ASIAN ODYSSEYS
SOUTH INDIA ADVENTURE
December 5-21, 2024
India offers a stunning variety in its expanse of about 3.3 million sq. km. You can wander from the chilly peaks of the Himalayas to the hot green Gangetic plains from the majestic Rajasthan deserts to massive mangrove forests to the famous sea and sand of Goa. And in each region, you will be greeted by totally different sound and colors, arts and crafts.
India’s culture, like its people, is a rich mosaic whose myriad elements have been born of its ancient roots and foreign influences. It is vibrant and chaotic, a land of incredible contrasts and paradoxes.
Come with us, as we peel back the different layers of India for you. Wherever you are from, you will find something that touches your heart in India.
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Full itinerary upon request: Email to [email protected]
CHENNAI
The port of Chennai with a thriving global trade in silks, spices and jewels, was a capital over centuries of empires and colonies, and the region around it grew rapidly from a tiny town to the bustling metropolis it is today. Formerly known as Madras, Chennai’s location along the coast offered great opportunities for industries, and like other ports in India, some of the first few industries were set up for textiles. The streets of Chennai evoke a sense of history that is intermingled with its political identity today, the older structures fulfill modern-day administrative roles, and the effect of the port is evident in the industrial and urban development. On the streets of Chennai, it is difficult to tell the difference between the political hoardings and the movie posters – essential elements of the city’s life, as is the variety of rice-based preparations of its rich cuisine.
PONDICHERRY - while many cities in India read like a page out of history, Pondicherry is distinct in having captured the very essence of its colonial past, and it lives on in every street, and around every corner. An outpost of the French in a country of British rule, Pondicherry’s Gallic flavor is retained in the Creole cuisine, the canary-yellow architecture and the part-Indian, part-French road signs – and the cultural identity of its people is forged by Tamil ancestry and colonial assimilation. Another distinct flavor of Pondicherry is that of the Aurobindo Ashram, set up by Aurobindo Ghosh, a philosopher-poet and freedom fighter. Founded on principles of holistic lifestyle, the Ashram has drawn people from across India to live more community-centered and less material lives. Auroville, located a few kilometers away from Pondicherry, is a Utopian city based on similar ideals that has provided a refuge for like-minded people from around the world.
MADURAI, the oldest city in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, has a history of global trade recorded by the Greek scholar and ambassador, Megasthenes. With a two thousand year old tradition of literary and art gatherings, Madurai is a stronghold of culture, often referred to as the Athens of the East. Madurai, the oldest city in Tamil Nadu, both in history and mythology is most for the Meenakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to Parvati and her husband Shiva, popular for its beautiful edifice, stunning architecture and festive nightly processions.
COCHIN - a true melting pot in every sense, Cochin or Kochi, is one of the most dynamic, vibrant and energetic cities in South India. One of the most important trading posts on the Spice Route, Cochin sports several vestiges of its multi-cultural past – Chinese fishing nets mingle with Dutch Palaces, Sephardic Synagogues and Portuguese forts – all jostling for space along the shores of the Arabian Sea. Today, Cochin has a thriving arts and cultural scene and hosts the Cochin Biennale – a major art event in Asia, every winter. Several galleries, boutiques, and artisanal restaurants stand cheek by jowl with one another, especially in the Fort Cochin area, while the spice, fish and antique markets continue to flourish side by side.
MUMBAI, formerly a territory of seven fishing islands, today a sprawling, bustling metropolitan is undeniably one of India’s most dynamic and riotous cities. The ‘city of dreams’ is a home for people from different walks of life, a veritable potpourri of economies, lifestyles, cultures, faiths and identities. The pop culture worldwide has Mumbai to thank for all the Bollywood paraphernalia in the media – India’s own film industry, and movies like Slumdog Millionaire and Shantaram offer a glimpse into the workings of this chaotic city and of the industrious people pursuing their varied livelihoods.
AURANGABAD - named after the Mughal emperor, Aurangazeb, the city of Aurangabad’s basalt topography is etched with some of the best examples of religious art in the country; the Ellora rock-cut temples and the Ajanta cave paintings dating to the Buddhist era in India…a theatre of great historical events during the Mughal, Maratha and colonial regimes.
HOTELS AT A GLANCE
CHENNAI, Taj Fisherman’s Cove - built on the ramparts of an old Dutch fort and set amidst whispering casuarinas and palm trees, Fisherman’s Cove is one of the finest beach resorts in Southern India.
MADURAI, Taj Gateway hotel - atop Pasumalai, with a panoramic view of the Temple city and Kodai hills, this century old property sprawls over 62 acres of landscaped gardens.
COCHIN, CGH Brunton Boatyard - moored on a historic stretch of Cochin's famed harbor, just a walk away from Fort Cochin, the Brunton Boatyard Hotel was resurrected from the remains of a Victorian shipyard. The hotel still holds the charm from its busy shipbuilding days in the 1800's, with dated Dutch maps, small navigation devices and an ancient anchor decorating the premises.
MUMBAI, Taj Mahal Palace & Towers - built in 1903 as the first property of the Taj Group, the hotel is an architectural marvel. Offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India, the hotel is a gracious landmark of the city of Mumbai. The hotel consists of two parts, the Palace that was the original building in 1903 and the Tower wing constructed by an American architect in 197
India’s culture, like its people, is a rich mosaic whose myriad elements have been born of its ancient roots and foreign influences. It is vibrant and chaotic, a land of incredible contrasts and paradoxes.
Come with us, as we peel back the different layers of India for you. Wherever you are from, you will find something that touches your heart in India.
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Full itinerary upon request: Email to [email protected]
CHENNAI
The port of Chennai with a thriving global trade in silks, spices and jewels, was a capital over centuries of empires and colonies, and the region around it grew rapidly from a tiny town to the bustling metropolis it is today. Formerly known as Madras, Chennai’s location along the coast offered great opportunities for industries, and like other ports in India, some of the first few industries were set up for textiles. The streets of Chennai evoke a sense of history that is intermingled with its political identity today, the older structures fulfill modern-day administrative roles, and the effect of the port is evident in the industrial and urban development. On the streets of Chennai, it is difficult to tell the difference between the political hoardings and the movie posters – essential elements of the city’s life, as is the variety of rice-based preparations of its rich cuisine.
PONDICHERRY - while many cities in India read like a page out of history, Pondicherry is distinct in having captured the very essence of its colonial past, and it lives on in every street, and around every corner. An outpost of the French in a country of British rule, Pondicherry’s Gallic flavor is retained in the Creole cuisine, the canary-yellow architecture and the part-Indian, part-French road signs – and the cultural identity of its people is forged by Tamil ancestry and colonial assimilation. Another distinct flavor of Pondicherry is that of the Aurobindo Ashram, set up by Aurobindo Ghosh, a philosopher-poet and freedom fighter. Founded on principles of holistic lifestyle, the Ashram has drawn people from across India to live more community-centered and less material lives. Auroville, located a few kilometers away from Pondicherry, is a Utopian city based on similar ideals that has provided a refuge for like-minded people from around the world.
MADURAI, the oldest city in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, has a history of global trade recorded by the Greek scholar and ambassador, Megasthenes. With a two thousand year old tradition of literary and art gatherings, Madurai is a stronghold of culture, often referred to as the Athens of the East. Madurai, the oldest city in Tamil Nadu, both in history and mythology is most for the Meenakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to Parvati and her husband Shiva, popular for its beautiful edifice, stunning architecture and festive nightly processions.
COCHIN - a true melting pot in every sense, Cochin or Kochi, is one of the most dynamic, vibrant and energetic cities in South India. One of the most important trading posts on the Spice Route, Cochin sports several vestiges of its multi-cultural past – Chinese fishing nets mingle with Dutch Palaces, Sephardic Synagogues and Portuguese forts – all jostling for space along the shores of the Arabian Sea. Today, Cochin has a thriving arts and cultural scene and hosts the Cochin Biennale – a major art event in Asia, every winter. Several galleries, boutiques, and artisanal restaurants stand cheek by jowl with one another, especially in the Fort Cochin area, while the spice, fish and antique markets continue to flourish side by side.
MUMBAI, formerly a territory of seven fishing islands, today a sprawling, bustling metropolitan is undeniably one of India’s most dynamic and riotous cities. The ‘city of dreams’ is a home for people from different walks of life, a veritable potpourri of economies, lifestyles, cultures, faiths and identities. The pop culture worldwide has Mumbai to thank for all the Bollywood paraphernalia in the media – India’s own film industry, and movies like Slumdog Millionaire and Shantaram offer a glimpse into the workings of this chaotic city and of the industrious people pursuing their varied livelihoods.
AURANGABAD - named after the Mughal emperor, Aurangazeb, the city of Aurangabad’s basalt topography is etched with some of the best examples of religious art in the country; the Ellora rock-cut temples and the Ajanta cave paintings dating to the Buddhist era in India…a theatre of great historical events during the Mughal, Maratha and colonial regimes.
HOTELS AT A GLANCE
CHENNAI, Taj Fisherman’s Cove - built on the ramparts of an old Dutch fort and set amidst whispering casuarinas and palm trees, Fisherman’s Cove is one of the finest beach resorts in Southern India.
MADURAI, Taj Gateway hotel - atop Pasumalai, with a panoramic view of the Temple city and Kodai hills, this century old property sprawls over 62 acres of landscaped gardens.
COCHIN, CGH Brunton Boatyard - moored on a historic stretch of Cochin's famed harbor, just a walk away from Fort Cochin, the Brunton Boatyard Hotel was resurrected from the remains of a Victorian shipyard. The hotel still holds the charm from its busy shipbuilding days in the 1800's, with dated Dutch maps, small navigation devices and an ancient anchor decorating the premises.
MUMBAI, Taj Mahal Palace & Towers - built in 1903 as the first property of the Taj Group, the hotel is an architectural marvel. Offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India, the hotel is a gracious landmark of the city of Mumbai. The hotel consists of two parts, the Palace that was the original building in 1903 and the Tower wing constructed by an American architect in 197
