First things first!!
Getting there!
1. e-Tourist Visa for India with UK/German/USA passport: see this link
NOTE: You can apply for the VISA for up to 180 days in advance of travel.. so you can start applying today if you want!!
For any other nationalities, please contact me via email and I can help with the process if you need any invitation letter from me.
2. Flight tickets:
Wherever you are flying from, you might want to land at & fly back from Chennai (formerly Madras) with IATA designation MAA.
I usually find flights on
Expedia,
makemytrip,
ixigo. The last two are Indian websites, but their prices are competitive and even on the expedia site, going to the Indian version of the website (linked above) seems to make a price difference!
3. Hotel booking information is interweaved within the plans for the week detailed below!!
Write to me with your choices and I can let you know the details to get special rates (I have already spoken/negotiated to many of these hotels and the minimum size of group to qualify for group rates at some hotels is 8-10 people. So it is good to see if we can agree for same hotels and stay at the same place!)
Also most of the hotels can help you with arranging a car with a local guide for day trips!
* List of possible hotels in Chennai
Radha Regent – Not too far from the wedding venue, mid-range hotel – (minimum 5 rooms in our group)
Rates
Double Occupancy (including bfast, wifi and tax) – INR 5500 per room per night
Single Occupancy (including bfast, wifi and tax) – INR 5000 per person per night
- Extra person will be charged Rs. 1000 + taxes on bed and breakfast basis per night
This tariff includes:
- Complimentary buffet breakfast at The Lobby Café
- Two bottles (500 ml) of packaged drinking water daily.
- Complimentary wireless internet access
- Usage of Gym
* List of potential hotels in Pondicherry
Le Dupleix – Small hotel in a converted villa in the historic French quarter
Rates (including bfast, wifi and tax)
Deluxe Room – INR 5200 per room per night
Penthouse room – INR 7200 per room per night
Luxury Suite – INR 9200 per room per night
Extra person charges INR 1300 per night
The choices so far:
Chennai – Radha Regent: Edgar+Barbora, Linda+Paul, Sam, Lyze+Dudley, Jos+Beth, Anna+Josephine, Zoltan+Zsuzsi, Vinu, Jen+Owen?
Pondicherry- Dupleix: Edgar+Barbora, Lyze+Dudley, Jos+Beth, Anna+Josephine, Joe+Priya+Subramanian, Arun+Padma, Linda+Paul, Sam, Zoltan+Zsuzsi?, Jen+Owen
4. Plan for the week!!
You are welcome to arrive before June 30th and/or stay after 06th July!! Please let me know if you want to arrive early/stay later.
The plan below is the ‘common’ plan during the week of the wedding!
— Time line begins on 30th June 2018, Saturday —
Saturday, 30.06.2018:
Arrive and check in to hotel. Maybe visit Marina beach for sunset/relax …
* Suggestions of places to see in Chennai
Sunday, 01.07.2018:
Lunch at Annalakshmi (
http://www.annalakshmi.info/ ) for those who are interested to catch up and take care of last minute details. Please let me know if you are interested to attend by
end of April so that I can make a booking reservation!
Current headcount: Arun (Priya’s bro), Padma (Priya’s sis-in-law), Subramanian (Priya’s dad), Joe, Priya, Jos, Beth, Linda, Paul, Sam,
Monday, 02.07.2018:
Ceremonies begin early (~0600 and I mean that seriously!!) and wedding will be done by 1300.
An evening party for those still standing is envisioned!!
* YouTube link to marriage hall
A small write up explaining the different steps in this incredibly short Indian wedding is here.
Tuesday, 03.07.2018:
Start to Pondicherry after breakfast at your hotel, visit Crocodile park and Dakshinachitra en route and arrive in Pondicherry towards the evening. Bus/Mini-van to accommodate all of us will be arranged by Priya.
NOTE: You could plan to take your luggage with you and then directly get to the airport from Pondicherry on our way back.. (many hotels do offer airport transfers)
Suggestions are welcome.. and individual plans to have your own adventure is great!! Currently I am looking at things
04th July 2018:
The plan is to go for an early morning walk on the rock beach close to the hotel (you will find that many locals take morning walks and laughing clubs seriously!), back to the hotel for B’fast and relax. During the day, Priya plans to arrange for a
surfing lesson for who wants to join her. If you are not interested, you are welcome to explore Pondicherry (see links like
this). Hang out the rest of the day and catch up with the whole group at dinner together (Priya to provisionally reserve a table).
05th July 2018:
Priya will arrange for local transportation (via mini-buses/cars) to visit the
nearby (well actually it could take 2 hours each way) to visit the Chidambaram
Nataraja temple. The trip will take most of the day and we can re-group with the people who stay back in Pondicherry over dinner.
06th July 2018:
Hang out till lunch in Pondicherry and then leave on 06th after lunch to arrive evening in Chennai or get a direct transport to airport from Hotel.
—- possible departure on 06th evening to UK implying a landing in Manchester on Saturday afternoon —-
—- This will give Sunday to recover before heading to our routines on Monday the 9th July —–
