About the experience

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This travel itinerary is designed to give a overarching overview of different typology of Architecture from understanding the past with stay, guided tours and workshops at a museum that is a center for living traditions and performing arts to introduction to a community that lives in a futuristic town planned on clean slate that has attracted artists, creators and architects from all over the world. Also included is a heritage walk with understanding of conservation at a tiny French quarter. 

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Highlights

• Stay at Dakshinachitra with guided tours and hands on workshops

• Stay at Auroville with visits to some of it’s most acclaimed buildings

• Heritage walk with Intach in the French town 

 

Itinerary

Day 01 | Arrive Chennai - Dakshinachitra | 25 Km | 1 hour drive

On arrival at the railway station / Airport, we shall drive to Dakshinachitra. 

 

Dakshinachitra is a center for the living traditions of art, folk performing arts, craft and architecture of India with an emphasis on the traditions of South India. Dakshinachitra has a collection of 18 authentic historical houses with contextual exhibitions in each house. All the houses bought and reconstructed at DakshinaChitra had been given for demolition by their owners. The authentic homes in a regional vernacular style are purchased, taken down, transported and reconstructed by artisans ( Stapathis) of the regions from where the houses came. 

 

On arrival at the museum, check into your rooms, later we shall meet for orientation and introductions followed with dinner and overnight stay. 

 

Day 02 | Dakshinachitra

Breakfast at your residence within the museum, later proceed for a half day guided tour of the Museum, in this tour you will get to visit all the traditional type of houses of different communities of South India. 

 

At noon we shall break for lunch followed by a hands-on workshop with the artisans. 

Evening free time to explore the museum by your self, dinner and overnight stay.   

 

Day 03 | Dakshinachitra - Mahabalipuram - Auroville

Dakshhinachitra to Mahablipuram | 25 Km | 1 hour drive

Mahabalipuram to Auroville | 95 Km | 2.5 hour drive

Breakfast at your residence, check out and we shall drive to Mahabalipuram, visit the famous monuments - the shore Temple, the rathas and the caves, later proceed with your journey to Auroville, on arrival check into your residence / hostel, a short introduction and orientation of the visits in Auroville followed by dinner and overnight stay. 

 

Day 04 | Auroville

Breakfast at the residence, later proceed for visits to buildings of Architectural prominence 

Certitude, Last School, Library 

Lunch at Solar Kitchen at Auroville, continue with visits to 

Bharat Bhavan, Savitri Bhavan, Tibetan Pavilion

Evening free to explore the visitor center, from where you can walk to the Matri Mandir viewing point. 

Return to your residence for dinner and overnight stay

 

Day 05 | Auroville - Pondycherry | 11 Km | 30 minutes drive

Breakfast at your residence, check out and drive to Pondycherry for a heritage walk with INTACH. Walk through the french town with visits to some heritage homes which have been converted to hotels. Later check into a hotel and evening at leisure to enjoy the promenade overlooking the Bay of Bengal. This promenade is now a pedestrian street in the evenings. 

 

Day 06 | Pondycherry - Chennai airport / railway station drop | 170 Km | 4 hour drive

Breakfast at hotel, check out and drive to Chennai airport / railway station for your onward journey
 

Notes

 

• This experience is specially designed and curated for aficionados or students of Architecture 

• This would be ideal for students of Architecture, or those who are looking to transition into this segment or for students who are considering to enroll themselves in this stream of education. 

• The stay, all meals right from the time you arrive at Chennai till your departure, all activities, all interactive sessions, all logistics, parking, appointments will be coordinated by us and will be included in the total costing

• All experiences, walks, activities, hands on workshops will be scheduled as per the final itinerary and all necessary permissions will be taken in advance and will be included in the costing

• The final schedule will be confirmed as per the dates and the availability of the resource person. Once dates are confirmed we shall confirm all arrangements before we proceed with advance payments

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