Tentative Day-by-Day Schedule

We really do mean tentative...

Even under the best of circumstances, travel in India never goes exactly as planned! This schedule is intended only to suggest the range of activities we will undertake. Travel days between major cities are set, but even now we cannot say for sure exactly when the events in each locale will finally be scheduled. We will do nearly everything listed on this tentative schedule. Nonetheless, many events (lectures, site visits, etc.) will be moved to other days, and there may be occasional substitutions, additions, and even cancellations. Be ready for anything!

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DAY

DATE

PROGRAM

1

Friday
December 28

TWIN CITIES DEPARTURE. Meet (10:30 a.m.) your UMAIE representative at the United Airlines ticket counter, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Terminal 1–Lindbergh, for departure (12:21 p.m.) on United Airlines flight UA #3506 (operated by United Express) for Chicago; non-stop regional jet service (check baggage through to Chennai). Upon arrival (1:47 p.m.) at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Terminal 1, proceed to connecting departure (4:00 p.m.) on Lufthansa German Airlines flight LH #431 for Frankfurt; non-stop Boeing 747 service with meals served en route.
CHICAGO DEPARTURE. Assemble (2:00 p.m.) at the Lufthansa German Airlines ticket counter, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Terminal 1, for departure (4:00 p.m.) on Lufthansa German Airlines flight LH #431 for Frankfurt; non-stop Boeing 747 service with meals served en route (check baggage through to Chennai). Meet the rest of the group at the departure gate.

2

Saturday
December 29

CHENNAI ARRIVAL. Upon arrival (07.20) at Frankfurt International Airport, Terminal 1, proceed to connecting departure (09.55) on Lufthansa German Airlines flight LH #758 for Chennai; non-stop Airbus 343 service with meals served en route. Upon arrival (23.50) at Madras International Airport, Anna International Terminal, transfer by private motorcoach to MADRAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE (MCC) for check-in at MCC International Guest House.

3

Sunday
December 30

CHENNAI—MCC. Attend (07.30) MCC Chapel service. Welcome, UMAIE participants orientation to Chennai and MCC, and walking tour of the college and the surrounding suburb of Tambaram. Dinner (19.15) at the MCC Principal’s residence. (B,L,D)

4

Monday
December 31

CHENNAI—MCC. Morning (09.30-11.00) lecture “A brief history of the Madras Christian College” by Dr. Joshua Kallapathi, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy. Lecture (11.15-12.45) “Hinduism: an introduction” by Dr. Rajagopal, Principal, SSKV College for Women, Kancheepuram. Lunch on campus. Afternoon (14.30-16.00) lecture “Introduction to Indian classical music” by Pandit Havaldar, Bangalore, renowned maestro of Hindustani music. Attend an evening (18.30-20.00) concert by Pandit Havaldar. (B,L,D)

5

Tuesday
January 1

CHENNAI. Late morning (11.15-12.45) lecture “Christianity, Jainism and Buddism in South India” by Dr. Sathyararaj, Professor of Social Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai campus. Attend an evening (18.00-20.00) Carnatic music concert in Chennai city. (B,L,D)

6

Wednesday
January 2

CHENNAI/CHENNAI DEPARTURE. Morning (09.30-11.00) lecture “Islam: religion, art and architecture” by Dr. Adbul Rehman, Head of the Centre of Islamic Studies, University of Madras. Lecture (11.15-12.45) “South Indian music: an historical overview” by Dr. T.K. Venkatasubramaniam, Retired Chairman, Department of History, University of Delhi. Walk to the Chennai Tambaram railway station for late evening (22.30) departure on an overnight Rockfort Express train to Thanjavur, sleeping berths provided. (B,L,D)

7

Thursday
January 3

THANJAVUR ARRIVAL. Arrive (06.15) at Thanjavur railway station and transfer by private motorcoach to the IDEAL RIVER VIEW RESORT for check-in. Visit Tyagaraja sites and the Marabu Foundation in Tiruvaiyaru. Observe the art and craft of veena making. Attend an evening (18.30) Kollatam festival. Return to the resort for group dinner. (B,L,D)

8

Friday
January 4

THANJAVUR. Morning (08.30) visits to Brihadishwara Temple, Saraswati Mahal Library, Royal Palace Compound and Thanjavur Art Gallery. In the afternoon (14.30) visit the nearby town of Swamimalai to study the art of bronze sculpting. Return to the resort for dinner. (B,L,D)

9

Saturday
January 5

THANJAVUR/MADURAI. Morning (10.00) departure by private motorcoach for Madurai. Afternoon visits to the Gandhi Museum and Meenakshi Amman Temple Complex, including lunch at Murugan’s Idli Shop. Group dinner at a local restaurant, then return to Meenakshi Amman Temple for the nighttime ritual. Overnight at the HOTEL GERMANUS. (B,L,D)

10

Sunday
January 6

MADURAI/CHENNAI. Morning (10.00) transfer by local coach to Chennai. Upon arrival at the Chennai Periyar terminus, transfer by private motorcoach to the Madras Christian College for check-in at the guesthouse. (B,L,D)

11

Monday
January 7

CHENNAI. Morning (09.30) departure by private motorcoach for visits to K.M. Music Conservatory, Prasad Film Academy and the Kalakshetra Fine Arts Academy. After dinner, attend an evening (18.30) concert at the Mylapore Festival. (B,L,D)

12

Tuesday
January 8

CHENNAI—MCC. Morning (09.30-11.00) lecture “The Bharathanatiyam and Kuchipudi tradition in South Indian Dance” by Ms. Priya Karthikeyan, Director of the Natyaranjana School of Dance in Chennai. Lecture (11.15-12.45) “South Indian art and architecture” by Mr. Pradeep Chakravarty and Dr. Chitra Madhavan, Art Historians. Afternoon (14.30-16.00) lecture “Gender and Caste in India” by Prof. Miriam Samuel, Head of the Department of Social Work, MCC. (B,L,D)

13

Wednesday
January 9

CHENNAI/MAHABALIPURAM. Morning (09.30) departure by private motorcoach to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) with en route visit of Dakshinachitra. Check in at the IDEAL BEACH RESORT. Lunch at the resort. Evening (18.30) attendance at the Mamallapuram Dance Festival. Group dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D)

14

Thursday
January 10

MAHABALIPURAM. Morning (09.30) departure by private motorcoach for touring, including the Shore Temple, Mahaishasuramardini Cave and Pancha Pandava Rathas. Group dinner at the resort. Evening (18.30) attendance at the Mamallapuram Dance Festival. (B,L,D)

15

Friday
January 11

MAHABALIPURAM/CHENNAI. Depart (09.30) by private motorcoach to Chennai with an en route stop in Cholamandalam, the artist village whose artists pioneered the Madras movement in art. Participate in a workshop. Return (17.30) to MCC for check-in at the guesthouse.(B,L,D)

16

Saturday
January 12

CHENNAI—MCC. Morning (10.30) departure to the Family Life Institute in Moppedu village for service learning activities. Attend an evening (18.30) Bharathanatiyam performance by danseuse Sandhya Murali. (B,L,D)

17

Sunday
January 13

CHENNAI—MCC. Morning (10.00-11.30) lecture “Aesthetics and the concept of beauty in India” by Dr. Gowri Ramnarayan, playwright and art critic. Afternoon (12.00) arrangements at MCC, including final valedictory ceremony. Attend an evening (18.00) cultural program by the MCC students. Group dinner (21.00) hosted by the MCC. (B,L,D)

18

Monday
January 14

CHENNAI/AURANGABAD. Morning (11.00) transfer by private motorcoach, as arranged by MCC, to Chennai International Airport for departure (13.30) on Jet Airways flight 9W #488 to Mumbai; non-stop Boeing 737 service with lunch served en route (check baggage through to Aurangabad). Upon arrival (15.20) at Mumbai International Airport, proceed to connecting departure (19.20) on Jet Airways flight 9W #2511 (operated by JetKonnect) to Aurangabad; non-stop Boeing 737 service with food for purchase served en route. Upon arrival (20.10) at Aurangabad Airport, transfer by private motorcoach, with local assistant, to the LEMON TREE HOTEL for check-in. Group dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D)

19

Tuesday
January 15

AURANGABAD. Morning (08.00) departure by private motorcoach for a full-day tour of the Ajanta Caves, including boxed lunch. Group dinner at the hotel. (B,L-boxed,D)

20

Wednesday
January 16

AURANGABAD/DELHI. Morning (08.00) departure by private motorcoach for a tour of the Ellora Caves. Return to the hotel for check-out and lunch, then transfer to Aurangabad Airport for departure (16.20) on Air India flight AI #442 to Mumbai; non-stop Airbus 319 service with snack served en route. Upon arrival (18.10) at Delhi International Airport, transfer by private motorcoach, with local assistant, to THE CONNAUGHT HOTEL for check-in. Dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D)

21

Thursday
January 17

DELHI. Morning (09.00-11.00) classroom space at the hotel: UMAIE participants orientation to Delhi and north India. Depart by private motorcoach for guided tour of the National Gallery of Modern Art followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visits to the Baha’i Lotus Temple and Qutb Minar Complex. Dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

22

Friday
January 18

DELHI. Morning (09.30) departure by private motorcoach for guided tour of the National Museum followed by a walking tour of the area around the India Gate. Lunch at Lazeez Affaire Restaurant in embassy row, followed by visits to Gandhi Smriti and Delhi Crafts Museum. Group dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

23

Saturday
January 19

DELHI (AGRA). Early morning (05.00) transfer, with guide, to rail station for departure (06.00) on the Shatabdi Express train to Agra, including breakfast on board. Upon arrival (08.06) in Agra, depart by private motorcoach for touring including Fatehpur Sikri, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Lunch at a local restaurant in Agra. Evening (19.45) transfer to the train station for departure (20.35) on a train to Delhi, including dinner on board. Arrive (22.45) at Delhi train station and transfer by private motorcoach to the hotel. (B,L,D)

24

Sunday
January 20

DELHI. Morning (09.30) departure by private motorcoach for guided tour of the Jama Masjid, followed by group lunch at Karim’s. After lunch, visit Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Lakshmi Narayan Temple and walk through Connaught Place. Group farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

25

Monday
January 21

DELHI/CHICAGO. Early morning (05.30) transfer by private motorcoach, with local assistant, to Delhi International Airport, Terminal 3, for departure (09.30) on Lufthansa German Airlines flight LH #763 to Munich; non-stop Airbus 346 service with meals served en route (check baggage through to Chicago or Twin Cities). Note: you will need to present your airline passenger electronic ticket receipt to enter the airport. Upon arrival (13.30) at Munich Airport, Terminal 2, proceed to connecting departure (15.40) on Lufthansa German Airlines flight LH #434 for Chicago; non-stop Airbus 333 service with meals served en route. Upon arrival (6:50 p.m.) at Chicago O’Hare International, Terminal 5, claim baggage and clear customs. Twin Cities passengers re-check baggage before leaving customs area and proceed to Terminal 1 for connecting departure (8:39 p.m.) on United Airlines flight UA #1139 for the Twin Cities; non-stop Boeing 737 service. Arrive (9:58 p.m.) at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Terminal 1- Lindbergh.

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