Overview

A 16 days pilgrimage trip to India especially designed for the senior citizens covering most popular religious cities in India offering a glimpse into the country’s diverse religious and cultural heritage. The trip would start from Varanasi, one of the ancient cities in India, where the senior citizens can experience the spiritual ambiance of the city and take a dip in the sacred river Ganga. Further, we proceed to Shirdi, the abode of Sai Baba, where they can seek blessings and attend the morning aarti and special darshan of Baba. In Mumbai, you can visit the famous Siddhivinayak temple and we would take you to the southernmost tip of India, Kanyakumari where you can witness the confluence of three seas and visit Kumari Amman Temple. The trip would further cover several other significant temples which include Tiruchendur Murugan, Madurai Meenakshi, Rameshwaram, Tiruchi-Srirangam, Chidambaram Natarajar, Thanjavur and Tiruvannamali. Senior Citizens can explore the rich history and cultural heritage of these temples and seek the blessings of the deities. Finally, the pilgrimage tip would end in Chennai where you can visit Kapaleeshwarar, Parthasarathi and other prominent temples and beach of the city. Moreover, T Nagar and Pondy Bazzar retail market offers a plethora of options for shoppers, from the traditional sarees, readymade blouses, jewelry and other essential items for everyone.

Day-wise Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Varanasi (Kashi) : Transferred to the pre-booked Hotel.  : Evening activities in Varanasi. Night stay in Varanasi

• Transferred to pre-booked Hotel at Varanasi and relax.
• Boat ride – boat ride on the river Ganga offers an exclusive view of the city and experience the vibrant cultural and spiritual life of Varanasi (Kashi). You can witness the daily rituals and offering being made along the river and enjoy beautiful views of the ancient’s temples on the river banks.
• Visit 88 Ghats (by boat) along the river bank of Ganga in Varanasi. Each Ghat has its own history, significance and purpose. Some of the ghats are used for bathing, while others are used for religious ceremonies andrituals, including cremations. Some of the popular ghats : Dashashwamedh Ghat, Mankarnika Ghat, Harischandra Ghat, Assi Ghat, Kedar Ghat
• Ganga Aarti – a spiritual ceremony performed every day evening on the river banks of the Ganga in Varanasi. Hindu priests perform a series of ritualistic offerings, prayers and devotional songs in honor of the goddess Ganga. The Ganga Aarti is a deeply spiritual and memorable experience.

Day 2 : Varanasi (Kashi) – Night Stay Varanasi: Full day activities are as under:

• Morning, perform the pind daan for the ancestors who passed away.
• Kashi Vishwanath Temple – Dedicated to Lord Shiva and the temple is considered one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
• New Vishwanath Temple – Dedicated to Lord Shiva and sitiated in the Banaras Hindu University Campus. Tallest shiva temple in India.
• Kashi Viswanath Corridor – a grand project aimed at enhancing the spiritual and cultural experience of visitors to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. This corridor is designed to provide perfect and safe passage with modern basic amenities for devotees from the River Ganga to Temple.
• Kalbhairav Temple – dedicated to Lord Kalbhairav, who is considered to be one of the forms of Lord Shiva.
• Annapurana Devi Temple – dedicated to Goddess Annapurna who is believed to be the goddess of food and nourishment.
• Kashi Vishalakshi Temple – one of the main form of Goddess Parvathi who is believed to be a manifestation of the goddess Shakti and considered to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. Other two main Goddess are Kanchi Kamakshi and Madurai Meenakshi.
• Tent City Varanasi – Spiritual luxury tent city is the only luxurious tented resort, beautifully located right on the banks of the holy Ganga River offering panoramic views of the serene ghats, temples and historic places with steps. The river-facing resort aptly captures the true essence of Varanasi.
• Evening local purchasing in Kashi and overnight stay Varanasi.

Day 3 : Varanasi – Mumbai by Air, after breakfast, check out the Hotel and drive to Varanasi Airport and fly to Mumbai. (Dep 11:30 and arrival 2 pm). : Night stay Mumbai

• Transferred to Hotel and relax.
• Gateway of India – an iconic memorial built in 1924 and located on the waterfront of the Arabian sea and considered one of the most familiar milestones of Mumbai and a icon of India’s rich history and culture.
• Taj Mahal Palace Hotel – considered one of the most iconic and expensive hotels in the world.
• Siddhivinayak temple – dedicated to the Lord Ganesh and considered to be one of the most visited and richest temples in Mumbai. The temple is known for its unique architecture and is believed to fulfill the wishes of its followers.

Day 4 : Mumbai – Shirdi (250 km 6 hours). Night Stay Shirdi : After breakfast drive to Shirdi. On the way visit

• Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple, Nashik – one of the Jyotirlinga and it is believed to be source of the holy river Godavari. Overnight stay in Shirdi.

Day 5 : Shirdi – Trivandrum (Dep 15:30 and arrival at 21:30 pm, one stop via Bengalore) Overnight stay in Trivandrum.

• Sai Baba Darshan and Aarati
• Museum
• Dwarkmai Mosque – baba is believed to have spent a significant part of his life
• Khandoba temple – dedicated to the Lord Shiva
• Shopping at the local markets, Shirdi

Day 6 : Thiruvananthapuram – Poovar (Kerala): Night stay Ayurvedic Beach Resort

• Shree Padmanabha Swamy Temple – dedicated to Lord Vishnu and one of the 108 Divya Desam. It is believed to be one of the richest temples in the world. The idol of the Lord Vishnu made of 12008 saligramas, which is believed to be one of the largest iodls in the world
• After breakfast check out from the Hotel and drive to Ayurvedic Beach Resort in Poovar Relax and Ayurvedic Therapy.
• Boat ride on the Back water –visit beach and enjoy the natural beauty of the mangrove forest and coconut groves and backwater villages.

Day 7. Poovar to Kanyakumari 66 kms – 2 hours : Night stay in Kanyakumari 

• Morning Ayurvedic Therapy
• After breakfast. Drive to Kanyakumari
• Suchindram Shree Thanumalayan Swamy Temple – the ancient temple is dedicated to the Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, who are enshrined in the same sanctum sanctorum, making it a rare and unique temple in the world.
• Bhagavathy Amman Temple – situated on the shores of bay of Bengal. The main deity of the temple is believed to be a manifestation of Goddess Parvati. Most significant features of the temple are the diamond nose ring of the Goddess.
• Witness the sun set – it is a unique and unforgettable experience, with its stunning natural beauty and historical significance making it a must see for anyone visiting Kanyakumari

Day 8 : Kanyakumari to Tuticorin : 150 km – 2 hours (Night stay in Tuticorin) 

• Witness Sunrise: Due to its location at the southernmost tip of India, visitors can witness the first rays of the sun as they appear on the horizon, creating a breathtaking and serene experience that is not to be missed.
• Triveni Sangam – it is a point in Kanyakumari where the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. The confluence of these three large bodies of water is a unique and breathtaking natural phenomenon that draws visitors from all over the world. At the Triveni Sangam, you can see the differences in water temperature and color oceans as follows; Arabian Sea – slightly warmer and greenish in colour, The bay of Bengal – slightly cooler and bluish in colour and the Indian Ocean – very cooler and appears blue-green in colours.
• Vivekananda Rock memorial by cruise – The memorial is dedicated to the renowned spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda, who is said to have meditated on the rock for two days in 1892.
• Uvari Sri Suyambulinga Swami Temple : Dedicated to the Lord Shiva and situated on the sea shore
• Tiruchendur Murugan Temple – one of the six sacred abodes of the Lord Murugan, known as Lord Subramanyan

Day 9 : Tuticorin to Rameshwaram : After breakfast drive to Rameshwaram. Check in the hotel and relax. Night stay Rameshwaram

• Dhanushkodi – an abandoned town at the south eastern tip of Pamban Island
• Adam’s bridge – made of sandstone that connects Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka. Overnight stay in Rameshwram.

Day 10 : Rameshwaram to Madurai:

• Agni Teertham : take a dip in the Agni Teertham as it is believed to wash away sins and purify the soul.
• 22 teerthams are located within the temple complex and collection of 22 wells/ponds that are believed to have healing powers and are considered sacred by devotees.
• visit the Ramathaswamy temple dedicated to Lord Shiva – one of the Jyotirlinga,
• Pamban bridge – aa historic bridge that connects Rameshwaram to mainland of India. Evening Drive to Madurai and overnight stay in Madurai.

Day 11: Madurai to Tiruchy (150 kms 2 hours travel): Night Stay in Tiruchi

• Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple – dedicated to the Lord Shiva and his consort, Goddess Meenakshi, who is considered to be an avatar of Goddess Parvati. The main attractions of the temple is the Hall of Thousand Pilar with intricate carvings and Porthamari Kulam, which is believed to have healing properties.
• Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple. One of the six abodes of the Lord Murugan and the temple is located on a hillock, which adds to its charm and provides a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Murugan married Goddess Deivanai at Thiruparankundram.

Day 12 Tiruchi to Thanjavur (60 kms – one hour travel): Night stay Thanjavur

• Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple – Srirangam. Dedicated to the Lord Vishu, who is worshipped in the form of Lord Ranganatha and considered one of the 109 Diyva Desam.
• After breakfast, check out Hotel and drive to Thanjavur.
• Brihadeeswara Temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva – UNESCO world Heritage Site and considered one of the finest examples of South Indian temple architecture built in 11th Overnight stay in Thanjavur.

Day 13 Thanjavur to Tiruvannamali (200 kms – 4 hours travel). Night Stay Tiruvannamali:

After breakfast, drive to Tiruvannamalai. On the way visit

• Kumbakonam : Adi Kumbeswarar Temple – dedicated to Lord Shiva,
• Sarangapani Temple – dedicated to Lord Vishnu and one of the 108 Divya Deasam
• Suryanar Kovil – The main deity of the temple is Lord Surya, who is worshipped as the source of life and energy. Overnight stay in Tiruvannamalai.
• Chidambaram Nataraj Temple : Dedicated to the Lord Shiva, who is worshipped in the form of Nataraja, the cosmic dancer.
• After dinner, proceed to Krivalam of Tiruvannamalai by bus/walk as per choice of the devotees.
• Chidambaram Nataraj Temple, also known as the Thillai Nataraja Temple, is a Hindu

Day 14: Tiruvannamalai – Chennai (200 kms 4 hours Travel) : Night stay Chennai

• Morning visit Arunachleswarar temple – dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• After breakfast, drive to Chennai. Afternoon check in Hotel, Chennai and relax.
• Evening visit Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple: located in the Besant Nagar area near Elliot’s beach. The eight forms of Lakshmi worshipped in the temple are (Adi, Dhanya, Dhairya, Gaja, Santan, Vijaya, Vidya and Dhanalakshmi)
• Marundheeshvarar Temple – dedicated to the Lord Shiva, who is worshipped in the form of the God of Medicine. Devotees believe that worshipping the Lord Shiva in this temple can cure various illnesses and diseases.

Day 15 Chennai : Night stay Chennai

• Kabalishwarar Temple, Mylapore – dedicted to the Lord Shiva and
• Barathasarati Temple, Triplicane – dedicated to the Lord Krishna.
• After breakfast 9:30 am to 9 pm, full day purchasing in Chennai T Nagar Market.

Day 16 Chennai – Toronto by suitable Flight : Departure :After breakfast, drive to airport, if time permit does some purchasing and visit any left out places if any.

Note :

The above trip itinerary is suggested as a guideline and can be customized to suite your individual or team preference and requirements. We understand that each traveller has unique interests and priorities. We are happy to work with you to create a personalized itinerary that meets your specific needs. Whether you want to add or remove activities, adjust the length of trip, we are here to assist you to create the perfect itinerary. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or requests.

We look forward to working with you to plan your dream trip into the reality. Thank you for choosing us as your travel partner