Yoga, nature and culture in India

On arrival at Cochin our representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Kochi- with its wealth of historical associations and its beautiful setting on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas, the fascinating city of Cochin perfectly reflects the eclecticism of Kerala. Cochin now renamed Kochi, boasts of one of the finest natural harbours on the Arabian Sea coast and has been a port of call for foreign traders from very early times. Its cosmopolitan character is reflected in the many buildings and structures, which bear testimony to the different influences that the city has acquired from the world over. Cochin is a fascinating synthesis of old and new. At the entrance of Kochi harbour, the Chinese fishing nets add a wistful aura to the surroundings. These nets are the only remaining evidence of the Chinese contacts of ancient times. On arrival check in. Evening visit an auditorium to watch the famous dance drama of Kerala, the Kathakali. This dance is characterised by some great story telling, amazing costumes and extensive make-up & Karali – Martial art. (Overnight stay at Cochin)

Morning visit to the Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Friday & Saturday) built in 1568. Scrolls of the Old Testament and a number of copper plates inscribed in Hebrew script are preserved here. The building was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1662 and rebuilt by the Dutch two years later. Also visit the Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1555. The Palace was presented to the Raja of Cochin as a gesture of goodwill. This was also known as the Dutch Palace (Closed on Friday), resulting from substantial renovation by the Dutch after 1663. The central hall was the Coronation Hall of the Rajas. Their dresses, turbans and palanquins and murals from Hindu mythology are all beautiful and worth seeing. Culminate the tour at Fort Kochi, which is said to be the oldest European settlement in India. Fort Kochi is the earliest recorded settlement on the Malabar Coast, with its beautiful colonial bungalow peppered with Dutch, Portuguese and Malabar architecture. The many small winding streets with lovely old houses are truly a treasure trove. Evening enjoy the sunset cruise. Overnight stay in Cochin

Morning checkout and drive to Alleppey embark for 4 hours cruise on a “Kettuvallam” , the traditional trading vessel of this beautiful coastal region and cruise on the backwater. You will be awed at the vast expanse of the paddy fields that surrounds these beautiful backwaters.The boats will stop in villages for you to experience a glimpse of the village life in rural Kerala. The villagers will be too pleased to invite you to have a sip from the freshly picked raw coconut from their own fields. Checkout from houseboat at 5 pm and drive back to Cochin for overnight stay. (Overnight stay in Alleppey)

Morning checkout and drive to Yogic Temple (Isha yoga center) at the Velliangiri foothills. Evening introduction section. (Overnight stay in Coimbatore)

It’s a method, a tool to engineer a deep lasting personal transformation. Over 7 million people have completed Inner Engineering and reported remarkable results. Inner Engineering gives you simple tools to eliminate stress, relieve chronic diseases, sleep better, increase energy and productivity, maintain emotional balance, improve relationships and communication and experience your life each moment to the fullest. The Inner Engineering program generally starts on a Wednesday Evening at 6 PM with an introductory talk which is open-to-all. For the remaining days (except Sunday), participants have the choice of choosing one of the three sessions: Morning: (6AM to 9AM), Afternoon (10AM to 1PM) or Evening (6PM to 9PM) Wednesday: 6PM (introductory talk) Thursday, Friday,Saturday,Monday Tuesday: Morning: 6AM to 9AM Afternoon: 10AM to 1PM Evening: 6PM to 9PM Sunday: 6AM to 6PM.

Full day at Isha yoga and practice Yoga.

Full day at Isha yoga and practice Yoga.

Morning proceed to Ooty by toy train. The ‘Queen of southern hill resorts’, is a hill station situated at a height of 7349 feet above sea level in the Nilgiri mountain ranges in Tamil Nadu. Also known as Udhagamandalam, it is known for its salubrious climate and scenic beauty, with breathtaking views of tea-plantations and undisturbed grassy meadows. Visit the Tea plantations and cherish the scenic beauty of Ooty “The Queen of southern hill resorts. Evening you can go for a walk amongst tea gardens with sparkling vegetation in the terraced farms of the Nilgiri ranges. Along with tourist sites, the destination houses variety of birds such as thrushes, babblers, larks, cuckoos, robins, vultures, eagles and song birds. Visit Kurumba tribe and trek in the forest, hoping to see some of the wild animals of the region and to enjoy the flora and fauna accompanied by Kurumba tribe as our guide. On the narrow path, which is barely wide enough for an averagely-built human, we spot fresh footprints of elephants as well as lots of spoor – some very fresh and some from a few weeks – indicating the route taken by Elephant to water stream. Enjoy the Nilgiri biosphere this vision remains in our eyes and completes our journey to this land. (Overnight stay in Ooty)

Drive to Mysore – The Palace city. On arrival check in. Evening free to walk around the Devaraj market busy streets with colourful shops, sellers in the platform and crowdie bus station. (Overnight stay in Mysore)

Visit Mysore Palace or the Mysore Maharaja Palace is located in the heart of the city. Later visit Chamundi Hills, one of the prime attractions of Mysore, is also an acclaimed landmark of the destination. Chamundi Hills is located at an altitude of 1065 meters above sea level, to the south-east of Mysore city. The Chamundeshwari Temple, atop Chamundi Hills, is the temple of the patron Goddess of Wodeyars, Chamundeshwari, an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi. This temple can be dated back to the 11th century. The temple was renovated in the year 1827 by the Kings of Mysore. There is a statue of demon king Mahishasura in front of Chamundeshwari Temple. It is believed that the name Mysore was derived from Mahishooru (the city of Mahishasura), which later became ‘Mysooru’ or ‘Mysore’. There is a huge monolith idol of Nandi – the bull, at the Bull Temple, which is situated half way up the Chamundi Hills. The statue of Nandi, which is about 5 meter high, was carved out of single black-granite in the year 1659. The Nandi at this Bull Temple is one among the largest statues of Nandi in India

Morning special program for breathing exercise. Later checkout and drive to Mysore railway station for train to Chennai and later drive to Mamallapuram – Its enviable position on the Coromandel Coast, facing the Bay of Bengal, guarantees that this is a popular place to stay. On arrival check in. (Overnight stay in Mamallapuram)

Morning after breakfast proceeds for sightseeing visiting the Arjuna’s Penance – Nothing can prepare you for the wonderful bas-reliefs covering two huge boulders. The exquisite detail, dating from the 7th century, depicts the flow of the Ganges down from the Himalayan mountains as well as scenes from Indian daily life, The Five Rathas – You won’t believe that these shrines are carved whole from an outcrop of rock. Each of the five temples is dedicated to heroes from the great epic of the Mahabharata. Later visit the Shore Temple – Relish the delightful seaside location, overlooking the Bay of Bengal, and landscaped gardens surrounding the Shore Temple, a popular place for the locals to visit. Dedicated to both Vishnu and Shiva, the decorative beauty of the temple, built in Dravidian style, has suffered erosion by its proximity to the sea. Meet our Yoga specialist to correct your doubts and asanas. (Overnight stay in Mamallapuram)

In the early morning we go to a small fisherman village near Mamallapuram for a fishing safari. On arrival the fishermen from this village welcome you with a drink of the tender coconut. Before setting off into the sea, you will be given a small briefing and equipped with the life jackets. While the boat trip on a regular fishing motorized catamaran, you are free to take fishing nets in your hands and catch your own fish. After fishing we return to the shore, luckily with the catch of the day. Even though we pay high attention to the safety precautions for our guests at the fishing safari tour, a small element of risk remains. The proceeds from the fishing safari tour will be forwarded to a fund, which contributes to the sponsoring of the children from the fishermen community for higher education. Later taken an auto to nearby village this tour takes you to the heart of rural India. Depart Mamallapuram and first stop at the Potters house for a small demo at their backyard of their house that happens to be their workshop. Then on drive to a small village of Kadumbadi to visit the Village school. And across you are received by the musicians at the Village temple followed by a small pooja. If we are lucky we could get there during a local festival. During the tour you could catch plenty of photo opportunities such as plugging, weeding, buffalos enjoying their plunge in the lake etc .Later drive back to Mamallapuram. Evening Meeting with Chef, the food expert to discuss about vegetarian food culture of India.

Departure transfer to Chennai airport for onward flight.