The first time I took a group to India in 2012, my in-country guide’s name was Prince Charles. He has since become as close as a brother to me. He is not actually a member of the British royal family. Charles is a South Indian who was raised in a small village near Mamallapuram. He …
There are a lot of things to do at Isha Yoga Centre , Coimbatore. Even without being enrolled in one of the formal programs, it’s a lovely place to visit. We spent two peaceful days here in 2016. If you go, without having signed up for a program, there’s an array of scheduled activities throughout …
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When we think of Tamil Nadu, we think of the ancientness of its temples. And, when it comes to ancient temples we think of the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur (Tanjore) most of all. Some temples, like the UNESCO World Heritage Shore Temple in Mamallapuram, are not used for daily worship. They are places to bear …
We were on our way to Karaikudi in Chettinad when we found ourselves at a vegetable market near Madurai. We stopped to take in the action. Business was brisk. Women were shopping for the next day’s main meal. Colourful blankets, spread on the ground, were de facto kiosks to display produce. Squatting vendors worked to …
If you’ve only got 24 hours in Madurai, we’ve got a lot of ideas for what to do. We’re excited for you. Madurai is a bustling beehive of a 2500-year-old city. The River Vaigai flows through the centre of the city and pulses, millet, oil seeds, cotton and sugarcane grow on the fertile plains surrounding the …
Karaikudi in Chettinad, is a popular destination for food lovers, architectural buffs and antique hunters. Tucked into the southeastern corner of Tamil Nadu, this town and the 70 or so other villages in the area, make up the ancestral home of the Chettiyars. The Chettiyars are a class of wealthy merchants. They built their fortunes …
When it comes to places to stay in Kochi, we like the following list because of their locations, services and amenities. CGH Brunton Boatyard Brunton Boatyard is a short walk from Kochi’s Jew Town and the harbour’s fish markets. It wasn’t always here. The CGH (Clean, Green and Healthy) Earth Experience Group of Hotels took …
If you’ve only got 36 hours in Kochi, here’s a great piece detailing all our favourite things to do. You’ll be busy from dawn until dusk in this gem of the Malabar Coast. On the Water There’s water everywhere in Kochi so start the afternoon of your first day here with a boat cruise around …
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Kochi Kerala – A soft place to land in India Your plane descends over teeming towers of coconut palms as you approach the airport in Kochi Kerala. Their deep green fronds wave a welcome. You’ll come to know how they dominate the landscape here in Kochi and over most of the state of Kerala. It’s …
We begin our journey in South India No matter what places you visit in the world, sharing plates of food offers the chance to connect with the faces you meet. So this is how we came up with the idea for Faces, Places and Plates. Cooking with locals creates insights into their daily life and …