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South India Travel Highlights

Taking a tour to South India region could be the best decision of your life! It’s true! Imagine you are taking a walk amidst the beautiful mountains and rainforests or exploring the colonial setting of South India. Enjoy your time in the culture-clad cities of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and the Andaman Islands that are blessed with beautiful coasts and dense green fields. Get amazed by the interesting amalgamation of different cultures that you will experience here. Visit beautiful temples of Madurai, spend time at tranquil beaches or go hiking in the Western Ghats. South India has so much to offer that you won’t ever forget this time of your life.   

South India Travel Highlights

When planning vacations to South India, don’t forget to book train tickets online beforehand for a comfortable and exciting journey across the region. Also, you can check train running live status in online apps to plan the day accordingly. Now don’t wait and get ready to embark on an exciting journey to beautiful South Indian regions.

Western Ghats of Kerala

If you have known Kerala for its big beautiful beaches and tea gardens, you are now going to see its new thrilling side. The Western Ghats of Kerala offer an adventurous experience to mountain bikers and hikers on their way to exotic hill stations. Kickstart your journey by exploring the highest peak of Kerala, Anamudi, which is 2,695m high. Moreover, you can also visit the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu and Raj town of Munnar which are some of the best regions in the Western Ghat range. Take a tour of these beautiful locations to have the best adventures with nature in Kerala.

Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Madurai, a city in Tamil Nadu is famous for the Meenakshi Temple. This highly impressive pilgrimage site covers beautiful icons and nine Gopuram towers. The city is over 4,000 years old city and this is why considered as a must-visit Tamil cultural hub that showcases the intricate architecture of ancient Vijayanagar. Aside from this, other reasons for visiting Madurai include Thirumalai Nayak Palace and silk and cotton markets. It is recommended to explore the old traditional part of this city on foot. To energize yourself, you should definitely visit ‘Thoonga Nagaram’ which means ‘the city that never sleeps’.

Chennai Coast

Earlier known as ‘Madras’, Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu. It has one of the longest urban beaches. Chennai beholds the existence of a cultural mix of archaic Tamil, modern colonial setting, and active coastal life. The coasts of the place let you explore the southernmost regions of India like Mahabalipuram and Kanyakumari. Interestingly, these are the points where three oceans – Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal meet. Visit Chennai and get lucky witnessing such amazing spots in South India.  

Puducherry or Pondicherry

Brace yourself for the gorgeous heritage of Pondicherry. In order to reach here, take a train from Chennai. This separate union territory in South India was the largest French colony in India. This is why you will notice a mix of contemporary, colonial and traditional architecture there. Make the most of your trip by riding a hired bike from a French-inspired colony to the distinguished Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Enjoy being at delicious restaurants there. Besides, you will love the amazing and serene vibes of Pondicherry. Not to miss out on the opportunity to interact with the wonderful locals you’ll meet there.

Bijapur

This city belonging to Karnataka is well-known for amazing monuments and architecture inspired by the ruling time of Adil Shahi dynasty. The second largest statue of Lord Shiva in the world, measuring up to a height of 85 feet, is located here. One of the lesser known gems, local Basalt of Bijapur was used in many of the Islamic architectures like mausoleums and mosques.

Do you know that world’s second largest dome, Gol Gumbaz (a circular dome tomb of Shia Sultan) is situated in Bijapur? Isn’t it amazing?

Goa

Goa may not be a complete part of South India but it can be explored while travelling to cities down south. Feel the bliss at the tranquil beaches of Goa including Anjun, Ashwem, and Kerim. Undoubtedly, Goa is amongst the first choices of many youngsters when it comes to travelling across India. Sit back and relax viewing the scenic beauty of Olaulim or cycle down to Konkan coast. Anyways, who needs really solid reasons to be in Goa. It’s just a place to relax and rejuvenate, isn’t it?

Hampi

Who hasn’t heard about Vijayanagar? It was one of the greatest empires of India which included Hampi village. Hampi in Karnataka is amongst the most visited historical destinations of the nation. Here, all you can see is captivating ruins highlighting the intricate architecture from the 14th century. Covering nearly 25 km area, these captivating ruins have over 500 monuments. That’s a pretty big number! The best way to reach Hampi is from Goa as there are many transport options making the trip convenient for you. Visit this ancient place and experience the enormous energy like never before. It’s really captivating there!

Varkala

Varkala beach is no doubt one of the best beaches in India. The immense and captivating setting of the beach in Kerala will awestruck you. All the credit goes to the massive cliff spread till a very long distance. Interestingly, there are two sides of the cliff. Its upper part is covered with coconut palms, guest houses, and beach shacks. On the other side, the beautiful massive beach that lets you see the Arabian Sea. One of the most happening times to visit there is between March and April when you can witness a temple festival at Varkala beach.  

Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is a famous and serene pilgrimage site in Tamil Nadu. Pious people across the nation come here for worship and bathe in the holy water purifying their karma. When there, don’t forget to visit the beautiful Ramanathaswamy Temple. The place including the temple is associated with the Ramayana, the Hindu epic. According to it, this is the place where Lord Hanuman created a bridge across the ocean for Lord Rama. Visit this ancient place to experience religious colors closely.

Coorg

Witness the nature at its best in Coorg. Coorg is famous for its lush green areas which produce amazing coffee. Located in Karnataka, Coorg is the English name for Kodugo region. Visit the captivating place covered with the fresh aroma of coffee along with picturesque mountain in the background. Not to mention, the magnificent Golden Temple which is a Buddhist monastery located in South Karnataka. One of the best places for the nature-lovers!

Kerala Backwaters

What can be better than cruising in Kerala canals surrounded by dense palms? Imagine you are in the middle of still waters in a boat, relaxing and having amazing delicacies made by a chef on board. Yes, we are talking real! Live all this in Kerala backwaters. You are going to love the peaceful surroundings if you stay there at a homestay or resort. The major perks that cannot be missed include freshly prepared seafood, local traditional dishes paired up with chilled beer. Time seems to be arrested when in the middle of Kerala backwaters. Go, get this amazing feeling in Kerala during your next vacation.      

South India is what it looks. It’s nature-oriented, peaceful, loving, and full of soothing vibes. The places mentioned above have beauty beyond your expectations. Take a tour to South India and experience more adventures in the best naturally rooted regions. Other important attractions include the ancient temples exhibiting cultural values of South India. A person must visit South India once in a lifetime to shed their physical as well as mental stress and embrace nature’s real charm. Also, using technology facilities like the train running live status, one can plan the journey well. Be ready with your backpacks to visit these blissful South Indian cities and return home with rejuvenated powers.  

About Anirudh Singh

Anirudh Singh is a passionate blogger and the man behind Amazing India Blog. He has 5 years of experience in the newspaper industry and he founded Amazing India Blog in 2015. Apart from writing and editing articles on Travel, Business and Technology at Amazing India Blog, he also contributes to other well known newspapers and online news blogs.