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JEWISH RENAISSANCE INDIA TOUR
Preliminary Programme
Tuesday 8 – Tuesday 22 February 2011
 We shall be exploring the Jewish heritage of the West Coast
of India, concentrating on the vestiges of the three major
Jewish groups and on personal contact with the members of
the communities. But no less important are the wonderful sights
of the areas we visit and the unparalled experience that is
India today.
This is not a kosher tour but those of you who have visited
India before will know that excellent and varied vegetarian
dishes are everywhere available.
Our leaders will be Cheryll and Yvan Berrebi of Sherpa Travel
who led our unforgettable trip to Morocco. India is Cheryll
and Yvan’s great love and they have led numerous tours
there for friends and friends of friends who often go with
them again and again
Preliminary Schedule
Tuesday 8th: Fly from Heathrow 8.30am via
Air India. Arrival in Mumbai and transfer to hotel.
 Wednesday
9th: Leave early for Alibaug by boat. This is a beautiful
island, the holiest place for the Bene Israel, where, it is
said, they originally landed in India and where the prophet
Elija is supposed to have taken off for the stars. A few Jews
still live there.
Thursday 10th: Relaxing by the sea as well
as visiting the synagogues in Alibaug. Return to Mumbai late
evening.
Friday 11th: Travel by boat from the Gateway
of India to Elephanta Island to learn about the origins of
Hinduism and Hindu mythology – embodied by rock-cut
temples dating back to the 5th century. Afternoon: possible
visit to the Ort school. Shabbat dinner with the community.
Saturday 12th: Synagogue for those who wish.
Sight-seeing opportunities include the Prince of Wales museum
with its outstanding collection of Indian miniatures, Victorian
Mumbai, the visit to the enormous Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat area
where all Mumbai’s laundry is handled, and, for antiques,
the Chor Bazaar, (‘thieves’ market).
Sunday 13th: Final sightseeing. Leave Mumbai
by coach for Pune.
 Monday
14th: Morning at the Deep Griha association in the
shanty town of Pune which helps local people to improve their
lives and for which Sherpa Travel have helped to start a crêche.
Afternoon visit to the Bhagdadi synagogue. Built by the Sassoons,
it perfectly reproduces a 19th century north English church.
Then to the Bene Israel Synagogue with, hopefully, a meeting
with the community.
Bus back to Mumbai.
Tuesday 15th: Flight to Trivandrum where
we visit a typical south Indian synagogue and the Puthe Maliga
Palace Museum, a 200-year-old maharajas' palace. This is a
wonderful example of Keralan architecture and introduction
to the private lives of Royal families. Overnight in Kovalam.
Wednesday 16th: In and around Kovalam –
a beautiful resort.
Thursday 17th: Private tourist boat from
Quilon to Alleppey along the backwaters. A peaceful way to
observe, during a six-hour trip, life on the tiny islands
and in the mainland villages. A glimpse of another world.
Then on by coach to Kochi where we spend three nights.
 Friday
18th: Excursion to Parur and Chennamangalam, the
original home of the Kerala Jews and where the oldest synagogues
are to be found. We will return in time for a Shabbat service
in the Pardessi synagogue – if this is taking place.
(There is now only a handful of Jews living in Cochin and
services are not generally held but Chabad have been invited
to take this over. We will investigate nearer to our visit.)
Saturday 19th: Visit to Mattancherry ‘Dutch’
Palace, with its splendid murals and artefacts of the Maharajah’s
family, watching the fishermen using the Chinese fishing nets,
St Francis Church. Evening of Kathakali dance in Fort Cochin.
Sunday 20th: Stroll round Jew Town, including
a visit to the Pardessi synagogue (if not possible on Friday
evening). Shopping opportunities. End of afternoon flight
to Mumbai.
Monday 21st: Mumbai and Modern India. Sight-seeing
and shopping. Evening departure for airport from hotel (four
rooms retained for use by group). Leave via Air India 2.40am
on 22nd.
Accommodation
We will stay in 4-star hotels or the equivalent, and have
looked for comfortable hotels of character. For our three
nights in Cochin we will be staying in the Tower House Hotel,
where we have booked all the rooms – so it will be like
a private house party in exotic and spacious surroundings.
There are only 13 rooms so here there will be no single room
availability.
We shall recommend room-mates to those who wish to share
– based on what information you can give us. Those on
JR tours usually get on wonderfully! We are planning a preliminary
get-together in early December where we hope to have an introduction
India by a member of the Koder family (the royalty of Indian
Jewry) now living in Manchester.
Preliminary cost
£1,800 per person, inclusive of internal travel (flights,
coach and boat), transfers, hotels (including buffet breakfast),
two meals with communities, tips, guides and entrance fees.
The supplement for a single room (available other than in
Cochin) is £825. All participants need to be subscribers
to Jewish Renaissance. Any surplus funds from the trip will
be donated to Jewish Renaissance.
We were booking flights on Air India, at £455 return,
inclusive of taxes, on 10/08/2010. We will get the best deal
available at the time of booking.
Extension
 Eight
Day extension to Rajestan
This tour, via minibus, staying at heritage hotels where
available, includes Shekavati with its painted walls in the
havelis of the ancient Marwari tradesmen, one of the ancient
marvels of India; Jaipur, the pink city, where the Maharajah
still lives; Fatehpur Sikri, the ghost city built by Akbar,
the great Moghol, and Agra, city of the wondrous Taj Mahal,
the Red Fort, and other marvels. The cost of this is still
being negotiated by Cheryll and Yvan but will be a maximum
of £950. We return from Delhi to London on 1 March.
Booking
Please email janet@jewishrenaissance.org.uk
in the first instance.
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