South India

This part of India comprises of the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

The steamy south is where Muslim influence reached only fleetingly. Here Hinduism was least altered by external influences and is at it's exuberant best. The temple towns of the south are quite unlike those of the North and are superbly colourful. This part of the country also boasts of the highest literacy rate, with Kerala leading the way with 100% literacy now.

Summer months are May to July with the temperature occasionally going upto 40^oC. August to November are months of Monsoon. Winters are from December to middle of February with mild cold waves.

Click on the cities on the left to find out more.

Called Madras till recently, it is India's fourth largest city. It was the seat of Madras Presidency, one of the four divisions of the British Imperial India.

Chennai is an international arrival point and an important domestic airport. The airport is well organised making Chennai a good entry point. There are flights to/from Colombo, Dubai, Frankfurt, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, London, Penang, Riyadh and Singapore.

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Bangalore is one of India's most pleasant cities with beautifully laid out parks and gardens, imposing buildings and lively bazaars. It is also one of India's most progressive and liberal cities socially. There is a wide range of Hotels, cultural activities, bookshops and craft shops.

Bangalore has a busy domestic airport and is well connected all major cities of the country. Although the city does not have an International airport, most major airlines have an office here indicating the city's importance. The state run bus service has buses to Mumbai, Chennai, Madurai, Ooty, Pondicherry, Mysore, Kodaikanal and Coimbatore. Bangalore is usually connected by direct trains to all the main cities in southern and central India.

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Mysore is popular with travellers because it is friendly, easy going with plenty of shady trees, well maintained public trees and a good climate. Mysore was the seat of Maharaja of Mysore and their walled Indo-Saracenic palace is a major attraction. Tipu Sultan fought the last of his battles here with the British during the last years of the 18th century.

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With it's wealth of historical associations and it's beautiful setting on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas, the city of Kochi (cochin) reflects the eclecticism of Kerala. Here also is a palace built by the Portuguese and given to the Raja of Cochin which contains some of India's most beautiful murals. Kochi is also one of India's large ports and a major naval base.

Cochin has a domestic airport with flights to Bangaolre, Bombay, Delhi, Goa, Chennai and Coimbatore.

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Madurai is one of India's oldest cities and has been a center of learning and pilgrimage. Madurai's main attraction is the famous Sri Meenakshi temple, a baroque example of the Dravidian architecture covered from top to bottom in a profusion of multi-colored images of gods, goddesses and mythical figures. It's many shrines attract tourists from many parts of India and all over the world. It is one of the liveliest cities of the south and very popular with the visitors.