South India Tours

Introduction

Bangalore

The fifth largest city in India is the capital of Karnataka. The presence of many parks and botanical gardens gave the name of ' Garden city ' to Bangalore. Any tourist can start his tour from Bangalore with its ancient forts, temples, gardens and shopping. All important tourist attraction in Karnataka can be reached with in a day's journey from Bangalore.

The Garden city of India - Bangalore is now a victim of its own success. The information technology boom has led to an influx of people and an upsurge in buildings. However, it is still less crowded, less chaotic, less polluted than many other Indian metros it's size. It's a great city in terms of night life, friendliness and transport connections to the rest of the state.

Major tourist attractions of city are: Bull Temple - It is located at Basavanagudi and built in the mid-16th century. The monolithic Nandi bull is made of gray granite. One can also visit one of Kempe Gowda's four towers situated near the temple. Tipu's Summer Palace - Its construction was started by Haidar Ali and completed during the reign of his son Tipu Sultan in 1789. This two-storied monument has remarkable, rich carvings on its walls and ceilings. Venkataramanasvami Temple - This Dravidian style temple was built in the 18th century when the Wodeyar Dynasty returned to Bangalore. The new Maharaja visited the temple before entering his palace. Government Museum - This is one of the oldest museums in the country and was opened in 1886. It has 18 galleries housing Neolithic finds from the Chandravalli excavations and from the Indus Valley. It also has an exquisite collection of coins, art, textiles, antique jewelry and geology. Lalbagh Gardens - The magnificent Botanical Gardens were initially laid out by Haidar Ali in 1760 and later improved upon by Tipu Sultan. It houses a splendid collection of about 1,800 species of tropical, subtropical and medicinal plants and a Floral Clock. Also worth seeing are the Kempe Gowda Tower and the Glass House which hosts exhibitions from time to time. Cubbon Park - Located in the cantonment area since 1864, it has the High Court, State Library and museums. Fountains and statues adorn the area. Vidhan Soudha - Built in the neo-Dravidian style, this granite building has the State Legislature and Secretariat.

Hassan is the base of visiting the famous temples of Belur and Halebid. The temples at Belur and Halebid which remained incomplete despite 80 years of labour, were the offerings of the finest workmanship in stone to the Gods.The intricately sculptured decoration on the temple according to some critics are even better than the friezes at Konark in Orissa and Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. The temple at Halebid, the capital of the hoysalas was started 10 years after the Belur temple. At Belur Channakeshava Temple is the one of the three Hoysala sites which is still used for worship. Halebid today is a rural village and Belur a small town and the temples are only testimony to their past glory. Following are the tourist attractions around the Hassan to be visited:Belur is situated around 38 km from Hassan. The Channekeshava Temple at Belur is the only one of the three major Hoysala sites still in use. The construction of this temple started in AD 1116 to commemorate the victory of the Hoysalas over the Cholas at Talakad. It took around hundred years to complete the work. It is said that every Hindu deity has been represented at this temple. Guides can be hired to explain the detailed sculptural work.  Other Hoysala temples at Belur are the Chennigaraya and the Viranarayana. Halebid Situated around 33 km from Hassan is Halebid, famous for its Hoyasaleswara temple. The construction of the Hoyasaleswara Temple was started in AD 1121 and continued for around 90 years, but never completed. Nevertheless, even in its incomplete form, this temple is the most outstanding example of Hoysala art and architecture. Every part of the walls of this temple is covered by an endless variety of Hindu deities, sages, stylized animals, birds, and many other art forms. The temple is enclosed by a garden and there is a museum also nearby.  There are also smaller temples like Kedareswara and three Jain temples at Halebid. Shravanbelgola is located around 48 km off Hassan and is famous for the statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshwar). The place is an important Jain pilgrimage center with an ancient history. The 17-m-high statue of Bahubali is said to be the tallest monolithic structure in the world. It overlooks the small town of Shravanbelgola from top of the rocky hill known as Indragiri. One can reach this hill after covering 614 rock-cut steps.

Mysore

Mysore is a small place with a big past. And in sharp contrast to other Indian small towns, it is most clean, well-maintained and quiet, with impressive palaces, broad roads and nice people reflecting a benevolent and imperial past. In fact, filled with bric-a-brac from the past, and even people who reflect the life from another time, this town is almost like a living museum. The Mysore Palace Built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. The tastefully decorated and intricately carved doors open into luxuriously decorated rooms.  St. Philomena's Church One of the oldest churches in Mysore, the church is built in Gothic style and is counted among the largest in India. It's stained windows and lofty towers give this cathedral an imposing look. Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery This art gallery was established in 1875 and has a rare collection of some beautiful paintings from the same era. The gallery is located in Jagmohan Palace and exhibits paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, Svetsolav Roerich and traditional paintings from Mysore. The traditional 'gold leaf' paintings and some exquisitely carved statues in sandalwood, ivory and stone are also exhibited in the allery. The old paintings in the gallery have used mineral and vegetable dyes and paints.

Badami is famous for it s rich heritage sites.  Badami has to be seen to be believed. Rock–cut cave Temples, Gateways, Forts, Inscriptions, Sculptures that seem to come alive before the eyes. The ancient caves – all hewn out of sand stone on the precipice of a hill. Also their are Bhutanatha temples that lend their names to the lake just beneath the cave temples. It is said that in green tranquil river have the healing properties. Badami also has the eighteen inscriptions ranging from 06th to 09th century.

Cochin

Cochin, the commercial hub of Kerala, is a town of great historical importance. It has a fine natural harbour around which the city has grown. The Fort Cochin area, where the Portuguese settled in the 16th century, has been declared as Heritage Zone.

Major tourist attractions of the city are: The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portugese. Later, in 17th century, the Dutch modified it and presented to the Raja of Kochi. Coronation of many Rajas of Kochi were held here. The place has a fine collection of mural paintings depicting the scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. Fort Koch Beach A stroll along the beach, particularly at sunset with the chinese fishing nets and sailing ships in the background, is a fine experience. Many European style bungalows can be seen along the shoreline. Jewish Synagogue  The synagogue ,magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers , was built in 1568. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here. It is located near the Dutch Palace. St. Francis Church It is the oldest church built by European in India.

Munnar

Munnar is a beautiful hill station on the Western Ghats at about 1,600 metres above sea level. There are lakes, reservoirs, green forests and several tea estates. There is a wildlife sanctuary in the Eravikulam-Rajamala area in the Munnar forest division. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is close to Eravikulam National Park.

Thekkady

Thekkady is famous for the Periyar wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady is an important tourist attraction. It is situated on the Periyar lake in the hills of Western ghats and is the finest sanctuary for viewing & photographing Indian wild elephants.

Trivandrum & Kovlam

Trivandrum, the capital of the state of Kerala, is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. The city gets its name from the word, Thiru Ananthapuram meaning the city of Ananth or the abode of the sacred serpent Anantha, on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines.

Kovalam , 12 km uncluttered beach of silvery sands fringed with rows of tall palms, is a perfect place for a sheltered bay and a wide choice of water sports. It is is about the perfect place for a seaside holiday. This enchanting strip of golden sands is laced with the rich greenery of coconut palms. Kovalam is just 167 km away from Trivandrum, kerala's capital city.

Madurai

Madurai, the most famous of the temple towns of the south India is known for the Meenakshi Temple. The ancient city has a rich archeological sites with Sri Minakshi Temple Madurai is synonymous with the Sri Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to Sri Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Shiva. The temple complex, the main attraction at Madurai, is one of the biggest in India. The five gopurams that surround the temple are known for stucco work, and the 48.8 metre high southern gopuram is the tallest. It is one of the four "Parvati Titham"s all over India.The temple occupies an area of around six hectares, and has four entrances to it. This is the biggest attraction of the city. This is a museum of icons, photographs and illustrations within the Meenakshi Temple.  The Hall of Thousand Pillars Apart from being a very sacred spot for the Hindus, the Meenakshi Temple is one of the country's most important tourist landmarks. Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal It is a place about one kilometre from the south east of the Meenakshi Temple. The main attraction here are the musical pillars and the pathway. There is one small museum, and the main audience hall opens into a huge outdoor courtyard. A sound and light show is held here every day depicting the Tamil classic of Silappathikaram. Kudalagar Temple The temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu is as old as Madurai itself with the Lord represented in three type of poses - sitting, standing and dancing one above the other.This, 21 km from the city, is at the foot of Alagar Hills. Mariamman Theppakulam This huge temple tank is about 5 km east of the Meenakshi Temple. The mandapam enshrines Lord Vigneshwara. It is almost equal in area to that of the Meenakshi Temple.

Mamallampuram (Mahabalipuram)

64 kms from Madras, connected by regular bus-services. A major beach resort also famous for its magnificent monuments hewn out of rock.

The Varaha Cave, a small rock-cut mandapam (hall), is a faceted and finished gem with four panels of the famous Pallava doorkeepers who wear an expression of “pious rapture,” as Heinrich Zimmer, a leading expert on Mahabalipuram put it. There is about them a mood of contemplative reverie, a lyrical softness and subtle grace totally at variance with the primordial machismo their role as guards of the gods imposes on them. Feeble sunlight glimmers on panels of enduring beauty in the Mahishamardini Cave. The Somaskanda sculpture radiates peace, power and wisdom while Lord Vishnu in omniscient repose is a masterpiece of dhwani (the art of suggestion) perfected by the Pallava sculptor.
Arjuna’s Penance, perhaps the world’s largest bas-relief, is the universe itself in stone, throbbing with a vastness of conception. Legend has it that King Bhagiratha had to bring down to earth the celestial Ganga to purify and redeem the cursed souls of his ancestors. But the river in its torrential plunge would inundate the earth, and so he had to undergo a penance to propitiate Shiva who finally received the flood in his matted locks and let it trickle down. This was a sight for the world’s creatures to see and they gathered round. The cleft in the rock depicts the descent of Ganga, a theory supported by the ruins of a stone water tank on the hill. There is a forest with tribal people and all forms of animal life, just as they would appear in their habitat. Women clothed in an aura of ineffable grace, a rich inner beauty transfiguring the plainest of them. The whole scene has a delicate edge of humor. Juxtaposed against the ascetic is a cat doing rigorous penance too, eyes firmly shut, even to the delectable mice scampering around within easy reach. The five rathas (chariots) are architectural precursors of the temples of south India. The smallest and the simplest is the Draupadi ratha and the largest is the multi-storeyed Dharmaraja ratha scoped from a monolithic rock. These small, unfinished shrines ravaged by war and weather are things of undiminished beauty.
However, it is the Shore Temple that evokes the spell of Mahabalipuram. A three-in-one abode of god—a Vishnu temple sandwiched between two Shiva temples—it is a visual delight, its precincts abounding in architectural masterpieces.
The Sculpture Museum in East Raja Street contains more than 3,000 sculptures by the local artisans, made in wood, metal, brass, and cement.

Madras (Chennai)

Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu is also its principal harbour and has one of the finest beaches in Asia. It was founded at Fort St. George in 1640 A.D. by Francis Day of the East India Company.

Kapaleeswarar Temple Though Chennai is barely 500 years old, the suburb of Mylapore has been around for longer than anyone can remember. About as old as the suburb itself is the Kapaleeswarar Kshetram, which if you can’t handle the pronunciation is also called the Mylapore Temple. The Mylapore Temple can be found just beside Mylapore Tank, which is just next to the Mylapore Bus Stand itself located at southern end of Mylapore High Road. Marine Beach If you were to hear that the Marina is the world`s longest beach, don`t just dismiss it as optimistic local fancy. There`s more to theMarina though. St Thomas Church, it`s believed, was the first Christian to set foot on Indian shores. One of the Christ`s Apostles [the famous Doubting Thomas], he arrived in India within a couple of decades of the crucifixion. Having landed on the Kerala coast, St. Thomas moved to what isnow Chennai and is believed to have lived in a tiny cave atop this hill. Today asimple church built by the Portuguese in the 16th century forms the entranceto the cave which houses a large image of St. Thomas. Valluvar Kottam Of the many memorials that speckle the Madras landscape, this one`s the most imposing, and perhaps the most tasteful. A memorial to the saint-poet Thiruvalluvar, the Valluvar Kottam is as much a tribute to ancient Tamil architecture as it is to the composer of the Kural. The two lower storeys accommodate an auditorium and a balcony respectively, while the topmost level houses the Valluvar sanctum.The sanctum, the most impressive part of the complex, is located within a ratha and is surrounded by pools of water. Within the sanctum sits the poet himself who should perhaps be grateful that his memorial hasn`t been debased like the many political memorials around the city have been.

Tiruchirapalli (Trichy)

Tiruchirapalli is known for its Rock Fort and its temple at the hieght of over 83 metres.Other renowned temples are , theSri Ranganathaswamy Temple ( Srirangam) and the the Siva Temple at Tirunakkaval, Samayapuram Mariamman Temple.Worthwhile excursions include Narthamalai, Sittannavasl, Kudumiyanmalai and kodumbalur which are famous ancient monuments, jain caves with intricate wall paintings. Grand Anicut, across the Kaveri river, built by chola king Karikalan in 2nd century A.D. is an engineering marvel and a fine picnic spot, Avudaiyarkoil (110 kms) is known for its life size sculptures.Mukkombu is another picnic spot

Thanjavur (Tanjore)

The world famous Brihadeeswara temple is situated here. This temple, built by the great emperor Raja Raja Chol, in the 10th century is an outstanding example of Chola architecture. The tower over the sanctum sanctorum rises perpendicularly to a height of 15 metres from a square base of 28.8 metres, and then tapers off making a total height of 64.80 metres. The tower is capped by an 81.3 tonne round monolithic cupola. Except this main shrine, there are other subshrines too in the temple namely The Shrine of Goddess Brihanayaki, The Shrine of Ganapathy, The Shrine of Chandeeswara, Sri Dakshinamurthy Shrine, Saint Karuvurar's Shrine and many others. The Palace It is located near the temple, the Palace was built partly by the Nayakas some time around 1550, and partly by the Marathas. The building has huge corridors and spacious halls. The armoury and observation towers are visible from all parts of Thanjavur city.One Kilometer from the Temple is the vast palace built by Nayakas around 1550 AD and partly by the Marathas.The total area of the palace measures 10 acres. The fort of Thanjavur and maximum part of the recent palace built by the RaghuNatha Nayakar and VijayaRagava Nayakar.  Schwartz Church Towards the east of the Palace is the Schwartz Church, built in 1779 by Raja Seraboji in token of his affection and esteem for the Rev. C.V. Schwartz of the Danish mission.

Mumbai (Bombay)

A great big island city, Mumbai throbs with a life of its own. The art and commercial capital of the country, it's a place that harbors ambition and nurtures greatness and perfection in various forms. Be it business, sports, movies, style… Mumbai has it all in massive proportions. 'Amchi Mumbai' is what the people endearingly call it. And truly so, as it is a melting pot of all cultures, a beautiful blend of all that India has to offer. Gateway of India: It is Mumbai's most famous landmark. The Gateway of India is situated at Apollo Bunder. It was designed by George Wikket and built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911. It was through this magnificent monument that viceroys and governors were welcomed to India as they disembarked from their steamers, hence the name. Mahalaxmi Temple: Situated close to the sea, it has 3 beautiful images of the Hindu goddesses, Mahalaksmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali. All three statues are made of gold. During Navaratri festival, devoted Hindus throng this temple in great numbers to offer coconut, flowers and sweets to the goddesses. Haji Ali: This mosque is uniquely constructed in that during high tide the pathway that leads to the main structure gets submerged. So, it can be accessed only during low tide! It is the tomb of a Muslim saint and is located off shore, in the Arabian Sea opposite the Mahalaxmi temple. Nehru Planetarium and Science Center: This Science Center is named after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. Located in Worli, it has a computer lab, mobile science exhibition units, a heritage hall, an auditorium, inflatable dome planetarium, science library and a kid's science park. The sky-show at the planetarium is very interesting. Its slide projections and simulation of space combines entertainment with education. It has a library containing a large collection of books on astronomy, astrophysics and space sciences.
The Prince of Wales Museum: This museum stands near the Gateway of India. It has a priceless collection of art and sculpture. Carefully preserved, this mid-Victorian Gothic style building built in 1904, is worth visiting in Mumbai.