JAN 19 After breakfast, we drive to Pondicherry, the former French Colonial city located on the Coromandal Coast to visit the ashram at Auroville. It was built by followers of Sri Aurobindo, a philosopher-prophet born in 1870 and famous for his Integral Yoga and philosophical literary works. In this International Town we also find the Matrimandir (Temple of The Great Mother), the famous monument built by the Auroville Society representing a lotus flower. We will visit the 400-year old Manakula Vinayagar Temple, which has several frescos telling the life story of a half human and half animal lord; the French Quarter, the French Memorial, the Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, and Botanical Garden.

JAN 20 After breakfast, we drive to Thanjavur (formerly Tanjore). In the afternoon, we explore the Brihadisvara Temple, one of the Great Living Chola Temples. The temple, set in spacious grounds, has several pillared halls and shrines. Inscriptions record the names of dancers, musicians and poets reminding us of the significance of this area to the development of the arts in the 11th century. We will visit the palace and the museum, which has an eclectic collection of regal memorabilia, most of it from the early 19th century.

JAN 21 Today, we drive to Madurai, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. The city revolves around the Meenakshi Amman Temple, a structure in the Dravidian style of architecture. The complex houses 14 gopurams (gateway towers) ranging from 45-50 metres in height — the tallest being the southern tower, 51.9 metres high — and two golden sculptured shrines over sanctum of the main deities. The temple is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, and has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature. The present structure was built from 1623 to 1655. There are an estimated 33,000 sculptures in the temple and among the highlights are the Hall of a Thousand Pillars, the Tirumala Nayaka Temple and the Temple Art Museum. In the evening, we enjoy the night closing ceremony of the Temple.

JAN 22 After breakfast, we travel to Thekkady, a district in Kerala, famous for the Periyar National Park. After lunch we visit a spice plantation, where cardamon, pepper, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and tea are grown. We also see Ayurvedic medicinal plants and have an opportunity to buy some garden fresh spices.

JAN 23 We start our day with a early jungle walk at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Spread across 777 square kilometres, it was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. In the afternoon, we enjoy a boat ride on Lake Periyar to watch animals in their natural habitat by the water’s edge. We may see boars, Sambars, wild dogs, Langur monkeys and wild elephants. The sanctuary is also a haven for water birds. We will see plenty of darters, grey herons, egrets and kingfishers. The evening is free to explore the local bazaar.

South India with Optional Extension to Sri LankaJANUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 4, 2018

This study tour covers the major states of South India including Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka; as well as a new destination, Sri Lanka – one of the most colourful islands on the planet.

On our tour, we will explore a great variety of historical places and architectural sites including Hindu seashore temples, famous Buddhist shrines, historic Christian and Jewish places of worship, colonial forts, rock fortresses, and yoga ashrams. World-class museums will reveal their treasures to us, and spectacular dance performances like the legendary Kathakali dance in Kerala and the graceful Kandyan dance in Sri Lanka will be a vibrant display of religious importance and elaborate symbolism. The boat ride in the backwaters of Kerala and our visits to national parks in both countries promise to be soul-inspiring experiences. Also, there will be opportunities to browse the spice-filled markets and relax on the palm-fringed seashores.

OrientationThe orientation course will consist of two Wednesday evenings, December 6 and 13 from 7 – 9:30 pm and Saturday, January 6 from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, at the University of Calgary campus. The classes will provide an introduction to the history and cultural development of Indian society. The itinerary, travel arrangements, health matters and insurance coverage will be discussed in detail.

ItineraryThree meals daily throughout this trip.

JAN 15-16 Depart Calgary for the overnight journey to India. Arrive in Chennai, the capital city of Tamilnadu. Welcome ceremony in a local hotel.

JAN 17 After breakfast, our tour of Chennai begins with a visit to the Fort Museum followed by the beautiful Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwar Temple, St. Thomas Basilica and the National Art Gallery and Museum, which contains a superb collection of Chola bronze sculptures.

JAN 18 Depart Chennai and travel to Mahabalipuram, which is famous for its stone carvings and shore temples — a relic of Pallava art. Visit Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna Mandapam, Varaha Mandapam, Pancha Rathas (five chariot-shaped monolithic shrines), Mahishasuramardini Temple and shore temples. We also visit the famous School of Art and Sculptures. Overnight in Mahabalipuram.

Kochi (formerly Cochin), India; Photo courtesy of Valery Efimenko

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JAN 24 We continue our journey to Kochi (formerly Cochin). Known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, it is one of the principal seaports of the country. In the evening, we enjoy a Kathakali Dance Performance. This dramatized presentation, typically based on the Hindu epic poems Ramayana, and Mahabharata, is a unique combination of music, dance, acting, elaborate makeup and colourful costumes.

JAN 25 We spend the day exploring Kochi, Kerala’s commercial capital with one of the finest natural harbours in the world. We will visit St. Francis Church, the oldest European Church in India, where Vasco De Gama’s remains were buried before being taken back to Portugal. Next we visit the Roman Catholic Santa Cruz Cathedral built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, which is famous for beautiful paintings on its ceiling. We continue to the Jewish Quarter with its Old Synagogue and the Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese. Later we take a boat cruise to visit Bolghatty Palace and observe the fascinating Chinese fishing nets in action.

JAN 26 After breakfast, we will drive to Alleppey (Alappuzha), a city with picturesque canals, beaches, and lagoons. We board a houseboat to begin our cruise along the backwaters to the town of Kumarakom. On our journey, we will observe the traditional way of life and activities of the local people.

JAN 27 Morning drive to Trivandrum, the capital of the state of Kerala located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland. Traders have been coming to this area as far back as 190 AD for spices, sandalwood, and ivory. After lunch, we begin touring Trivandrum and visit the Napier Museum, Kuthiramalika Palace, Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, and Sri Chitra Art Gallery with its vast collection of paintings from India, as well as Japan, China and Indonesia. We overnight in Kovalam, a beach town by the Arabian Sea 16 km from Trivandrum.

JAN 28 We take an excursion to the southernmost tip of India, Kanyakumari, where the waters of

the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. This important pilgrim centre of India is famous for the Amman Temples — symbolic of unity and sanctity — dedicated to Kanya Kumari, the Virgin Goddess. To its southeast, lies the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a blend of all the architectural styles of India. After lunch we return back to Kovalam.

ExtensionJAN 29 Optional Extension to Sri Lanka begins, or return to Calgary. Those continuing to Sri Lanka will have a one-hour flight to Colombo. On arrival, we will drive to Negombo, which is a famous port city located only 30 kilometers away. The remainder of the day is free for your own discovery. We will visit the fish market on the beach and have a peaceful stroll around this beautiful town.

JAN 30 Today we spend the full day visiting Colombo, the capital of the country. It is a beautiful city with modern high-rises and old colonial buildings making it a picturesque location. We will visit the National Museum, Zoological Garden, Viharamaha Devi Park and finally make a stop at the famous Pettah market.

JAN 31 After breakfast, we will drive to Dambulla, the largest and best preserved cave temple complex of Sri Lanka. In the surrounding area are more than 80 caves used by the monks for meditation. The major temple, which is 2,000 years old, is decorated by delicate wall paintings and carved stone statues. The Iron Wood Forest (Namal Uyana), an ancient garden built in the 10th century, and the Rose Quartz Mountain range, 500 million years old, cannot be missed while in Dambulla.

FEB 1 Our first visit is the Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, close to Dambulla. The fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most treasured historical monuments in Sri Lanka. Features of the fortress are the frescoes, and its mirror. After lunch, we visit Polonnaruwa,

the second largest city in the province, famous for its clean and beautiful environment, amazing ancient constructions and most importantly, Lake Parakrama Samudra, which was built in 1200 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

FEB 2 After breakfast we drive to Kandy, the cultural centre of the island and a UNESCO heritage city. En route we will stop at a spice garden in Matale. The sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined at the Dalada Maligawa, the temple of the tooth. The Royal Botanical Gardens is a must see with more than 4,000 species of plants. Also, we will visit the arts and crafts centre in Kandy and the main Buddhist monasteries, Malwatta and Asgiriya Monasteries. In the evening we will see a cultural show.

FEB 3 Today, we return to Negombo. En route we will visit a tea plantation and the tea factory in Giragama and the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, which is a nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephant. After lunch, return to Negombo for our farewell dinner

FEB 4 Return flight from Colombo to Calgary.

Accompanying Resource Person Valery Efimenko was born in Russia but lived in Ukraine the first 18 years of his life. He graduated from the Oriental Department of St. Petersburg State University where he studied Indian languages, history and culture. Valery has taught religion, philosophy and Russian history for Continuing Education at the University of Calgary since 2004, and this is his 5th travel study trip.

Costs Airfare $2,400 Land, tuition and other costs $6,100GST $60TOTAL $8,560Single Supplement $1,900

Extension to Sri Lanka Airfare $335 Land, tuition and other costs $3,800GST $25TOTAL $4,160Single Supplement $1,400

Cost includes: Tuition and three-week orientation course, airfare, accommodation, transfers, all surface travel and meals as listed in the itinerary. A deposit of $500 is required with the registration form. There is a $200 withdrawal fee prior to the final payment date. The final payment is due on June 10, 2017. Please see the Refund Policy section for withdrawal/refund procedures and liabilities. Fees are based on the information available at the time of print and are subject to change to reflect any changes in currency rates, airfare, or land costs. There are possibilities of decreases or increases, and any changes will be reflected on final payment and passed on to the participants. All fees are based on double occupancy.

Kathakali dance in Kerala; Photo courtesy of Valery Efimenko

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2538016University of Calgary Continuing Education2500 University Drive NWCalgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

Choose your adventure:o Routes of Spain, Kenneth Brown May 1 – 17, 2017 TRA 190-001

o Iceland and Scotland, John Gilchrist May 27 – June 9, 2017 TRA 188-001

o Wildlife Treasures of East Africa, Dr. Wayne Lynch August 5 – 19, 2017 TRA 146-002

o Emperors and Artists: Italy through the Ages, Scott Norris September 2 – 16, 2017 TRA 189-001

o Great Cities of the Adriatic: From Dubrovnik to Venice, Marina Fischer September 7 – 21, 2017 TRA 187-001

o The Great Bear Rainforest: Spirit Bears, Grizzlies and Ancient Forests, Dr. Wayne Lynch September 26 – October 1, 2017 TRA 175-004

o Falkland Islands and Southern Andes: Their Wildlife and Scenic Splendour, Dr. Wayne Lynch October 26 – November 16, 2017 TRA 191-001

o South India Only, Valery Efimenko January 15 – 29, 2018 TRA 186-001

o South India with Extension to Sri Lanka, Valery Efimenko January 15 – February 4, 2018 TRA 186-002

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