Embark on a captivating journey to South India and Sri Lanka with TE Tours in February 2025. Explore the majestic Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, South India, and the serene Dambulla Cave Temple complex in Sri Lanka. This tour offers an unforgettable experience, combining the rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and ancient wonders of these two neighboring regions. Join us for an adventure that celebrates the beauty and spiritual grandeur of these extraordinary destinations.
South India and Sri Lanka… Tale of Two Temples…
Experience two extraordinary World Heritage Sites: the spectacular Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, South India, and the striking Dambulla Cave Temple complex in Sri Lanka.
One is a vibrant Tamil Hindu temple, the other a serene Buddhist sanctuary.
One is a vibrant Tamil Hindu temple, the other a serene Buddhist sanctuary.
Meenakshi Temple
Sri Meenakshi in Madurai dates back to the 14th century; colourful, atmospheric and above all a place alive with everyday living and being. Meenakshi is an avatar of the Hindu goddess Paravati, Lord Shiva’s consort. It is colossal and has 14 gopurams, or gateways towers… colourful stacks that reach up to 50m. Each covered in multi-coloured figures recounting legendary scenes from Hindu texts. Inside are numerous sculptured pillared halls, like the vast and most famous Thousand Pillar Hall (Ayirakkal) with its brightly coloured ceiling. Each evening a procession follows the vast corridors led by the temple’s brightly adorned Asian elephant, which for a fee gives blessings with a touch of its massive trunk to visitors.
Dambulla Cave Temple
Dambulla in Sri Lanka is a complex of five caves situated under a vast overhanging rock on top of a hill and has been a religious site since first century BC. Apart from 150 Buddha statues, every centimetre of cave wall and ceiling is adorned with colourful paintings of patterns and scenes from Buddha’s life.
Known as one of the largest and best-preserved complexes of rock paintings in the world. One cannot help but to be touched by the quiet and serenity inside the caves… a truly uplifting experience for the visitor.
These two temples are not just religious sites but monumental works of art, showcasing human creativity and leaving visitors in awe of their stupendous beauty and scale.
These two temples are not just religious sites but monumental works of art, showcasing human creativity and leaving visitors in awe of their stupendous beauty and scale.
Apart from these two treasures our small group tour to South India and Sri Lanka in February 2025 combines the various marvels of two neighbouring destinations – from breathtaking nature to man’s incredible ingenuity, tropical coastlines, tea and spice plantations, rock hewn beach temples, the world’s most beautiful train ride, and the serene backwaters of Kerala…
Don’t miss your chance to experience South India and Sri Lanka with TE Tours. Contact Club Travel Tyger Valley at 021 914 2265 or visit www.smallgrouptours.co.za and confirm your place on this unforgettable adventure today.