Imperial Grandeur of Hampi

 Travel to Hampi, the capital of one of the most glorious empires of India, the Vijayanagara empire, back in the sixteenth century. Hampi is supposed to be Kishkindha, the Vanara kingdom from Ramayana.Today, the temple town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hampi was witness to the glory days of the emperors of Vijayanagara, like Krishnadevaraya. It was also home to the witty Tenali Rama, who graced Krishnadevaraya’s court. The town was renowned for its riches as well as the rich culture and played an important role in the history of Southern India for over two centuries. The place fell into despair after the fall of the Vijayanagara empire at the hands of Deccan sultanates in 1565. Today, Hampi is made up of the ruins from that glorious past. In terms of architecture, it is hard to top the splendor of rock-cut architecture of Hampi.  We will travel to sites of incredible historical importance guided by Dr Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan, one of the most well informed and scholarly subject matter experts. Madhusudhanan is the Chief Curator for Swarajya Heritage. He is an architect, conservationist, painter, epigraphist and has been conducting guided heritage tours through Road Access to Temples Heritage And Monuments (RATHAM). 

Banaras, Varanasi or Kasi is a Kaleidoscope. It is also a phoenix among cities having emerged more vibrant and colorful from the many destructions it has faced. It is considered the home of 330 million gods who are held together by an enormous corpus of mythology and are the very essence of the city. The human endeavor is equally inspiring. Rich textiles, Unique handicrafts, delectable food, intriguing aphorism, eternal Ganga, serene Ghats, the ever-consuming flames of Manikarnika and the adobe of Lord Vishwanath and much more. In the tradition of Annapurna, the goddess of food, this city whets the appetite of the scholar and the layman. The sacred Ganges is a specially tailored itinerary to give you an immersive cultural experience in Temples, Architecture, Rituals, Food and Music in the Kasi right in the heart of the Ganges that sustained it. The tour will take you to heritage sites in and around the Varanasi. We will travel to sites of incredible historical importance guided by Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan, one of the most well informed and scholarly subject matter experts. Madhusudhanan is the Chief Curator for Swarajya Heritage. He is an architect, conservationist, painter, epigraphist and has been conducting guided heritage tours through Road Access to Temples Heritage And Monuments (RATHAM) a part of Katrali Heritage Essentials LLP. Over 4 days you will feel, authentic Banarasi food, traditional weaving, the trip down the Ganga, the serene Ghats, the outstanding places of learning, Sarnath. It is a packed eclectic itinerary that awaits you. For the true flavor of the city to sink in, we have designed various walks. Come with us to savor this city which predates history and promises Eternal Moksha.

Tamil Nadu is famous for its temples famous for their master buildings, articulate detailing and the overall sense of grandeur that astonishes a visitor. These temples constructed years ago have been in worship till date. Since ages these temples have been a centre of spirituality, religious movements and the politics. The Cholas were among India’s greatest empire builders with their influence and reach hitting its zenith around the 10-12th century. This period also saw new schools of architecture emerge and flourish – some of these traditions are in existence even today. What you will experience 1. An exhaustive guided tour of the architectural marvels at Chidambaram, Thanjavur and Trichy. 2. Reliving Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan in the lap of river Kaveri and its delta distributaries.  3. An immersive cultural experience in the art and architecture of the Chola empire in the heart of the river that sustained it. 4. Revisting the Cholas to know who they were, why and how they built the great temples and be able to fully appreciate the great architectural traditions. Your expert We will be guided by Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan, one of the most well informed and scholarly subject matter experts. Madhusudhanan is the Chief Curator for Swarajya Heritage. He is an architect, conservationist, painter, epigraphist and has been conducting guided heritage tours through Road Access to Temples Heritage And Monuments (RATHAM).

Kalidasa said, “Pushpeshu jati, purusheshu Vishnu; narishu Rambha, nagareshu Kanchi”. Of cities, it is Kanchi, he said. It is not a surprise he said that given the wonders that are strewn around this town that is a microcosm of India, its magnificent structures testifying to its glorious past as a melting pot of cultures and faiths. Kanchi was a cosmopolitan city even back then when it was the capital of the Pallavas. It was home to all major faiths - Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Jainism, Buddhism, which blossomed in all their glory. It is a city that witnessed the reign of many majestic kingdoms - the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Vijayanagara empire - that have all left their imprints in time in the form of the matchless pieces of architecture that be its temples. Pallavas ruled a portion of southern India and dominated the Telugu and northern parts of the Tamil region for about 600 years until the end of the 9th century. Pallavas are most noted for their patronage of architecture, the finest example being the Shore Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mahabalipuram. The Pallavas, who left behind magnificent sculptures and temples, established the foundations of medieval South Indian architecture.  This tour is a specially tailored itinerary to give you an immersive understanding of the Pallavas and their temple architecture. This tour will be across Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram where we can find the finest examples of the architecture from the Pallava period. Kanchi is considered as the “City of Thousand Temples”, most of which, be it ancient or new, are living temples. This tour will be led by Dr. Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan, one of the most well informed and scholarly subject matter experts. An architect, conservationist, painter, epigraphist, he has been conducting guided heritage tours through Road Access to Temples Heritage And Monuments (RATHAM).