Hello everyone,
We are about 4 months away from the India YAATRA. I have listed down some general travel information, the dress code for males and females as well as certain taboos when visiting temples and India in general. Kindly read the notes below and come prepared.
The retreat will be held in South India.
Date: 11 Days 10 nights (5th - 15th July 2017) - ENDS IN KUMBAKONAM
The YAATRA begins in MADURAI and will end in KUMBAKONAM - closest airport is Tiruchirappalli (Trichy).
DAY ONE - 5th July 2017
EVENING
Arrival in Madurai
DAY TWO - DAY FIVE (6TH JULY - 9TH JULY 2017)
A) MADURAI MEENAKASHI TEMPLE - SUNDRANANTHAR SIDDHAR
B) PALAMUTHIRSOLAI TEMPLE - RAMADEVAR SIDDAR / POOJA FOR KUDAMBAI SIDDHAR
C) KASI VISWANATHAR TEMPLE , Tiruparankundram Hill , Madurai – MACHA MUNI SIDDHAR
DAY SEVEN - DAY ELEVEN (10TH JULY - 15TH JULY 2017)
Visiting:
A) ADI KUMBESWARAR TEMPLE - AGASTHIAR SAMADHI
B) MAHALINGESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUVADAIMARUTHUR- NANDESWARAR SIDDAR SAMADHI.
C) SRI GOMUKTHEESWARAR TEMPLE - THIRUMOOLAR SIDDAR & NANDESWARAR SIDDHAR.
D) APATHSAHAYAR TEMPLE, THIRUPAZHANAM - NANDESWARAR SIDDAR
E) AIYARAPPAR TEMPLE, THIRUVAIYUR
F) SRI MAYURANATHAR TEMPLE – KUDAMBAI SIDDHAR
DAY ELEVEN - 15th JULY 2017.
Check out at 12.00 pm.
SOME REMINDERS
1. All participants MUST email me their travel itineraries.
2. You MUST be at Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) airport by 12.30 pm
3. If you cannot organize to follow the timing and need assistance to get to Madurai, please email me by 20TH JUNE 2017 so I can organize it for you. There will be extra charges for this.
HOTEL DETAILS
YAATRA begins on 5th July 2017
at THE GATEWAY PASUMALAI HOTEL, MADURAI
Address: #40, TPK Road, Pasumalai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625004, India
Phone No: +91 452 237 1601
GETTING THERE
TRAVELLING TO INDIA
There are several airlines which provide direct air services to India.
FIRST OPTION
IF YOU ARE FLYING FROM KUALA LUMPUR
You can use the airlines below if you are spending a few days in Kuala Lumpur before leaving for the YAATRA. You will fly to Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), India from where a bus will be provided to Madurai which is where the YAATRA begins. You are advised to be at the Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) airport at 12.30pm which is when the bus will depart to a hotel for lunch and then drive to Madurai.
KLIA - Budget Airlines - Malindo Air
- Regular Airlines - Malaysian Airlines, Air India
KLIA 2 - Air Asia
The flying time is approximately 4 hours plus from Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) to Tiruchirappalli (Trichy).
SECOND OPTION
IF YOU ARE FLYING DIRECTLY TO INDIA FROM YOUR HOME COUNTRY
For those who are flying in direct to India from your home countries, you will have two options.
OPTION 1
If your international flight flies to CHENNAI then take an internal flight to Tiruchirappalli (Trichy).
Airlines - Jet Airways, Spice Jet.
The flying time is approximately 1 hour from Chennai to Madurai. You will fly to Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), India from where a bus will be provided to Madurai which is where the YAATRA begins. You are advised to be at the Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) airport at 12.30pm which is when the bus will depart to a hotel for lunch and then drive to Madurai.
Note:
If you cannot make this timing, please contact me directly and I will make arrangements for a private car at the additional cost of MYR 520.00 approximately.
OPTION 2
You may choose to fly from Chennai to Madurai directly therefore avoiding the bus ride from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy). This is definitely a better option but please bear in mind that you will have to buy a ONE WAY flight ticket from Chennai to Madurai and at the end of your trip, another ONE WAY flight ticket from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) to Chennai.
YAATRA
ENDS ON 15th July at Kumbakonam.
Airport: TIRUCHIRAPPALI
It takes about 2 hours to reach the Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) airport.
Those who are flying Air Asia @ 17.05 (5.05pm)
You must leave Kumbakonam at 12.00 pm as it takes 2 hours to arrive at Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) and you need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight.
For those who are flying Air Asia @ 23.59 (11.59 pm) and Malindo 23:25 (11.25pm).
Shopping and sight-seeing while you spend the day before your late flight. The bus will drop you in town and then pick you up at 9.30 pm to drop all of you at the airport.
For those who are flying the next day - 16th July 2017
Kindly make your own hotel reservations and transportation arrangement with the hotel at your leisure.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR WOMEN
Please take note that temples and samadhi shrines are sacred places in the Hindu culture and therefore women who are going through their moontime are not allowed to enter the temple.
ATTIRE
The South Indian High Court has issued a ruling regarding appropriate attire to use while visiting temples. Please follow the guidelines, failure to do so may result in the temple authorities not allowing you entry. Also, please bear in mind that some temples are quite orthodox and may turn away western visitors especially if not dressed in the right manner as it reflects the respect held for the temple and worship.
The dress code guidelines for men and women are below.
a) Men: Veshti/Long pants and shirt/t-shirts (No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed)
b) Women: Punjabi suits with shawls/Sarees (No skirts or leggings, jeans, pants above the ankle or sleeveless tops nor any revealing tops allowed)
All the attire below are not allowed:
COURSE FEE
The course fee as below:
5h - 15th July 2017
a) MYR 9980.00 full board based on twin sharing
b) RM 11980.00 full board based on single occupancy .
As usual this includes full room and board & transport from 5th – 15th only.
The fee excludes temple entrance fees and archanai fees. prayer lights and flowers as well as all pooja arrangements in the temple which will be minimal.
For those who have confirmed your participation, the next step to make a deposit. This is to ensure your place is booked and for us to place the deposit with the hotel.
Kindly remit a minimum of 60% of the course fee latest by 30th April 2017.
Full payment should be made by 15th June 2017.
FORM & AGREEMENT
Kindly ensure that you fill up & submit this Registration Form & Agreement below in order to confirm your place for the Retreat.
https://zazen.wufoo.eu/forms/z1kn34sh137wz9j/
Please note that the Form MUST BE submitted (online) before any payment is made even if you have already informed us earlier of your participation.
If any payment is made before the submission of Registration Form above, your payment will not be processed but will be returned to you less any bank charges incurred.
Payment can be deposited into the following account via telegraphic transfer.
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Zazen Worldwide Sdn Bhd |
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Account No: 5127 5452 5740 |
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Bank Information: |
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MAYBANK BERHAD |
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B01 & B02, SUNWAY GIZA MALL |
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2, JALAN PJU 5/14, KOTA DAMANSARA |
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47810 PETALING JAYA |
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SELANGOR, MALAYSIA. |
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Bank Tel No: +603 6140 6451 |
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Swift code: MBBEMYKL |
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Office Address: |
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Zazen Worldwide Sdn Bhd |
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Address: No 28-2, Jalan PJU 5/15 |
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Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara |
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47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia |
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Tel No: +603-6157-7746 |
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Kindly fax or email the bank in slips to me at +603-6156-3781 (fax) or niranjana@dhyanvimal.com. Receipts will be issued upon clearance of payment.
Once again, we look forward to hosting and welcoming you.
Thank you
Warm regards.
Niranjana