See India Through My Eyes
Pilgrimage in South India - Following in the footsteps of St. Thomas - February 2018
Sacred temples ● Ancient religions ● Legends & Traditions
India - A land that has preserved one of the
oldest unbroken civilizations on earth
Whirls of color, a million Sounds and Smells jostling in the air,
Sweet vendors, Flower markets, Street circuses, Spice sellers,
A swiftly spinning wheel of chaos and culture!
Travel Arrangements by AAventureSS - See India Through My Eyes - Santa Fe, NM – Established 1998
Page 1
See India Through My Eyes
Pilgrimage in South India - Following in the footsteps of St. Thomas - February 2018
South India has a glorious history of more than 3,000 years. With the advent of Aryan civilization in early
centuries BCE, much of the Dravidian civilizations (said to be a base for Indus Valley civilization) were
confined to Southern India, which soon became a major Dravidian bastion. Though Hinduism remained as the
invisible thread that connected North and South, much of the culture and outlook remained entirely different in
the two parts of the country, with the Vindhya mountains preventing Northern cultural dominance into Southern
India until the Medieval period.
Its long history and religious tolerance is manifested in numerous examples of architectural wonders pertaining
to its communities of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists and Jews. Its Dravidian architecture is
quite different from the rest of India. The most obvious, and often striking, feature is the gopuram perched on
every temple entrance, a stepped, steeply rising pyramid carved with layer upon layer upon layer of
fantastically detailed and brightly painted statues.
CHENNAI ♦ COCHIN ♦ GOA - FEBRUARY 17 – 25, 2018
Our travels will take us from Chennai in the south eastern coast of India known as the Coromandel Coast to
Kochi in the south western Malabar Coast. Traveling along the two coasts you will experience flamboyant living
temples, ancient ruins, diverse cuisines, spice gardens, natural forest reserves and the amazing backwaters to
be experienced in a traditional kettuvallam. We end our tour on the languid beaches of Goa on the Konkan
coast of western India. A kaleidoscopic blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures, sweetened with sun, sea,
sand, seafood and spirituality!
DAY 1 - 17 FEB SAT - 2018 ARRIVE CHENNAI – STATE OF TAMIL NADU – SOUTH INDIA
Arrive tonight at Chennai international airport. After immigration and baggage clearance on exiting
you will be met by our representative who will assist & transfer you to the hotel for check in. Hotel
Taj Coromandel (Superior room). Room will be available for immediate occupancy on arrival.
DAY 2 - 18 FEB SUN
CHENNAI
This morning after breakfast we can attend mass at CSI Egmore Wesley Church and also visit St.
Andre’s Kirk Church.
Travel Arrangements by AAventureSS - See India Through My Eyes - Santa Fe, NM – Established 1998
Page 2
See India Through My Eyes
Pilgrimage in South India - Following in the footsteps of St. Thomas - February 2018
After which you will visit Fort St. George followed by a visit to the Mylapore Temple, San Thome
Cathedral (Apostle St Thomas memorial – his remnants were buried here) and if time permits the
State Museum/National Art Gallery.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
The name Mylapore is derived from the legend that the Goddess Uma worshipped Siva in the form
of a peacock (or mayil in Tamil). We can see a representation of this legend on stone in a small Shrine
under a Punnai tree (Sthala Vriksha) in the Courtyard of the temple.
Ptolemy, the Creek Geographer (A.D. 90-168) has referred to Mylapore in his books as ‘Millarpha; It
was apparently a well-known sea port town with a flourishing trade. It must have also been a place
of culture, as Saint, Tiruvalluvar the celebrated author of Tirukkurl, the World-famous ethical
treatise, lived in Mylapore nearly 2,000 years ago.
Travel Arrangements by AAventureSS - See India Through My Eyes - Santa Fe, NM – Established 1998
Page 3
See India Through My Eyes
Pilgrimage in South India - Following in the footsteps of St. Thomas - February 2018
The Saivite Saints of the 7th Century, Saint Sambandar and Saint Appar, have sung about the Shrine
in their hymns.
St. Thomas visited Mylapore in the 2nd Century
A.D. His tomb is in the St. Thomas basilica, a
beautiful Cathedral about half a mile from the
temple.
Mylapore fell into the hands of the Portuguese in
A.D.1566, when the temple suffered demolition.
The present temple was rebuilt 400 years ago by the
kingdom of Vijayanagara. There are some
fragmentary inscriptions from the old temple, still
found in the present Shrine and in St. Thomas
Cathedral.
The altar of this church holds the holy relics of St.Thomas. People from all sections of society and
from various religious beliefs come to the church daily to get blessings.
Christianity was first introduced into India by St. Thomas. After the Death and Resurrection of
Christ, Thomas became acquainted with Habban, a merchant of King Gondophare of India. It was
with this merchant that Thomas landed at Cranganore on the Malabar Coast of present day Kerala in
52 A.D.
After building seven churches on this coast, St. Thomas
crossed over to Coromandel Coast of India's eastern
seaboard and enriched the southern part of India with
the seeds of the Gospel in a land that had never known
what this Gospel of salvation was.
It was a hard fight which made him to go into hiding in
the Little Mount. When at last he reached the Parangi
Malai (present St. Thomas Mount), perhaps he found
that this place was better suited for his life of solitude and prayer. But that very spot and that very
moment of prayer were sealed and sanctified when he became a libation for the Gospel in the year 72
A.D.
(B,L)
Travel Arrangements by AAventureSS - See India Through My Eyes - Santa Fe, NM – Established 1998
Page 4
See India Through My Eyes
Pilgrimage in South India - Following in the footsteps of St. Thomas - February 2018
DAY 3 – 19 FEB MON
CHENNAI
This morning after breakfast you will go
on a short excursion to Mahabalipuram, a
town in Kancheepuram district in the
Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 60 km south
from the city of Chennai, an ancient
historic town that was a bustling seaport
during the time of Periplus (1st century
CE) and Ptolemy (140 CE). Ancient Indian
traders who went to countries of South
East Asia sailed from the seaport of
Mahabalipuram.
Lunch on the way back to Chennai at a
local stop.
Return to Chennai – rest of the day at leisure.
(B,L)
DAY 4 – 20 FEB TUE
TO KOCHI – STATE OF KERALA
This morning our group will be met and transferred for the a.m.
flight to Cochin. On arrival you will be met and transferred to
the Taj Malabar Hotel. (Superior Charm – heritage wing).
Lunch on your own.
This evening attend a Kathakali Dance performance.
Kathakali (Malayalam: കഥകളി, kathakaḷi) is one of the major
forms of classical Indian dance. It is another "story play" genre
of art, but one distinguished by its elaborately colorful make-up,
costumes and face masks wearing actor-dancers, who have
traditionally been all males. Kathakali primarily developed as a
Hindu performance art in the Malayalam-speaking
southwestern region of India (Kerala).
Kathakali's roots are unclear. The fully developed style of
Kathakali originated around the 17th century, but its roots are in
Travel Arrangements by AAventureSS - See India Through My Eyes - Santa Fe, NM – Established 1998
Page 5
See India Through My Eyes
Pilgrimage in South India - Following in the footsteps of St. Thomas - February 2018
temple and folk arts such as Kutiyattam and religious drama of the south western Indian peninsula,
which are traceable to at least the 1st millennium CE.
(B)
DAY 5 – 21 FEB WED
KOCHI
After breakfast depart for a half day excursion to the St.Thomas Shrine in Kodungallur. It was known
to the Greeks as Muziris and is a place immersed in
rich history.
St.Thomas, the apostle of Jesus Christ landed in
Kodungallur in 52 AD. The Church here was
established by him and is the first church in India,
housing ancient relics. Many a church in West Asia
considers him as the father of its faith.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
After this you will be transported back to your hotel.
DAY 6 – 22 FEB THU
(B,L)
KOCHI
After an early breakfast you will go on a half day
sightseeing tour of Fort Cochin, including the St.
Francis Church, the Dutch Palace, the Jewish
Synagogue and Chinese fishing nets.
Continue on for lunch on our houseboat where we
will spend the rest of the day travelling along the
backwaters on our houseboat.
Later we will be transported back to our hotel.
Overnight in Cochin.
(B,L)
Travel Arrangements by AAventureSS - See India Through My Eyes - Santa Fe, NM – Established 1998
Page 6
See India Through My Eyes
Pilgrimage in South India - Following in the footsteps of St. Thomas - February 2018
DAY 7 – 23 FEB
FRI
TO GOA – UNION TERRITORY
Transfer this morning to the airport to board your flight to Goa
via Mumbai.
On arrival in Goa you will be met and transferred to the Taj
Holiday Village Hotel. (Superior charm cottage).
Rest of the day to enjoy your environs.
(B)
DAY 8 – 24 FEB
SAT
GOA
Goa was among the most important centres of the ancient and
medieval world, trading in calico, spices, precious metals and
many other goods. It has been under various Hindu dynasties
for most of its history, with a brief period under Muslim
rulers. When the Portuguese arrived in Goa, it was under the
Muslim Bahmani empire.
The Portuguese defeated the Bahmanis and conquered Goa in
1510; thus beginning 450 years of Christian rule. This rule
ended when in 1961, the Indian army marched into Goa, and
overthrew the Portuguese. These historical events have left
their mark on Goa, influencing not only religion and
architecture, but also the language, dress, cuisine and lifestyle of Goans.
On this tour, you will see not only Goa's interesting
monuments, but also its diverse cultures.
You will visit Se Cathedral (the seat of the Archbishop of
Goa), and the Basilica of Bom Jesus which contains the body
of Saint Francis Xavier, the Jesuit missionary who was
canonised in 1622.
This evening a visit to the delightful colorful night market in
Arpora for those who are interested.
Dinner can also be had at this market.
(B)
Travel Arrangements by AAventureSS - See India Through My Eyes - Santa Fe, NM – Established 1998
Page 7
See India Through My Eyes
Pilgrimage in South India - Following in the footsteps of St. Thomas - February 2018
DAY 16 - 27 NOV MON DEPART GOA
This morning after breakfast, our representative will meet and transfer you to the airport in time for
your connecting flight home via Mumbai or Chennai.
On arrival in Mumbai/Chennai (own arrangements).
(B)
END OF TOUR
Add on an Extension at the end of your Tour
PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ITINERARY AND PRICES ON ANY OF THE BELOW MENTIONED
EXTENSIONS AT [email protected] OR 505.920.8075

MUMBAI – 2 days
Once a cluster of seven islands, Mumbai was presented to King Charles II in 1661 as part of
the dowry when he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal. Over the years, as
colonialism gave way to independence, Mumbai has transformed itself into an entity with
thriving markets, business houses and many different communities reflecting a cosmopolitan
and trendy atmosphere rarely seen elsewhere. On the surface, it represents the ever-changing
face of today's India -- the old coupled with the dynamic new, and yet at its very core, the
heart of the city is steeped in Indian customs and values.

DELHI-AGRA-JAIPUR : The Quintessential Golden Triangle - 6 days
An introductory tour to India's most celebrated sights. Exploring India’s historic capital of
Delhi , watching the sunrise at the Taj Mahal in Agra and experiencing the colorful princely
city of Jaipur.

Regal Rajasthan – UDAIPUR-DEVIGARH-NARLAI-JODHPUR - 8 days
The princely state of Rajasthan is India at its most colorful and iconic best, home to
magnificent, ornate palaces and majestic forts which were once the domain of lavish ruling
Rajasthani dynasties. This will give you an insight and taste of such a life once led.
Travel Arrangements by AAventureSS - See India Through My Eyes - Santa Fe, NM – Established 1998
Page 8
See India Through My Eyes
Pilgrimage in South India - Following in the footsteps of St. Thomas - February 2018

Extra nights in Chennai at The Taj Coromandel before the Tour to acclimatize before your
starts.

Or any other Itinerary within India pertaining to your interests can be customised just for you!
Travel Arrangements by AAventureSS - See India Through My Eyes - Santa Fe, NM – Established 1998
Page 9