Along The Tamraparni December 7th and 8th 2016

Embassy Travel and Tours Along with

Historian Pradeep Chakravarthy

Registration closes on August 20th 2016 Online Brochure http://mysticalpalmyra.com

Singampatti Palace Brahmadesam Mannar Koil

Thiruppudai Maruthur Manimuthar Dam

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•Lots of emphasis on the local food, poems, songs, stories and even drawing to enhance the experience

•Small group in order to build a community of friends and to ensure personalized attention - so its quality over quantity

•Air Conditioned Transport throughout and the best hotels possible

•We do temples, mosques , churches where the primary focus is on the art and architecture of the monument and not the religion

Focus on Heritage

Comfort is Key

WholisticExclusive

We seek to instill a tangible pride of our glorious past and build a responsible, culturally sensitive community

through heritage travel

Our Philosophy

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The Tamraparni….

Originating from the famous Agastyarkoodam peak of Pothigai hills of the Western Ghats, the

Tamraparni/Porunai (Copper coloured leaf - Thamra is copper Sanskrit and parani means

leaf). It flows through Tirunelveli and Tuticurin into the Gulf of Mannar.

Mentioned in Sangam Tamil literature and recognized as a holy river even in epics such as

Mahabharata and Ramayana, the river has one of South India’s oldest human inhabitations

dating back to over 4000 years. It was instrumental in the economic prosperity of the Pandya

kings. Several important business houses owe their origins to its villages

Come and get an insight into the heritage and life that has evolved along this river’s banks on

a two- day journey with Embassy Travel and Tours along with Historian Pradeep

Chakravarthy.

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- Ipsum

Manimuthar Dam

Valeeswaram

Surrounded by lush-green garden and fort-like compound walls the Mannar temple, lovingly restored, stands majestically in a village largely untouched by modernity. It gives us rare insights into the agrarian life in the 10th century and the role of Devadasi women in a temple. The highlights of this temple the stucco work, the narrow passage around the unique third level that ensures one is fit enough along with ones beliefs, a fabulous door and other rare treasures.

Manimuthar River is a major tributary of the Tamaraparani River originating on the eastern slopes of Western Ghats in Tirunelveli District. Built in 1957, the Dam and its environs, at the time of our visit, will be a balm for those who live in the concrete jungles of the city.

Valeeswaram is a fine specimen of imperial Chola art in the Pandya region. There are a number of Chola, Pandya and Chola-Pandya inscriptions on the wallsincluding those about Raja raja Cholas contribution of land. Dating back to the 11th century, the temple has unique bas-reliefs and sculptures on its vimana and inscriptionsin beautiful red granite. It also mentions the ancient name of the village as Raja raja Chaturvedimangalam.

Mannar Koil

Where are we going?

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Dance dramas, once common offerings at temples are a thing of the past today. The Kaisika Natakam held at Thirukkurungudi Temple is one of the few exceptions to this. Though every Vaishnavite temple in Tamil Nadu reads the story on Kaisika Ekadesi, in Thirukkurungudi alone, it is enacted as an all-nightevent. The special element of the Kaisika Ekadesi Natakam or play is that it emphasizes on the unique place that music and dance has in religious worship in temple societies of ancient times. It also talks about how the divisions of caste

and class were blurred when it came to the purity of a devotee's piety.

Kaisiki Natakam traces back to the 13th Century. It tells the story of how a low caste devotee called Nampuduvan, devotes the night before Ekadesi during the month of Karthigai every year to singing the praises of the lord of Thirukkurungudi. When a demon accosts him and demands his flesh Nambaduvan persuades him to let him go to fulfill his annual offering of music and promises to return to be eaten the next night – Ekadesi (11th day from the full moon). When he returns, the demon is touched and instead of Nampuduvan’s body, he asks for the fruits of his good deeds acquired from his musical offerings to the God. After lengthy negotiations, Nampuduvan gives him the merit earned from singing the Kaisika pan (Bhairavi raga) on that day. So potent was the song sung on that day that the demon gets redeemed from his curse and both he and Nampuduvan ascend to the heavens

Revived and reconstructed by Arangham Trust and well-known danseuse Anita Ratnam, the actual performance happens in Thirukkurungudiwhere one has to stay the entire night or the duration of the drama. We will get to see the dress rehearsal of the initial part of the performance at Nanguneri where we not only get to beat a huge audience but will also be able to interact with the artists.

Tour Highlight – Nanguneri: Kaisika Ekadesi Dance Drama Performance

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Singampatti Palace

Brahmadesam

Thiruppudai Maruthur

Situated on the right bank of the Manimuthar, a few miles from Manjolai reserve and surrounded by fertile fields is the Singampatti Palace – an elegant building with a front of three arches supported by pillars all painted a pale yellow. Once an enormous zameen covering over 75,000 acres of land, what remains today is only the palatial structure that needs a lot of attention.

Brahmadesam village was also known as Chaturvedi Mangalam as it was donated by the Cholas to Brahmins to recite the four Vedas. The temple structure showcases the combined influence of several Royal Dynasties – The main shrine by the Cholas, the beautiful mandapas by the Pandyas, the wooden decors by the Cheras, the gigantic temple towers by the Nayaks. The temple, the pond and the agraharam are virtually untouched by modernity. Come prepared, as you are very likely to buy a property here!!

The 1200-year-old temple of Narumpoonathar at Thiruppudai Maruthur adds grandeur to a picturesque place opposite the spot where the River Gatana and River Tamraparni merge. The main gopuram houses exceptional 17th century Nayak war themed murals. They are now gaining attention in terms of conservation. We shall have a peek into the fine art work.

Where are we going?

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Pathamadai Reed Pai

Kallidaikurichi Appalam

Karukurichi Pottery

Ambasamudram Choppu

Ambasamudram Kadasal Choppu

The word “pai” or mat is synonymous to Pathamadai, a small town in Tirunelveli district. The Pattupai/Silk mat or Korai pai is made from the locally grown Korai grass and these days come with a modern twist with names etc. They also make products such as shopping bags, placemats, table runners etc.

The matchless quality of the serene Tamiraparani water, cascading from the Western Ghats and the quality raw materials are cited as the main reason behind the success of the tasty appalams being made in Kallidaikurichi. The 200-year-old industry of this sleepy town exports its matchless crispy “appalams” all over the world

Pottery from Karukurichi is popular for its technical superiority, novel and attractive shapes and distinctive forms of pottery. Red, black and grey clay are used for the base. This clay body looks brighter after a coating of red ochre.

Choppu saman or wooden toy set of miniature kitchen utensils, tables and chairs are every little girls dream. Ambasamudram’s kadasal choppu is famous for its wood, quality, variety and colors.

Indulge in Retail Therapy –Unique produce:

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Day 2 - 0730 - Arrive at Tirunelveli - 0800 - Check into Hotel - 0930 - Breakfast - 1000 - Leave for

Thiruppudai Maruthur - 1130 – Leave to see

Kallidaikurichi Appalam industry

- 1200 – Leave for Karukurichi Pottery Society

- 1230 – Leave Pathamadai Pai industry

- 1330–Authentic Saiva Pillaimar Lunch at Mela Seval Ramalinga Pannaiyars heritage house

- 1500 – Leave for Tirunelveli

- 1845 – Leave for Nanguneri to see the Kaisika Natakam. Have some Prasadam

- 2145 – Leave forTirunelveli

- 2245 – Dinner and Rest

Day 1 - 1845–Assemble

at Chandra Park Hotel, Opposite Egmore Railway station, Madras

- 1940- Depart by Nellai Express

- 2000–Packed Dinner

Day 3

- 0930 - Breakfast - 1000- Leave for

Brahmadesam - 1100 – Leave for

Mannar Koil - 1200- Leave for

Valeeswaram - 1230 – Visit

Singampatti Palace - 1330 Traditional

Tirunelveli lunch at Ambasamudram

- 1500Visit the Manimuthar Dam

- 1630 Return to hotel - 1830 Leave for Railway

Station - 1930Depart for Chennai - Dinner on train

Day 4 - 0530 - Arrive at

Madras Egmore Station

- Say Bye until the next tour

When and Where?

Hailing from Tirunelveli and moving on to international exposure through KFI, MCC, JNU (Delhi) and LSE (London) in his academic years, Pradeep Chakravarthy has always had a passion for the history and Heritage of Tamilnadu with special focus on the role that it plays in society then and now. Having a background in HR/leadership development and coaching though his assignments in TVS, Cognizant, Infosys and McKinsey, he constantly explores methods of constructively employing out of the box techniques of exposure to fine elements practiced in ancient times to motivate and hone ones inherent skills. He pioneered temple walks in Madras. His deeply invested interest in the music, food, literature of Tamilnadu allows him to present succinctly and simply even the dreariest topic in history. He has authored several books and has over 300 articles in The Hindu, Marg magazine, India Express, Times of India etc., to his credit. He has lectured in several prestigious venues like IIC (Delhi), IC (London) and is an awardee from the Tag Foundation.

Embassy Travel and Tours has been in the business of tailoring unique and memorable travel experiences for the past four decades. A part of the Airlift Group of Companies, we adhere in a personalized manner to all travel related services that one might require be it guidance, documentation, reservations, currency exchange etc. Customization and luxury travel is our forte, which ensures the utmost comfort for our clients whether it is outbound, inbound or domestic travel. Heritage is the vertical we take pride in adding to our existing array of experiences extended by us. We are proud to showcase some of the neglected treasures of a bygone rich era that are just around the corner. We assure you that the whole experience will be an absolute luxurious insight into our glorious past.

Team Leaders:

Clients Speak:

“I had an excellent time with all of you. Though I have visited Brahadeeshwar temple many times, I was able to see the temple with a different perception, thanks to the immense research done by Pradeep” – V. R. Mythili, State Bank of India “It was a wonderful trip last week - excellent organization by Priya accompanied by Pradeep's usual insight. I learned more about my home district than I ever knew earlier” – Dr. Bala Ramachandran, Child Trust Hospital “Thank you Pradeep for sharing your knowledge you have so passionately gathered over so many years. Yes I was able to see beyond the garbage dumps and the ruins only because you made us see what and how you see and that's a glowing testament to how contagious your zeal is. Thank you to Priya; you redefine congeniality with your ready alacrity and enthusiasm. The trip felt like a family picnic of sorts only because of the warmth you so naturally radiate.” – Puja Gandhi “Priya and Pradeep and your team, may you live long and keep doing this. Amazing passion, energy and dedication “– Sudha Cannan, Consultant “I had a very insightful trip and my appreciation and awe of Indian history and culture is being expanded with each trip. It is also an eye opener as to how a warped version of our history is being taught in schools whereas such phenomenal achievements of our ancestors are being glossed over” – Shailesh Vummidi, Jeweler “It was the first trip for us and an absolutely enjoyable experience. My son told me it was a pretty good trip and coming from a teenager, it is a personal triumph for me” – Bhaskar Dey, Bangalore “It was our first trip with Pradeep and Priya. We never had to think or be concerned about anything. Every little detail was taken care of. Living in Delhi, we are surrounded by monuments/tombs reminding us of the Mughals, British and India’s independence. One always thought that all history was in the north. This trip opened my eyes to history in the south” – Sudha Rajendran, Delhi “With impeccable organization and the historic perspective that you both added, this became most enjoyable. Accommodation, transport, arrangements were all very well done. The pre and post trip correspondence was thorough” – Uttara Bharath, Nalamthana, NGO

The Fine Print

Several places we will be visiting are places of worship and therefore we request your special attention to the following: - Please dress conservatively and avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless wear. A dupatta or shawl will be much appreciated. - Comfortable shoes or slippers since monuments are footwear free zones - We strongly advice carrying sun block, sunglasses and cap - Basic medication/ first aid will be available. Please carry your specific medication if any - Camera - certain places may charge anything between Rs. 10 and Rs.100 for the usage of camera. - Photography may not be permitted in certain Places - We would like to iterate that this is not a religious trip and therefore we all need to respect the time and interest of those who are coming to enjoy the heritage aspect of the trip. Therefore please ensure that you respect and stick to time schedules. -Due to unforeseen circumstances, in case we need to make certain changes in the itinerary, we request your patience and understanding. We assure you that the alternate option provided will be just as exciting

Included

- Train Travel by Two Tier or Three Tier AC coach on train. Incase your registration does not meet the deadline, we shall provide an alternate mode of transport - Road travel on AC coach - Accommodation in AC rooms accommodating up to 2 adults. Children will be accommodated depending on the age and hotel policy. In this Trip we will be staying at AAR Park, Tirunelveli - http://www.aarroyalpark.com - Meals mentioned - 2 breakfast, 2 lunch and 3 dinners per person (Request you to specify your preference if any in advance) - 2 bottles of water per person will be provided on the coach every day - Regular entry tickets where required will be provided - Darshan at temples will be allowed if People wish to and ONLY if time permits. - All applicable taxes as on dated

Not Included

- Expenses of Personal nature - Room Service - Any other attraction/temple not mentioned in the itinerary

Contact: Sridharan Lakshmanan; sridhar@embassy-travels.com; +919282119040 Raji Kumar; raji@embassy-travels.com; +919840471127 Address: 23, Thanikachalam Road, T. Nagar, Chennai – 600 017 Bank Details:

Ours is a Current Account

• ICICI BANK LTD, NO.1, Cenetoph Road, Teynampet, Chennai - 600018 Beneficiary: EMBASSY TRAVEL & TOURS PVT LTD A/C NO: 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 2 2 4 2 9 IFSC CODE - ICIC0000001 SWIFT CODE: "ICICINBBCTS"

• BANK OF BARODA: S.I.E.T College Avenue Branch, Chennai 600018 Beneficiary: EMBASSY TRAVEL & TOURS PVT LTD A/C NO: 05310500000014 RTGS/NEFT, IFSC CODE: BARB0COLMAD

• STATE BANK OF MYSORE, NO.13 (6), Plot No.3, Thanikachalam Road, T. Nagar, Chennai- 600 017. Beneficiary: EMBASSY TRAVEL & TOURS PVT LTD A/C NO: 6 4 0 9 3 7 7 0 3 6 1 IFSC CODE – SBMY0040801

Cheques in Favor of: Embassy Travel and Tours Pvt. Ltd. M I N I M U M AG E : 1 5 Y E AR S P AC K AG E W O R T H : - I N R 1 5 , 5 0 0 O N T W I N S H AR I N G B AS I S - I N R 1 7 , 5 0 0 O N S I N G L E O C C U P A N C Y B A S I S E N S U R E Y O U A R E O N B O AR D : B E F O R E J U N E 3 0 T H 2 0 1 6 B Y W A Y O F A N O N - R E F U N D AB L E P A Y M E N T O F R S . 4 0 0 0 F U L L P AY M E N T : AT T H E T I M E O F R E G I S T R AT I O N O R B E F O R E 1 5 T H A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 T O E N S U R E C O N F I R M E D P AR T I C I P AT I O N I N T H E T O U R C A N C E L L AT I O N AN D R E F U N D : - 4 5 D A Y S B E F O R E C O M M E N C E M E N T O F T O U R – 5 0 % O F T O U R C O S T W I L L B E R E F U N D E D - L E S S T H AN 4 5 D A Y S B E F O R E C O M M E N C E M E N T O F T O U R – N O R E F U N D - I N C AS E O F N O N - P AR T I C I P AT I O N D U E T O R E S C H E D U L I N G O F T O U R B Y T H E O R G AN I Z E R S D U E T O A N Y R E AS O N – 7 5 % O F T O U R C O S T W I L L B E R E F U N D E D - I N C AS E O F C A N C E L L AT I O N O F T H E T O U R B Y O R G AN I Z E R S – F U L L R E F U N D I N C L U D I N G R E G I S T R A T I O N F E E

Online Brochure http://mysticalpalmyra.com

Coming up in 2017:

• Madurai and its Jain

heritage

• Coimbatore and its Zamindar palaces

• Kumbakonam and Chola treasures

• Kanchi – beyond the

famous Pallava treasures