The history of South India covers a span
of over two thousand years during which
the region saw the rise and fall of a
number of dynasties and empires. The period
of known history of the region begins
with the ancient period during which the
great king Asoka ruled over most of the
Indian subcontinent. The dynasties of
Satavahana, Chalukya, Pallava, Rashtrakuta,
Chola, Pandya, Kakatiya and Hoysala were
at their peak during various periods of
history. These kingdoms constantly fought
amongst each other and against external
forces when Muslim armies invaded south
India. Vijayanagara empire rose in response
to the Muslim intervention and covered
the most of south India and acted as a
bulwark against Mughal expansion into
the south. When the European powers arrived
during the 16th century CE, the southern
kingdoms were not powerful enough to resist
the new threat and eventually succumbed
to British occupation. The British created
the Madras Presidency which covered most
of south India directly administered by
the British Raj, and divided the rest
into a number of dependent princely states.
After Indian independence South India
was linguistically divided into the states
of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and
Tamil Nadu.
Itinerary
Arrivals Chennai (Madras), 3 nights; coach
to Pondicherry, 2 nights; coach to Thanjavur,
3 nights; coach to Madurai, 2 nights;
coach to Periyar, 1 night; coach to Alleppey,
2 nights; coach to Cochin, fly to/departures
Mumbai (Bombay).
Chennai
Renamed Chennai in 1996, Madras was the
first East India Company settlement in
1639. Sitting astride the Bay of Bengal,
it is south India’s largest city,
most important trading center, and a repository
of traditional Indian dance, with superb
architectural monuments and unspoiled
beaches. Lectures discuss south Indian
history through the time of the British
Raj and provide an overview of classical
Indian dance. We take field trips to Chennai’s
oldest temples and historic Fort St. George,
symbol of the British Raj; to Mamallapuram
(Mahabalipuram), focusing on statues and
rock carved temples that are the oldest
extant Dravidian architecture. We also
enjoy richly expressive performances of
South Indian music and the classical dance
of India known as Bharatnatyam.
Pondicherry
Pondicherry was founded on the Bay of
Bengal by French explorer François
Martin in 1674. It has served as India's
center of French settlement as well as
a center of yoga and seeking the ideals
of peaceful community. Lectures focus
on the history and influence of the non-British
colonialists, especially the Romans, Portuguese,
and French. We also discuss the traditional
role and contemporary status of women
in India. We see the evidence of Roman
and French influence in field trips into
the Old French quarter and newer Indian
sections, as well as Arikkamedu - an ancient
archaeological site with Roman excavations.
Excursions include Pondicherry Museum,
a bustling fishing village, and Brahmin
homes within a 200 year-old village. A
French restaurant provides colonial flavor.
Thanjavur
Also known as Tanjore, this was the capital
of the great Chola Empire and is home
to its remnants, including 14-story high
Brihadisvara Temple. The Chola kings were
great patrons of the arts, resulting in
almost 100 temples being built here. Lecturers
address the Chola Empire and its contribution
to South Indian temple architecture, as
well as Tanjore folk theatre. Through
field trips and on-site lectures at local
workshops, we examine Tanjore crafts -
a vital component of the local economy.
We also take field trips to Brihadiswara
Temple and a later period Chola Temple
at Darasuram, as well as the Trichy temple
- an important center for Vishnu worship
on an island surrounded by the River Cauvery.
Activities include viewing a traditional
performance in a village folk theater.
Madurai
Madurai - "Nectar City" - is
a city of temples. The most magnificent,
Minakshi, is at the center of the old
town, with streets radiating from it to
form the shape of a lotus. One hall in
this temple has 1,000 individually carved
columns, while the lower levels contain
more than 4,000 granite sculptures. Control
of the city changed throughout history
as kingdoms rose and fell. Through lectures
and on-site field trips, we interpret
myriad rituals performed in the Meenakshi
Temple, which also contains an art museum.
On another field trip, we explore the
Thirumalai Nayakar Palace and Gandhi Museum.
Activities include viewing the elaborate
night ceremony of deities being put to
sleep at the Meenakshi Temple.
Alleppey
Surrounded by coconut plantations and
a continuous stretch of lush green paddy
fields, Alleppey is the state's center
for coir production (a burlap-like material
made from coconut shell fiber). The canals
of this pleasant market town teem with
activity: riceboats carrying essential
goods and fishermen selling their catch
from house to house. Lecturers discuss
the traditional medical science of Ayurveda
as well as Christian life in Kerala -
the state where the apostle St. Thomas,
the first Christian missionary in India,
is said to have landed. We take field
trips to local churches and journey by
boat to a backwater village to study its
unique ecosystem. We interact with villagers
as they go about their daily lives and
enjoy traditional cuisine in the homes
of our local hosts.
