Pilgrimage Tours - Apostles & Evangelists

Season : October to May Best Time: November to March
Duration : 12 Days

Apostles & Evangelists
Christianity has thrived in India for many centuries. With 450 years of Portuguese rule in Goa, the British, French and Dutch colonial rulers, the religion spread very widely. However spear-heading Christianity in India was the ardent efforts of the arrival of the two Apostles St. Thomas and St. Francis of Assisi, and the explorer Vasco Da Gama. It is even believed that the Messiah walked on the mountain of Kashmir. Another religion which thrived for centuries is Judaism in the South and Bengal. India is a secular country and respects the religious belief of her natives. The strict norms and caste system among the Hindu upper classes, has primarily been the cause of the widespread of Christianity and Buddhism among Hindus. The tribal folks of Bihar and North East have been highly influenced by the visiting Christian missionaries and evangelists who have given them education and taught them self respect in society. With the arrival of Christian missionaries, important educational centers came up all over India, run by the Jesuit Priests and Irish Christian Brothers. Some of these schools located in the picturesque hill station and big metropolitan cities are affiliated to Christian missions in UK, Europe and USA and receive a sizeable grant from overseas to run the institutions with independent funds. Subsequently seminaries and monasteries came up to teach Catechism theology for priesthood and more and more young men & women joined to become priests & nuns, who later devote their entire life for the Christian cause and teach in the various Christian institutions run by the missionaries.

Some of the main segregations of the Christian Churches in India are Roman Catholics, Protestants, Anglican, Orthodox Syrian, Marthomites, Seventh Day Adventists, Methodists, Friends of Quakers, Salvation Army etc.


For bookings with sufficient prior notice, we will be happy to arrange meetings with members of Eucharistic Congress Establishment or an audience with the Archbishop of a Diocese.


This tour will take you to some of the Oldest Christian establishment in India which have existed for centuries.
Day 01

 Arrive Delhi. Meet on arrival transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour of Red Fort, Gandhi
memorial at Raj Ghat and visit to St. James Church, A visit to Mother Theresa Sisters of the poor orphanage.

Day 02
Morning visit India Gate, drive through Parliament House, President Palace –
Rashtrapati Bhawan, Bahai Temple. Visit the Cathedral Church of The Redemption ( Anglican) Sacred heart Cathedral ( RC) Apostolic Nunciature ( Vatican) St. Dominic’s Church ( RC).

Day 03
Transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai. Meet and transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour of Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Afgan Church, Hanging gardens and Gandhi Memorial at Mani Bhawan. Evening visit St. Michael’s Church at Mahim. The Church conducts a Novena service every Wednesday evening.

Day 04
Transfer to airport for flight to Goa. Meet and transfer to your beach resort to relax
and swim. Goa is a fabulous get-away on the Arabian sea.

Day 05
Morning tour of Vehla Goa, the magnificent 16th century capital of the Portuguese, is
practically an open air museum of imposing churches, convents and monasteries. These churches have high vaulted roofs, lavish baroque interiors with carved and gilded altarpieces and statues. The majestic Se Cathedral, Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Basilica of Bom Jesus enshrining the miraculously preserved remains of St. Francis Xavier, St. Cajetan Church which is modeled on St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, convent of St. Monica, the ruins of St. Augustine’s church, Pillar Seminary.
Afternoon free to relax on the beach. Goa has a delectable cuisine, sea food and Portuguese - Goan specialties, relaxed ambience and the irresistible beat of Goan Latin music.

Day 06
Transfer to airport for flight to Cochin. Meet and transfer to hotel. Afternoon city
tour. Cochin gives one of Kerala’s most interesting experiences, this is a natural harbour created by the underwater Malabar mud banks. Centuries ago Vasco Da Gama landed here to place Cochin on the world map for export of spices, coffee, jute etc. Visit the Jewish town and Synagogue, Portuguese Churches, Chinese fishing nets. Stroll around the lanes of Old Portuguese, Dutch and British merchants mansions, Vasco Da Dama Church, where he was cremated, before being finally laid to rest in Portugal. Evening witness a Kathkali Dance performance.

Day 07
Early morning take a boat cruise on the enchanting backwaters through coconut groves and quite lagoons. Watching the sunrise in a Symphony of colours is an unforgettable experience. Afternoon transfer to airport for flight to Chennai ( Madras). Meet and transfer to hotel. Modern Chennai traces its history to 1639 AD when the British East India Company was awarded a trading post and commenced building Fort St. George near the sleepy fishing village of Madraspatnam. Evening free on Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world.

Day 08
Morning visit Fort St. George, located within the ramparts of the fort is St. Mary’s Church, consecrated in 1680 AD, the oldest Anglican church in Asia. Visit St. Thomas Mount, where the Apostle was martyred , now stands Santhome Cathedral Basilica, Kapaleswarar Temple, Theosophical Society located on the banks of river Adyar and founded by Annie Besant, Olcott and Blavatsky - the world head quarters of the Society of All Faith, Natural Art Gallery, Parthasarathy Temple.
Evening watch a dance performance of Bharatnatyam.

Day 09
Transfer to airport for flight to Kolkatta (Calcutta). Meet and transfer to Hotel. The city of Kolkata is specially known for its history, colonial architecture, culture, literature, Bengali films and theatre, cuisine and shopping and birth place of poet Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore. Day free or optional visit to Mother Theresa ashram and orphanage. The only Indian city to boast of an under ground Metro rail system and the 2nd oldest golf course in the world.

Day 10
Morning visit Victoria Memorial , Indian Museum, Writers Building, New Market, St. Paul’s Cathedral , St. John’s Church, St. Xaviers College Church, Assembly of God’s Church, Fort William, Raj Bhawan.
Afternoon free for personal activities. The Park Street area has some of the smartest restaurants in India.

Day 11
Morning start a day excursion to Bandel (43 kms) A former Portuguese enclave founded in 1599, the famous Church of Our Lady on the banks of the River Hoogly, draws pilgrims from far and wide. Return to hotel by early evening.

Day 12
Depart Kolkata either for Delhi or Mumbai as per your onward destination.
 

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