| 7.30 am |
Visit Kodanad Elephant Training Centre to see the morning bathing of elephants in the river (time between 7.30 and 9.00). Entry Fee: Rs. 3 per person. There is a zoo where the animals are kept in a very bad state (the cages are small and dirty). There is also possibility of an elephant ride Rs. 200 for 4 people. |
| Breakfast : Carry packed food / fruits and water or visit
Thani Illam, a gruhasthali – heritage home – project for a typical Kerala Vegetarian cuisine (one day advance booking is required – Rs. 50 per person) |
| 9. am |
Cross river Periyar by a country boat to reach Malayattoor church – where St: Thomas, one the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ believed to have come for meditation in the year AD 52. The altar is said to be built in the year AD 900. |
| 10 am |
Come back to Kodanad, take taxi to visit Kallil temple – earlier Jain temple, now Devi temple under a big granite stone standing like an umbrella to cover the entire shrine. (There are steps to climb and may find it difficult for elderly people with walking difficulties.)
|
| 11 am |
Visit Iringole Kaavu, a Devi temple inside a virgin forest near a town. The forest is protected by the people to escape from the curses of the goddess who is said to be
very powerful (Vana Durga – Devi in Forest). |
| 12 noon |
Visit an ayurvedic centre to see the facilities and interacting with the staff / inmates there. It is situated on the banks of River Periyar. They have nice herbal garden.
|
|
Ayurvedic Lunch / Lunch from a restaurant in Kalady.
Rs. 100 per person if from the ayurvedic centre. |
| 2 pm |
Visit Kalady vegetable market, herbal medical shop, spices shop etc. |
| 3 pm |
Visit Yoga Centre and interact with the Yogacharyan on subjects related with Yoga / Meditation and Indian spirituality |
| 4 pm |
Visit Sringeri Matt – birth place of Adi Sankara, (AD 788 – 820) the great advaitha philosopher. This place also welcomes people from any religion / country. There is a lamp (ever lastingly lit) in the temple.
There is a Veda Paadhasaala (Vedic recital school) adjacent to the Matt. |
| 5 pm |
Visit Sree Rama Krishna Ashram which has a nice meditation hall. People from any religion can spend time there to sit idle / rest for a while / meditate. There is also a nice bookshop with many books on Indology (Indian subjects – philosophy, religion, Yoga, Ayurveda, astrology, Veda, Vedanta, pictures of Gods / Goddesses and other artifacts for purchase). There is bhajans (devotional songs) every day in the evening. |
| Or |
| 4.30–5.30
pm |
(Wed and Thu) Classical Dance – Sree Sankara School of Dance to see the classes going on for the students/children. Entry is free (but can contribute donation for the programmes / projects of the school)
- (Mon, Tues, Fri) Can organize special demonstration of classical dance at an entry fee of Rs 500 per person. Confirmation is required, one day in advance. |
| 6 pm |
Sree Krishna Temple (only Hindus are allowed to go into the temple) |