If you are looking to tour across places with heritage, greenery, monuments, culture and option to relax, then a trip to South India will provide you with that and much more exceeding your expectations. If you want to enjoy the traditional Indian cuisines and divulge in the festivities of the land pack up your bags and head towards the southern part of the Indian subcontinent.
Let us start our exploration with the most popular tourist destination among the global travelers, the “God’s own country” ! Sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea with its green orchards and crystal clear backwaters, Kerala gives you abundant choices to recreate and relax. Divulge in the smell of the sweet air that wafts in the wind, relax inside the comforts of the boathouses in the backwaters or make ease your body and mind with the Ayurvedic massage following the ancient and traditional strategies. Fort Kochi, Varkala, Kovalam are the ideal beach destinations where can relax and rejuvenate. Munnar is the most sought after hill station where you can find that the entire mountain range is covered in a carpet of tea plantations beholding your sight for a while. An evening can be worth watching the ancient art form of Kerala called Kathakali, which is a dance-drama make you spell bound with the stunning performances of the artistes. Equally brilliant is the Kalaripayatru, which is a martial art form originated in Kerala and spread across the other Asian countries.
Rest of South India can be started with Chennai since it is called as “Gateway to the South” and the capital city of Tamil Nadu. This city is located on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. As you get out of the airport you will be greeted with a multicultural people traveling across this metropolitan city. Plan your mornings visiting the imposing temples, painted caves and carved shrines of Mahabalipuram which is a couple hour drive from Chennai. Since you are near the vicinity of Chennai you can also visit Kanchipuram, “City of Thousand temples”, which is one among the sacred cities in Hinduism. The other places to visit in Chennai are St.Fort.George, Government Museum, Marina Beach, Kalakshetra and Dakshinachitra which portray the culture and lifestyle prevailing in the city. The entire Tamil Nadu is with numerous temples existing from the ancient times. The most prominent among them are the Great Living Chola Temples, Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, Ramanatha Swamy temple at Rameshwaram and the Natarajar temple at Chidambaram. If you visit Tamil Nadu during the times of festivals, you can witness the colorful celebrations across the state aiming at rejuvenating the relationships among the friends and families. The famous hill stations in Tamil Nadu are the Nilgiris and the Kodaikanal which are popularly known as Queen of hills and Princess of hills respectively. The hill stations in the Western Ghats give you a life time experience with the misty mountains and lush green scenic locations and tranquility prevailing around. You can also find the adventurer in you, exploring the select locations in the mountain ranges with the help of a trained guide.
Karnataka, the largest state in South India welcomes you with the serene coastal lines and magnificent temple architectures. The Mysore palace, Gokarna Beach, Mangalore port city, Nagerhole sanctuary and the IT hub Bangalore are some of the popular tourist destinations in Karnataka. The global travelers should never afford to miss the Group of Monuments at Hampi in Karnataka, which was once the second richest city in the world next to Vatican in Rome. Lying along the banks of the River Thungabadra, Hampi houses magnificently built temples. Though the monuments are amidst the ruined sites, the temple complex beholds its majesty and charm embracing us with awestruck surprises. Belur, Halebid, Badami and Pattadakkal are the other sites one cannot afford to miss.
The Lepakshi temple, Kanaga Durga temple, Chrminar are some of the popular tourist locations in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Promenade beach, Aurobindo Ashram and the Auroville are the prominent locations in Pondicherry which still has the impact of the French colonization reflecting even its cuisines. The most happening state in India,. Goa welcomes you with the ancient churches, cuisines with the Portuguese tint and the series of beaches which make the Konkan coastline very scenic and most enjoyable one. The all night parties, music bands, buffets make Goa the ideal destination for fashion fanatics and the leisure travelers. South India has everything a global traveler looks for. Be it a traditional temple complex, most beautiful hill stations, relaxing beach resorts, homestays, backwater cruises or adventurous sports, South India has it all. Any kind of recipe suiting to your tastes and needs can be tailor made as a perfect combo of the places and activities which will definitely make your holiday an unforgettable one.
Plan a tour to South India and explore more possibilities for a life changing experience. Redefine your travel dreams after visiting South India and get to know why India is Incredible.