Community volunteering holiday in India

Following the tsunami in 2004, we lent our support to the devastated communities in South India. 3 years on, we continue to support the school in Pudupattinam through Hope Worldwide. This tour offers the opportunity for us to get to know the community we support better and make a very real contribution to their village.

Schoolwork in Pudupattinam: From Chennai, we head to Mamallapuram on the Bay of Bengal. We spend 4 days working with the villagers of Pudupattinam on a variety of projects to help build a shelter for the local fishermen and improve the school environment by painting and planting trees. Pre-tsunami there was no school in the village; now over 120 children attend classes.

During our stay we'll have plenty of time to interact with the local community and learn a bit of their way of life. We'll also have time during our stay to visit the magnificent Shore Temples at Mamallapuram; dramatically situated on the windswept beach.

Pondicherry & Madurai: A scenic drive south brings us to the French colonial town of Pondicherry where we visit the famous Sri Aurobindo Ashram; home to over 2,000 devotees. In Tanjore we explore the incredible Chola Temples, including the Brihadisvara Temple, a World Heritage Site. We also stop at Tiruchirapalli to see the great Rock Fort, then continue to Madurai with its soaring towers. Here we mix with the swirling crowds who pack into the Hall of 1000 Pillars within the Meenakshi Temple; a place of unceasing festive pandemonium. Our final visit is to Kanchipuram; one of Hinduism's 7 holiest cities and the silk capital of the south.

Price includes 13 nights hotel, 1 overnight train, 12 breakfasts & 4 lunches. Transport is by bus and train. Group size is approx 14-18, plus tour leader, project staff and some local guides.