October 2019 Depart: 10th Night and Arrive :13th early Morning

The Heritage vertical of Embassy Travel and Tours

Along with

Historian Pradeep Chakravarthypresents

Online Brochure - http://mysticalpalmyra.com Or contact us at sridhar@embassy-travels.com / 9282119040Facebook Brochure: https://www.facebook.com/mysticalpalmyra/

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

Our Philosophy

 

Thanjavur

Magical to many and a mystery to some, never has any other town inspired so much of art across centuries. Thanjavur, beyond all its treasures, is renowned for the UNESCO World Heritage monument created by Raja Raja Chola. Considered to be one of the best specimens of South Indian temple architecture, the Brihadeeshwara temple weaves stories of not only a glorious past but also the economics behind one of our longest empires. Reflecting the remarkable and stupendous feat of consolidating various resources from different regions into a singular piece of wonder, this structure still stands tall after several centuries. The influence of various dynasties from the 9th to 20th century can be seen in the art, architecture, music, dance and cuisine of Thanjavur. There is more to Thanjavur than just the “Periya Koil”(Big Temple). Thanjavur has had a long tradition of its rulers from Karnataka and Maharashtra and England coming in, blending in and creating a culture that is eclectic. Come and share an unforgeTable experience in a two-day tour to Thanjavur and surrounding regions with Embassy Travel and Tours and Historian Pradeep Chakravarthy, author of the definitive book on Thanjavur culture. Our trip will look at the Brihadeeshwara temple, priceless bronzes and manuscripts in the Sarasvati Mahal Library and lesser-known architectural gems like the SchwarZ church and the ethereal MahadevapaTinam fort and also sample 17th century royal dishes created specially for us.

 

Brihadeeshwara Temple

One of India's UNESCO World Heritage sites, and probably Tamil Nadu's most famous architectural temple, this gem of the Cholas will dazzle anyone. The temple deserves a separate tour by itself but in the time we spend there, we will use the temple as a canvas to understand how the Cholas funded and built their temples, Raja Raja's vision for the temple and how architecture, space interact with psychology and economics. The inscriptions, the sculptures, the orientation are all deeply illustrative of one of the finest empires and rulers of the world. Enough said, lets experience the grand monument in person!

 

Thanjavur Palace, Sarasvati Mahal

Library and Museum

Although a shadow of its former self, the palace complex is one of the few surviving royal complex buildings in Tamil Nadu. When you compare it with palaces you may have seen - Buckingham/Versailles or even the White House, the palace is very complicated and disorganized. The secret behind this and many others will be revealed as we go through the rooms and allow music, poetry to paint a picture in our minds eye as to how this palace looked in the 17-18th centuries when Thanjavur was at its height of wealth and prosperity. Much of the readings will be taken from the historian's seminal book on the cultural history of Thanjavur. One of India's best kept secret, the Sarasvati Mahal library has a long list of texts known nowhere else. Books on food and recipes, medicine, water divining, astrology and fortune telling rub shoulders with philosophy, music and dance. The illustrated manuscripts are a visual delight as are the collection of European books. Rare works include slokhas that read the Ramayana from right to left and the Mahabharata from left to right! Located within the palace complex, the art gallery is home to some of the world's most stunning bronzes. Coveted by museums world over, these idols are stunning for their workmanship as well as for their role in the development of Thanjavur as a cultural capital for India. Larger deities rub shoulders with the earliest images of Vishnu, rare and unique pooja vessels from Chola times and stone sculptures that are representative of the finest Chola artisanship.

Mannargudi

Mannargudi or "Place of Vishnu" was founded as an agraharam village or Brahmin quarter centered on the Rajagopalaswamy Temple. Originally believed to have been constructed by Kulothunga Chola I, the temple has undergone several modifications by later rulers. The town emerged as one of the chief centers of inland trade in the district during the British rule having rice, betel leaves, groundnut, oil, metal articles and clothes as major exports. Mannargudi today is known for cloth weaving and metal industries. We will be visiting and conversing with one of the districts oldest agrarian families.

D E F

MahadevapaEinam

If structures could talk then those in MahadevapaTinam would definitely shed a few tears while narrating their tale. Tucked away on the Thanjavur–Mannargudi Road in Tiruvarur district, MahadevapaTinam is but a blip on the map. Built and lived in by Tulaja I (born in 1676 ACE), a Maratha king and a scholar whose works include operas and ayurvedic treatises (sadly both have been published but remain unknown). Presently, only a handful know the story behind this majestic fort and the secrets that lie within its walls. The opera, “Sivakama Sundari Parinayam”, was wriTen and staged during the consecration of the temple. Today, within the towering fort walls of brick lies a pile of rubble that waits to be rescued to its former glory.

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Nishumbashudini

This is difficult to get to, and rather nondescript. Don’t let the modern décor and size distract you. This is the first Chola temple of Tanjore installed by Vijayalaya when he conquered Thanjavur from the MuTaraya chieftains. Bring a sharp pair of eyes to look carefully at her ears. A secret shall be revealed if you look hard enough.

Iron Canon

The worlds largest single forge wielded cannon is a marvel made in iron. It is open to the skies but has never rusted. It has never been fired but is a testament to the metal making prowess of the Vijayanagar empire. The Beerangi medai area is also an excellent place to survey the skyline of the town. If you can memorize the actual name it had in the old texts, you get a special prize!

Mukthambal Maratha Chathram Orathanadu

The Mukthambal Marata Chathram was built by Serfoji II in 1802 CE and named after his wife in Orathanadu - This chariot shaped building displays religious sculptures in stucco and wood. The front is designed like a chariot with wheels crafted in stone and the balustrades show carved stone elephants. A unique feature is that the bricks used in walls are carved to create a mini temple spire. This style of sculpting bricks, a specialty of Thanjavur, is now extinct!

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Thanjavur Veena

Amongst the oldest string instruments still performed, the Veena is supposed to be one of the instruments that is closest to the human voice. It has been replaced by the violin in vocal concerts but fortunately solo performances and learners are still popular. The instrument as we know it today was perfected in Tanjore and watching it being made is an ideal place to explore how everything about Carnatic music today is connected to Tanjore in some way or the other. We will also listen to some rare archival recordings from the early 20th century when this instrument was played with vocal music.

2200 Meet at Chandra Park Hotel, Egmore 2240Leave by Uzhavan Express to Thanjavur

Day 1

0610Arrive and Go to Hotel0830Breakfast at Hotel0930Palace Museum including the private temple Sarasvati Mahal and bronze gallery 1300Marata Special Lunch1600Iron CanyonNishumbashudhini templeBrihadeeshwara temple Veena Performance Palli Arai Pujai0930Dinner

Day 2 Day 3

0800 Breakfast0845 Leave to MahadevapaTinam 1100 Visit MannargudiRajagopalaswamy temple 1300Thanjavur Brahman Lunch 1430Leave to Orathanadu Mukthambal Chathram1930 – Back to hotel and relax2030 – Leave for the train Station. 2120Uzhavan Express Train to Madras. Packed Dinner

0425Arrive at Madras

Day 4

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 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. Children will be accommodated depending on the age and hotel policy. In this Trip we will be staying at The Sangam Hotel Thanjavur - hGps://www.sangamhotels.com/Thanjavur/• Meals mentioned - 2 breakfast, 2 lunch and 2 dinners per person (Request you to specify your preference if any in advance)• 2 boGles of water per person will be provided on the coach every day. We request you to bring a refillable boGle 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 aGraction/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 aGention 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.100 for the usage of camera at certain places• Photography may not be permiGed 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

Hail ing from Tirunelve l i 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.

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.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 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.

Your Partners in Crime

"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, Ashok LeylandWe 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 SBIThe call was for refreshing “degree”But the Mystical Palmyra pedigreeEnsured it was so much more --Places, People, food and tales of yorePriya and Pradeep pack so much funThe initiated will seldom shunTheir trips planned with such careI 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 liEle 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

The Path Traversed by Us…..

² Over 18 enchanting tours in 4 years²  500 heritage enthusiasts and counting ²  Performance appraisal consistently outstanding²  16 out of 33 districts explored in Tamilnadu ² Our tour circuits within the State is unmatched in any other part of India.² Our appetite for heritage stretches beyond particular District, State or

Country² Over 100 locations experienced² Our canvas includes Architecture, Food, Craft, Traditions and more…

Nothing evades our vision² Our Variety is limitless and with few to match the wholistic menu that we

offer

Contact:Sridharan Lakshmanan; sridhar@embassy-travels.com; +919282119040Raji Kumar; raji@embassy-travels.com; +919840471127 Address: 23, Thanikachalam Road, T. Nagar, Chennai – 600 017Bank 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 21,900 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 25,750 on single occupancy basis Registration: Before August 10th 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 - I n c a s e o f n o n - p a r t i c i p a t i o n d u e t o rescheduling of tour by the organizers due to ANY R E A S O N I N C L U D I N G A C T O F G O D O R CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL, 50% of tour cost will be refunded-Incase of cancellation of the tour by organizers – full refund including registration fee

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