South India Travel guide

South India Tourism

Experience the mystery and magic of south India tourism with its fascinating history, rich culture and traditions. As you go down to peninsular India, the fascinating land of temples unravels itself for you. The major destinations of south India include Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, and Andaman& Nicobar Islands. Whether you are an adventure lover, pilgrim, or a wildlife enthusiast, south India has it all to enthrall you.

The exquisite temples are the strongest lures and a wealth of south India. The historic monuments and temples can be found in large numbers in the states of south India. The intricately carved temples are feasts to the eyes and some of them you must visit include Guruvayoor Temple, Kalpathy Temple, Meenakshi Temple, Murugan Temple, Badami Cave Temple, Tirupati Tirumala Balaji and Saneeshwara Temple. These marvelous structures also stand testimony to the ancient heritage of the empires that greatly patronized the artistic pursuits. A trip to south India will remain incomplete without a visit to the palm fringed sandy beaches that accentuate the scenic charm of south India. The long coastline has conferred the south Indian states with numerous enchanting beaches and the most well-known among them being Alappuzha Beach, Kovalam Beach, Marina Beach, Kanyakumari Beach and Maravanthe Beach.

Apart from the beaches, south India is also well known for its captivating wildlife which attracts hordes of wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world. Watch the wild denizens roaming in their natural habitat freely along with a large number of migratory birds that frequent the protected forests of South India. Some of the acclaimed wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of south India are Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary and Bandipur National Park.

The fairs and festivals of south India mirror the rich culture and tradition of the people of the region. Passed on from generations, these still are celebrated with utmost zest and excitement. You will find the people clad in their traditional attire and piously following the spectacular rituals. The festivities are marked by important occasions such as harvest, arrival of the monsoons and paying reverence to the worshipped deities. The famous ones are Onam, Aaranmula Boat Race, Pongal Festival and Natyanjali Dance Festival. A gratifying holiday is greatly dependent upon the accommodations and in south India, you will find a wide range of hotels and resorts to chose from. The various hotels located in important towns of south India and also provide resort and spa facilities. Kerala is a state that is particularly famous for its ayurvedic spa resorts. Some of the five star deluxe hotels in Chennai are Le Royal Meridien, Park Sheraton & Towers and Taj Coromandel. Likewise, you can find a number of hotels that are dotted in the other towns of south India too such as Kodaikanal, Coonoor, Kovalam, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Cochin.

Travel Destinations of South India

South India is a treasure trove of unmatched natural beauty that includes backwaters, wildlife sanctuaries, fascinating beaches and captivating hills. South India was also an important seat of a number of ancient empires, which used to reign here once upon a time. Whether you want to get a glimpse of the lesser known places, explore the lost kingdoms, enjoy the wildlife or understand the fascinating culture and heritage, South India has it all. Embark on a journey that will remain etched in your sweetest memories by visiting some of the finest travel destinations of south India that are:

Tamil Nadu:Tamil Nadu was once a colony of the British and has strong historical associations. Endowed with some of the finest natural gifts such as the Eastern Ghats, Nilgiri, Annamalai Hills, it is an ideal base to explore the various other tourist places of south India. You will encounter rare flora and fauna, pleasant hill stations, magnificent Hindu temples exhibiting Dravidian architecture, famous beach resorts and a number of World Heritage Sites. The major highlights of this state are Fort St George, Kailasanatha Temple, Marina Beach, Mudumalai National Park and Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.

Kerala:

Nestled on the west coast of India, Kerala is one of the most popular travel destinations of south India and is rightly referred to as a tropical paradise. Its placid backwaters, engrossing hill stations, exotic wildlife and palm-fringed beaches make it a dream destination for the ardent nature enthusiasts. So many natural treasures make it one of the most popular tourist destinations of south India. The prime tourist sites of Kerala are Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Munnar, Alappuzha, Thekkadi and Kollam. Andhra Pradesh:Andhra Pradesh is a mix of rich tradition, awe-inspiring natural beauty, historical significance and an important pilgrimage center. Andhra Pradesh has not only flourished in terms of agriculture and information technology, but is equally well-known for its fascinating beaches, charming hill stations, monuments and temples. The major attractions of this state are Char Minar, Golconda, Salar Jung Museum, Mecca Masjid and Hussain Sagar Lake. You will find several wildlife sanctuaries also located in this state. Some of the must visit places of Andhra Pradesh that have immense historical importance are Warangal, Palampet, Vemulavada, Bhadrachalam, and Lepakshi. Karnataka: Karnataka is perhaps the most diverse state of south India that has all the ingredients essential for a memorable travel experience. The capital city of Karnataka is Bangalore which is dotted with numerous gardens and parks that greatly add to its scenic beauty. Karnataka also has a lot of historical importance and has been associated with several ancient empires like the Maurya Empire, Vijayanagara Empire and the Deccan sultanates. There are lots of ancient sculptures and historical architectures that bear testimony to this fact. Bandipur National Park, Gol Gumbaz, the monolith of Gomateshwara, Jog Falls and Udupi Krishna Temple are some of the famous attractions of this magnificent place. Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: If you wish to be away from the cacophony of city life and spend some moments away from the din and rush of the city, then the islands of Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar islands are ideal for you. The gripping Coral Reef, sun-kissed beaches, fascinating landscape and completely pristine ambiance make these places identical to heaven. These islands occupy an indispensable place among the travel destinations of south India and you just cannot afford to miss out on them when you travel to south India. Touristplacesinindia.com offers online information on the Travel Destinations of South India and also offers other useful inputs on south Indian tourism.

Tamil Nadu - Eastern Ghats

The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along India's eastern coast. The Eastern Ghats run from West Bengal state in the north, through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu in the south. They are eroded and cut through by the four major rivers of southern India, the Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Kaveri. The mountain ranges run parallel to the Bay of Bengal. The Deccan Plateau lies to the west of the range, between the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats. The coastal plains lies between the eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. The Eastern Ghats are not as high as the Western Ghats. As with the Western Ghats, these mountain ranges also have their local names, e.g. the Velikonda Range of Andhra Pradesh.

At their southern end, the Eastern Ghats form several ranges of low hills. The southernmost of the Eastern Ghats are the low Sirumalai and Karanthamalai hills of southern Tamil Nadu. North of the Kaveri river are higher Kollimalai, Pachaimalai, Shevaroy (Servaroyan), Kalrayan Hills, Chitteri, Palamalai, and Mettur hills in northern Tamil Nadu state. The climate of the higher hill ranges is generally cooler and wetter than the surrounding plains, and the hills are home to coffee plantations and enclaves of dry forest. The hill station of Yercaud is located in the Shevaroy Hills. The Bilgiri Hills, which run east from the Western Ghats to the Kaveri river, forms a forested ecological corridor that connects the Eastern and Western Ghats, and allows the second-largest wild elephant population in India to range between the South Eastern Ghats, the Biligiri and Nilgiri hills, and the South Western Ghats.

The Ponnaiyar and Palar rivers flow from headwaters on the Kolar Plateau eastward through gaps in the Ghats to empty into the Bay of Bengal; the Javadhu Hills lie between the two rivers. There are waterfalls in remote areas, such as the Kiliyur Falls.[1]

North of the Palar River in Andhra Pradesh, the central portion of the Eastern Ghats consist of two parallel ranges running approximately north-south; the lower Velikonda Range lies to the east, and the higher Palikonda-Lankamalla-Nallamalla ranges lie to the west. The Palar River cuts through the ranges. The Velikonda range eventually descends to the coastal plain in northern Nellore district, while the Nallamalla range continues to the Krishna River. A range of low hills lie between the Krishna and the Godavari, but north of the Godavari the Eastern Ghats increase again in height, forming the boundary between Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.

The region boasts of fertile soil but hydropower generation here is not as profitable as it is in the Western Ghats.

The Eastern Ghats are older than the Western Ghats, and have a complex geologic history, related to the assembly and breakup of the ancient supercontinent of Rodinia and the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent.

Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram near Chennai

This ancient temple is a beautiful specimen of Pallava architecture. It is a protected monument under the Archeological Survey of India. This is not a major piligrimage center. Puja services are offered to Shiva - Kailasanatha on a regular basis. The circumambulatory path around the sanctum, requiring visitors to climb up and down a flight of seven stairs and to crawl through narrow edifices is of great philosophical significance.

Access and Accomodation: Kanchipuram, Chennai

Kailasanatha Temple

Marina Beach

Marina Beach

Marina Beach

The Marina Beach is a beach situated along a 12 km shoreline in the city of Chennai, India along the Bay of Bengal, part of the Indian Ocean. Unlike the short, rocky formations that make up the Juhu Beach in Mumbai on the west coast of India, the Marina is primarily sandy.

Longest beach

Although many locals claim the Marina to be the world's longest (or second longest) beach, there exist in fact several longer beaches, including Praia do Cassino in Brazil, Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, Padre Island on the US Gulf Coast, Ninety Mile Beach in Australia and Ninety Mile Beach, New Zealand. A similar beach exists in Dubai, UAE. However, unlike the other beaches, it is an urban beach similar to the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. The width of the beach at the most widest stretch is 437 meters long.

Extent

The beach begins near Fort St. George in the north to Besant Nagar in the south, a distance of about 12km.[1] A famous characteristic of the beach is the set of stone statues that adorn the roadside area of the beach. Most statues are of Indian/local legends like Mahatma Gandhi, Kannagi, Thiruvalluvar, while others have symbolic significance like the Statue of Labour. Also memorials for M. G. Ramachandran and C. N. Annadurai, former Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu are present on the beach. Recently, a statue of the legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan was installed.

The Marina used to be famed for its pristine beauty, jolly ambiance, and rich ecosystems. However, since the middle of the 20th century, the beach and water has become polluted. A proliferation of plastic bags, human waste and other pollutants have rendered many parts of the beach unusable. In recent years, many voluntary organizations have taken up the task of cleaning up the Marina and protecting the ecosystem. Particular efforts include protection of Olive Ridley turtle nests along the Neelangarai section of the beach. Despite these problems however, a visit to the Marina is a sine qua non for any tourist coming to Chennai.

South India Travel Guide