Places we will visit…5)Udaipur

PHOTOS Taj Lake Palace udaipur

Lake Pichola has two islands, Jag Niwas and the Jag Mandir. This lake is 4 km long and 3 km wide, originally built by Maharana Udai Singh II. There are many ghats, like the bathing and washing ghats, which can be approached through boats from the City Palace of Udaipur (Bansi Ghat). In the heart of the lake the Lake Palace stands, which is now converted into a heritage palace hotel. The lake remains fairly shallow even during heavy rains, and gets dry easily in times of severe drought.

Founded by the legendary Maharana Udai Singh in 1559 A.D. on the banks of Lake Pichola, Udaipur is one of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan. Also known as the city of lakes, Udaipur gleams in its abundance of lakes, marble palaces and picturesque gardens.

A legendary Haveli standing on a peaceful island "Bramhapuri" on the western Banks of Pichola Lake, Overlooking the magnificent city palace. The oldest jagdish Temple ,Bathing Ghats and Embankments. West Zone culture Center of India which happens to be historical Bagore ki haveli is also situated on the opposite ghat. Can we visit for a drink…the Taj Lake Palace Udaipur 

Places we will visit…4) Mumbai

PHOTOS Juju Beach, Juju Beach, Mumbai, Indian Town Mubai.

We’ll be staying near Juhu Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Mumbai. Many tourists make it a point to visit the beach when they come to Mumbai, as it is a relatively uncrowded free space in the city, although it does get crowded in the evenings and weekends. Juhu is a suburban neighbourhood of West Mumbai. It is famous for its sprawling beach Juhu Beach. It is surrounded by Arabian Sea in the west, Versova in the North, Santacruz and Vile Parle in the east and Khar to the South. Juhu is one of the most affluent areas of Mumbai and many Bollywood celebrities live here too.It is famous for its Mumbai street food, notably bhelpuri, pani puri, chaats, and of course pav bhaji. The food stands are relatively hygienic. Italian food is also very popular in Juhu with many restaurants like Little Italy, Penne, Don Giovanni, Mangi Ferra. On the southern end of Juhu beach there are many luxury hotels and apartments. Juhu beach is also a very popular place for watching aircraft as planes from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport usually takeoff directly over the beach towards the sea. At the north end of Juhu Beach there is a place called Gandhi Gram. During the summer vacations, children often go and play games such as cricket, football, basketball at the Juhu Beach. 

Places we will visit…3) Goa

PHOTOS 1. Goa beaches. 2. Goa Beaches. 3. Map of Goa. 4.Casket of St Francis Xavier. 5.Basilica of Born Jesus 7. Our Lady of the Mount Chapel, Velha. 8. The Roayal Chapel of St Anthony. 9.Church of our Lady of France between Panaji and Velha. 10. Church and Convent of St Monica. 11. Church of St Monica 12.Panaji church of Immaculate Conception

Goa's history goes back to 20,000–30,000 years. The rock art engravings exhibit earliest traces of human life in India. The state of Goa is famous for its excellent beaches, churches, and temples. The Bom Jesus Cathedral, Fort Aguada.

GOA HAS TWO WORLD HERITAGE SITES: the Bom Jesus Basilica and churches and convents of Old Goa..The Basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, regarded by many Catholics as the patron saint of Goa (the patron of the Archdiocese of Goa is actually the Blessed Joseph Vaz). The relics are taken down for veneration and for public viewing, as per the prerogative of the Church in Goa. The last exposition was held in 2004.

SANCTUARY OF BLESSED JOSEPH VAZ in Sancoale, Pilar monastery which holds novenas of Venerable Padre Agnelo Gustavo de Souza from November 10 to 20 November yearly.

MARIAN APPARITION at the Church of Saints Simon and Jude at Batim Ganxim, near Pilar, where a number of Goans and non resident Goans visit.

STATUE OF THE BLEEDING JESUS on the Crucifix at the Santa Monica Convent in Velha Goa. There are a number of churches , like the Baroque styled Nixkollounk Gorb-Sombhov Saibinnich Igorz (Church of the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception) in Panjim, the Gothic styled Mater Dei (Dêv Matechi Igorz/ Mother of God Church in Saligao and each church having its own style and heritage, besides Kopelam/ Irmidi (Chapels).

Places we will visit…2) Kochi ,Kerala

PHOTOS Kochi by the sea, Guruvayoor elephants, Jewish Synagogue, St Francis Church (Fort Kochi)  , Santa Cruz Basilica (Fort Kochi)  

St. Thomas Church, Malayattoor  The famous St. Thomas church is situated at Malayattoor near Kalady. Malayattoor means the meeting place of land, mountain and river. Set in the scenic western ghats at an elevation of 1250m above sea level, the journey to the church is truly heavenly. It is believed that the footprints seen on a rock near the church belongs to St. Thomas the Apostle, who came here in 52 AD as a missionary setting up many churches in Kerala. The present day church was built in 900 AD.

Guruvayoor  The elephant sanctuary, the only one of its kind in the world, 3kms north of Guruvayoor is home to around 50 elephants. The sanctuary is at Punnathur Kotta, which used to be the palace of the Punnathur rajas (kings).

Jewish Synagogue, Jew Town, Mattancherry The synagogue, built in 1568, is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here. It is located near the Dutch Palace.

St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi  It is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. On his 3^rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried in the St. Francis Church. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal. In spite of that, his burial spot inside the church has been clearly marked out.
Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi  The original church, situated in Fort Kochi, was built by the Portuguese in 1505 and named as a cathedral in 1558. The British colonists destroyed the cathedral in 1795. The current structure was built in 1905 and raised to the status of a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

ShoppingThere are many things that one can buy from Cochin, the list would probably be topped by handicraft, spices and nuts. Handicrafs include a wide range of products made from coir, wood, shells, brass, ivory and sandalwood located on MG Road. The entire stretch of MG Road is lined with shops selling a variety of things from clothes, handicrafts and jewellery.

Places we will visit…1) Chennai

PHOTOS Clockwise from top: Chennai Central, Marina Beach, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Santhome Basilica, Bharata Natyam recital.

PHOTO The Ripon Building, commissioned in 1913

PHOTO "The Incredulity of St Thomas" by Caravaggio

THE CITY STATS  We arrive in Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal, South India. According to 2011 census, the city had 4.68 million residents making it the sixth most populous city in India. As of 2012, the city is India's second largest exporter of information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) services. A major part of India's automobile industry is based in and around the city thus earning it the nickname "Detroit of India"

HISTORY The Portuguese first arrived in 1522 and built a port called São Tomé after the Christian apostle, St. Thomas, who is believed to have preached in the area between 52 and 70 AD.

The name Chennai is a shortened form of Chennapattanam, the name of the town that grew around Fort St. George, which was built by the English in 1639.Chennapattanam was named after the Chenna Kesava Perumal Temple; the word chenni in Tamil means face, and the temple was regarded as the face of the city. The city's colonial name, Madras, is believed to have been derived from Madraspattinam, a fishing village north of Fort St. George. It’s possibility is that the village's name came from the prominent Madeiros family of Portuguese origin, which consecrated the Madre de Deus Church in the Santhome locality of Chennai in 1575.The British East India Company arrived and the establishment of Fort St. George in 1644. The British defended several attacks from the French colonial forces, and from the kingdom of Mysore.

ADMINSTRATION Chennai city is governed by the Chennai Corporation (formerly "Corporation of Madras"), which was established in 1688. It is the oldest municipal corporation in India and the second oldest corporation in the world.

ST. THOMAS born 1^st century AD in Galilee and died 21.12.0072 at Mylapore,Chennai,  India, is traditionally believed to have sailed to India in 52AD to spread the Christian faith among the Jews, the Jewish diaspora present in Kerala at the time. He is supposed to have landed at the ancient port of Muziris (which became extinct in 1341 AD due to a massive flood which realigned the coasts) near Kodungalloor. He then went to Palayoor (near present-day Guruvayoor), which was a Hindu priestly community at that time. He left Palayoor in AD 52 for the southern part of what is now Kerala State, where he established the Ezharappallikal, or "Seven and Half Churches". These churches are at Kodungallur, Kollam, Niranam (Niranam St.Marys Orthodox Church, Nilackal (Chayal), Kokkamangalam, Kottakkayal (Paravoor), Palayoor (Chattukulangara) and Thiruvithancode Arappally – the half church. The Acts of Thomas identifies his second mission in India with a kingdom ruled by King Mahadwa, one of the rulers of a 1st-century dynasty in southern India. It is most significant that, aside from a small remnant of the Church of the East in Kurdistan, the only other church to maintain a distinctive identity is the Mar Thoma or “Church of Thomas” congregations along the Malabar Coast of Kerala State in southwest India. According to the most ancient tradition of this church, Thomas evangelized this area and then crossed to the Coromandel Coast of southeast India, where, after carrying out a second mission, he died near Madras.

Near Chennai (Madras) in India stands a small hillock called St. Thomas Mount, where the Apostle is said to have been killed in AD 72 (exact year not established). Also to be found in Chennai is the Dioceses of Saint Thomas of Mylapore to which his mortal remains were supposedly transferred and his burial place was situated in the right hand chapel of the church or house known after his name. No archaeological evidence support these claims though.

 

8-Seater Hybrid MPV - Made in India...

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Email from Craig

Sent: Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:55 p.m.
Subject: INDIAN VISA

NO PANIC -I have decided that it would be prudent to get Visas for as many of us as possible before we leave NZ .  I am concerned that with 11 people fronting up to the counter at Chennai we may clog up the process and be caught in the airport for 2 hours!  The application process is quite simple and once received I can take all passports into the embassy with the signed docs.

So before the end of October please go to https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/indianVisaReg.jsp and fill out the application online.  See attached template with necessary additions (signatures, departure port, hotels, destinations, entry port etc etc.  Any questions just email me.

Once you have filled out the online application, glue one passport photo onto it and paperclip another.  Put Passport and signed application and courier to me, by end first week of November