; Thursday next; Yashi-

ma; Meanest Indian; Ramnath Bhat; Brajeshwar Oinam; Bernard Gagnon

Day 13 Friday 25 Nov Day 16 Monday 28 Nov Day 18 Wednesday 30 Nov

Day 19 Thursday 01 Dec

Day 20 Friday 02 Dec

Day 14 Saturday 26 Nov

Day 17 Tuesday 29 Nov

Day 21 Saturday 03 Dec

Houseboat

Today you cruise along the backwaters

of Allepey where idyllic scenes unfold

from narrow canals to dense tropical

vegetation to large lakes with wide open

vistas and brilliantly coloured paddy

fields; all provide a snap shot of rural

Keralan life otherwise concealed from

the outside world. You stop at local vil-

lages and all meals are served on board.

Overnight Kerala houseboat

Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner

Allepey- Cochin

Transfer from your houseboat to Cochin

where you have an afternoon of leisure.

This evening a traditional dance show

has been arranged. Kathakali is a dance

form depicting Indian epics Ramayana

and Mahabharata. Dancers are dressed in

very colourful and elaborate costumes

and their faces are painted to depict epic

characters. There is much facial expres-

sion and articulate body movement.

Overnight Cochin

Breakfast ● Dinner

Day 15 Sunday 27 Nov

Cochin

With its fine natural harbour, Arabs,

Chinese, British, Dutch and Portuguese

have all left their mark on Cochin. To-

day you take a local tour which includes

the Dutch Palace - Mattancherry Palace,

which features astonishing murals de-

picting scenes from Ramayana and Ma-

habharata and Puranic legends. You also

visit St Francis church which is the old-

est European church in India and is the

resting place of Portuguese explorer

Vasco da Gama, and the Jewish Syna-

gogue built in 1568 and decorated with

Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers.

Overnight Cochin

Breakfast ● Dinner

Cochin - Mysore

Depart from Cochin this morning on a

short flight to Bangalore. Here you are

met by coach and taken to Mysore

where you arrive in the late afternoon

and check in to your heritage hotel in

the centre of town. Mysore is said to be

the prettiest town in India and is known

for its glittering royal heritage and mag-

nificent monuments and buildings. Its

royal palace is World Heritage listed

and it’s famous for its fine silks, incense

and sandalwood.

Overnight Mysore

Breakfast ● Dinner

Mysore

Today you have a relaxing start then

soak up the wonderful sights of Mysore

with your local guide. You visit grand

Mysore Palace which is built in the Indo

- Saracenic style and is the official resi-

dence of the Wodeyars - the Maharajas

of Mysore who ruled from 1350 to

1950. It is the finest royal building in

India after the Taj Mahal. Its sumptuous

interior is adorned with stained glass,

mirrors, garish colours, mosaic floors,

carved wood and paintings. There is a

fine collection of artefacts and sculp-

tures and a huge armoury. You also visit

Jaganmohan Palace, the 12th century

Temple of Chamundershwari and the

beautiful Gothic St Philomena’s church.

A highlight is the Brindavan Gardens,

some of the most beautiful in India.

They feature a kaleidoscope of colourful

flowers and the magical ‘dancing foun-

tain’. You visit here in the early evening

when the illuminated gardens transform

into a fairyland.

Overnight Mysore

Breakfast ● Dinner

Mysore - Bangalore

This morning you depart Mysore for Ban-

galore. This is the garden city of India and

is also affectionately called the Silicon

Valley of India. Check in to your hotel on

arrival and relax or explore this afternoon.

Promila is always happy to take anyone

interested, silk and saree shopping, barter-

ing and bargain hunting. This evening is

free to sample a local restaurant.

Overnight Bangalore

Breakfast

Bangalore - Chennai

Explore Bangalore today beginning with

the 18th century Tudor style Bangalore

Fort which is noted for its intricately

carved Islamic style arches on the gates

and walls and the well preserved Ganesha

Temple in its grounds. You also visit Bull

Temple with its huge idol carved from a

single boulder and Vidhana Soudha Ban-

galore’s best known noble landmark. You

also stroll through Cubbon Park and glori-

ous Lal Bagh a beautiful Botanic Garden.

It contains a vast collection of rare tropical

plants and century old trees. This evening

you fly to Chennai to overnight.

Overnight Chennai Airport hotel

Breakfast ● Dinner

Chennai - Singapore

Depart Chennai this morning for Singa-

pore where you connect with your flight to

Adelaide.

Overnight in flight

Meals in flight

Arrive in Adelaide this morning.

enriching lives through cultural exchange

21 Days $6260 Twin Share plus Airline Taxes $789 & Visa $153 (as of Nov 2016)

Single Supplement $1395 ● Balance Due 01 September 2016

Chennai (Madras) ● Pondicherry ● Mahabalipuram ● Trichy ● Chettinad Madurai ● Periyar ●Kerala Houseboat Cruise ● Cochin ● Mysore ● Bangalore

C oconut palms swaying gently in the warm breeze, women drawing water from village wells, fabulous produce and amazingly deli-

cious food, breathtaking temples, a spiritual stillness, the colour and frenzy of vibrant markets and festivals. Southern India will

seduce you. Travel with WEA’s Indian tour leader to an India beyond, where the distinct heritage and southern culture will intoxicate

you. Cruise the peaceful waterways of Kerala by houseboat to see an India concealed from the rest of the world, cook and sample the

tastiest of Indian cuisine and stay in beautiful heritage hotels reminiscent of a glorious past on this most enchanting of tours.

Tour Leader: Promila Gupta has led numerous tours to India for WEA Travel together with her husband Satish. She has a great pas-

sion for Indian culture, cooking and textiles and delights in taking visitors to her homeland. Often appearing in colourful sarees she

adds genuine warmth and local knowledge to the tour.

Inclusions: Flights Adelaide to Adelaide with Singapore Airlines; Fully escorted; Local Guides; All accommodation; All meals as per

itinerary; All entrance fees as per itinerary; Pre and Post tour get togethers; Study notes

Interstate passengers most welcome; Small groups; Free Travel Club; Caring tour consultants; Unique cultural focus

Day 1 Sunday 13 Nov

Day 2 Monday 14 Nov

Day 3 Tuesday 15 Nov

Day 4 Wednesday 16 Nov

Adelaide - Chennai

Depart Adelaide this morning with Singa-

pore Airlines to Chennai in southern India

with a connection in Singapore.

Overnight Chennai

Meals in flight

Chennai

To pick up a feel for old Madras you

begin exploring this morning with your

local guide. You visit the important land-

mark of Fort St George which houses St

Mary’s church, the oldest surviving Brit-

ish Anglican church in India and the Fort

Museum which displays a collection from

the tenure of the East India Companyin

Chennai including letters from Robert

Clive. The Fort itself was built in 1640 as

the first bastion of British power in India.

You also see Santhome Roman Catholic

Church which is said to house the remains

of St Thomas the Apostle who came to

India around 58AD, as well as St Thomas

Mount and Little Mount Shrine. The Na-

tional Art Gallery is also a wonderful

treasure included in your itinerary.

Overnight Chennai

Breakfast ● Dinner

Chennai

Today you have a true taste of authentic

Indian life when you visit a typical Indian

flower and fruit market with your tour

leader. You can purchase luscious tropical

fruits and marvel at the fabulous array of

tropical flowers which are such an integral

part of celebrating life in India. You also

visit the hypnotic 8th century Kapa-

leeshwar Temple built by Brahma for Lord

Shiva. There is time to join Promila

browsing and bartering for vibrant silks

and fabrics for which southern India is so

noted and in particular its silk sarees.

Chennai is also famous for its flavoursome

southern Indian food and Promila is an

expert.

Overnight Chennai

Breakfast ● Welcome Dinner

Chennai - Pondicherry

After breakfast you take the coastal route

to Mahabalipuram stopping at the 7th cen-

tury Shore Temple and the 7th century

Trimurti Temple which is perched high on

the cliff tops and dedicated to the three

supreme deities of the Hindus; Brahma -

the creator, Vishnu - the preserver and

Shiva - the destroyer. Visiting Trimurti is

likened to awakening in another era where

time has stood still. These temples are part

of the Mahabalipuram site - the ancient

port city of the Pallavas which perfected

the art of construction by carving exquis-

ite sculptures from the rock. The most

prized examples of it’s art are the five

monolith chariots. Some of the world’s

finest Bas-reliefs can also be seen here,

depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.

You also visit Kanchipuram where you

explore Kamakshi Amman, the

Kailashanathar Temple and Ekam-

bareshwar Temple; both dedicated to Lord

Shiva.

Overnight Pondicherry

Breakfast ● Dinner

Day 5 Thursday 17 Nov

Day 6 Friday 18 Nov

Day 8 Sunday 20 Nov

Day 9 Monday 21 Nov

Day 10 Tuesday 22 Nov

Day 11 Wednesday 23 Nov

Day 12 Thursday 24 Nov

Pondicherry

Pondicherry was ruled by the French for

almost three centuries and French archi-

tectural styles and refinement is evident

everywhere. Today you visit Sri Auro-

bindo Ashram where people of all na-

tionalities, beliefs and cultures come to

live in harmony. It is a vibrant centre of

life. You also have a guided tour of the

Pondicherry Museum which exhibits

superb collections of bronze sculptures of

gods and goddesses, handicrafts and art.

After lunch you take to a cycle-rickshaw

on a heritage tour exploring the historical

French town and White town where or-

nate gateways and arches, garden court-

yards filled with vibrant bougainvilleas

and grand colonial houses with pink,

yellow and white facades line the streets.

The remainder of the day is free to relax

and explore this beautiful haven. This

evening you learn about and sample

some of the delicious specialities of au-

thentic southern Indian cuisine.

Overnight Pondicherry

Breakfast ● Dinner

Pondicherry - Trichy

Visit 11th century Tanjore Temple this

morning enroute to Trichy. This famous

granite stone Brihadeeswara temple was

built from a single granite block and is

now a UNESCO World Heritage protect-

ed heritage site. It’s 14 story high Vima-

na and workmanship are exquisite. Other

sites of interest here include Sarabhoji

Maharajas Fort, Rajagopal arsenal tower,

Sadar Mahal, Saraswathi Mahal Library

and Our Lady of Sorrows church. On

arrival in the magnificent holy city of

Trichy you check in for two nights.

Overnight Trichy

Breakfast ● Dinner

Day 7 Saturday 19 Nov

Trichy

The Rock Fort Vinayaka Temple is the

spiritual landmark of Trichy. It sits atop a

rock above the city and stands over 84

metres high. In the 18th century the Brit-

ish fought and defeated the French here

for possession of the Fort. It features

cave shrines and temples, the Hall of a

Thousand Pillars and the Shrive of Shi-

va. You also explore the gigantic Ranga-

nathswamy Temple complex dedicated

to the Hindu god Vishnu. You then have

free time to potter and enjoy Trichy at

your leisure. Promila is happy to browse

for locally made crafts, for which Trichy

is well known such as glass diamonds

and bangles and handloom cloth.

Overnight Trichy

Breakfast ● Dinner

Trichy - Chettinad

After breakfast you take a leisurely drive

to Chettinad. Relax and enjoy the charac-

teristic sights of this unhurried part of

India. Chettinad is known as the capital

of the spiciest and most aromatic cuisine

in all of India. ‘Chettinad’ means a social

caste specialising in the preparation of

food and Chettinads are considered won-

derful chefs. Check in to your hotel

which is reminiscent of Chettinad’s glori-

ous past then in the late afternoon learn

about and taste some of the delicious

spices and reginal dishes. Chettinad is

also noted for its fine 18th century man-

sions, hand loom cotton sarees and beau-

tiful Athangudi hand crafted tiles.

Overnight Chettinad

Breakfast ● Dinner

Chettinad - Madurai

After a leisurely start you travel to Madu-

rai, the cultural heart of Tamil Nadu.

Madurai is profoundly Tamil and is one

of the oldest cities in India, famed for its

fabulous Meenakshi Temple. There are

many grand and breathtaking temples in

India but Meenakshi is the most splendid

of them all. Check in to your hotel which

reflects wonderful southern Indian ambi-

ence and relax or explore.

Overnight Madurai

Breakfast ● Dinner

Madurai

This morning you visit the great

Meenakshi Temple, built in the sumptu-

ous Dravidian style. The present temple

dates to 1560 and was designed by

Vishwanatha Nayak. It is a huge com-

plex and its interior is adorned with

colourful wall and ceiling paintings. Its

tall gopurams are encrusted with a

breathtaking array of gods, goddesses,

demons and heroes. You also visit the

gracious Tirumala Nayak Palace famous

for the Stucco work on its domes and

arches, the lush Alagar Hills and the

mystically beautiful Thirupparan

Kundram rock hewn temple.

Overnight Madurai

Breakfast ● Dinner

Madurai - Periyar

Today you drive to Periyar. Enjoy rustic

scenes of southern Indian life as you

relax and enjoy the journey. In Periyar

you visit a spice plantation. From the

14th century onwards the hills of Periyar

have been amassed with plantations of

precious cardamom, cinnamon, ginger,

nutmeg, mace and anise.

Overnight Periyar

Breakfast ● Dinner

Periyar - Kumarakom - Houseboat

Take an early morning boat cruise on

Lake Periyar; a beautiful way to experi-

ence the sanctuary of Periyar where an

estimated 700 Indian elephants roam the

forests. They frequently come to the

edges of the lake to frolic in the water.

You next drive to Kumarakom to board

a Kerala houseboat where lunch is

served. One of the most memorable

experiences of travel to southern India

is the opportunity to glide along the

shimmering backwaters of Kerala on a

traditional houseboat. This labyrinth of

calm waterways between the hills and

sea stretches from Cochin to Kollam.

Overnight Kerala houseboat

Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner