South India Tour

Karnataka

Historic. Majestic. With an austere beauty all its own. Brave its harsh climate and forbidding landscape you'll discover a land of many surprises. Musical pillars, Stone dancers, Elephant stables, Monuments, Temples, Mosques and forts.

Aihole

Famous as the "Cradle of Indian Architecture", Aihole has over a hundred temples scattered around the village. The oldest temple here is, perhaps, the Lad Khan temple dating back to the 5th Century. Not to be missed is the Konthi Temple Complex.

Badami

The capital of the early Chalukyas, Badami is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. Badami is famous for its four cave temples - all hewn out of sand stone on the precipice of a hill.

Hampi

It is a thriving traveler's center. Hampi is a World Heritage Site. The area of Hampi is protected by the tempestuous river Tungabhadra in the north and by rocky granite stones on other three sides. There is a magical quality to the ruins of Hampi even 650 years after the empire of Krishna - devaraya disintegrated.
"Vijayanagara is such that the pupil of the eye has never seen a place like it...". You can still glimpse the splendour of Vijayanagara - one of the largest empires in the history of India - in its ruins. Hampi is full of surprises.

Pattadakal

Pattadakal - a World Heritage Centre - has 10 major temples representing early Chalukyan architecture.
The biggest temple here, is dedicated to Virupaksha. Besides this temple is a group of temples remarkable primarily, for representing two chief styles of Indian architecture, side by side

Bangalore

The capital of Karnataka, Bangalore is located in the south-east of the State. Rapid industrialisation has not drastically altered the pace of life here, which is comparatively unhurried. This, coupled with the agreeable climate, the greenery, the cleanliness, the sense of order, make Bangalore India's most congenial City.

Belur

This quaint hamlet is located on the banks of the river Yagachi. It was once the capital of the Hoysala empire, today made unforgettable for its exquisite temples.

Halebid

The ancient capital of the Hoysalas, Halebid was then known as Dwarasamudram (Gateway of the seas). The temples of Halebid - like those of Belur - represent one of the most artistically exuberant period of Hindu cultural development.

Mysore

Mysore is a city of palaces, gardens, shady avenues and sacred temples and retains some of the charm of the old world with its many institutions that propagate Carnatic Classical music and dance.

Srirangapatnam

This island of Tipu Sultan on the Bangalore-Mysore highway was the capital of the warrior-kings Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. Ranganathittu Bird Santury, 4 Kms from Srirangapatna is home to several exotic species of birds. Fort, Daria Daulat Bagh, Gumbaz are not to be missed.

Coorg

A thing of beauty, shrouded in the mists of time and legend, Coorg is a land that fascinates and provokes strong emotions. Desirable yet elusive, it has stoked the passions and curiosity of philosophers, poets and kings: it has warmly welcomed guests, and handily repelled invaders with equal aplomb. The handsome and hardy Coorgs, with their unique socio-cultural habits are as renowned hosts as they are warriors. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself listening to tales of the land over a convivial cup of coffee with someone you’ve just met, in one of the sprawling plantation homesteads that dot these picture postcard hills.

Legend has it that the Goddess Cauvery appears at the sacred site of Talacauvery, the source of the Cauvery, on a specific day in October. She manifests herself as a sudden upsurge of water in a small tank. A large number of devotees gather to witness this bubbling spring and coconuts adorned with flowers are floated down the river as part of a special prayer. The water is especially potent on this occasion and is said to possess healing powers
Legend has it that Cauvery, wife of sage Agasthya, transformed herself into a river to serve the people. She submerged herself into the ground after which she rose up again as a forceful river. At this site a small shrine was built signifying the birth of the river. According to the story, when the renowned sage Agasthya tried to stop his wife from becoming a river, the pleats of her sari were pushed back and to this day Kodava women wear their sari with pleats at the back!
In 1670, Baba Budan, a Muslim pilgrim, smuggled 7 coffee seeds out of Mecca and planted them in the Chikmagalur region near Coorg in Karnataka, thus introducing coffee to India.
Today, Karnataka yields 140,000 tonnes of coffee a year, making it the largest producer of coffee in India.

Kabini

The legend and romance of Kabini plays out in a theatre called Nagarhole, and revolves around a pristine river called Kabini (originally Kapila) that snakes its way through the Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka, and forms an aqueous boundary with the Bandipur National Park.

Together, this area constitutes the largest contiguous forest cover in this part of the world and is part of the Nilgiri biosphere, the largest in Asia, and home to the largest concentration of herbivores in Asia. And herbivores don't get larger than the Asiatic elephant, whose favourite playground this is. At Nagarhole, one can witness the largest congregation of Asiatic Elephants in the world, and these majestic mammals rule the roost here.

While the lead actors may be largely herbivorous, the support cast consists of three major predators in the Tiger, Leopard and Dhole or Wild Dog, with all three co-existing in high densities. A feature unique to Nagarhole.

Kerala

Kerala, located on the Southwestern tip of India, enjoys unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Asia. Fondly referred to as ‘God’s Own Country’, Kerala was selected by the National Geographic Traveller as one of the 50 destinations of a lifetime and one of the thirteen paradises in the world.

An equable climate, serene beaches, tranquil stretches of backwaters, lush hill stations and exotic wildlife are the major attractions of this land. A unique advantage of Kerala is that most of the destinations here are just two to four hour drive from the other.

Classical art forms, colourful festivals, unique cuisine are some of the cultural marvels that await travellers. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine and Panchakarma, the rejuvenation therapy in Ayurveda have also helped Kerala to gain a pan-global reputation as a top of the line destination.

And in Kerala, the season never ends, thanks to the year-long moderate climate and numerous festivals and events.

Backwaters

It is a cruise that reminds one of the Spanish armada. The picture of the month has for you a sight captured during a rush hour on the backwaters of Kerala.
With sails set high, the country boats are on their way to destinations carrying a variety of goods. Two oarsmen usually man these boats and guide it by using long bamboo poles. These country boats, beside the space for cargo would have facilities for sleeping and cooking, during the course of the journey, which in some cases might take several days.

Houseboat Experience

One of the most preferred ways to get close to the backwater life in Kerala is the houseboat. The picture of the month features one such houseboat, cruising on the backwaters of Kerala. The houseboats come in different size and comfort, and are wonderful works of art. It is like sliding on a waterbed, while you relax in the cool breeze and witness the many forms of backwater life around you.

Kovalam

Kovalam... and do you need further explanation- This bewitching destination in God's Own Country has been beckoning travellers from far and wide for decades. A splendid beach location, Kovalam caters to all kinds of travelers.Kovalam is one destination that can satisfy your instinct for adventure and your need to unwind.
This palm-fringed beach is unique in that it is composed of three adjacent crescent shaped beaches – the Eve's Beach, the Samudra beach and the Lighthouse beach. The image that we bring you this month is that of an aerial view of the Lighthouse beach, in all its splendour. The Lighthouse Beach gets its name from the Vizhinjam lighthouse located nearby.

Munnar

For the travellers, it may seem the beautiful land welcoming them with a present of fresh blossoms. This month, we bring you a shot of the exquisite flora of Munnar, Idukki. With its picture post card looks, Munnar is endearing to every traveller who reaches here. Dense forests, sprawling grasslands, wild flowers- there is much more for a nature lover.

Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams- Muthirappuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, Munnar is Kerala-s premium hill station. Munnar is known for the Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once in twelve years. Anamudi, South India-s highest peak is also located near Munnar.

Thekkady

A herd of elephants is an awesome sight not to be missed. Luxuriant grass filled terrain soon after the southwest monsoon is a feast for the elephants. Such herds can be spotted in and around Gavi, where visitors have the options for trekking, camping and bird watching.

Gavi is rich in flora and fauna. Tropical forests fill the valleys here along with sprawling grasslands, sholas, cascading waterfalls and cardamom plantations. Gavi is about 28 kms from Vandiperiyar, which is near Thekkady.

Thrissur

A line of elephants in full splendour of festival adornments and surrounded by a spirited crowd. The snap for the month was taken during the most famous festival occasions of Kerala - the Thrissur Pooram. The elephants shown in the picture are returning after paying their respects before the statue of Sakthan Thampuran, who as per local belief was the architect behind the origins of Pooram. This is an event that could be seen on the final day of the Pooram festivities, just before the spectacular changing of colorful parasols or Kudamatam in local parlance.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is a land of varied beauty. It is mostly famous for its numerous Hindu temples based on the Dravidian architecture. The temples are of a distinct style which is famous for its towering Gopuram. Popular temple towns include Madurai, Trichy, Tanjore, Kanchipuram, Palani, Tiruvallur and Mahabalipuram. The most famous temple is the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur that is about 1000 years old and is on the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list. Tamil Nadu also has the Navagraha temples that are a popular pilgrim circuit.

Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of peninsular India, is famous for its distinct and beautiful sunrise, Vivekananda Rock Memorial on the mid-sea, Thiruvalluvar statue and has some very green hilly landscape and picture-postcard perfect sceneries around the district and Nagercoil. Hill stations like Kodaikanal and Nilgiris boast some of the stunning landscapes in India. The Nilgiris also has one of the two mountain Railways in India and is being evaluated for the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list. The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary located in Gudalur near the border of Karnataka known for its elephants, tigers and deer and the Pitchavaram Mangrove forests located in Chidambaram are two of the many eco-tourism spots of importance.