Destination of the month: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Chennai
Chennai Story Telling Visiting South India? Add an additional day in Chennai to get a fascinating glimpse of the city in a Story Telling Journey that takes you through the old bazaars and narrow streets. Our Story tellers will introduce to the many unknown sights, sounds and smells on a busy day in the city.
The Spice Route Walking down the local vegetable market, we introduce you to the stars of Indian kitchen. Take in the aroma of cardamom, turmer- ic, ginger, asafetida and many other spices that are essential for Indian cooking. Pick up the vegetables yourself and watch our ex- perts play the magic in their kitchen as they give you insights about Indian cooking, spices, the different vegetables, and vegetable growing in India. On this spice route you also get to relish the special meal cooked right in front of you. Dancing Pathways Dance is quintessential to any culture or region, it tells the story of its people. Join us on this path as we take you to dance institu- tions in Chennai, introduce you to basic elements of Bharatanatyam and the varied dance gestures that can depict a complete story through simple dance movements. You also get to attune to the Tamil Cinema as a choreographer takes you through some of the modish dance routines. There are many stories to be unveiled on this tour as you get to know about dancers’ lives, their past, and of
how dance is imperative to this city. Chennai Greens Get refreshed by the sound of silence as you admire nature’s creation while exploring the fields and farms of Chennai. We take you slightly away from the city toward the countryside where you get to visit a farmer’s house, interact with their families and learn about traditional farming methods. Stories from village life, paddy fields, ancient village temples, sacred groves, and fresh air will definitely be an uplifting experience for all your senses. Bazaar Strolling The pulse of every city is in it’s marketplace. Stroll through crowded narrow lanes, chaotic traffic, noisy hawkers and majestic buildings and submerse in a fascinating history of one such bustling marketplace of Chennai. Our storytellers will walk you right into this chaos to give you a glimpse of history meet mythology meet folkore meet Georgetown. Erstwhile Blacktown, Georgetown today continues to be a busy wholesale market, selling everything under the sun, from aromatic spices, assorted nuts, intricate jewellery to simple vegetables, screwdrivers, buckets or dusters. Mystic Trail of Mylapore Ever wondered why Indian women wear a bindi on the foreheads or why nazarbattu’s are hung outside an Indian house or at the back of a truck!! This Story-walk will unveil the many fascinating stories behind many common Hindu practices and beliefs and the significance of its many customs which permeat daily life in India. You will explore several temples in the traditional neighborhood of Mylapore, observe religious rituals and visit a priest’s home. You will also learn about the symbolism of intricate kolams drawn on the thresholds of a Chennai home, placing of tulsi plant in the courtyards , and lotuses sold by flowers sellers..