Tourist Places to visit in South India

THE TERM "SOUTH INDIA", though it conveys a sense of geographical unity, also encompasses a multitude of differences. While the three states - Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh — share, to some extent, an ancient heritage, they speak different language, and each has its distinct artistic, cultural and political tradition.

A popular view holds that while the history of North India is one of wars and invasions, the south remained cocooned in peaceful stagnation. In actual fact, the three states witnessed bloody conflicts between Jainism and Buddhism on the one hand, and Brahminical Hinduism on the other. They saw the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms, who fought many wars to establish their dominance.

In the beginning of the colonial period, South India was also a battleground between the Europeans and the regional kingdoms. All these upheavals have left their mark on the region. Tamil Nadu, the heartland of Dravidian India has, for over three decades, been ruled by two regional parties. Though arch-rivals, they share a common platform, based on a strong advocacy of Tamil language and culture. Tamil is the oldest surviving Dravidian language, with a literature that goes back to AD 300. This period, known as the Sangam era, derives its name from the Tamil Sangams, gatherings of poets and writers, which produced countless poems, remarkably secular in nature, of which over 2,000 have survived. Another enduring expression of Tamil culture is visible in Tamil Nadu's Hindu temples — it has no less than 30,000 of them.

A more modern face of Tamil Nadu can be seen in the state capital, Chennai (earlier known as Madras). The city is a vibrant commercial and political centre, though it still values its traditional culture. Here, concerts of classical Carnatic music draw as large and enthusiastic crowds as the raucous political rallies held by its most popular politician, the former film star Jayalalitha.

In neighboring Kerala, separated from Tamil Nadu by the magnificent forested hills of the Western Ghats, the main attraction is not temples (though it has those too), but natural beauty. It is easy to understand why this narrow strip of land between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, with its verdant landscape of palm trees, paddy fields and coffee plantations, criss-crossed by enchanting waterways, has been dubbed "God's own country". Modern-day Kerala, with a strong, leftist political tradition, boasts of development indices that are exceptional among Indian states — the highest literacy rate in the country (the language spoken here is Malayalam), a low population growth rate, the lowest infant mortality rate, and a near-perfect record in communal harmony, Culturally, Kerala boasts spectacular dance forms such as Kathakali (sce p657), and the martial art form kalaripayattu (see p626). It is also renowned for its superb Ayurvedic health resorts (see 1)629), now a major draw for international travellers.

Telugu-speaking Andhra Pradesh is South India's largest state, with its capital, Hyderabad, located in the heart of the rocky Deccan Plateau, This city was once the seat of the powerful Nizams (see p660) whose wealth was legendary. Their legacy has given Hyderabad a unique flavour, rich in manifestations of an Islamic culture — in its architecture and cuisine, and in the widespread use of Urdu.

Andhra Pradesh shares with Tamil Nadu a penchant for film stars-turned-politicians. For many years it was ruled by Telugu cinema's most loved actor, NT Rama Rao, who specialized in playing mythological heroes. His son-in-law, Chandrababu Naidu, state’s  past chief minister, had  chosen a more down-to-earth way of winning popular support, with his ambitious schemes to modernize and develop the state. As a result of his efforts, Hyderabad is now vying with Bangalore for the title of India's information technology capital.

 

The top most selling package in South India in the the domestic travel circuit is Madurai Rameshwaram Kanyakumari Kovalam Tour Package ,For further information on South India Tour Packages contact Swan Tours - one of the top Travel agents in India