Flavors · India
Pongal, the Harvest Festival
Pongal, the festival of the rice harvest and of thanksgiving: four of the most colourful days in South India, around…
Mahabalipuram
On the ground · India
Pondicherry, a Little Bit of France in India
On the Coromandel coast, Pondicherry — “Pondy” — has a unique atmosphere and charm, very different from the rest of…
On the ground · India
Visiting Auroville, the City of Dawn
Auroville, “the City of Dawn”, is for “The Mother” the place of a universal community life — “where men and…
On the ground · India
Visiting the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry
In Pondicherry’s old French quarter, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a haven of meditation. Set on Marine Street in a…
On the ground · India
Ayurvedic Massage at Mahābalipuram
After an Ashtanga Yoga class, treat yourself to an Ayurvedic massage. Find peace of body and soul through the age-old…
On the ground · India
What to See in Mahābalipuram
Mahābalipuram — today Mamallapuram, “the city of Mahā Bali” — is a small town in Tamil Nadu, 60 km south…
On the ground · India
Gingee, Forts off the Beaten Track
Off the tourist trail, Gingee is a spectacular, almost-abandoned site: four old forts perched on hills, in an extraordinary granite…
On the ground · India
Kanchipuram, One of India’s Seven Sacred Cities
Kanchipuram, “the golden city” (from kanchi, gold, and puram, city), is one of India’s seven sacred cities. Former capital of…
Local culture · India
The Mamallapuram Dance Festival
Each year-end, Mahābalipuram hosts one of the most important festivals of classical Indian dance. It runs from 26 December to…
On the ground · India
Tirukalikundram
Tirukalikundram, 17 km from Mahābalipuram, is a village dedicated to Śiva, known for its fruit, vegetable and flower market at…