About this tour
12 days with Lydia Burth-Weir through the Navagraha temples, Arunachala and the Pongal harvest festival
Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights (8–19 January 2027)
Jyotish means "the science of light," and this pilgrimage is timed to one of the most luminous moments in the Vedic year.
In the Tamil tradition, the month of Thai is the most auspicious time to begin anything new. As the old saying goes, Thai pirandhal vazhi pirakkum: "when Thai is born, a new path opens." Thai 1 marks Makara Sankranti, the Sun's entry into Capricorn and the start of Uttarayana, his six-month journey northward, long honoured as the season of light, clarity and new beginnings. For a Jyotish pilgrimage, there is no more fitting moment. You will not only learn about the Sun as a Graha; you will witness his turning, celebrated in villages across Tamil Nadu. Just after the new year, it is a natural threshold for setting intentions, and January brings South India's gentlest, most comfortable weather.
The journey opens in the final days of Margazhi, the sacred month of dawn devotion, when women rise before sunrise to draw intricate rangoli (kolam) patterns of rice flour at every doorstep. Day by day the kolams grow more elaborate, blossoming into colour for Pongal, the harvest festival of gratitude to the Sun, the earth and the cattle who sustain life.
Guided by Master Yoga Teacher and Jyotishi Lydia Burth-Weir, you will meet the nine Grahas not as an intellectual system, but as living forces encountered in the temples built for them, in ritual and within your own inner landscape. Begin at Kanchipuram's Earth element temple and a full abhishekam at Kanchi Kamakshi Amman. Walk Girivalam around the sacred fire mountain Arunachala and sit in the caves where Ramana Maharshi meditated. Then slow into four days in Kumbakonam: the nine Navagraha temples, daily Jyotish teaching, a day of stillness at a single temple, and Thai Pongal itself, celebrated with a local community. Honour the cows on Mattu Pongal, receive evening darshan of Shiva as the cosmic dancer at Chidambaram, and close among Auroville's gardens and the ancient shore temples of Mahabalipuram.
Each day is held by Integrated Himalayan Kriya, meditation and mantra. No prior knowledge of Jyotish is needed. With a maximum of 12 participants, boutique and heritage stays, pure vegetarian meals, private transport and a Smukti coordinator throughout, you arrive as a pilgrim, not a tourist.
Arrive in Chennai, hotel check-in, orientation and opening circle, welcome dinner
Land in Chennai and transfer to Raintree St. Mary's. Take the afternoon to rest before the group gathers at 5:00 pm for orientation and an opening circle with Lydia, setting the intention for the pilgrimage ahead. Night in Chennai.
A gentle first full day to adjust to India's rhythm while exploring Chennai. The final sightseeing programme will be shared closer to departure. Night in Chennai.
Ekambareswarar Temple (Earth element), full abhishekam at Kanchi Kamakshi Amman, silk-weaving units, drive to Tiruvannamalai
An early departure to Kanchipuram, one of India's seven sacred cities. At Ekambareswarar, Shiva is worshipped as the Earth element among the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams. Witness a full abhishekam at Kanchi Kamakshi Amman, one of the foremost Shakti Peethas, then visit the looms where Kanchipuram silk is still hand-woven before driving on to Tiruvannamalai. Night at Haraa Suites.
Ramana Ashram, Skanda Ashram, Virupaksha Cave, optional Arunachaleswarar Temple, evening Girivalam
Spend the day in the presence of Arunachala, the fire mountain Ramana Maharshi called the heart of the world. Sit in his ashram, climb to Skanda Ashram and the Virupaksha Cave where he meditated for years, and as evening falls walk Girivalam, the sacred circumambulation of the mountain.
Scenic travel day to Kumbakonam (approx. 4 hrs), settle into the heritage retreat
A spacious travel day through the paddy fields and villages of Tamil Nadu to Kumbakonam, the temple town at the heart of the Navagraha circuit. Arrive at Indeco Swamimalai, a heritage property that will be home for the next four nights.
Navagraha temple circuit and group ritual, followed by a Jyotish workshop with Lydia
Visit the nine planetary temples, each dedicated to one of the Grahas that Vedic astrology holds shape the arc of a life. With context from your Dhost guide and teaching from Lydia, each shrine becomes a doorway into understanding that planet's qualities within yourself. The day closes with a Jyotish workshop. Night in Kumbakonam.
Full-day unhurried immersion at a single temple — ritual, context and meditation
Rather than moving from site to site, the group gives an entire day to one temple, allowing space for ritual, contemplation and silence. This is pilgrimage at the pace of presence. Night in Kumbakonam.
Pongal harvest festival with a local community, flexible time for Jyotish sessions, rest or additional temples
Pongal is Tamil Nadu's festival of gratitude to the Sun, the earth, the harvest and the animals who sustain life, marking the Sun's turn northward (Uttarayana). Join a local community celebration, then shape the rest of the day around the group's energy: continued Jyotish sessions, rest or further temples. Night in Kumbakonam.
Goshala visit during Pongal, optional Vadalur stop, 6:00 pm darshan at Nataraja Temple (Space element), drive to Auroville
Visit a goshala to honour and feed the native cows during the Pongal celebrations, with a stop at Vadalur, Vallalar's centre of universal compassion, if time permits. At Chidambaram, receive evening darshan of Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, in the temple of the Space element, before continuing to Auroville.
Matrimandir viewing, exploration of the international township
A full day in Auroville, the international township founded on Sri Aurobindo and The Mother's vision of human unity. View the golden Matrimandir and explore the community. (Matrimandir tickets are booked individually two days in advance; the group will be guided through this.) Night in Auroville.
Drive to Mahabalipuram, free evening at the beach, grand dinner and closing reflection circle
Travel up the coast to Mahabalipuram for a free evening by the Bay of Bengal. The group gathers for a grand farewell dinner and a reflection circle to integrate the journey. Night at Madras Chronicles.
UNESCO monuments — Shore Temple, Arjuna's Penance, Pancha Rathas, Krishna's Butterball — transfer to Chennai Airport
A final morning among the 7th-century Pallava rock temples carved into the coastline, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The pilgrimage closes with a transfer to Chennai Airport (approx. 90 minutes).