Best Of South India Tour

South India is basically consists of four states Andhra pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerala.It also consist of  union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India’s area.

After experiencing fluctuations in the decades immediately after Indian independence, the economies of South Indian states have registered higher than national average growth over the past three decades.Agriculture is the great contributing area in its  growth and now Information technology is becoming a growing industry of south India.

South India ranks the highest in terms of social and economic development in areas such as fertility rate and infrastructure; the fertility rate of South India is 1.9, the lowest of all regions in India.

There were several significant rulers and dynasties in southern Indian history. Dynasties such as the Satavahanas of Amaravati, Kadambas of Banavasi, Western Ganga Dynasty, Chalukya dynasty of Badami, Western Chalukyas, Eastern Chalukya, Cheras, Cholas, Hoysalas, Kakatiya dynasty, Pallavas, Pandyas, and Rashtrakutas of Manyaketha have ruled over South India. The late medieval period saw the rise of Muslim power in South India. The defeat of the Kakatiya dynasty of Warangal by Tughlaq forces of the Delhi Sultanate in 1323 CE heralded a new chapter in South Indian history. The struggle of the period was between the Bahmani Sultanate based in Gulbarga (and later, Bidar) and the Vijayanagara Empire with its capital in Vijayanagara in modern Hampi.

The tour of south India never ends if anyone have time to travel each and every part of south India.Here is the destinations covered in south India tour:-

Arrive Chennai: Today we explore Chennai, the capital city  popularly regarded as the ‘Gateway to the South’ represents a culture that is distinctly different from that of northern India. The places of interest are Kalakshetra, a school of art and music that encourages exponents of Bharatnatyam, Carnatic music, traditional weaving and designing.

Kanchipuram : Tody we drive  to Kanchipuram,  city of thousand temples. One of the seven sacred cities of Hindus, it was the capital of the early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BC. Kanchi was a major seat of Tamil learning as well as an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Apart from temples, the city is also famous for its silk weavers, settled here some 400 years ago and have given it an enviable reputation.

Pondicherry : Morning drive to Tanjore visiting en-route temple at  Chidambram & Gangai Konda Cholapuram.
On arrival to Tanjore after check-in we explore the city.Tanjore – The home of Carnatic music, musical instruments, dance and traditional hadicrafts, Tanjore (Thanjavur) is famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect’s marvel. The Art Gallery and the Saraswathi Mahal Library are also well known places of interest.

Tanjore, Trichy and Madurai : After breakfast drive to Trichy and on arrival, visit Srirangam(5 kms from Trichy), located in an island is Srirangam. Surrounded by the Kaveri water is a 600 acre island town enclosed within the seven walls on the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami temple. There are no less than 22 gopurams, one of which is the tallest in India. The 72 m high 13 tiered gopuram dominates the landscape for miles around.

Mysore : Belur temple took over 103 years to build and is a classic example of the Hoysala style of architecture. It rises like a wedding cake in stone, from a star shaped plinth, one of the hallmarks of Hoysala building design. From the base upwards, there is an extraordinary wealth of decorative detail; every available inch is crammed with intricate carvings. In one frieze, 650 elephants jostle one another in a continuous line. Many of the figures of full blossomed women depicted at Belur are believed to be portraits of King Vishnuvardhana’s queen.

Ooty : we explore Ooty, an integral part of the great plateau occupying the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats. Located at 2240m above sea level, Ooty is the headquarters of the Nilgris district. Apart from coffee and tea plantations, trees like confiers, eucalyptus, pine and the wattle dot the hillside in Ooty and its environ. The places of interest in Ooty include Botanical Gardens where “summer Festival” is held each during the month of May. The artificial lake and Dodabetta Peak which is the highest point in the district at a height of 2623m.

Cochin : it has a fine natural harbour. Cochin(Kochi) gateway for Kerala is famous for Mattanchery Palace, St. Francis Church,  Chinese Fishing nets and Jewish Synagogue.