Coast to Coast – Journey to South India Led by Pamela Draycott

DAY 1: WEDNESDAY 30TH JULY 2025 – FLY UK TO CHENNAI

We meet at Heathrow Terminal 3 to board Emirates flight EK0002 from Heathrow (14:20) to Dubai (00:20). Change at Dubai to board connecting Emirates flight EK0544 from Dubai (02:45) to Chennai (08:25) the next morning.

• Overnight on flight

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DAY 2: THURSDAY 31ST JULY 2025 – CHENNAI

On arrival in Chennai, we transfer to the The Accord Metropolitan Hotel. After freshening up, we head out for our first encounter with the city, visiting two of Chennai’s most interesting places of worship. First, we make our way to St Mary’s Anglican Church, the oldest British building in India (fondly known to locals as the ‘Westminster Abbey of the East’), before visiting the Hindu temple of Kapaleeshwarar, a grand and impressive example of Tamil temple architecture with thousands of trademark colorful carvings.

(Chennai is an old port that retains a distinct atmosphere that combines Tamil traditions with a long and still visible British legacy. Chennai grew to become a key commercial city of colonial days, generously endowed with striking Indo-Saracenic public buildings. It is the gateway to the sunny south and is the seat of ancient Civilization where one can still enjoy the Old-World charm. Splendid strains of classical music and India's living traditions are savoured from Madras).

• Overnight in The Accord Metropolitan Hotel, Chennai
• BD

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DAY 3: FRIDAY 1ST AUGUST 2025 – CHENNAI

Today we ascend St Thomas’ Mount, where it is believed that the apostle was martyred, and later visit his tomb in the Roman Catholic Basilica of San Thome.

• Overnight in The Accord Metropolitan Hotel, Chennai
• BD

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DAY 4: SATURDAY 2ND AUGUST 2025 – PONDICHERRY

This morning we leave Chennai and drive south along the Coromandal Coast to Mahabalipuram, the ancient and stunning ‘temple by the sea’.

After lunch we continue south on the coastal road down to the French colonial seaside town of Pondicherry. There will be an opportunity to take an evening stroll along the famous beachfront promenade.

(Pondicherry is an interesting coastal city and a former French colony. The town has a grid layout, split north-south by a canal that once divided the French quarter (edging the sea) from the Indian quarter inland. The French quarter has interesting historic buildings including ornate Catholic churches. For the philosophically or spiritually inclined, there is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram where the inmates practice an integral Yoga. Also nearby is the beautifully landscaped international township of Auroville).

• Overnight in Le Pondy Hotel, Pondicherry
• BD

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DAY 8: WEDNESDAY 6TH 2025 – DINDIGUL

Today we will meet with the Building Better Futures International formerly known as Friends of the Poor to learn more about their work.

• Overnight in Vivera Grande Hotel, Dindigul
• BD

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DAY 9: THURSDAY 7TH AUGUST 2025 – DINDIGUL TO MADURAI

After breakfast we will set off to drive 70km to the ancient city of Madurai to explore its famous temples. The Shri Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is arguably the finest and most fascinating temple complex in India, and is a major pilgrimage centre in the south. Dedicated to “the fish-eyed goddess” Meenakshi, the site houses several shrines surrounded by 14 large colourful gateway towers.

Just a mile down the road, we also stop to visit the impressive 17th century king’s palace of Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. The afternoon is at leisure.

(Madurai is one of the oldest cities of south India and had originally been designed in a lotus motif. It is an extremely sacred city and here lies the renowned Meenakshi Temple. The vast walled complex of the temple with its shadowy chambers, tank, carved columns, shrines and courtyards built between twelve towering gopurams is considered south India’s finest example of Dravidian architecture).

• Overnight in Heritage Madurai Hotel, Madurai
• BD

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DAY 10: FRIDAY 8TH AUGUST 2025 – MADURAI TO MUNNAR

Today we leave the frenetic city of Madurai and head to the cooler climes of Munnar, the old British hill station surrounded by tea estates and green hills. The 155km drive will take 4-5 hours. Here we check in to Fragrant Nature for two nights.

(Munnar is a breathtakingly beautiful, picture-postcard hill station lying at an altitude of 1600 m above the sea level. This pristine hill station, untouched by commercialization and rapid urbanization, still retains its old-world charms in the most pristine states. The first sight that greets a visitor in Munnar is the vast expanse of endless tea gardens, flower gardens brimming with vibrant hues, grasslands, towering trees, wild brooks and verdant mist-clad rolling hills. Munnar gets its name from being at the confluence of the three mountain streams videlicet Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Munnar also has the highest peak down south of the Himalayas – Anamudi, towering to a height of 2695 m above sea level. Munnar is an ideal haven for - a romantic getaway, family vacation, adventure tour or a place for salubrious living away from the heat and clamour of the plains).

• Overnight in Fragrant Nature Hotel, Munnar
• BD

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DAY 14: TUESDAY 12TH AUGUST – COCHIN

Today we have a day sightseeing in Cochin where we visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Jewish synagogue and St Francis Anglican Church.

We also make a visit to the Mattancherry palace with its Keralan style murals depicting Hindu temple art, portraits and exhibitions of the Rajas of Kochi. In the evening we will witness traditional Keralan dances before returning to the hotel for dinner and a well-deserved overnight rest.

• Overnight in Fragrant Nature Hotel, Cochin
• BD

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DAY 15: WEDNESDAY 13TH AUGUST 2025 – INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE

Early morning transfer to Cochin airport to board Emirates flight EK0531 from Cochin (10:30) to Dubai (12:55). Change at Dubai to board connecting Emirates flight EK0003 from Dubai (14:15) to London Heathrow (18:40).

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