Catholic religious tour in India

Day  1
Arrive Cochin
Traditional welcome by our representative on your arrival. Meet and greet with your driver and then drive to your hotel. Check in at hotel. Afternoon visit of the old city.
The Mattancherry famous for having “Jew’s Town” in its heart. This is a historical part of India, where the ancient Jews started their trading. This neighborhood is now famous for antique showrooms.
St. Francis CSI Church, in Fort Kochi originally built in 1503, is the oldest European church in India and has great historical significance.
Visit of the spice market. Evening attend the Kathakali Show. Overnight at hotel.

Day  2
Excursion to Palayur (90 Km one way)
Early morning road to Palayur to visit the saint Thomas church which is the first church founded by saint Thomas in 52 AD.
Pattanam, An ancient archeological site witness the contact with western world, specially the trader community.
Meeting with Archdiocese of Trichur.
Visit of Vadakkunatham temple one of the ancient temples now recommended to UNESCO to declared it world heritage site.
Punnathur Kota: The sacred elephant park. Return back to Cochin. Overnight at hotel.

   Kochi – Vagamom (3hrs drive/102 Km)
Morning visit of Ernakulum; the two cathedrals of The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica.Overnight at hotel.

Day   4
Vagamom – Backwaters (Allepey) (3hrs drive/102 Km)
Morning visit of Kurisumala Ashram is a Cistercian Monastery in Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. “Kurisumala” the name describes the community of monks who practise austerity and live a strict monastic life on the mount of the Cross in the high hills of Kerala.
Francis Acharya the founder of this place fell in love with the Indian spirituality and embraced whole-heartedly the simplicity and silence which emerged out of this encounter. Francis Acharya could be seen as one who unified the paths of Indian Sanyasa with that of St. Benedict.”
Visit of St. Mary’s Church, Bharananganam: The thousand year old St. Mary’s Church here is one of the famous pilgrim centers of the Christians in Kerala. Also known as Anakkallu Palli, It is the place holding the mortal remains of St.Alphonsa (1910-1946). The first woman to be conferred sainthood from the Kerala Church.
Visit of Spice garden, a place you can see and enjoy the beauty of all the spices grown in Kerala. Where you can interact with the agriculturists to know more about the spice cultivation, organic farming, use of plants in medicine (ayurveda) and the scientific knowledge about each spices. Overnight at hotel.

Day   5
Allepey – backwater day cruise – Cochin – Tiruchirappalli by night train
Morning embark on the house boat and cruising in the backwaters. During the day you’ll do small halt to visit beautiful churches around.St. Mary’s church is believed to be among the seven oldest churches in Kerala, established by St. Thomas in AD 427. Lunch in one of the village of backwaters.
Later in the evening transfer to the Ernakulam railway station to connect train to Tiruchirappalli Overnight on board

   Tiruchirappalli – Vilankanni (4hrs drive/151 Km)
Morning pick up from railway station and transfer to your hotel. Attend mass and visit our lady of Lourdes church and saint Mary’s cathedral. After lunch proceed towards Vilankanni fondly known as the ‘Lourdes of the East’ because like Lourdes in France, millions of pilgrims visit the Shrine throughout the year, praying to Our Lady for various needs and thanking her for the favors received through her intercession. Overnight at hotel

Day  7
Vilankanni – Pondichery (4hrs drive/158 Km)
Morning attend the mass in the church and then proceed towards Pondicherry.
Visit of Auroville where people from around the globe, ignoring creed, colour and nationality, work together to build a universal, cash-free, non-religious township and realise good old human unity.
Basilica of Sacred Heart of Jesus is a revered religious site in Pondicherry. The beautiful neo-Gothic architecture was founded in the year 1908 by the French missionaries. It boasts of being the 1st basilica in Pondicherry and sixth in Tamil Nadu. Overnight at hotel

Day   8
Pondicherry – Mahabalipuram – Chennai (4hrs drive/160 Km)
Morning visit of Arul Ashram in Pondicherry than proceed towards to Chennai en route visit the temples of Mahabalipuram. On arrival check in at hotel.

Day   9
Visit of Chennai
Morning your city tour starts with street of Mylapore and Luz Church, one of the oldest church in the city. Also visit Temple de Kapaleshwara, little mount Church, Fort St George and St Thomas Mount.
Meeting with Mother Teresa trust and visit of the slum of Chennai.

Day   10
Chennai – departure flight

Morning free and as per your flight transfer to the airport to connect returning flight.

Day   10
Chennai – Kolkata by flight
Morning flight to Kolkata, located on the hooghly river and was once the headquarter of East India company. Visit of the street of Maidan, the Victoria memorial, cathedral of St paul. Do prayer on the tomb of mother Teresa and visit her room.

Day   11
Kolkata
Attend mass with the sister of mother Teresa Ashram. Visit the Kalighat the Home of the Pure Heart (Nirmal Hriday)” Meeting with Ashalayam which work for street children. Visit of the flower market and howrah bridge.

   Kolkata departure flight
Morning free and as per your flight transfer to the airport to connect returning flight