17 Days 16 Nights
India
200
2
Overview
Overview
The trip to South India in a small group with Delighted Journey. Our expert on the subcontinent brings us closer to the diversity of this country through unique experiences. We offer you a complete look at the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, a trip that will make you fall in love if you have never been to India and will reveal a different country if you have already visited the North.
We will start with Tamil Nadu, proud of its ancient culture, almost as old as Sanskrit. The Tamils developed civilizations that competed for control of trade and the southern seas. Proof of this are the temples of Mahaballipuram and Thanjavur. We will see the European footprint in cities such as Pondicherry, the French capital of India, and we will discover the contemporary utopia in Auroville. In Chettinadu, we will confront the ruins of Tamil commercial splendour to end with the religious impetus of the faithful in Madurai, the Vatican of Hinduism.
In Kerala, on the other hand, we will discover a slow-paced culture, which revolves around the most traditional Indian practices. We will cross the Cardamom Mountains and walk among spices and tea plantations. In the backwaters, a pleasant river cruise awaits us among rice fields and unrivalled accommodation on the banks of the canals. We will continue towards Cochin, bohemian and multicultural, where the Jewish community and successive European colonisers flourished, in what was the largest spice market in the world. The beaches of Kovalam are the perfect place to end the route and try Ayurvedic medicine, while learning about the history of the princes of Travancore.
The final touch to a journey of discovery through tropical India is the megalopolis of Mumbai. The economic and cultural centre of India is a vibrant city where we can say goodbye with a look at the India of the future.
There is also the possibility of making an extension to Aurangabad or Goa.
Highlights of the trip to India
- Small group trip.
- Accompanying guide throughout the route.
- Itinerary characterized by the great variety of landscapes, culture and religion.
- Approach to the culture of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in a very direct way.
- Everyday experiences such as getting an Ayurvedic massage or trying the most popular street food.
- Attending and participating, if we feel like it, in ancestral rituals such as the closing ceremony of the Madurai temple.
- Boat trip through the backwaters to learn about the daily life of this marshland region.
- Visiting local markets such as the Madurai tailors' market or the spices market in Cochin.
- Interesting contrast between the visit to Mumbai, medium-sized cities and small rural centers.
- Suggestions for activities outside the usual circuits from our specialist guide.