The Gallant Maravar Bhoomi

Rameshwaram; Ramanathapura; Thiruppullani; Danushkodi; Keelakkarai; Uthirakosamangai; Paramakudi; Manamadurai

Carefully Curated Heritage and Special Interest Experiences

Along With

Historian and Behaviorist Pradeep Chakravarthy Presents

Depart Madras December 19th evening and Return 23rd morning 2019 to Madras

Online Brochure - http://mysticalpalmyra.com Or contact us at sridhar@embassy-travels.com / +919282119040

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

Our Philosophy

The Path Traversed by Us…..

² Over 18 enchanting tours in 4 years²  500 heritage enthusiasts and counting ²  Performance appraisal consistently outstanding²  17 out of 33 districts explored in Tamilnadu ² Our tour circuits within the State is unmatched in any other part of India² Our appetite for heritage stretches beyond particular District, State or

Country² Over 100 locations experienced² Our canvas includes Architecture, Food, Craft, Traditions and much more…² Nothing evades our vision² Our Variety is limitless. Few can match this wholistic menu

Temples and our Heritage…

Temples form an important part of our Cultural HeritageWe look at the other facets of Temples taking them beyond a place of worship

Please watch this to understand our unique perspective on temples and heritage in our tours : https://youtu.be/ak6avSg0CEE

Management and Leadership Lessons from Temples By

Pradeep Chakravarthy Historian and Behaviorist

Part 1 of 5 Understanding Temples as Social Institutions 00 min 30 sec Part 2 of 5 Evolution of Temples into Complex Structures 03 min 56 sec Part 3 of 5 Temples –Tools for Long Term Emotional Connection 07 min 11 sec Part 4 of 5 How Temple Structures Influence Behavior 11 min 40 sec Part 5 of 5 Temple Rituals and Festivals – Beyond Religion 26 min 45 sec

The Gallant Maravar Bhoomi

Ruled by the Pandyas and the Cholas and later by the brave Maravars, with a vibrant Muslim population, Ramanathapuram presents a unique kaleidoscope of History, Art, Culture, Cuisine and Nature. Rameshwaram is usually a one stop temple destination. But, our tour focusing on heritage also embraces the craft, the natural scenery of the land and other monuments that will leave you dazzled with the variety that a district in a state holds. Mystical Palmyra will introduce you to each of these aspects in our journey through this enchanted land. Come join us on this three day experience to bask in the radiance of complex and composite locations.

Rameshwaram and Danushkodi

Rameshwaram sits on the Pamban Island in the Gulf of Mannar at the Eastern tip of the Indian Peninsula. Though Rameshwaram is associated predominantly with the epic Ramayana, the main attraction here is the Shiva temple. It will astound you in size and a true example of how as a country we are united North to South. The fabulous architecture includes the magnificent 1,200 carved sandstone pillared hall and the ceiling covered in colorful kamalam/lotus art. When in 1964, a cyclone hit the flourishing trade town of Danushkodi wiped out most of the town, the government declared it as a ghost town, unfit for habitation. All that's left are the fragmented windswept remains of a few buildings such as a church, post office, railway station and an unmatched view of the ocean.

Ramanathapuram Samasthanam

Anointed as the protector of the Ram Sethu, the Maravar Kings of Ramnad bear the title of Sethupathy. They have been the traditional custodians of the Ram Sethu through the centuries and this rich legacy continues even today. The Ramnad Palace is a rare, well maintained palace of the present Maravar kings. We shall visit the Palace and interact with the current descendant Shri Raja Kumara Sethupathy and Rani Lakshmi Nachiyar. The royal hospitality is bound to captivate us and we shall partake the royal cuisine.

Tiruppullani

Tiruppullani is sacred to Vishnu worshippers. It has for many centuries, been a spot for childless couples to pray for a child or for parents to pray for the wellbeing of their child. Lets see the way this is manifested in the temple compound! The temple treasures include a large bronze Prabhavali and an ancient 13th century metallic icon of Krishna dancing on a snake. The region around Tiruppullani is known for its palm trees and the ubiquitous palm leaf products. One such unique product is a four piece hot box for Idiyappam/string hoppers, a local staple that carries the flavor of the palm leaf. We will be visiting a palm leaf weaving centre.

Keelakkarai

The ancient Pandya port famous for it’s pearls and conches, Keelakkarai is formed by a series of small bays and coral reefs. This was a flourishing port town till the mid 20th century. The communal harmony is exemplified by the Pazhaiya Jumma Masjid, the oldest mosque in India and one that is unique in it’s architectural style. The location of this town and the dominant Islamic population presents us with some very unique cuisine which we will feast on.

Uthra Kosa Mangai

Uthra Kosa Mangai is a tiny hamlet, famous for the ancient Shiva temple. Tamil literature describes as "Mann Mundhiyo Mangai Mundhiyo?”- "Did the land(mann) come first or the Lady(mangai)?". Believed to be the place where Shiva recites(Uthram) the secrets(kosam) of Vedas to Parvati(Mangai) thereby giving this place its name. A seven tiered gateway tower and Yali with a huge stone ball that rolls inside it’s mouth, an engineering mystery, welcome you into this temple. The temple houses a one of it’s kind 6 feet tall, ancient maragatha/emerald Nataraja. As emerald is a fragile stone sensitive to light, water and sound vibrations, no percussion instruments are used during worship. This idol is anointed with sandal paste throughout the year and is changed on every Tiruvathidirai festival.

Karangadu

A trip to the lush green mangrove forest of Karangadu in the Gulf of Mannar is a must. Creating awareness on the importance of conservation of this fragile eco system including the dugong, an endangered marine mammal, and provide alternative livelihood to the local fishermen is part of keeping our heritage alive We will take a boat ride through the dense mangroves nestled in the backwaters, natural river mouth and creeks. If we are lucky we may get to see some of the migratory birds such as painted stork, open bill stork, spoonbill, white ibis, black ibis and black-winged stilt nesting. We offer you an opportunity to indulge in some snorkeling, where you can see the sea grass beds, the habitats of dugong in the shallow waters of the Palk Bay. For those who do not wish to brave the water, an elevated view of the mangroves from the Bird watch tower awaits. .

Rameshwaram Shell Factory, Manamadurai Ghatam and Paramakudi Sarees

The Sea shells factories are unique to Rameshwaram and Tuticurin. Raw shells are collected by local fisherman are cleaned, polished and shipped to artisans in nearby for value addition. We will visit one such factory that sustains the local community. Manamadurai is famous for manufacturing Ghatam, an instrument integral to Carnatic music. Though made in other centers, connoisseurs believe that the Ghatam from here is heavier and sturdier and has a unique metallic sound and tonal quality. Currently only one family practices the ancient art of Ghatam making in Manamadurai in spite of it being not commercially viable. We will visit this family and savor the nuances of the tradition of creating a musical instrument. Very few are aware of the hand-woven sarees from Paramakudi. The soft combed cotton and the intricate jacquard thread bordered work is truly stunning! We will visit the Cooperative society of Paramakudi to see these patterns emerge on the looms of the small Saurashtrian community that still tries to keep this traditional weave alive. And there's always time for a little retail therapy J

Food for the Upper crust

Dining with Kings, savoring the authentic fare of Keelakkarai and a picnic breakfast on the Kurusadai island in the Gulf of Mannar is the culinary extravaganza especially curated for you, the Athithis of Mystical Palmyra J Since the region is famous for it’s non vegetarian fare, intimate your preference well in advance.

And the Journey Lingers

The unique palm leaf basket ware, the authentic palm Karuppatti and rock candy, Sea shells, Conches and sea shell artifacts, Local Sweets and Savories of Keelakkarai and vivid memories are some of the take aways to ruminate and relive the fabulous experiences on this tourJ. Last but not the least, the Mystical Palmyra family bond stands strengthened even further.

Our Abode

We will be staying at the Uber luxurious Hyatt Place at Rameshwaram. At Hyatt Place Rameswaram, you’ll enjoy comfort and convenience on your visit. Plus,

you’ll be in the heart of Rameswaram, just steps from Ramanathaswamy Temple. Whether religious, leisure or business, the spacious rooms with modern design

come with a cozy corner for you to get all comfy in and you’ll soon find the perfect spot to unwind.

When and Where

Day 1

0435 Arrive at Rameshwaram 0500 Check into the Hyatt Place Rameshwaram 0700 Breakfast 0745 Leave for Devipattinam 930 - 1230 Karangadu 1400 Lunch at Hyatt 1600 Abdul Kalam Memorial 1700 Panchamukhi Hanuman, Lakshmana Theertham, Villundi Theertham, Ramar Padam 2000 Dinner at Hyatt Rest

1750 Depart to Rameshwaram by Rameshwaram Express from Madras Egmore Station 2030 Packed Dinner in the Train

Day 5Day 2 Day 3 Day 4

0700 - 1000 Kurusadai Island – Breakfast and Activity 1030 Shell Factory Danushkodi Kodhanda Rama Temple Sugreeva Theertham Leave for Keelakkarai 1400 Lunch at Keelakkarai Keelakkarai Jumma Mosque 1700 Tiruppullani 2030 Dinner at Hyatt and Rest

0500- 0800 Spatika Lingam Abhishekam/Agni Theertham bath/22 wells bath/ Darshan 0800 -0900 Ramanathaswamy Temple visit 0930 Breakfast @ Hyatt 1000 Check out and leave for Uthra kosa mangai 1300 Ramnad Palace and Visit Lunch 1430 Leave to Paramakudi 1630 Leave for Manamadurai 2045 After a brief freshen up, Leave for Madras form Madurai by Pandian Express. Packed Dinner

0455 Arrive at Egmore Station Madras and say bye until the next tour J

Included    • Train Travel by Two Tier or Three Tier AC coach. Incase your registration does not meet the deadline,, we shall provide an option of tatkal ticket (at additional cost) or alternate mode of transport • Road travel on AC coach • Accommodation in AC rooms accommodating up to 2 adults. Triple sharing will depend on hotel policy. In this Trip we will be staying at The Hyatt Place Rameshwaram • Meals mentioned - 3 breakfast, 3 lunch and 4 dinners per person  (Request you to specify your preference in terms of Veg/Non veg/ Allergies if any in advance) • 2 bottles of water per person will be provided on the coach every day. We request you to bring a refillable bottle in order to reduce the usage of plastic waste. • 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 date    Not Included • Expenses of personal nature • Room Service • Any other attraction/temple not mentioned in the itinerary  

Fine Print, Inclusions and Exclusions

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. Please carry a dhothi and shawl. • 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 – Rs. 10 and Rs.200 for the usage of camera at certain places • 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 • A Tip between Rs. 50 – Rs. 200 per person may be collected for service providers based on popular consensus

 

Contact and Package Details 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

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Minimum age: 15 years (Between 15-18 yrs they must be accompanied by an adult and above 70 years they must be accompanied by a younger person) Per person Package cost : - INR 31,000 on twin sharing basis (We will not be pairing guests. This is for those who are travelling as couples or with known people. At the time of registering you may check with us for other participants looking to share the room) - INR 38,000 on single occupancy basis Registration: Before November 15th 2019 by way of Full payment at the time of registration to ensure confirmed participation in the tour   Cancellation and refund: - 30 days before commencement of tour – 50% of tour cost will be refunded -Less than 30 days before commencement of tour – no refund -Incase of non-participation due to rescheduling of tour by the organizers for ANY REASON INCLUDING ACT OF GOD OR CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL, 50% of tour cost will be refunded -Incase of cancellation of the tour by organizers – full refund including registration fee  

"This temple trip was different from others. It was not about religion, not about mythology, not even about history. It was about the evolution of human civilization. What was even more interesting, was how Pradeep

was able to connect the past to the current way in which we think and act to survive , synergize with others and form strategies to connect with the rest of the society. It would be brilliant, if we can use this knowledge and

5000yrs of history into our management practices. ” - Vinod Dasari, CEO Eicher Motorcycles

We have never felt that Priya and Pradeep are organizers and we are just travelers. Over the years we have become one family, every body making everyone feel at ease and comfortable – Mythili Chandrasekaran, Ex SBI

The call was for refreshing “degree”But the Mystical Palmyra pedigree

Ensured it was so much more --Places, People, food and tales of yorePriya and Pradeep pack so much fun

The initiated will seldom shunTheir trips planned with such care

I proudly proclaim they are beyond compare. – J Krishnan, Logistics Industry

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, JewelerIt was our first trip with Pradeep and Priya. We never had to think or be concerned about anything. Every licle 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

From the “Horse’s” Mouth

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 Tamil Nadu with special focus on the role that it plays in society then and now. Having a background in HR/leadership development and coaching through 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 Tamil Nadu 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.  

Mystical Palmyra endeavors to recreate the bygone years and interpret it with a modern eye. Experience and celebrate our ancient art and architecture through authentic research married to luxurious arrangements. It will be a happy mixture of best of both the worlds. The feast for the eye is heightened by ancient cuisine and traditional crafts. 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. Mystical Palmyra is the heritage vertical we take pride in adding to our existing array of experiences extended by us. We are proud to showcase some of the unsung treasures of a bygone rich era that are just around the corner. We assure you that the whole experience would be an absolute luxurious insight into our glorious past.

- Shanmugapriya Thyagarajan The Unraveller

 

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