Itinerary

• DAY 1:

  USA

  Depart today for our overnight flight to India.

• DAY 2:

  COCHIN

  Upon arrival in Cochin you will be greeted and escorted by your Homeric Tours representative to your hotel. After relaxing and freshening up, your tour focuses on Cochin, a city still influenced by the medieval presence of Portugal, Holland and England. The tour includes the Jewish City with the Synagogue (built in 1568), the St. Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace (“Dutch Palace”), and the unique Chinese fishing nets near the mouth of the Arabian Sea. After, we visit the Bishop House in Fort Cochin Dom Jos Gomes Ferreira, the 27th Bishop of the Diocese of Kochi. Also we visit the Indo-Portuguese Museum which houses precious artifacts collected from various churches under the Cochin diocese. This evening, attend the colorful Kathakali Dance Drama at a local theatre. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
  Dinner included

• DAY 3:

  COCHIN / MALAYATOOR / COCHIN

  After breakfast we take an excursion trip to Malayatoor, famous for the Catholic Church, located on top of the Malayattoor hill and dedicat-ed to St. Thomas the Apostle of Jesus. Thousands of pilgrims gather here for the annual festival of ‘Malayatoor Perunnal,’ held during the months of March & April. Sailing in an Arab merchant vessel, St. Thomas is believed to have landed at Kodungal-loor port in Kerala, in AD 52. It is believed that St. Thomas took the initiative for establishing a Christian community at Malayattoor. After your visit, return to Cochin. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 4:

  THE ARRIVAL OF ST. THOMAS

  After breakfast visit Kodungallur and the Mar Thoma Church. This Orthodox Church features the blending of Protestant Reformation ideas with Eastern forms. Continue to St. Thomas Church which is believed to be found by its namesake. Afterwards visit the Muringoor Divine Retreat Center and experience insight into the strong Christian traditions that have grown to more than 30 million believers in India today. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 5:

  COCHIN / KOTTAYAM / KUMARAKOM

  After breakfast, drive to Kottayam. It is one of the oldest orders of the Catholic Christian Church in India. In the vicinity are the shrines of: St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the founder of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate and of a similar one for women, the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel. Also visit St. Thomas Apostolic seminary Vadavathoor. Transfer to the jetty and enjoy a short cruise through the backwaters and then continue the drive to Kumarakom. Upon arrival check-in and overnight at the hotel.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 6:

  KUMARAKOM / PERIYAR WILDLIFE PARK

  After breakfast drive to Periyar. Visit with Sister St. Alfonsa in Bharananganam. Bharananganam is a name which is synonymous with St. Alphonsa, the first saint of India. This town is 5 kilometers away from Palai, which has become an important pilgrim center in Kerala. Later drive to Periyar, and its National Park. Rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight accommodations in Periyar.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 7:

  PERIYAR

  After breakfast visit a spice site and ascent into the gorgeous Western Ghats of India, one of India’s finest Wildlife Parks. We visit the Elephant Camp where we will have the chance to feed and bathe them, plus enjoy a ride through the camp. Afterwards we will visit a Spice Plantation before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 8:

  PERIYAR / MADURAI’S TEMPLES

  After breakfast, depart the spice lands to Tamil Nadu. Descend the mountain pass and continue to a city that has been a cultural and learning center in one of India’s oldest cities. The spectacular Sri Meenakshi Temple is an example of the baroque style of a Dravidian structure. Indians insist there’s nothing like it, with its dawn to dusk celebra-tions. After an early dinner, drive by rickshaw to Meenakshi Temple to watch the night shows of Lord Shiva, temple musicians, singers and priests. Return to the hotel for overnight accommodations.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 9:

  MADURAI / TRICHY

  After breakfast drive to Trichy. Here one encoun-ters the Ashram concept. The Ashram is a gift from India to the world, especially to U.S. Methodists through their legendary missionary Dr. E. (Eli) Stanley Jones. Jones became a personal friend to Mahatma Ghandi (also espoused in the ashram concept). Jones wrote “The Christ of the Indian Road” which became a best seller, and today has influenced the course of missionary thinking. It was Jones who brought the concept of “contempla-tive meditation” from the Indians to America. It was a deeper pursuit into meditation for Chris-tians. The Ashram of Bede Griffits, a Catholic priest who preaches the gospel and philosophy through the Indian Way of life and style, is the destination today. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 10:

  TRICHY / TANJORE VIA VAILANKANI

  After breakfast visit Srirangam, then drive to Vailankani, a small seaside town on the Corromandal Coast. Here Roman Catholics revere the story of a special miracle. A small Hindu boy carrying milk was stopped by a lady asking for milk. The boy gave it and continues to his customer, apologized for being late and having less milk. Checking, they discovered the milk was in full quantity. The boy returned to the tank under the Banyan tree. Today it is called “Matha Kulam,” or Our Lady’s Tank. A feast was estab-lished which today lasts for 9 days and draws one and half million people. The shrine was elevated to a Basilica on Nov. 3, 1962 by Pope John XXIII. Later drive to Tanjore, for dinner and overnight accommodations.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 11:

  TANJORE CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGES

  After breakfast visit Tanjore, one of the most famous centers for Christian pilgrimages. The late Pope John Paul IV had chosen, from 24 world-wide shrines, as the most important shrine of Mariam. The local Danish Schwarz Church is one of the oldest in India. Visit the Bronze Museum, the Sarasvati Hall Library (a great collection of manuscripts), and see the most magnificent Indian temple, Brihadisvara Temple. Its main temple is Chola, 14 stories high (the tallest in India) and is topped with an 80 ton granite stone. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 12:

  TANJORE / MAHABALIPURAM

  After breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram. Also known as Mamallapuram, it is a 7th century coastal town located about 60 km from Chennai. Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO world heritage site, which has various historical monuments dating back to period between 7th to 9th centuries. It is home to various rocks cut into monuments that stand as an example of the Dravidian architecture. Mahabalipuram is a perfect treat for tourists with its long stretches of sea coast and some of the amazing carved granite structures with Dravidian architecture. Dinner and overnight accommoda-tions at the Hotel.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 13:

  MAHABALIPURAM

  After breakfast visit the historical sea side resort of Mahabalipuram: “City of Seven Pagodas.” The ancient Pallava port of Mamallapuram and its 7th century rock hewn monuments, magnificent rock temples and carvings transport you to back in time. Next proceed to the Shore Temple built in sandstone in the 7th century by the sea and surrounded by gardens designed according to ancient descriptions of the original plans. Also visit Bhagiratha’s Penance. Rest of the day is free on the beach. Return for dinner and overnight at your Hotel.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 14:

  MAHABALIPURAM / CHENNAI

  After breakfast drive to India’s 4th largest city, Chennai, one of its oldest ancient cities and some-times dubbed the “Hollywood of India.” Twenty years after his arrival at Kerala, it was here in 72 AD that St. Thomas was murdered after returning from a short trip to China. You will visit sites that commemorate his presence and death, such as the Little Mount (the place where the mortally wounded St. Thomas sought refuge), St. Thomas Mount (where Thomas was speared), St. Thomas Cathedral (standing over the place identified as his burial site) which features a beautiful stained glass window that depicts the story of Thomas. Optional visit to St. Mary’s Church, the oldest surviving Eng-lish church in Chennai. Visit the Cathedral of St. Thomas (relics of St. Thomas are reportedly kept here). Later check in at the hotel for dinner and overnight.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 15:

  CHENNAI / USA

  After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight home.
  Breakfast included