Activities in Tamil Nadu
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Coaker’s Walk
Assuming it’s not cloaked in opaque mist, the valley views along paved Coaker’s Walk are superb. There’s no plastic allowed on the pathway, a rule flagrantly flaunted by locals, and a small observatory with telescope at the southern end. Start near Greenlands Youth Hostel or Villa Retreat – where stained glass in the nearby Church of South India (CSI) is stunning in the morning light – and the stroll takes all of five minutes. The 5km lake circuit is pleasant in the early morning when you can count the kingfishers before the tourist traffic starts.
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French Quarter
The best way to see the slightly tattered heritage buildings and broad streets of the French Quarter (bounded roughly by NSC Bose St, SV Patel Rd and Goubert Ave) is to take Puducherry's heritage walk. Start at the north end of Goubert Ave, the seafront promenade, and wander south, past the French consulate and the Gandhi Statue.
Turn right at the town hall on Rue Mahe Labourdonnais, past the shady Bharathi Park. From there it's a matter of pottering south through Dumas, Romain Rolland and Suffren Sts. Focus Books sells heritage walking trail brochures.
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Queen of the Hills Tourist Guides Association
The senior guides of the long-standing Queen of the Hills Tourist Guides Association - Seniappan, Sheriff and Mohan - are knowledgeable, affable and good English-language speakers. You'll usually find them around the bus station, or phone and someone will come to find you. Day walks meander through tea plantations, hills, Toda villages and forest, and you'll usually catch a local bus back at the end of the day. Overnight treks staying in a local village can also be arranged.
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Mudumalai Day Trip
The tourist office in the town centre can put you in touch with agencies that run day trips to Mudumalai National Park via the Pykhara Dam (minimum 15 people) starting at 09:30 and returning at 19:00, with just a quick spin through the park. Trips to Coonoor and surrounds are also possible.
A better alternative is to hire a taxi for the day and go as you please. The rates are set at around Rs450 for a four-hour trip around Ooty, or around Rs1100 for a full day.
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Isha Yoga Center
This ashram, in Poondi, 30km west of Coimbatore, is also a yoga retreat and place of pilgrimage. The centrepiece is a multi-religious temple housing the Dhyanalingam, said to be unique in that it embodies all seven chakras of spiritual energy. Visitors are welcome to the temple to meditate, or to take part in one- to two-week Isha yoga courses, for which you should register in advance.
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Ashram
This ashram, in Poondi, 30km west of Coimbatore, is also a yoga retreat and place of pilgrimage. The centrepiece is a multi-religious temple housing the Dhyanalingam, said to be unique in that it embodies all seven chakras of spiritual energy. Visitors are welcome to the temple to meditate, or to take part in one- to two-week Isha yoga courses, for which you should register in advance.
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Horse Riding
Alone or with a guide, you can hire horses outside the boathouse on the north side of the lake; the rides mostly consist of a short amble along bitumen. Prices are set, from Rs 50 for a short ride to Rs150for an hour, which takes you partway around the lake. The horses at the boathouse looked a lot better cared for than the mangy ponies hanging around the bus stand.
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Sightseeing Tours
The Puducherry tourist office runs half-day sightseeing tours that take you to the water sports complex at Chunnambar, Hanuman temple, Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Full-day tours cover the same area plus the botanical gardens, paper factory, sacred Heart Church and a couple of Hindu temples; both tours need a minimum of six people to operate.
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Jayalakshmi Fine Arts Academy
Jayalakshmi Fine Arts Academy is an established place with classes in bharatanatyam (dance), singing, veena (Indian stringed instrument), tabla (drums) and a range of other musical instruments. Private tuition fees start at Rs200 per hour for a minimum of five hours, and there’s a one-off registration fee (Rs350).
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Racecourse
Ooty's Racecourse dominates the lower part of the hill station between Charing Cross and the lake. The horse-racing season runs from mid-April to June and on race days the town is a hive of activity; it's an event impossible to miss if you're in town. Outside the season, the 2.4km racecourse is little more than an overgrown paddock.
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Baywatch
Tired of temples? This impressive amusement park is a great way to spend the day, especially if you’ve got kids in tow. The entry ticket gives unlimited access to a wave pool with water slides (women should swim in at least knee-length shorts and shirt for propriety).
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Krishna
There are numerous places offering massage, reiki, yoga and ayurvedic practices. Sessions cost around Rs350 for 30 to 45 minutes. Krishna is recommended by both male and female travellers, as is Kamaraj Ayurvedic, which can be contacted through Moonrakers restaurant.
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sightseeing tours
The tourist office organises half-day sightseeing tours that include the Tirumalai Nayak Palace and Gandhi Memorial Museum, and finish at the Sri Meenakshi Temple. Tours start at 07:00 and 15:00 and cost around Rs125 per person (minimum six people).
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Boathouse
Rowboats can be rented from the boathouse by the artificial lake (created in 1824). Prices start from Rs60 for a two-seater pedal boat (30 minutes) and go up to Rs250 for a 15-seater motorboat (20 minutes).
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Hi!Tours
Hi!Tours runs bicycle tours to sights like the Tiger Cave. Tours run from 8am to 2pm and include guide and lunch. Hi! Tours also organises day trips to Kanchipuram and Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.
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Boating
Rowboats can be rented from the boathouse by the artificial lake (created in 1824). Prices start from Rs60 for a two-seater pedal boat (30 minutes) and up to Rs250 for a 15-seater motorboat (20 minutes).
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MGM Dizzee World
You can ditch the inimitable cultural heritage of one of India’s oldest states for a day at one of India’s largest amusement parks, MGM Dizzee World, just north of the Crocodile Bank.
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Ayush
Go for a 45-minute abhyangam (oil treatment; Rs650) or an extended ayurvedic treatment at Ayush. It also offers one-hour yoga classes (Rs150) or 21-day courses (Rs1200).
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Sri Aurobindo Handmade Paper Factory
Fine handmade paper is sold here, and you can ask at the counter about tours of the factory. There’s a wider choice of goods at Auroboutique near the ashram; all sales support ashram work.
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International Centre for Yoga Education & Research
Also known as the Ananda Ashram, this renowned centre conducts annual six-month yoga teacher-training courses and 10-day summer courses.
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Ayurvedic Holistic Healing Centre
Performs detox services, back procedures, varna point massage, skin treatment and offers ayurvedic massages and yoga courses.
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Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka
Dharma talks, meditation and special pujas (offerings or prayers) on full-moon and other days.
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Sri Chakra
Sri Chakra offers ayurvedic massage as well as yoga sessions (Rs150) at 7am.
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Prana Ayurvedic Massage
Ayurvedic massage, steam bath and yoga classes. Inquire at Satsanga restaurant.
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