South India

The unexplored golden sand romancing the pristine sea; the beautiful backwaters, exotic wildlife with vibrant culture and never seen before art forms – South India is blessed with the best of everything. A paradise for the nature lovers, holiday in South India is more than just touring the vivid attractions.

South India is bounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian Ocean in the south. From beautiful hill stations to magnificent temples, wild green forests and perfect beaches, South India offers you the best of all that the nature has to offer. Along with the natural wonder, the region is well known for its vibrant customs, appetizing delicacies, and various other man-made wonders. A lush contrast to the peaks and plains in the North, South India is the warehouse of culture.

People & Culture
South Indian people are all about simplicity, which is reflected in their food, culture, festivities and clothing. Each South Indian gem including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh embraces its own unique traditions. Same diversity can be experienced in terms of languages spoken here. While the local language of Tamil Nadu is Tamil, language spoken by the natives of Kerala is Malyalum. Kannada is the principal language of Karnataka and main languages spoken by the people of Andhra Pradesh are Telugu, English, Urdu, and Hindi. Also, about 77% of the population of Telangana speak Telugu.

Just like the languages, local dance forms of each state also vary. Some of the most loved dance forms of South India include Bharatnatyam, Kummi, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam and Kolattam.

Cuisines

The South Indian cuisines form some of India’s most famous and traditional dishes. The large papery dosas (savoury crępes) and idlis (fermented rice cakes) are the backbone of South Indian fare. Famous for its spices, South India offers an incredible list of cuisines. Coconut is used in most of the delicacies, and rice is the staple food of the region. Although similar in various aspects, each region follows different eating habits. For instance, in Tamil Nadu, dishes like Idlis, Dosas, Uttappam, Rassam, Sambhar and Vada are popular. Kerala is known for banana chips and jackfruit chips. Also, Andhra Pradesh is known for delectable grilled kebabs, kurmas and the mouth-watering Biriyani.

Wildlife

Experience the beautiful wildlife residing peacefully in their natural habitat here. One can find a number of wildlife sanctuaries dotted all over the region beautified with far stretched nature.

Wildlife in Karnataka

Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Kudremukh National Park and Bannerghatta National Park.

Wildlife in Keral

Periyar National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Silent Valley National Park and Mathikettan Shola National Park.

Wildlife in Tamil Nadu

Guindy National Park, Mudumalai National Park Mukurthi National Park and Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.

Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh

Sri Venkateswara National Park, Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary and Vanasthali National Park.

Wildlife in Telangana

Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park and Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park.

Fairs & Festivals

Each fair and festival of South India reflects the rich cultures of the region. For instance, Onam is the annual harvest festival of the region, highly popular in Kerala. During the festival, the locals dance and sing cultural songs to thank the deity during the festivities.

Similarly, the locals of Tamil Nadu are devoted to Pongal which marks the harvesting season. The New Year Festival or Ugadi is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The Thrissur Pooram Festival celebrated in Kerala is a beautiful sight to behold with rows of caparisoned elephants decked up with ornaments. In addition, the Hampi Dance Festival offers great chance to explore the local dance forms, drama, music, fireworks and puppet shows of South India.

Synopsis

So, whether you are on your honeymoon or seeking an Ayurveda tour, beach tour, backwater tour, adventure tour, wildlife tour or cruise tour, South India has a variety of options in its sleeves.