18-Day South India Journey

Sri Aurobindo Ashram: Founded in 1926 under Mother's guidance, this ashram has grown from a small group of two dozen disciples to a large, branched community. It's not a quiet retreat from the world, but a vibrant center of life in an urban setting.

Handmade Paper Factory: One of the Ashram's most successful commercial enterprises, producing high-quality handmade paper exported worldwide. Visitors can witness the paper-making process during factory tours.

Pondicherry Museum: Famous for its diverse stone sculptures and a fossilized tree trunk.

Chidambaram Temple: Also known as Thillai Nataraja Temple, this is a Hindu temple dedicated to Nataraja (Shiva as Lord of Dance) and Govindaraja (Maha Vishnu as the judge of dance), located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu.

The Great Living Chola Temples were built by kings of the Chola Empire across South India. The site includes three great 11th-12th century temples: Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur, Brihadisvara Temple in Gangaikondacholisvaram, and Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram. The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram (built by Rajendra I, completed in 1035) features a 53-meter vimana (sanctuary tower) with receding corners and graceful upward movement. The temples testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting, and bronze casting.

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple: A Hindu temple dedicated to Ranganatha (Lord Vishnu), located in Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli. The temple is glorified by Alvars in their Naalayira Divya Prabhandam and has the unique distinction of being the foremost of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Chettinad Palace: Considered one of the seven wonders of India, it's a fantastic combination of art, architecture, and tradition. Known for its unique Chettinad cuisine and architectural style.

Kanadukathan: A Panchayat in Karaikudi taluk, famous for Chettinad cuisine and the architecture of its houses, whose main entrances resemble those of temples.

Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple: A Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located on Rameswaram island in Tamil Nadu. It's one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples dating from the 12th century, making it one of the most sacred Shiva shrines in India.

Dhanushkodi Beach: Located at the tip of Rameswaram island where the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Mannar of the Indian Ocean meet (known as Arichal Munai in Tamil). Before 1964, Dhanushkodi was a bustling town attracting thousands of tourists daily.

Pamban Bridge: The 2.2 km long bridge connecting Rameswaram island with the mainland is India's longest bridge built over a bay. The unique railway bridge features a scissors mechanism that opens to allow ships to pass through the sea.

St. Francis Church: Built by Europeans in 1503, St. Francis Church is the oldest European church in India. Portuguese trader Vasco da Gama died in Kochi during his third visit to Kerala. His body was initially buried in this church, but after a few years, his remains were transferred to Portugal. Despite this, the place where he was buried is marked within the church.

Fort Kochi Beach: An ideal location for quiet and relaxed enjoyment, this beach is one of the favorite tourist spots in Kerala. The sunset view with Chinese fishing nets and sailboats in the background is a fine experience. Along the coastline, many European-style bungalows can be seen.

Chinese Fishing Nets: The very popular tourist attraction in Cochin harbor, these fishing nets are unique of their kind and found only in India. The fishing nets were popularized in Cochin harbor by traders from the court of Chinese ruler Kublai Khan.