South India Tour - A Complete Vacation

South Indian tourists destinations leave the tourists mesmerized with their timeless attractions. There are numerous interesting spots in this wonder land where one can enjoy a wonderful vacation. The superb sculptures, dance forms and the temples give evidence of the rich cultural heritage of South India. South India Tour will help you discover the true spirit of this part of the country. Whether it is for honeymoon, or just for a leisure holiday, if you are thinking about India Tour, South India is a wonderful place to spend a memorable vacation. The South Indian States are Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Andhra Pradesh
There are several tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad the capital of Andhra Pradesh has several prominent places in and around it. It has a Hindu-Muslim culture with a number of monuments of historical importance like Char Minar, Golconda, Salar Jung Museum, Mecca Masjid, Osman Sagar and Osmania University. The capital is in reality the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad linked together by the Hussain Sagar Lake. The other sites of historical importance in Andhra Pradesh include Warangal, Palampet, Vemulavada, Bhadrachalam, and Lepakshi. Andhra Pradesh is known for pilgrimages, not only for Hindus, but also for followers of other religions like Muslims, Christians and Buddhists. There are waterfalls at Ettipothala, Kuntala, and Gandipet. The caves at Undavalli and Borra are also major tourist attractions. Two large and world famous dams are located at Nagarjunasagar and Nizamsagar. There are many wildlife sanctuaries can be found in the state too.

Kerala
This city of scenic beauty, absolute serenity and peacefulness is the land of backwaters and swaying coconut trees. You can spend your small trip on the house boats that lay afloat on the waters of the lake. Kerala Ayurveda is also an important aspect of this city. There are various Ayurveda resorts which are worth visiting the tour. Kerala has 900-kms long coastline with sandy beaches, rocky promontories and coconut palms that attract lot of tourists from all over the world. These beaches are renowned for the gentle and blue waters, making a beach vacation exciting.

Karnataka
It is known as one of the world's most ancient civilizations, Karnataka is a state filled with a rich culture, glorious traditions and is an enchanting land abounding with breathtaking beauty. Two World Heritage sites are located in Karnataka, namely Hampi and Pattadakal. If we talk about the Karnataka attractions, the first name would be Mysore. The main sightseeing places at Mysore are Mysore Palace, Vrindavan Garden, Chamudni Hills and Somnathpur temples. The palace of Mysore is the most impressive palace of South India. Karnataka Tourism also organizes a sound and light show at Vrindavan Garden in the later evening. Hassan is the next destination of Karnataka, which is famous for Belur & Halebid - the examples of great Hoysala Empire. There are also some other Hoysala temples in Hassan area. Other than Belur and Halebid, there are also few temple built by Hoysala kingdom. The other historical of Karnataka are Badami Caves - one of the finest cave architecture in India, Badami Fort, Aihole - a cradle of Indian architecture, Chitradurga Fort, Gulbarga Fort, Bidar Fort, Tombs of Bijapur and various other Karnataka architectural gems.

This scenic state is blessed with an abundance of beautiful flora and fauna. Nearly 22 per cent of its land mass is made up of rich green forests and is also home to Asia's highest waterfall - the Jog Falls. Wild Game sanctuaries at Bandipur, Dandeli and Nagarhole are a major tourist attraction. With picturesque and charming hill stations located close to its coastline, this is an ideal hotspot for tourists who love waking up to the sound of birds chirping and nature smiling at them.

Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is known for its temples and architecture, food, movies and classical Indian dance and Carnatic music. There are several tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu. Chennai, the capital city, offers some beautiful beach resorts. The best place to start a temple tour is Mamallapuram, a seaside village that, apart from some exquisite Pallava rock-cut architecture, boasts a long stretch of sun-kissed beach. Inland, the pilgrimage city of Kanchipuram is filled with reminders of an illustrious past under successive dynastic rulers, while further down the coast is one of India's rare French colonial possessions, Pondicherry, where Auroville has found a new role in the 'New Age'. The road south from Pondicherry puts one back on the temple trail, leading to the Chola kingdom and the extraordinary architecture of Chidambaram, Kumbhakonam and Darasuram. For the best Chola bronzes and a glimpse of the magnificent paintings that flourished under Maratha kings in the 18th century, travelers should head for Thanjavur. The city boasts of almost a hundred temples and was the birthplace of the Bharatnatyam dance. Tamil Nadu's temples are undeniably its major attraction, it would take months to see them all, and there is plenty else to distract even the most ardent architecture buff. In the west of the state, where the hill stations of Kodaikanal and Ooty are the premier attractions, sylvan hills offer mountain views and a network of trails winds through forests and tea and coffee plantations.