Calm your mind and awaken your soul and with a tour of South India's most spiritual destinations.

Day 1: Arrival at Bangalore Airport
MJ Tours & Travel will welcome you at Bangalore airport and transfer you to a delightful hotel in Bangalore - India's premiere IT city.

Day 2: Puttaparthi
A quiet morning and then travel to Puttaparthi, 154 km from Bangalore. Puttaparthi was the residence of spiritual teacher Sathya Sai Baba and the town's main attraction is Baba's Prasanthi Nilayam ashram. In the evening you will visit the Prasanthi Nilayam and meditate for an hour before retiring for the night in one of Puttaperthi's most charming hotels.

Day 3: Puttaparthi
Early rise and a visit the Shiva temple, constructed on the site where Baba was born. We will also visit the nearby Kalpa Vriksha, the wish fulfilling, divine tree that is said to fulfill all desires. Here you will have the chance to meditate and enjoy the peacefulness of the day. You will stay another night in Puttaparthi.

Day 4: Madanapalle
Travel to the spiritual town of Madanapalle in the south of Andra Pradesh. Madanapalle is the birthplace of the Indian philosopher, Jiddu Krishnamurti. Born in 1895, Krishnamurti was known as the 'anti-guru' as he said that no organized path could lead to liberation, that everyone had to find their own path. Krishnamurti had supporters throughout the world and died in 1986. There will be an opportunity to visit Mother Meera a spiritual leader who's devotees believe to be the embodiment of the Divine Mother (Shakti or Devi). If you are lucky, she will give you a darshan. The darshan is a ritual, whereby Mother Meera touches a person's head and then looks into their eyes. During this process, she reportedly 'unties knots' in the person's subtle system and permeates them with light. Mother Meera's famous quote is 'Like electricity, the Light is everywhere, but one must know how to activate it. I have come for that'. You will stay the night in a pleasant hotel near by.

Day 5: Tirupati
After breakfast we will travel 114 km to Tirupati, the most famous Hindu pilgrimage center in the world. Tirupathi is home to the famous Venkateswara Swamy temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. After checking in to a wonderful hotel in downhill Tirupathi you will visit the temple, taking your place amongst the 60,000 daily pilgrims to get the darshan of the god. Tirupati attracts many pilgrims and plays a vital role in a Hindu's burial ceremony. The type of burial is determined by whether or not the person has been to Tirupathi. Those who have been there will be burnt, while the others are buried. You will also have the chance to witness many of the rituals happening in this busy temple complex, such as balding ceremonies and Ear piercing ceremonies. Before going home, you will have the chance to sample the famous Tirupathi Lattu - a ball shaped sweet which has a unique taste which always leaves you wanting more. You will overnight in Tirupathi.

Day 6: Tirupati
After breakfast you will travel to Alamelu Mangapuram Temple, is the consort of Sri Venkateswara dedicated to Laxmi. Tradition dictates that every pilgrim to Tirupati must offer a visit at this temple after the darshan at Tirupati-Tirumala Balaji. Then we will move to Kapila Theertham, the only temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Tirupati, and Anjaneya Swamy temple, a monkey god temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. We will get back to the hotel and relax for the evening.

Day 7: Varadiahpalem
In the morning you will travel to Varadiahpalem, 71 km from Tirupati. On the way we will stop by and get wet at Ubbalamadugu Waterfalls, a refreshing break in a beautiful setting. Varadiahpalem is known for the Oneness temple of Sri Bhagavan. Sri Bhagavan is also known as Kalki Bhagavan, an Indian guru, Kalki is the name given to the tenth incarnation of Vishnu. The Oneness Temple is built in the grounds of the Kalki Bhagavan ashram, it is believed to be the largest pillar-less meditation hall in Asia. After meditation, its back to your delightful hotel where you will stay overnight.

Day 8: Kanchipuram
After breakfast you will make your journey to Kanchipuram, 117 km from Varadiahpalem. The name Kanchi is derived from 'Ka' referring to the Hindu god Brahma and 'anchi', referring to his worship of Hindu god Vishnu at this place. We will visit the Adi Sankaracharya Mutt, headquarters of the Kanchi matha, a Hindu monastic institution believed to have been founded by the Hindu saint and commentator Adi Sankaracharya. Kanchipuram was also the capital city of the Pallava Kingdom between the 4th and 9th centuries. In the afternoon we will visit the Varadharaja Perumal Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and get blessed by the God.

Day 9: Tiruvannamalai
An early start to visit two more beautiful temples called as Ekambareswarar Temple and Kamakshi Amman Temple. Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the five major Shiva temples or Pancha Bootha Sthalams. Each temple represents a natural element, and the Ekambareswarar Temple represents the element Earth. The Kamakshi Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Kamakshi, one of the forms of goddess Parvati. As you may have noticed, each of the many gods in Hinduism can have several forms. Kanchipuram is also known as the house of Silk. You will visit Kanchipuram's silk weaving machines where you will see how the silk is woven into beautiful saris. In India, all the highest quality saris are made of silk, and there will be a chance to buy some silk items at reasonable prices. After lunch we will travel 140 km to Tiruvannamalai where you will overnight in a delightful hotel.

Day 10: Tiruvannamalai
After breakfast we will visit the Sri Ramana Maharishi ashram founded by Ramana Maharashi, a Hindu saint. He promoted self enquiry in a non dual (advaita) way. He also promoted the path of devotion (bhakti) for his followers. Huge numbers of people from his ashram perform Giri Valam, a ritual performed by encircling the holy mountain Arunachala. After Ramana Maharshi got self-realized, as he was very young, decided to come and live in Arunachala, which refers to Lord Shiva and which is another name for Tiruvanamalai. More than a great philosopher, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi became an internationally known spiritual guide. You will spend the whole day at the ashram and there is an opportunity to meditate in the evening.

Day 11: Tiruvannamalai
In the morning we will visit the Annamalaiyar temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It gets busy during the Karthigai Deepam, a festival celebrated between November and December, on the full moon day. We will perform a pooja (ritual) in the evening at the Annamalaiyar temple. Yearly, millions of pilgrims are performing Giri Valam; walking around the sacred mountain during full moon days. We will extend our stay in Tiruvannamalai overnight.

Day 12: Pondicherry
After breakfast we will move to Pondicherry, 109 km from Tiruvannamalai. Once you have reached Pondicherry, you'll be able to rest at the hotel. In the afternoon we will go for a guided tour of the old town. A unique opportunity to visit some colonial mansions and Tamil houses. Pondicherry had been ruled by French for nearly 300 years and we can still feel this French flavor. Later in the afternoon you will visit the Sri Aurobindo ashram, founded in 1926 by Mira Alfassa and Sri Aurobindo, two spiritual companions. Sri Aurobindo was an Indian philosopher, poet and theologist. Mira Alfassa known as 'La Mère' was French. They met each other in Pondicherry in 1912. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is located in the eastern part of Pondicherry. At its centre, in a tree-shaded courtyard, lies the Samadhi, a white-marble shrine where the bodies of Sri Aurobindo and La Mère are laid to rest. Before heading back to the hotel for a nights stay, we have a long walk in the Nehru Street, the famous commercial street of Pondicherry. Pondicherry is a planned city (like New York) with the streets laid out in a criss-cross grid.

Day 13: Auroville
After breakfast, we will visit Auroville, an experimental town, founded in 1968 by Mira Alfassa, known as 'The Sweet Mother' by her devotees. Here you will be able to meditate before moving to Auroville beach, where you can do swim and relax, soaking up the sun. In the evening you will catch a flight from Chennai to Cochin, Chennai is 150 km from Pondicherry. We will check in to a wonderful hotel at Fort Kochi and stay overnight.

Day 14: Kotchi (Fort Kochi)
After breakfast we will visit the Mattancherry Dutch Palace and there we will witness the Rajas life history. Mattancherry Dutch Palace was gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the Raja of Cochin around 1555. It depicts the Hindu Temple art, Portraits and exhibits the Rajas of Kochi. We will also visit the Paradesi Jewish Synagogue, It is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations. It was constructed in 1568. There are said to be seven synagogues earlier but this is the only one remains in use. Paradesi means refugees or immigrants in Malayalam. In the evening we will walk around St.Francis church, where foot prints of Vasco Da Gama. You will also see the famous Chinese fishing nets. The evening's entertainment promises to be exciting - the wonderful Kerala Kathakali Dance show starts at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m.

Day 15: Alleppey
After breakfast you will travel 64 km South to Alleppey, the Venice of the east. Alleppey is reached by a coastal road which boasts outstanding views. Alleppey is known for Houseboats, backwaters and Home stays. We will check in to a houseboat and you will spend the rest of the day and night on the water.

Day 16: Amritapuri
When we plan our spiritual tour, you cannot have a better place than Amritapuri, is 59 km from Alleppey. Once we reach the Amritapuri, we will relax until the afternoon. In the evening we will visit the Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the world renowned spiritual master, also called as hugging saint. She is also known as 'Amma', which means 'Mother' in many Indian languages. When you come to Amritapuri Ashram for the first time, you will be surprised that a remote fishing village on a small island cradled between the backwaters and the Arabian Sea has become the centre of a silent spiritual revolution. You will get darshan from Amma and return to the hotel for a night's stay.

Day 17: Amritapuri
We will visit the Amma ashram in the morning one more time, meditate and move around the ashram to be part of spiritual happenings. In the evening we visit local fishermen houses to understand their culture and life style. We will return to the hotel for a night's stay.

Day 18: Transfer to Trivandrum Airport
You will get transferred to Trivandrum Airport and travel home with peace.

Happy journey!

From 1175 per person based on 8 people

Package Includes:

Package does not include:

• The Flight tickets
• Any international airfare and airport tax
• Visa Charges
• Lunch and Dinner unless stated otherwise
• Any personal, medical and evacuation insurance
• Drinks and personal expenses
• Tips

Extra costs

• Depending on your arrival and departure time you may have to pay for the additional nights stay.

The Covid-19 Health Crisis in South India?

As of 11/01/2023
All the restrictions related to this health crisis have been completely lifted. Travelers wishing to come to India are no longer required to undergo a PCR test or present a vaccination status. No health measures are currently affecting the daily life of Indians. Last August, mass media once again attempted to instill fear with the Nipah virus, of which less than ten cases were diagnosed in Kerala, in Kozhikode (Calicut). However, absolutely no specific measures were taken regarding it.

When to Visit South India?

Do you want to enjoy the Indian sun without suffering from the heat, with few or no rainy days? It's in the winter that you should come, more precisely between mid-December and mid-March.

The climate in South India is predominantly tropical, both dry and humid. Humid in the west — the states of Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala — and dry in the east, meaning in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The so-called humid period is characterized by more significant rainfall. The humidity level in South India is very high, and the periods of intense heat — from March to September, with May and June being the hottest months — can be challenging to endure, unless, of course, you seek refuge in mountainous areas.

When to Visit Tamil Nadu?

As mentioned above, ideally between mid-December and mid-March. The monsoon usually arrives at the end of October, and the rains become regular and abundant until at least the end of November. In recent years, heavy rains have extended until early January, causing numerous floods in the North of Tamil Nadu, particularly in Chennai. Conversely, if the monsoon is absent, the rains concentrate in the first half of November. During the months of July and August and until the end of September, temperatures are high, with more rainy days in August.

When to Visit Kerala?

Plan your trip between early December and late March, the most pleasant period. Considered as the garden of India, with its lush nature, Kerala experiences more significant precipitation than Tamil Nadu. There are two monsoon periods: the first starting in June and ending in September — with the heaviest rainfall observed in July and June — and a second monsoon in October, with the return of some heavy showers that taper off in November.

Internet in India?

The vast majority of hotels offer Wi-Fi. However, it is not uncommon for it not to work for various reasons! It is better to have your own access! If you have a smartphone and wish to communicate and navigate via the internet during your stay, we recommend buying a SIM card upon arrival at the airport, where this purchase is particularly facilitated for foreigners. The 30-day internet (data) package costs around 3 euros. In addition, your driver will share his own internet connection during your various journeys. Remember to inquire with your phone operator to obtain a possible unlocking code in order to substitute your French chip with the one we will provide you.