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India:
Encountering Religions, 26 July
- 11 August 2010
Led by Pamela Draycott. £2195 from London
This
visit is a must for those with an interest in the great religions
of India . It will provide an opportunity to experience first hand
the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of India , and to reflect
on the diversity of religions practised here. It will also offer
ample opportunity for RE teachers to deepen their knowledge and
understanding, and of course to take photographs and buy artefacts.
Our
visit begins in Delhi where we start to acclimatise to the excitement
and contrasts of India , and encounter Islam, Christianity, Jainism,
Sikhism, and of course Hinduism. We will spend some time in the
footsteps of the great Mahatma Gandhi, including making a visit
to the important Raj Ghat memorial.
Then
on to the holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the river Ganga
. Here we immerse ourselves in ancient Hindu traditions, and also
encounter the Buddha in the Deer Park at Sarnath, where he gave
his first teaching.
We
continue to the great and magical city of Calcutta , the city of
Kali and Mother Teresa, where we also visit the “Black Hole” memorial
and that great reminder of empire, the Victoria Memorial.
Then
on to Chennai where as well as 500 year old Portuguese churches,
we discover the long tradition that St. Thomas himself brought Christianity
to India. Then
on into the heart of South India, to the temple city of Tiruvannamalai,
built at the foot of Mount Arunachala , sacred to Lord Shiva. Here
the unity of the human and divine is further emphasised in the ashram
of the great modern saint, Ramana Maharishi.
Our
tour ends with a visit to the 10 th century Shore Temple and rockcarvings
of Mahaballipuram, richly deserving of their World Heritage status.
Pamela
Draycott is widely experienced in the field of Religious Education;
she worked for RE Today for many years, and is now Curriculum
Adviser for RE and Citizenship for Kent CC, and is also an experienced
tour and pilgrimage leader. This is an opportunity not to be missed!
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Sun
26 July 2010
1720
departure from Heathrow on direct British Airways flight.
Mon
27 July
0615
arrival in Delhi . Stay at Claridges Hotel
(4*). Visit the Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Jain and Sikh
temples.
Tue
28 July
Visit
the Raj Ghat and nearby Gandhi Memorial. Overnight sleeper
train to Varanasi.
Wed
29 July
Stay
at Clarks Hotel (5*). Afternoon visit to nearby Sarnath
, where the Buddha began to turn the wheel of enlightenment.
Evening aarti ceremony by river Ganga.
Thur
30 July
Early
morning boat ride on river Ganga . Overnight sleeper train
to Calcutta.
Fri
31 July
Stay
at Park Hotel (5*). Afternoon visits to Ramakrishna temple
and Loretto school.
Sat
1 Aug
Visit
the Kali Temple and Mother Teresa's Home.
Sun
2 Aug
Visit
Digambara Jain temple, St. John's Church and Victoria Memorial.
Mon
3 Aug
0830
flight to Chennai , arriving 1025. Stay at
Radha Regent Hotel (3*). Temple and church visits.
Tue
4 Aug
Visit
the St. Thomas sites of Chennai.
Wed
5 Aug
Drive
to the temple city of Tiruvannamalai, via
the silk city of Kanchipuram. Stay at Sparsa
Resort.
Thur
6 Aug
All
day visit to the Sri Ramana Maharishi Ashram.
Fri
7 Aug
Early
morning parikrama of the sacred hill of Arunachala,
and visit to the huge Arunachaleswara temple.
Sat
8 Aug
Return
drive to Chenna i via the World Heritage
Site of Mahaballipuram.
Sun
9 Aug
0805
departure on direct BA flight, arriving London Heathrow at
1420.
Optional
beach extension:
Sat
8 Aug
Drive
to Mahaballipuram to visit the World Heritage Site. Stay at
eg. Ideal Beach Resort.
Sun
9 Aug
A
day on the beach.
Mon
10 Aug
Late
afternoon drive back to Chennai.
Tue
11 Aug
0805
departure on direct BA flight, arriving London Heathrow at
1420.
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Cost,
and all the small print
Price
per person sharing Twin / Double room -
£2195.00*
Single
Room supplement -
£561.00
Mahaballipuram
extension
- £155.00 (single supplement £69.00)
*Please
contact us for details of payment in other currencies. Payment can
be made by credit card for a 2% supplement.
The
price includes:
•
International
flights
•
Accommodation
& meals on half board basis
•
All group
travel, entrance and guide fees
•
UK and India
airport departure taxes.
•
Full ATOL bonding
Items
that are NOT included: -
•
All personal
incidentals & expenses.
•
Tips & gratuities
to drivers, guides, etc.
•
Donations at
religious sites.
Note:
1.
Similar class hotel will be substituted if the above
hotels are not available
2.
All
visits to religious places are subject to confirmation.
If
you would like to talk to us about any aspect of the itinerary,
please contact Kenneth Wilson, +44 1902 561485, kw@cityvillage.co.uk
To
make a booking, please use the form, or contact Indus Tours and
Travel Ltd., +44 208 901 7320, shawn@industours.co.uk
Booking
form
Booking
conditions
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