Weavers in Kanchi Kudil, Chennai

The adventure begins with a visit to the famous silk weavers in Kanchipuram. As one of India’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, the town today has over 60,000 silk looms and 22 weaver cooperative societies.

Stephen Inglis in Chennai

Tour host and expert Dr. Stephen Inglis explains the history behind one of Chennai’s many stunning monuments.

This parrot tells your fortune by tapping his beak

A parrot at Dakshinachitra Heritage Museum, a living museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of South India, tells travellers’ fortunes by tapping his beak to select a card. The card is then interpreted by a fortune teller

Ancient rock face at Mahabalipuram

An ancient rock face at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, displays stories and wishes to the gods dating from the 7th to 9th century A.D. As Stephen explains, the baby is darker than the rest of the stone from many women rubbing it over the years as a fertility rite.

Stephen Inglis & Charles

Host Stephen and local Bestway tour guide Charles worked together to make the tour comfortable, educational and entertaining.

Live this photo with our guide Charles

Bestway travellers listen to guide Charles - and take time for a fun photo!

Bestway travellers enjoy some shopping time in India’s world-famous markets

Bronze casters in Swamimalai

Swamimalai’s wealth of artistic traditions includes the creation of exquisite bronze images through the process known as Cire Perdue, or the “Lost Wax” technique. Even today, traditional bronze casters, known as Sthapathis, create these images according to a fixed set of rules and guidelines laid down in the Shilpa Shastra, an ancient treatise on art.

Got caught in a procession of temple dieties. Swamimalai

Continuing their adventure in Swamimalai, the Bestway tour group is caught in a procession of temple deities.

Swamimalai a beautifully preserved Chola dynasty site - Airavatesvara temple

Stephen gives Bestway travellers a unique tour of Airavatesvara temple in Swamimalai, a beautifully preserved Chola dynasty site.

A variety of experiences!

Bestway traveller Fela Grunwald pats a buffalo. Travellers also had a chance to ride in their own buffalo-drawn cart!

This village temple site in Madurai is hundreds of years old. In three months’ time, a celebration will take place as over 50 new clay sculptures are added to the temple.

Dr Stephen Inglis with the family

Stephen has the chance to reconnect with a Madurai family he knew in the 1970s when he studied South India’s temples.

Saw many examples of fine craft. Pot making is unique in that men turn the top on the wheel and the women finish the bottom by hand. It is however a dying art

Travellers have the unique opportunity to visit a rural temple and personally connect with local artisans. In South India, pottery is an ancient but dying art. In this traditional rendition, men turn the top of the pot on the wheel and women finish the bottom by hand.

A variety of experiences!

Bestway travellers take some time to rest in between the variety of tour experiences.

Nothing was too much trouble for Charles! He could and did go above and beyond!

Local Bestway guide Charles accompanied the group throughout their time in India. “He could and did go above and beyond!” says Vicki.

Fort Saint George, Chennai

Bestway tour host Dr. Stephen Inglis also provided a lovely group shot of the entire tour crew, snapped at Fort Saint George in bustling Chennai.