Soul of India: The Colorful South (2012)

This is a fascinating and wonderful experience and will be a climax to my 34 trips with OAT and Grand Circle. I can't imagine a more colorful learning and discovery tour, since we had the best guide ever and were taking everywhere. The people are friendly, foreign tourists are few and far between, and the locals stare at you quisically in stead of you at them. The hotels are lovely with pools, the temples take you back a few centuries, the women are beautiful in their sarees, and the fields are full of tea, sugar cane, rice, cocoanuts, cows, workers--many photos.

Traveler: Mary Hudson from Bradenton, FL traveled on April 09, 2012

Photo ops abound. I took 400 pictures. Best clothing: ExOfficio.com Airlite travel clothing, well-made, pants, shirts (short+long-sleeve for layering). Quick-dry. Select khaki and sage colors to mix and match. Sturdy, comfortable shoes. I wear Reebok "Classic" men's (good leather).
Sri Lanka:
My long-standing interests in archaeology, architecture and art, ancient civilizations and cultures were rewarded on this excellent tour. I visited Sri Lanka for the unique Sinhalese culture dating back 2,600 years and nourished by Theravada Buddhism, developed and inscribed on leaves of the talipot palm, by early Sri Lankan monks.
The highlights are: Sigiriya's Lion rock complex, Dambulla's Royal Rock Temple, 5 caves covered with murals and statues, and Polonnaruwa, royal capital of 800-years ago. Kandy and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth.
The area of Nuwara Eliya is a miniature landscape of tea plantations, mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and every shade of green. We wish to stay one more day! (only 1 day is scheduled). Hotels are all first class, food very good.
Our guide is exceptional, both in knowlegde of history, art and archaeology, but Asanka S. Hettiarachi also manages to fulfill the personal wishes of every single member of our group of 9! Driver Rahira is excellent.
1. a Buddhist monk comes to our hotel and leads a meditation exercise (amazing experience), 2. visit to a small temple to watch a monk engrave OLA leaves as the ancients did, 3. visit of a modern art gallery, 4. attend a folkloric performance,
5. visit an Ayurveda Center in the woods inside a spice plantation, and free facial for the ladies.
South India:
Tamil Nadu:The Dravidian language is still concentrated in South India and Northern Sri Lanka. Dravidians are part of the Indus Valley civilization (6000B.C.E); they migrated to South India around 2000B.C.E. The variety of impressions on all senses is intoxicating. Compressed into 2 weeks were histories sights, aromas, sounds, and colors of millenia. Or guide, Sudhakar Selwyn, ensures that the multitudesof experiences are harmonious and unforgettable. His superior knowledge of the history, religions, cultures and local customs, and small local settlements enhance the experience. He loves his country and puts his body and soul into presenting it to us.
Driver Mani excellent.
The highlights: Tamil Nadu:
1. (7th Cent. C.E.) rock sculpture splendor) of Arjuna's Penance in the small village of Mahabalipuram, visiting the awaking village, women street cleaners, women drawing elaborate "Kollam" chalk designs, others balancing yogurt containers on their head.
Sunrise over the fabulous carved temples, 5 Rathas. Graceful women in colorful saris.
2. Pondicherry: visit tiny settlement near roadside, palm-thatched shelters. Villager climbs tall palm to cut coconuts for us.
French quarter, Notre Dame des Anges cathedral, wedding ceremony for Indian couple in French. Rickshaw ride through town, taking poor rickshaw driver to fancy Koffi Barr.
3.Thikal. Kumbakonam (Colorful 12th Cent. Chola Temples). Flower market 6 am. Sudha buys flower garlands for us. Stop at Thikal, Muslim village. Women in stark black. Kumbakonam: note the Sarangapani Temple and Tank at the Cauvery river.
4. Thanjavur (Tanjore). World Heritage Site. Stunning tawney sandstone temple covered with 3-dimensional symbols and sculpture carved in the stone. The Bihadishwara Temple is the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture (10th century C.E.). We are given front-row seats at an elaborate and very colorful local wedding. Visit palace museum filled with exquisite Chola Bronce sculptures, Shiva Nataraja-in-the-round.
5. Visiting Sri Venkateswara orphanage, supported by Grand Circle Foundation. Moving, heartwarming visit to outlying countryside orphanange. About 100 happy children perfom and sing for us, and are eager to play games with us in the courtyard. It will open your heart, mind and wallet.
6. To Madurai. Pudukottai stop for a famous Chettiar lunch served on sanitized banana leaves,at the Bangala restaurant.
Madurai--Meenakshi Temple, that is all 12 gopurams--the height of South Indian temple architecture, the Taj Mahal of the South! They are covered from top to bottom with 3-dimensional sculptures covered in rainbow-colored stucco. The tallest of the 12 towers is 160ft. high. Witnessed night procession of Shiva stautue to his consort in the temple.
7. To Kerala. Becauseof a roadblock we visit the Cape, Kanniyakumari, town at the tip of India. We are well pleased to be at the meeting of 3 oceans: Arabian Sea (west), Bay of Bengal (east), and Indian Ocean (south). Hotel at Kovalam directly by the sea. Dinner al fresco overlooking the ocean dotted with hundreds of lights from small fishing boats. Visiting tiny fishing village and market.
8. Cochin. Alapupuzha backwater cruise in covered houseboat, lunch included. The backwater scenery is lovely, villages by the canals, people washing clothes in the canal. We stay in a charming small hotel near a colorful market. Visit 16th cent. Pardesi synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. Pulling in 1 fish in a huge Chinese fishing net. Taking a small local ferry, then a local bus to attend an auction at a huge fishmarket. See St. Francis church with the tombstone of Vasco de Gama.
Karnataka:
9. Mysore. Near Mysore we visit a lovely village, meet the Village President with wife and several other villagers living in small, tidy clay brick buildings. Livestock, chickens, castor beans drying in the sun, friendly villagers.
Visiting Srirangapatnam Ghat by the
10. Cauvery river Ghat. People in colorful clothing washing in the holy river.
Somnathpur (Optional). 13th Cent. Hoysala Temple, small, but covered with the most exquisite stone carvings, almost like "stone lace."
11. Lunch at the Lalita Mahal Palace included. The 1921 palace is now a 5-star hotel. It is wonderfully opulent with a high society lunch presentation.
12. Maharaja's Palace. Fantastic palace, one of the grandest of India's royal buildings, seat of the Wodeyar maharajas.
Though the grandeur seems over the top, the quality of the opulence is evident: enormous carved wooden doors, inlaid with ivory, stained glass, mosaic floors, life-size paintings of life during the Edwardian Raj, and a fine collection of sculptures and artefacts.
13. Mausoleum and serene gardens of Tipu Sultan, the "Tiger of Mysore." Tipu's is a long story to pursue on your own.

Travelled November 30 - December 25, 2011.

Traveler: Edith Speir from Annandale, VA traveled on November 30, 2011

After traveling with OAT to northern India, I was interested in also experiencing southern India, which was very different. It was an extremely rewarding trip. There was more interaction with the people than on any other trip I have been on.
Our guide, Pryia, was outstanding. We had many unscheduled stops to visit with the people in towns, villages and alongside the road. Small private industry was very interesting. Everyone was very friendly, glad to see us and share their daily life. Pryia also took care of our every need from anything in the rooms to providing chocolate syrup on the ubiquitous vanilla ice cream!
The visit to the orphanage was memorable. We took bananas to the elders who live there and they were very appreciative. The children loved to practice their English. Pictures of your home life would be very interesting to them. I highly recommend this trip.

Traveler: Kathryn Adams from Golden, CO traveled on March 11, 2012

We were attracted to this trip in order to learn about the history and architecture of the ancient Dravidian culture. We discovered so much more!

Our excellent trip leader Charles made sure that we experienced what life is like in southern India today. Long overland trips were punctuated by unexpected stops to discover craft workshops, agricultural activity, religious festivals, markets and so much more. Charles was a patient explainer of all that we saw, providing history and context, and his own personal experience. He really brought the trip alive. The hotels were all comfortable and some were luxurious; the meals were varied and delicious.

The optional tours to Kanchipuram and Somnathpur were wonderful and we would encourage travelers to take them. Equally the tours offered in the extension to Goa and Mumbai were extremely enriching and should not be missed.

We have traveled with OAT 14 times because of the excellent guides, the small groups and the fascinating itineraries. We had a great time, saw so much because we were with Charles, and learned a great deal.

Traveler: Jim and Nancy Katzoff from Hollywood, FL traveled on January 27, 2012

Quality of Tour:We have traveled widely including a previous trip to India. I was skeptical if this trip would be as fine as our other tours ; Much to my delight - the tour was fantastic. We were thrilled not only with the sites on the itinerary but of the chance we had to make experience many "discoveries".

Tour leader: We travel with OAT because of the small size of the group and the quality of the tour leaders. All the tour leaders we have had have been excellent. Our tour leader, Abdul Azeez, was exceptional even for this elite group. His concern and care of us was incredible. Azeez knew what we needed often before we could articulate that need. Once we told him about something we wanted to do, he either handled that need immediately or tucked it in his head for a future date. And his head was full of wonderful knowledge about Hindus (we expected that) and many other religions and cultural groups. Azeez was also superb in stopping for unexpected discoveries and festivals. In sum, every group that has a chance to travel with him will b
e fortunate to have such a great guide.

Bangalore:The handoff from the main part of the tour to the extension needs attention. Oour tour leader on the main part iof the trip who had no responsiblit for the extenstion arranged for the extension group to rent a car and take in some local highlight.

Extension: The gudies in Mumbai and Goa were very good, but they did not provide the same care as the tour leader on the main part of the trip.

In sum, the trip was excellent and only needs a small bit of tweaking.

Traveler: Linda Carl rom Chapel Hill, NC traveled on February 20, 2012

Some of you may say, “I’ve been to North India, why do I need to go to South India?”--because South India is different from North India in many ways. The people in South India are friendlier and willing to share their culture with you. On this trip you’ll see some amazing temples (the workmanship is incredible), but more than that, you will experience the lives of the people as they go about their daily work. We visited villages and interacted with the people, walked through the various markets, tasted local food and drink from roadside vendors (no one got ill), stopped several times alongside the road and walked out into a rice field, rubber plantation, salt pan, and much much more, “crashed” a wedding and a puberty celebration, rode on 14 different types of transportation—I could go on and on. In reading the reviews for this trip, you will find that everyone thoroughly enjoyed their time in South India and thought their guide was the best, and our trip leader Priya was no exception. She was like a magician always pulling another adventure out of her hat—amazing! My only recommendation is to schedule your trip when it isn’t so hot and to embrace the adventure!

Traveler: Diana Thomson from Saint Charles, MO traveled on March 11, 2012

I have just returned from this trip and it was an amazing experience!!

Having now visited both northern and southern India, I can honestly say that southern India stands on its own as a travellers' destination.

Yes, we saw incredible temples and sites, but what made this trip was the interaction with the local people. They were exceptionally open and welcoming to us. We rejoiced with them, grieved with them and laughed with them. They shared their food with us, their lives with us, and in the end - their souls with us. It was a marvelous trip made possible by our tour guide, Murali.

Do not delay! Yoiu need to take this trip!! It will enrich your soul.

Traveler: Jill Sakalares from Frisco, TX traveled on February 26, 2012

I just finished a wonderful journey through Southern India. Priya my guide was a huge reason why I had a superb holiday.

It is true that the South does not have the more renowned locations such as the Taj or Jaipur. However the South has so much to offer. I really enjoyed interacting with the friendly locals and finding how kind they were.

Priya -- every morning provided activities that would take the group to such areas as the back streets of various towns or cities to see the people in their every day preparations or jobs. We often had something to drink or to eat that brought out the flavor of the locality. Being that it was early it was better for photography because of the light and less tourists to possibly take away the interest of the photo opportunity.

While travelling we took thirteen means of transportation to add to the value of the trip. Several of the methods included the tuk tuk, electrical train, flat bed truck, and ferry to name several.

While travelling from location to location - we would make stops to see various types of jobs in action such as the various ways coconuts were used, weaving methods and and local markets.

Meals were excellent with many choices available. I did not have what I considered a poor meal. At times there was too much to eat.

Finally Priya was totally efficient when something needed to be done. Nothing seemed to escape her while solving any potential difficulty.

W Jay More -- Cooperstown- NY

Traveler: Warner Jay More from Cooperstown, NY traveled on March 11, 2012

I highly recommend this trip to South India. From the ancient temples, churches synagogues and mosques to the opportunites to learn how the locals produced silk, made rope from coconut fiber, forged and then shoed an ox, cloth dying, rice transplanting, marble carving, musical instrument making.

We joined festivals, attended a lavish wedding, a cremation, a young boy's ear piercing ceremony. On several occasions they insisted we join them for their meal.

We went to an orphanage that included elderly people. We rode in so many different conveyances from a cycle rickshaw to the bed of a small truck used to move workers.

The highlight of the trip is the people themselves. This is my eighth OAT trip and nowhere have the people been as warm and friendly.

Making all this happen was Murali, our guide. His knowledge and enthusiasm was shared with all of us. His tirelessness in insuring that we were all comfortable and entertained was amazing.

The hotels were all fine and the food was delicious.

I highly recommend this trip.

Traveler: Kathleen Higgins from Benicia, CA traveled on March 05, 2012

Everything associated with my first OAT adventure was superb. Pre-travel help from the Boston staff through the post-trip evaluation showed consistent professionalism. Mercedes Benz service at Toyota prices! Such value for the dollar.

Blue skies, balmy hot weather, historical religous sites, warm inviting people, and many opportunities to experience the real India characterized this unique visit with trip leader, Murali.

In my travels to 14 countries, (not with OAT) I think Murali tops the list of trip leaders. We were lucky to enjoy his knowledge, wonderful sense of humor, smooth coordination, and balance of spontaneous and planned events.

An example of spontaneous events included rides on a local bus, commuter train, local ferry, people and oxen powered rickshaws, and a white Ambassador Austin Healey. My favorite ride was on the back of a motorcyle in Cochin, to visit the Tirumala Temple and professional clothes washers business. During the ride, discovered that the young driver owned four motorbikes.

Other spontaneous events included seeing two fortune tellers at work, attending a local movie theater, visiting a family in their apartment where we were dressed in saris and had hennas,

The visits to wholesale markets for seafood, coconuts, and silk cocoons were fascinating. The high energy of the buyers and sellers was apparent.

We were honored with an invitation to join a family in Tanjore to witness the cremation of a 90 year old woman in an outdoor funeral parlorwith a grass roof. The cermony was very spiritual and her eldest son spoke to us afterwards.

And there was so much more......Trip leader, Murali, along with assistant, Das, and driver, Raj formed an excellent team with dedication to our well being at all times. I look forward to my next OAT trip.

Traveler: April Eng from Seattle, WA traveled on March 05, 2012

This trip is highly recommended.

Soul of India. An experience of a life time. Vacation?? Definitely not. Its an adventure. Our tour guide, Murali, driver, Raj and assistant, Das, were excellent. Each played their role accommodating us, which made our travel pleasant, not to mention the group got along so well; we had such a great time.

Our trip included the following: Chennai, drove along the coast to the stone-carving village of Mahabalipuram; then to Pondecherry, where we stayed at a beautiful resort with the 220 meter swimming pool; Tangore, visited the orphanage; Madurai, largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu, a temple city, Periyar, set high in the rugged mountains in the state of Kerla, visited wildlife sanctuary, where we saw elephants, moneys, hoping to see tigars (didn't see any), then to Cochin, where we enjoyed a home hosted dinner with a local family; finally to Mysore, visited newly built maill (not my cup of tea).

Murali, our tour guide was excellent. He made sure we started early to avoid crowds and the heat of the day. His knowledge of India's history politics, cultures, good humor, enthusiasm made this trip enjoyable, interesting and very pleasant. He brought us colorful local culture, beautifulmagnificent architectures, pungent spices, crowds, craziness of traffic and the adrenolin pumping while riding the tuc, tuc (rickshaw auto cab). He had us ride every transportation India could provide; sub urban train, local bus, motorcycle, horse-cart, jeep, ambassador car and even rode the elephant which was harder on the legs than the motorcycle ride. After an elephant ride, because of short legs, I felt like I had done the splits.

He did spontaneous things through out our bus ride. He would make unschedule stops so we could join the crowd, participate of whatever event is happening. There were so many interesting things along the way. He would explain town festival, pierce earring, bride groom preparation, (we even attended an elaborate wedding, where we were invited to eat local breakfast). We stopped at a market place that had so many colorful beautiful flowers, we saw Kolam (colorful design infront of houses). We saw planting of rice, drying of saris along river rocks, oxens pulling carts filled with sugar canes or other fuitsproducts, menwomenchildren carrying heavy loads of things balanced on their head, cremation, menladies washing clothes along the river, men digging in river for sands and filling up big
containers, and salt basin, just to name a few.

visited harbor fishing village, saw variety of fishesshrimps. Visited orphanage, children were delightfulvery warm. Seniors who left aloneby families were living in orphanage, helped with preparation of children's meal. All converse, and played with us.

overland drive: bumpy, however, relaxing and comfortable because the bus was air conditioned. This gave us time to relax, reflect, sleep alittle and enjoy the sceneries.

hotel: couple were superior, others so-so, 3 star

food: very good, spicey for others but not for me, I like spicey.

weather: hot, very hot and humid.

This trip is for people physically fit because of alot of walking.

Traveler: Julita Gabay from Seattle, WA traveled on March 05, 2012

This was our sixth trip with OAT and prior to that we had traveled for many years but no trip was ever this fascinating, informative, creative, stirring and unusual.

I'm sitting here smiling because I've just read the recent reviews by other travelers who were also fortunate to have Murali as their guide. I'm smiling as I write because we all felt like favored children who were given special treats but now I realize that Murali makes all his groups feel that way. His love for his country and his desire to make this trip the most exciting, unique and informative experience one could have is his formula for success. Yes, I could go on and on about all the splendid parts of the Itinerary as recounted in John Wright's review of 312112 but what sets this trip apart from all others is the constant attention to the unusual that Murali specializes in. For example, while driving through a small village one day, he stopped the bus because he saw a group of people that he suspected were gathered for something special. And what a treat: a special ceremony to prepare the groom for his wedding! We were encouraged to step right up to watch him become adorned and made up and then were invited to share their meal in the rear yard. And then there was the day he saw people "parading" and that turned out to be a special village celebration for a boy's ear piercing where once again we were pulled into the eating hall. He came upon another yearly Festival during which people adorn their faces with chalk designs and throw chalk at others as they watch. We all came away with our chalk dustings too! And who will ever forget being invited to watch an entire cremation ceremony and then have the opportunity to speak with the son and offer our condolences. Yes, we also attended a huge wedding, saw elephants during our trek in Periyar and swooned when we were given special access to the splendid Maharaja's Palace in Mysore. Murali also made sure we frequently used every form of transportation imaginable and we even lived to tell about the harrowing experiences on the Tuc-Tucs not to mention the fantastic exilaration of riding as a passenger on a motor scooter. Murali filled almost every second with something fun, unusual and exciting; he was constantly on the lookout for something of interest. We even had an opportunity to visit the "professional" laundries where they slave away for over ten hours a day. The trip could not have been any better and all because of our Guide.

Here are some suggestions: for the orphanage, bring an inflatable soccer ball with a small pump and possibly some clothes (from GoodWill??) or maybe nail polish. I concur about not needing much clothing due to the excellent laundry service and sink stoppers and tissues are a must also. We were not too happy with the hotel in Tanjore: it really needs a bathroom remodel and the lack of air-conditioning in Kerala was oppressive. When I mentioned to Murali that the shower curtain was smelly with mildew, he immediately had it changed for me.

And, on top of all these attributes, he also laughed at my husband's jokes. Thanks again Murali!

Traveler: Ronda and Earl Sachais from Fletcher, NC traveled on March 05, 2012

We were one of the early travelers on OAT's Heart of India in 1999 and finally returned this year to see Sri Lanka and southern India. Both the pre-trip and Soul of India were spectactular. Sri Lanka is a visual gem and although a largely Buddist country, it certainly has overtones of India.

Our guide in southern India, Sudha, was outstanding, providing insights into the life of traditional southern India and focusing on the needs of each traveler. India is never easy for western sensibilities, but Sudha had us constantly juming off the bus to see that the unexpected is just everyday life in southern India. As other travelers have noted, the people of southern India are exceptionally welcoming to a small band of OAT tourists who appear in their villages or workplaces with cameras in hand. We managed to see many of the rites of life with the exception of birth itself.

The hotels ranged from good to excellent, and the food was very good. To our surprise there was far more meat and chicken then we expected in southern India. Sudha endeavored to find us the best spots possible to take toilet breaks, but as earlier tourists noted, women should come armed with kleenex or toilet paper. Some of the bus rides are long, but enable you to see southern India life and sights. OAT now, in contrast to our trip in the north in 1999, provides a large comfortable bus.

We encourage taking the leap and exploring southern India and Sri Lanka.

Traveler: Hank and Jane Goichman, Los Angeles traveled on January 09, 2012

I have to agree with my fellow travelers who wrote excellent reviews of the Soul Of India trip.

Like some of them we also did the Pre Trip in Sri Lanka, and the Post Trip in Goa and Mumbai, and would highly recommend Sri Lanka which we found to be fascinating county.

We started our India adventure by doing The Heart of India first and followed it by the Soul of India, with a pre and post. Both were very memorable trips and we loved both of them. OAT did an excellent job and had a great itineraries for both of them.

Most travelers usually will do the Heart of India trip first, I encourage all of them to not miss on the Soul of India, because no trip to India is complete without visiting the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu, The hill country and the Backwaters of Kerala, Cochin the queen of the Arabia see, and the Maharaja Palace in Mysore, as well as the financial capital of the country Mumbai.

Our guides on both trips were outstanding in going beyond what the itineraries called for and showed us their beloved part of this magnification county called India. THANK YOU ANURAG and THANK YOU MURALI

Traveler: Tamim & Patricia Kasrawi from Gleneden Beach, OR traveled on January 29, 2012

We’ve now been back a little over two weeks from our Soul of India trip with one of OAT’s most outstanding guides, Murali. We had done the Heart of India a little over two years ago with an equally wonderful guide, Gopal. While having a great guide is important (not to mention a good traveling group), it’s the people and the culture that you experience that really make for a great OAT trip.

We can’t say that we’ve traveled as extensively as many others on this trip had, but we think Southern India is a real gem of a place to visit for at least several important reasons. For one thing, there are way fewer tourists than in the better-known locations like Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. That did not mean an absence of a decent tourism infrastructure. OAT had set up a network of quite good and often memorable hotels. The food was uniformly excellent, especially when we sampled the local places (which we did often). Secondly, the numerous Hindu temples we visited in various locations were simply stunning, and all of the human and animal images are well preserved, unlike in the north with its much greater Muslim influence. And thirdly, the people were absolutely wonderful. We were constantly surrounding by groups of very friendly young people who wanted us to be in pictures they would take with their cell phones, and to engage us in conversations. People were as excited to see us as we were to see them. They were more welcoming than we had experienced on the Heart of India trip. The visit to the OAT-sponsored orphanage was memorable (not the least due to my wife’s leading a large group of the children in the “Hokey Pokey”).

We would certainly encourage those who have already done the Heart of India trip to return to this marvelous country to see the South. We thought the South was an easier trip in many ways; the region seemed more prosperous (there were few beggars or hawkers), the roads were generally better (only in a couple of the big cities was traffic that bad); and while there was the usual street debris, rubble, and friendly chaos everywhere, it was not at the same overwhelming level as had been in the case in some of the northern cities. India is an extremely diverse country; there are different customs, food, and languages in the South, and (as compared to the area covered in the Heart of India) more natural beauty, with electric green rice fields everywhere, and lovely tea and spice plantations in the Ghats mountains that are crossed on the route over to Kerala. In short, we highly recommend this trip.

Finally, like our fellow travelers who commented, we would to thank our guide Murali for all of the efforts he made to make this trip a very memorable one. He really went above and beyond to connect us with the real India.

Traveler: John Wright from San Anselmo, CA traveled on February 06, 2012

This is the second OAT trip I have taken. I must say it was an outstanding experience. Sudha was the leader of the tour but I must say he was more of an educator and not just a leader. He loved his country and it showed in everything that he accomplished, which was alot. He spent time to tell us about the history, culture, relgion,politics and the life each day in a particular social group. I felt like I was taking a Graduate Study Course about India.
However his actions were as significant as his words. We rode on every mode of transportation available, made impromptu stops in villages of all kind, spent time in rice paddies, rubber plantations, tea plantations and of course the many many many temples.
I can not say enought about the trip and Sudah...it was indeed the experience of a lifetime. What made it even more so was that it was organized by the Gretchen and Bill Blakewell so we knew most of the people we were traveling with and got to know the others the Blakewell's knew very quickly. The trip size was only fourteen plus Sudah so there was much interaction and laughter.
In thinking about all of the events I experienced, the impromptu stop at a Hindi Wedding is something I will remember forever.
Wow, what a trip.

Traveler: Duane Schultz from Marathon, FL traveled on February 09, 2012

I am more than happy that I decided to do the pre trip to Sri Lanka. What a beautiful country - a great experince - and our tour guide,Janaka, was absolutely wonderful.
Overall South India was a wonderful trip and experience. Our very experienced tour guide Murali made sure that we got to know the country and her people by stopping wherever there was something "special" to see, doing "extra" things not in the "green book" we were interested in etc., our rooms were always ready and the luggage was delivered in no time at all.
Goa was interesting too, but if I had not taken the "extra" trip (which by the way is far too expensive) there wasn't really much to do or see. Mumbai on the other hand was absolutely great.

Traveler: Gabriele Robinson from Sarasota, FL traveled on January 29, 2012

This trip is highly recommended because of the interesting temples and wonderful culture of south India.
We had an excellent guide Murali, who showed us many sights that were not on the schedule, but which enhanced our enjoyment and understanding of life in South India.
The optional tours were very worth while - especially the kathalkali dancers and the boat cruise in Kerala.
I also enjoyed the nature hike in Periyar, even the rickety raft we had to use to cross the river!
The hotels were all excellent and the food was, too.
We did the pre trip to Sri Lanka, and had a wonderful time there, too. We saw Buddhist temples and a tea plantation, as well as climbing Sigiryia- quite an achievement!
It was great to interact with local people - the women and children were all keen to use their English and to shake hands with our group.
All in all I think this trip is an excellent way to explore a less well known area of India.

Traveler: Alison Davis from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA traveled on January 29, 2012

Don’t miss this trip! If you liked OAT's “The Heart of India”, you’ll love “The Soul of India.”

We used the OAT’s new “True Choice” feature to customize our airline choice and specific flights, and were pleased with the routing we were able to secure.

The temples and palaces were fabulous and the paintings and sculptures exquisite. We were especially fascinated with the processions and worshippers at some of the temples.

Thanks to our truly wonderful guide, Murali, we arrived at the sites before other tour groups, and at the best time of the day for photos. Murali’s attention to detail, good humor, thoughtfulness, knowledge of India’s history and politics, and discussion of controversial topics enhanced our understanding of India and made the trip memorable.

The tea, pineapple, and rubber plantations, and the rice fields were beautiful. There were some long bus rides but the time was frequently interrupted by stops to see cattle washing, sugar cane and cashew nut processing, rope making, and visits to flower and vegetable markets, among other discoveries.

Some of our highlights included riding on an elephant, attending a local wedding, taking a ferry and public bus to an early morning fish auction, viewing a private performance of the Kathakali dance on a cruise at sunset, lunching on a houseboat while cruising the backwaters, visiting the home of a Brahmin family for a sari demonstration and hand decorating with henna, receiving a cooking lesson and lunch in another home, and visiting an orphanage.

We found all of the optional tours worthwhile.

The food was delicious. We had a variety of buffet and plated meals with specialties of the different regions. The hotels were comfortable and included complimentary water, which was also available on the bus.

Some suggestions:
1. My inflatable seat cushion from L.L.Bean made the bumpy bus rides more comfortable.
2. A stopper for the sink is helpful if you plan to rinse out clothing.
3. A small flashlight is useful in the dark temples, and at the hotels when brief power outages occur or when walking on the grounds after sunset.
4. Drape a disposable shower cap over the sink's faucets to remind yourself not to drink the tap water in the hotel.

India is changing. Don’t wait too long to take this trip!

Traveler: Frances Raab from Bethesda, MD traveled on February 06, 2012

After 7 OAT trips, this one was the most exciting and educational. Sudha, our guide, took us on more than 20 different modes of transportation, to many out of the way places, and wonderful attractions. His attention to detail was extraordinary. It was not only educational but great fun. I know that the 14 others on the trip throughly enjoyed the trip as it was quite different fron our previous trip to N. India. The food was delicious and the hotels were wonderfu. Meals were at a variety of venues including neighborhood restaurants to beautiful 5 star hotels. Most of the group took all of the optional tours and enjoyed them. Sudha was never satisfied with just a good experience and constantly strived and achieved an excellent experience for us all. We can only hope to have such an outstanding trip leader on our future OAT adventures.
Suggestions on what to bring:
1. less clothes as washing was cheap and available everywhere
2.a flashlight is a must as power does go out frequently
3. kleenex and wipes as even in the highest quality hotels were unavailable
4. Money exchange and ATM's were available everywhere and easy to use.
5. several of our group had clothes made which were delivered to our hotel and supplimented fewer clothes brought
6. bring more digital file cards as photo ops are everywhere.
I encouragae you to take this trip as it will bring you a lifetime of memories.

Traveler: Willis Blakewell from El Macero, CA traveled on February 09, 2012

India politics, religion, temples, work, daily life! It doesn't seem possible but Sudha our guide introduced us to all in just 18 days. His respect for and interest in others created an atmosphere that meant People welcomed us into their lives. We have had a wonderful introduction to Southern Indian life and hope some day to return.

Traveler: Janet and Michael from Los Angeles, CA traveled on January 17, 2012

The Soul of India journey was an incredible trip and I would recommend it to anyone. The landscapes, the spices, the temples, the culture, the silks, the food, the history and the people were awe-inspiring. Our guide, Charles, was excellent and our satisfaction and comfort seemed to be always a major consideration for him…and he was a wonderful source of knowledge and insight into this amazing country. Distances between some of the cities were long but the bus was comfortable and Charles stopped often for exciting and enjoyable learning and discovery opportunities. It was my first trip to India and I hope to go back soon. Enjoy!

Traveler: Sarah Wiviott Young from Rogers, AR traveled on January 27, 2012

What an experience!!! Nothing compares to seeing the culture and lives of the southern Indians. Our tour guide, Sudha, was incredible. There was no place, occasion, celebration, parade etc. that we did not stop and take part in!!We walked into peoples homes, ate their food, and felt welcome by these wonderful people. This experience was life changing, and unforgettable.

Traveler: Alice Tobias from Scottsdale, AZ traveled on January 17, 2012

This trip is the ultimate OATer’s adventure. We did more by lunch than most tours do in a day. We made more than 50 spontaneous stops and encountered and engaged hundreds of remarkable men and women of the South. We went into fields, paddies, brickyards, workshops and markets to find them at work. We went into their streets and frequently their homes to see how and where they lived. We saw incredible festivals, streets lined with women and elephants, as many as 7. We went to several river banks to see sacred rituals by individuals as well as groups. We saw life milestones: a cremation, coming of age celebrations, and weddings. If you like learning and discovery you will love this trip. You will discover the soul of India in the faces and voices of the people of the South.

Traveler: Thomas Dillon from San Diego, CA traveled on January 09, 2012

I recently returned from 7 weeks in India, taking OAT tours for the Heart of India and the Soul of India, with 3 weeks on our own. Until a few years ago I was never interested in travelling to India but peoples stories who have been there convinced me otherwise. I was amazed by India to say the least! The South of India is definately a beautiful place to see with a great WOW! factor. The warm friendly Indians welcoming us at every stop, the children always smiling, loving the photos we all took made all of us feel at ease in a new setting. The beautiful landscape and many spices and fruits growing was a beautiful sight. The trip was made all the more exciting and informative by our excellent guide Murali Ji. He conveyed his love and passion for India in an inspiring way. His concern for each and every traveller's comfort and enjoyment was always evident. If we had any problems like the cyclone we encountered after Chennai ,other more exciting plans were made seemingly without a hitch. Murali's quote "when one door closes another one opens" was certainly appropos. I would take this same tour again in a heartbeat!. Thanks to our great group of travellers and MURALI Ji, this was a one in a million experience.

Traveler: Emma Worsham from Orange, CA traveled on December 26, 2011

My first trip with OAT was surprising at every
turn. From the palaces to the people in the
street selling their goods. I experienced warm
friendly people every where. Our hotels were
much nicer than I expected. Seeing the
Indian history and cultural diversity first hand
sure beats reading it in a book any day. I
attribute a great deal of this special experience to our trip leader MURALI. His
knowledge and love of India was exciting.
The food was delicious. It was such a kick
experiencing the different modes of
transportation, from the rickshaw to the metro. I loved it all.

Traveler: Sharie Keiser from Yucca Valley, CA traveled on December 26, 2011

For those of you who have experienced Northern India and enjoyed it, you must do this trip. It was one of the best I have ever done. Charles M, our leader made the trip. His learning and discovery opportunities surpassed all other tour leaders. I have traveled extensively throughout the world--over 140 countries on the Traveler's Century Club list. So, this is saying a great deal. January is the month of festivals and pilgrimages which is a perfect time to go. The cultural experiences were just amazing.

Traveler: Nancy Hollister from Roswell, GA traveled on January 02, 2012

Our guide, Charles M. was outstanding; and made this trip a wonderful experience.The sights were awesome, people unbelivably friendly, accomodations were from good to excellent.
On the other hand, our post trip extension to Goa and Mumbay was disappointing to say the least. A whole day lost in Bangalore with nothing to do or see (and no tour guide there);we did not take the optional tour in Goa (no one in the group did; $95 per person seemed very steep indeed) and the beach were the Hotel was nearby,was discussting (lots of locals and some drunken eastern europians) roaming the area. In Mumbai, the Hotel very nice but in Juhu Beach (at least an hour away from all the sightseeing )Thus we spend evryday day 2 to 4 hours driving in the bus. The dinner on our arrival to Mumbai was in pizza place full of screemimg kids, food not too appetizing.
Bottom line, we highly reccommend the main trip, but will discourage anybody to take the postexrension trip unless major changes are done to this part of the program.

Traveler: Alberto Goldbarg from New York, NY traveled on January 02, 2012

My husband and I are seasoned travelers, but this trip was the most memorable for us. All of our senses were bombarded by the people, sights and sounds of this magnificent country.
Murali, our trip leader, was outstanding. He was knowledgeable, intelligent, good humored, and took a personal interest in all 11 travelers in our group. He handled every detail with what appeared to be ease to us.
Thank you, Murali, and thank you, OAT for a trip to remember. We are grateful.

Traveler: Rita Schlansky from Carlisle, PA traveled on December 26, 2011

My Wife and I travelled northern India in 2006 and found southern India equally if not more fascinating. This southern area is the old India, very Hindu, Dravidian, and less impacted by Aryans and Islamic influences of the North. We loved the temples, exotic food, tropical environment, rice fields and the rural villages.

A highlight was the Pongal festival(Harvest) during which Priya, our outstanding guide, got us invitations to village ceremonies which resulted in TV and front page newspaper photos and coverage for our group. Villagers where so warm and welcoming..smiles and waves all the time!
Bull wrestling (Jallikkattu)in India? Bulls are not harmed and the brave men always loose!

Priya arranged every type of transportations for us ..we counted 14 different modes in all. She added to the sense of mystery by being coy about our next adventure, letting us be surprised by evening HIndu temple ceremonies, early morning fish markets in Cochin, an open truck ride through the village of Changelpet resulting in smiles and waves from the locals.
Another highlight was an in depth examination of the historical spice trade and visits to spice, tea rubber and coffee plantations.
Don't miss this trip. India is changing and modernizing at a rapid rate. See the old India now!

Traveler: Paul and Karen Overland from Missoula, MT traveled on January 09, 2012

If there is just one thing that made this trip such a wonderful experience it would be our guide Murali Sudarsanachary. His care, thoughtfulness, consideration and leadership planning were superb. You would not believe how well he handled the cyclone we encountered. He rearrange our itinerary and it was as if we never missed a beat. Thank you.
What was so rewarding was the fact that he indeed gave us a real feeling of the soul of India each and every day. What a delight it was to have him guide us on oxencart rides, tuc tuc's, walks, etc. The people of India were so very nice and seemed so pleased to see us partaking in such activities.
I am just a few days short of being 80 and have been traveling since the fifties to over 80 different countries around the world and this may not have been the most spectacular (such as an African safari) but was certainly the most enjoyable and rewarding.
Thank you OAT's for a great tour by providing us with Mr. Murali

Traveler: Stan & Cheryl Huddleston from Los Gatos, CA traveled on December 26, 2011

If you have always wanted to go to India but were a little nervous about what you would encounter, this is the trip for you. Having not traveled in the rest of India I can’t fairly compare the south with the rest of the country, but on this tour there is so much to see, adventures to be had, smiles to greet your camera, phenomenal monuments, lush greenery, delicious food and more than enough to satiate your travel bug. I have been told I have high comfort needs, but I felt perfectly at home and quite pampered by OAT and our trip leader, Murali, in experiencing the Soul of India.

Traveler: Chris Binion from Boise, ID traveled on December 26, 2011

Having recently returned from back-to-back OAT tours of both North and South India, I must say that to experience the full scope of India one must venture beyond the more popular attractions of North India and immerse themselves in the very different historical, cultural, spiritual, and culinary delights of South India.

Our exceptional tour leader, Murali, ensured that each day of our trip was filled with adventure, discovery, and experiences that will last a lifetime. Some travelers might be overwhelmed by the poverty and filth that is clearly visible almost everywhere. However through our any many interactions with the local people and spontaneous stops throughout the tour, Murali, enabled us to see everyday life in South India as vibrant and teaming with devotion, joy, and purpose. In essence, we saw beyond the poverty and filth and into the soul of India.

The things that impressed me the most were the genuine friendliness of the people and their deep spirituality and oneness with nature. The experiences I enjoyed the most were talking with the senior citizens who resided at the OAT-supported orphanage, riding in an open-back truck through a city market, and riding through highly congested streets on bicycle tuck tucks. The hotels were more than adequate, with some being spectacular. We had a very comfortable 35-passenger bus for the 12 of us and a delightful driver and assistant driver. While some on our tour found the food to be a bit too spicy, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

All in all, this was an exceptional trip--due in no small part to our trip leader, Murali. Hopefully, more people will take this tour in the future and gain a more comprehensive appreciation for "incredible India."

Traveler: Susan Schneider from Universal City, TX traveled on November 26, 2011

The Soul of India captured my heart and senses as our extraordinary OAT leader, Sudarsanachary Murli ( Murali) led us through discovery after discovery.

On this ninth OAT trip we were fortunate to be traveling during the season of religious pilgrimage. Pilgrams were resplendent in color and beaming smiles. The temples were stunning and the food was exceptionally tasty and varietal--especially wonderful for a vegetarians like my partner and me but with many meat choices for others.

The pace was full and to my liking and those who enjoyed more leisure time had the opportunitiy. During these "free" hours I embraced yet one more Aurvedic massage--four in all at about $20 each. They were rejuvenating and will be missed.

Variety is the spice of any OAT trip in my mind, and this trip provided more than any previously. How about traveling by plane, boat, bus, trains, tuk tuk, bicycle tuk tuk, motor cycle and, yes, Ox cart?!! Murali couldn't be stopped. He did not miss one opportunity for yet another glorious Soul of India experience.

If you savor adventure, love to meet smiling faces and want to experience India through the eyes of the people, you will savor this trip. Your emotions will be touched at the orphanage, a highlight for me, where the warmth of children intermingled with 50 elders captivated my heart. This--adventure at its best.

Traveler: John Roberts from Boise, ID traveled on December 26, 2011

After a really rewarding and meaningful Heart of India experience with OAT, I was captivated again by the SOUL of INDIA trip I took in January 2011.

SOUTH INDIA is a paradise of color, vibrant people and deep spirit that I have come to love in India.

We gently inhabited the sacred space of ancient Hindu temples, learned about pilgrimages, architecture, symbolism and art. SOUTH INDIA is about devotion, lush green vistas, rice paddies, serene backwaters, fertile pineapple, tea, rubber and banana plantations.

The food on our trip was delicious and varied. Sudha bought tiny fish from the boats at dawn and our hotel prepared them for us at dinner that night.

We spontaneously stopped to join festivals in small villages. We were blessed by the touch of an elephant's trunk. We learned about French, Portuguese and Scottish cultural remnants in this part of India.

Every day felt spontaneous and authentic.
With our brilliant, caring and highly skilled Trip Leader, Sudha Sudhaker, we were truly able to touch the profound and intricate SOUL of INDIA.

Traveler: Katharine Smith from New York, NY traveled on January 06, 2011

We have taken17 trips with OAT and 2 with Grand Circle. This trip is perhaps the finest one we have experienced. The sights are wonderful and varied but the main reason for the quality of the trip is the professional work of our guide, Charles. He is very knowledgeable, organized and efficient but his greatest asset is his ability to find us interesting experiences that are not on the itinerary.So far, we have taken a ferry to a morning fish market in Cochin, passed through a pilgrimage to the god of light in the Kerala mountains, visited a cobra temple in Tamil Nadu, taken a train ride in Chennai and ridden through the center of Madurai on tuk-tuks. In addition, Charles has gone out of his way to address the needs of each individual traveler.

Traveler: Thomas Mounkhall from Port Ewen, NY traveled on December 25, 2011

First and foremost and the principal reason the trip started with excellence and ended far beyond my expectations was the care, ingenuity, imparting of knowledge and ability to weave a group of 15 and one individually into the fabric of south India. I cannot give him enough accolades. I would not hesitate to accomapny him on any other journey or even a return to the south as his manner, preparation and warmth and profesionalism were extraordinary. As for south India, enchanting and deserves to be on any travelers list as it provides cultural, historic, culinary, scenic and personal delights as many and as deep as one wants to open one's mind and heart to. The trip itinerary is very well thought out yet allows for individual exploration as well. The accomodations were comfortable and not lacking. The driver, Mone and assistant, Ayalla were highly professional and excellent in their service. I appreciated our group of fellow travelers and attribute this in part to OAT's success in attracting such a seasoned, interesting and fun group. Highlights for me were Tanjore, Madurai, Kochin and Mysore just to be brief. In conclusion, and having planned many successful travels myself and others, I must say I could never have come close to the trip and experiences and guiding hand of Suda and value received from this south India trip.

Traveler: J. Scott Sumter from Hyattsville, MD traveled on October 17, 2011

Our guide was Sudah and he must be the "gold standard" for all guides. Each day was filled with learning events and unexpected stops at unexpected villages meeting unexpected wonderful people. I have always likened India to a Carousel in which the horses change colors and shapes at every turn. If one wants to be amazed every day of their trip they should give this trip a go.To say that this trip was my most unforgettable would be a real understatement. This trip combined with Sudah could replace the word "excellence" in a dictionary. Jim

Traveler: James Brock from Santa Monica, CA traveled on October 11, 2010

Our big trip with Overseas Adventure Travel touring, “The Soul of India: The Colorful South”, with 16 Americans including some of our friends, was amazing!!! The places we visited: Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Tanjore, Pondicherry, Madurai, Periyar, Chochin, Mysore and Bangalore were nothing like the USA!!! Almost 9 years ago we had traveled with our Indian friends to see the northern part of India and now find the south is warmer, more humid . . . and not as touristy. Bananas and coconuts were everywhere, and tropical critters like monkeys, parrots, and fruit bats. We walked through numerous markets selling everything you could imagine, and some things new to us – like different fruit and vegetables, cooking items, and huge bins full of silkmoth cocoons ready for purchase by the silk merchants. The people work hard dying the silk and weaving - the silk into saris, colorful plaid cotton for men’s lungis, and grass mats for sitting and sleeping upon. We also saw the making of wool and silk carpets, mud bricks, brass casting, terra cotta ware, caning furniture, salt collecting, the roasting of cashews in their hard shells, huge tea plantations, miles of rice paddies (the women are ankle deep in the water, bending over to plant young rice plants while wearing their bright-colorful saris!!), charcoal making, grape arbors (grown horizontally), a spice plantation, and huge natural granite boulders carved in place in elephants and temples as far back as 600 A.D by the villiagers. We saw the different styles of dances done by women and by men. We rode on bicycle rickshaws, tuk-tuks (3 wheel scooter-taxis), lunched and cruised for an afternoon on a Kettuvallam (a thatched houseboat), and toured in a large modern bus with our fellow travelers and an excellent Indian guide. (Fortunately our tour mates were a delightful, varied group!) We saw huge, elaborate Hindu temples from many different periods and styles, and some large Catholic churches (the south had many missionaries -- the first was one of the original disciples, Saint Thomas). Our group was divided up one evening and hosted by two local families so we could see the simple way in which they live. We also were taken to an orphanage with 200 five- to 17-year-olds, housed along with 50 elderly people. We found the people of south India are open and gentle in nature, and seem very happy, although their lifestyle is difficult in comparison with ours. They also are very devoted to their various gods and goddesses, as witnessed in the numerous shrines and temples we visited. This trip was so interesting as we experienced a culture so different from our materialistic culture but such a colorful, happy culture and the accommodations were first class! If there is a place we want to visit from now on we will first see if OATS offers such a
tour and hopefully all the guides will be as excellent as Jaraj!!!

Traveler: John & Judith Kloetzel from Ashland, OR traveled on November 07, 2011

An unforgettable experience, beautifully planned and managed. Hotels and buses were OK, often very good. When there were difficulties (Air India mislaid luggage; and, more seriously, civil unrest closed the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala so we couldn’t go to Periyar), OAT staff in India and U.S. did an outstanding job of problem-solving, providing alternatives. Our guide Murali also did a superb job of creating stops along the way for us to see and even participate sometimes in the life of the people, e.g. a wedding, various cottage industries, markets, getting blessed by elephants, Chinese fishing nets, and much more. Many of the stops seemed unplanned, were spontaneous recognition of possibilities. I also got more and more interested in the temples and other sacred places; felt I learned a lot. Although the pollution and poverty can be hard to take, the people were wonderfully warm and welcoming. Tips: Wet wipes are a must, bring a lot. Also toilet paper for public toilets along the way. Granola bars, etc, also a good idea. Our trip was in early December; there were almost no mosquitoes, some of us didn’t use any repellent at all. Take it easy with spicy foods at first, especially if you’re not accustomed to them.

Traveler: Audra Adelberger from Seattle, WA traveled on November 26, 2011

This was a fascinating trip, very different from any other. There are extreme contradictions, from the severe poverty to the beauty and friendliness of the people. We had an excellent guide, Murali, who introduced us to many family industries, from weaving silk and making brass ornaments to making rope from coconut husks and beautiful painted floor tiles. All the hotels were excellent. The teeming traffic, where an ox cart, a bicycle, a pedestrian, and a large bus all seem to have the same rights, and weave their way around each other, and still avoid the goats playing in the middle, is worth the trip on its own.

Traveler: Betsy Tekavec from San Diego, CA traveled on November 26, 2011

A great trip! We had visited Northern India several years ago and found this trip to be much more about the culture and people of India. Jairaj, our trip leader, is outstanding with his vast knowledge of his country. We have taken over eleven OAT trips and Jairaj was the best trip leader we ever had. If Jairaj ever did a different trip we would jump at the chance to join him. We would definitely recommend this trip!!

Traveler: Barbara Beresford from East Setauket, NY traveled on September 22, 2011

Jairaj was awesome. He was a photographer and at the end of the trip, gave us all a CD of his photos. Above and beyond the call in my book. I really enjoy all the side visits to various businesses and factories. Amazing to see how people utilize things we would probably not even consider. I was very touched by the children at the orphanage. They were lots of fun; we played several games with them. The only thing I would change is going to a few less temples and instead see more local businesses, arts and crafts.

Traveler: Ann Mcgaw from Fort Wayne, IN traveled on September 22, 2011

Earlier reviewers have done a good job describing this tour, so I'm just going to talk about a few things people going on the trip might find useful.

*While bottled water was provided daily on the bus, I found it helpful to bring water purification tablets. Not every hotel provided a way to boil water in rooms.

*I also found it helpful to bring backpacking rolls of toilet paper along, not only for use on the trip itself but on the international flights. Air India wasn't too conscientious about maintaining the airplane lavatories in-flight.

*Try to eat vegetarian dishes as much as possible. As in a lot of developing countries, anything containing meat is often dodgy, especially in a region with a lot of vegetarians.

*Two books I highly recommend:
A South Indian Journey (Michael Wood)
India Calling (Anand Giridharadas)

Traveler: CQ in CA traveled on January 07, 2011

This was an almost spiritual trip. We visted many temples and our guide Murali showed us the infinite details and related them to life in Southern India. There were also a number of Christian churches. The life of in the south became real when we stopped along the way to view feasts and festivals. I especially enjoyed going to a Hindu wedding and being blessed by an elephant

Traveler: Linda Moeser-Johnson from New Port Richey, FL traveled on January 31, 2011

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and thought it gave a good sense of South India--the spectacularly beautiful countryside, the diversity of the population, a variety of village industries, the pervasiveness of religion even in a secular and pragmatice people, the magnificent temples and palaces that commemorate a long and colorful past. The long bus rides were made tolerable by the frequent stops for photographs--temple activities, roadside shrines, rural activities--and just the sheer beauty of the rice paddy, the tea plantations, and the Western ghats. The South Indian temples are exceptional--the monumental size and the intricate carved decoration. The palace in Mysore is splendid. Cochin remains, with all its changes, a vital and busy place, modern but still with many traditional aspects. I have traveled in the North and lived in the South (albeit 50 years ago) and I was delighted with the trip, which served as a good review of what is the same and what has changed in India since I was last there. I like South Indian cuisine, something that made the daily fare more palatable to me than to other travelers who found the adjustment to what is a different style of cooking rather difficult. I thought the food was almost everywhere good and sometimes excellent . The hotels were comfortable and the choice gave a good sense of what is available in a moderate to upscale range.The differences between North and South India are significant, and this adds to the interest in the history and culture of each. While one does have to adjust to the demands of travel, the considerable distances covered, the difference in food and culture, one finishes this trip with a sense of having had an authentic experience of the region.

Traveler: Elizabeth Powers from Princeton, NJ traveled on January 31, 2011

This trip was my 13th OAT trip, and each one has been very different from the others. Some have been less adventurous than others, but this trip is more like what one would expect from Overseas ADVENTURE Travel. The other reviews give a good sense of the trip; I'll try to add a few other perspectives. This part of the world is not your typical tourist destination, and the facilities reflect that fact, but, in my mind, that is what adventure travel is all about. There was always plentiful and healthy food available; sometimes one just had to be adventurous in what one was willing to try. There were long days of travel, but each day provided opportunities for exploration. Our guide, Murali, was a master at finding wonderful discoveries along the road, and it was in these discoveries that I really developed a sense of the soul of India. I loved walking the beautiful beaches during free time and stepping out in the cities for a good walk and some urban exploration on my own. The people were truly the most friendly of any place I have ever visited. The kids (adults, too) loved having their pictures taken, and I ended up with about 30% more pictures than I usually take on a trip. We saw the development of Hindu architecture through visits to some amazing temples unlike anything seen in the north. Indeed, one of the big surprises was that this trip was so totally different from that to north India. Of course, visiting New England and returning again to the US to visit the southwest would provide a similar experience of the vast differences from one end of a country to another.
Goa was unlike any other part of India; to miss it is to miss a very unique part of the country. No question, visiting Sri Lanka was a real treat! I am far more happy that I went on this journey than I anticipated I would be. I dreaded the long flights on Air India. In fact, the coach seating was more spacious than on American carriers. They overfed us. The flights weren't full. I have nothing but positive things to say about the carrier (now the routing arranged by OAT, maybe a grumble or two there!) A few hints for those preparing for this trip gathered from some of my fellow travellers:
1. Lighting is dim in all of the hotels where we stayed in Sri Lanka. If you like you read, you might bring a book light..
2. Hair dryers were rarely available.
There wasn't shampoo in every hotel.
3. Don't forget an umbrella!
4. For late January to February travel, the weather was very pleasant...at least this year, neither very hot nor humid.
5. Hand laundry dried well everywhere. There were a couple of hotels with very reasonable laundry rates; more hotels with laundry services but more expensive.
6. The entire trip was very casual. Some women (who used it in the first place!)gave up on make-up as the trip progressed. I was happy to have black pants, sandals, and two nicer tops to change to for dinner, but it wasn't necessary. Less baggage is good.
7. If you like to snack, bring what is "comfort food" for you. Some cookies and chips are available in some places, but the pickings are slim.
8. Bring a pocket knife in your checked baggage :-)...fruit plates are provided by some hotels, and having a knife to peel the apple is helpful.
8. There were some wonderful swimmimg pools and several hotels on the beach...having a bathing suit was great. If you like the beach, you might want to have some kind of rubber shoe; e.g. flip flops or Tivas.
9. A number of the hotels have a gym. If you are one who needs extra exercise, this is an option.
10. There are multiple situations in which you will handle your own luggage. The less you bring, the easier it will be.
11. Bring toilet tissue! Let rolls at home get down to a quarter inch of so; flatten them and bring a few. More often than not there was no tissue in the facilities. Also bring some hand wipes along with hand sanitizer.
This was a wonderful trip for the adventurous. I expect that my next trip will seem very tame.

Traveler: Leslie from Silver Spring, MD traveled on January 23, 2011

We recently returned from this trip to southern India with the pre-trip to Sri Lanka. This is our 11th trip with OAT and, unfortunately, it did not live up to the other wonderful trips we have experienced with OAT. Our pre-trip to Sri Lanka was our favorite part, with an excellent guide, Janaka, and great companions in our group. Even though it rained almost daily, it did not interfere with our enjoyment. In addition to very amazing sites (elephant orphanage with a 3-week old baby, cave temples, Temple of the Tooth, great hike to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress,etc.), we were fortunate to witness some festivals. Our guide let us stop in order to join the friendly people who were celebrating. One of the men seemed to be "in a trance" , had water poured on him, and then was carried into the temple!
We had previously taken the trip to northern India which we enjoyed tremendously. For this trip, on the positive side, our Indian trip leader, Ssridar, was very professional and handled any glitches as best he could. The people in southern India are not as used to tourists and were genuinely friendlier. Also, the weather during this time of year is excellent. While there are some amazing sights in southern India, often we were traveling by bus 8 hours per day, on very bumpy roads. There was very little physical activity and several group members got quite ill from one of the meals. We appreciate that OAT is making every effort to address the concerns that were raised by our group. This trip has a lot of potential once it is refined. If you do go, it is recommended that you bring "snacks" with you since the mealtimes may be unpredictable (lunch at 2:00 pm due to traffic) and the food is very highly seasoned, and we were usually served the same dishes. Overall, I would wait until OAT makes the necessary changes to refine this trip and definately experience the northern India trip first.

Traveler: Phyllis Anne Sanchez from Coral De Tierra, CA traveled on January 07, 2011

Soul of India, the south of India, is a very interesting and worthwhile tour, a nice complement to Heart of India, the north of India, which I did almost 3 years ago. It was great to see the fertile agricultural lands and lush vegetation in the south, in stark contrast to the arid north. The temples in Mamallapuram, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Halebid and Belur were fascinating, although I understand the latter two are being replaced by a similar but more convenient temple in the 2011 itinerary. The palace in Mysore was spectacular, and hopefully your itinerary will include a Friday or Saturday evening in Mysore when the palace is illuminated briefly – that was a highlight, as well as the houseboat cruise through the backwaters of Kerala close to Cochin. And the learning and discovery activities with our excellent trip leader Charles were among the best I have experienced with OAT.

BUT this is a relatively new tour for OAT, it has been operating for about a year, and there are a number of problems which need to be addressed and remedied as quickly as possible, especially on the Sri Lanka pre-trip and Goa & Mumbai post-trip.

First, the airline. For my October 2010 departure I was offered only a poor schedule (extremely long layovers) on Air India, a second-rate airline with OK in-flight service, but poor on-time record, inefficient ground service and abominable baggage service. I opted to purchase my own air (as 13 of the tour group did, because of previous bad experiences with Air India) for only about $100 more than the air credit OAT gave, and I traveled on much better airlines (United, Lufthansa and Swiss).

The hotels were not up the standard I have come to expect from my previous 20 trips on OAT and Grand Circle in the past 5 years, particularly in Sri Lanka. There the facilities were pretty basic and the reception desk staffs were incompetent. In India on the base trip the locations were not good in Madurai (Hotel Sangam) and Cochin (Dream Hotel), and there were hygiene problems in Madurai and Mysore (Regaalis).

The food was generally disappointing, not as good on the north India tour. There were too many repetitious hotel buffets with chicken and mutton curries which consisted primarily of bones with very little meat on them and greasy Indian breads. The vegetarian selections were usually a better bet. The only excellent meals of the entire tour were in Goa – the included lunch at a restaurant on the first full day and a dinner I bought at additional cost at the a la carte restaurant (Republic of Noodles) of the hotel where we were staying (Lemon Tree) when I could not face another mediocre buffet.

In Sri Lanka the coach utilized was much too small for our group of 14 plus trip leader. Checked luggage was sent in a separate vehicle, but on our coach there was no room whatsoever for carry-on luggage – not in empty seats, underneath or in the rear. This was bearable for the days on which we were sightseeing in a given place, but on the 3 transfer days we had to place our carry-ons in the aisle and trample over them every time we got out and back on.

The scheduling of the Goa & Mumbai post-trip needs much improvement. We spent 2 days traveling from Mysore to Bangalore to Goa on a 3-hour drive and 1-hour flight, and we spent a whole day for a 1-hour flight from Goa to Mumbai. Thus, on an extension for which we paid for 6 days, we essentially got 2 days in Goa and ¾ of a day in Mumbai. Until OAT is able to obtain better flight times (and there were plenty of flights on those segments), they need to at least provide some sightseeing in Bangalore and some activity before departing Goa.

And the schedule for the last day was a horror, something I had experienced on the north India tour. For those taking Air India, they had to check out of the hotel at 7:30 a.m. and have about 8 hours of sightseeing in the Mumbai sun before being dropped at the airport for a 24+-hour return trip to the US, with no opportunity to freshen up or change clothes before that grueling trip. The excuse given was that Air India had changed schedules, but there were other Air India flights operating, and OAT must renegotiate its contract fares if an airline changes schedule with resulting great passenger inconvenience instead of making the passenger bear the brunt of that change.

Am in hopes OAT will resolve these shortcomings in rapid fashion so I will be able to recommend this tour strongly as I have all the other OATGCT trips I have taken.

Traveler: Richard Carlson from Arlington, VA traveled on October 21, 2010

We were among the first travelers on this trip in February 2010, and this review is delayed because of computer complications. We did not take the Sri Lanka pre-trip, but we did take the GoaMumbai post trip. In short, we loved the trip, which offers glimpses of history from 79 A.D. (the Apostle Thomas) to India's independence. We had taken the northern India trip with OAT five years ago, and we felt this itinerary gave a better feel for Hindu culture, whereas the trip in the north featured a lot of Mogul sites. Our tour leader was superb, and he gave us real insight into many slices of life from rural villages to urban middle-class families. Among the most impressive sights were the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai and the palace of Mysore. But we also had some lovely accommodations, many with swimming pools, and the food was very interesting--fewer standard buffet meals than our earlier India trip and more a la carte meals with lots of help from our tour leader.


There were a few lengthy bus trips, but the bus was air conditioned and comfortable. There are many locations where shoes must be removed--but in most of them we could put a spare set of socks over our regular socks. Weather was hot and dry in the interior, hot and humid on the two coasts, but just what we wanted to escape a Midwest winter. Our one criticism is that the Goa extension was not well organized, although it did feature a very luxurious resort hotel. Our tour director from the main trip did not accompany us on the post-trip, and a local contractor in Goa was still figuring out how to satisfy our small group of 5 experienced travelers. The Mumbai stop on the post-trip was, however, very smooth, professional and rewarding, using a longtime local OAT contractor.


OAT has made a few adjustments in this trip based on exprience, and the changes all look like improvements. We recommend this trip to those who have already seen the Taj Mahal, and even to those who have not.

Traveler: Curtis Kamman from Fennville, MI traveled on February 04, 2010