8-9 December 2017 Registrations until :15 November

The Heritage vertical of Embassy Travel and Tours

Along with

Historian Pradeep Chakravarthy

Online Brochure - http://mysticalpalmyra.com

Or contact us at sridhar@embassy-travels.com / 9282119040
Our Philosophy

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

Unlike the Western Ghats, the Arunam (charioteer

of the sun god, hot, fiery) Asalam (Hills) of Eastern
Ghats is barren land, hot and dry throughout the
year. Ancient Thevaram hails that it is here lord
Shiva manifested as the limitless flame without a
source and therefore the heat and barrenness of
the land.

Mystical Palmyra along with Historian Pradeep

Chakravarthy will introduce you to this vulcanous
region and offer a dip into the glowing riches it
holds
Mel Sithamur

Mel Sithamur in the Villupuram district has been

an important centre of Jainism since ancient times.
Two temples, one dedicated to Parsvanatha and
other known as 'Mailanatha temple was originally
a boulder containing rock-cut images of Bahubali,
Parsvanatha, Adinatha, Mahavira and Ambika
yakshi carved in the 9th century AD.  Rebuilt in
the 16th century and renovated in the present
century.
Our visit will examine Tamil Jan iconography and
their role in Tamil Nadu's history.
We will be served a sumptuous meal from this
community very unique to their way of life, with
similar names that we would normally enjoy but
with an interesting twist.
Venkataramana Temple

Built largely between 1540 – 1570, this

impressive complex is famous for its
size, scale rather than minute details.
Some of the Pillars are now in
Pondicherry but what remains is a fine
example of craftsmanship from the
600years back.
Temple inscriptions also give us a peak
into the history of Gingee and the Nayak
rulers of the area.
This temple is on the base of the hill. We
will visit the temples on the hill on
another tour!
Annamalaiyar Koil
The temple dedicated to Shiva as fire is among
the 5 temples where Shiva is perceived more as
an element of nature than as an idol. The temple
is spread across several acres and is rich in the
size and layout rather than for its sculptures.
Inscriptions tell of fabulous gifts and
magnificent festivals. Arunagirinathar started
singing his Thiruppugazh verses here, Thevaram
and Dikshitar's songs endow this temple with a
rich musical heritage. Much of the enlargement
was by the first Thanjavur Nayak king and
thereby brings a Karnataka connection. The
temple is in a hot, dry region but pulsates with
spiritual energy.
Our visit will look at the the importance of fire
worship i.e. Agnihotram, focusing on Agni as an
element and as a deity; Temple evolution from
the the Nayak Tanjore period; glimpse into verses
and inscriptions. This visit will be more to
experience the space and energy it emits
Ramana Ashram

The ashram of Ramana Maharishi at

Tiruvannamalai is known for its tranquil and
serene atmosphere allowing visitors to feel his
presence. Even for those who are oblivious to
his teachings, the simplicity and the minimal
changes that it has undergone since will give
them a true ashram experience. Our visit will
mostly be a self guided one towards absorbing
the positive vibes of this place through silence
and meditation
Shanthi Malai Trust

Founded in 1996 by Dr. Hugo Maier

Shanthi Malai Research and Development
Tr ust is a charitable non-pr ofit
organization which offers to help to
villagers in the Tiruvannamalai. What
began with a day clinic, and the training of
women health workers has now grown into
a comprehensive support network for 40
villages under the guidance of Dr. Maier
and his Wife Anne Maier. Our visit will
take us through their facility to witness
their contribution to their surrounding
society.
Thirukkoilur

Thirukkoilur is famous for both it’s Shiva

temple where Avvaiyar is said to have
composed some of her poetry and the
rare Vishnu temple for Vishnu as
Trivikrama. Not many such temples exist.
Our visit to the Vishnu temple will be to
enjoy a very different main deity, hear of
a rare criminal case in Chola period and
of course the story of how the three
Azhwars saints once met on the thinnai of
a house. They thought it was just the
three but there was one more secret
visitor!
Thiruvennainallur

Sundaramoorthy Nayanar frequently

argued with Shiva but still had a special
place for in Shiva’s heart. His story, a
favorite is long, complex and entertaining.
The climax happens in this temple. We will
see and hear some part of the story in the
Saint’s own words! The temple has a rare
land measurement inscription as well as
interesting sculptures.
We will be tasting…
v  Authentic Tiruvannamalai cuisine evolved on the basis
of local produce that’s indigenous to their terrain and in
a mesmerizing setting
v  A very special Tamil Jain meal well researched and
perfected and served in a heritage venue

We will be enjoying…
v  Pappambatti Jama – Parayattam performance
v  Shopping – Shanthi Malai Handicrafts
And we are off to :
Day 1:
-  0500 – Depart from Chennai
-  0700 – Breakfast
-  0930 – Venkataramana Temple, Gingee
-  1200 – Visit Shanthi Malai Trust
-  1300 – Lunch at Pathayam organic farm
-  1600 – Visit Annamalaiyar Temple
-  1930 - Thara Thappatai
-  Dinner at Resort
Day 2:
-  0600 – Ramana Ashram
-  0700 - Breakfast
-  0800 – Leave for Thirukkoilur (1 hr)
-  1000 - Thiruvennainallur (1 hr)
-  1200 – Leave for Mel Sithamur (1 hr)
-  1300 – Lunch at Mel Sithamur
-  1400 – Mel Sithamur Jain Temple
-  1600 – Tea break at Mathuranthakam
-  Depart for Chennai
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  bottle in order to reduce the usage of plastic waste.
•  Camera - certain places may charge anything
between Rs. 10 and Rs.100 for the usage of
camera.
•  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.    itinerary
•  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
Included 
•  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 Sparsa Resort Tiruvannamalai
http://sparsaresorts.com/home/
•  Meals mentioned - 2 breakfast, 2 lunch and 1
dinner per person (Request you to specify your
preference 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
•  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
•  A Tip between Rs. 50 – Rs. 200 per person may be collected
based on popular consensus
 
 Your “partners in crime”
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.
 
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 though 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.
From the “horses” mouth!
"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, MD, Ashok Leyland

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 he Mystical Palmyra pedigree
Ensured it was so much more --
Places, People, food and tales of yore
Priya and Pradeep pack so much fun
The initiated will seldom shun
Their 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, Jeweler

It was our first trip with Pradeep and Priya. We never had to think or be concerned about anything.  Every little 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
 
 
 
 
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
ICICI BANK LTD, NO.1, Cenotaph Road, Teynampet, Chennai –
600018
Beneficiary: EMBASSY TRAVEL & TOURS PVT LTD
A/C NO: 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 2 2 4 2 9
IFSC CODE - ICIC0000001
SWIFT CODE: "ICICINBBCTS”
BANK OF BARODA: S.I.E.T College Avenue Branch, Chennai 600018
Beneficiary: EMBASSY TRAVEL & TOURS PVT LTD
A/C NO: 05310500000014
RTGS/NEFT, IFSC CODE: BARB0COLMAD
STATE BANK OF MYSORE, NO.13 (6), Plot No.3, Thanikachalam
Road, T. Nagar, Chennai- 600 017.
Beneficiary: EMBASSY TRAVEL & TOURS PVT LTD
A/C NO: 6 4 0 9 3 7 7 0 3 6 1
IFSC CODE – SBMY0040801
Cheques in Favor of: Embassy Travel and Tours Pvt. Ltd.
Minimum age: 15 years
 
Package cost:
- INR 12,500 on twin sharing basis
- INR 15,000 on single occupancy basis
Registration:
Before December 30th 2016 by way of a NON-
REFUNDABLE payment of rs. 4000
Full payment: at the time of registration or
before 30th December 2016 to ensure confirmed
participation in the tour
 
Cancellation and refund:
- 45 days before commencement of tour – 50%
of tour cost will be refunded
- Less than 45 days before commencement of
tour – no refund
- incase of non-participation due to
rescheduling of tour by the organizers due to
ANY REASON – 75% of tour cost will be
refunded
-Incase of cancellation of the tour by organizers
– full refund including registration fee
What's next

Kanyakumari in March 01-04

2018