In this article, we tell you all the most important things to do and see in South India, a region that is characterized by its mystical sensuality, overwhelming natural beauty, and proud own culture. Most travelers choose the north of the country as a destination for the first trip to India, as the topic says that southern India is for repeat offenders or repeaters. However, there is no problem in the southern states hosting the traveler in their first contact with the country. Or to combine both zones on the same trip if sufficient time and budget are available. Tourism in South India is less exploited than northern India, so a trip to South India may be a highly recommended option to visit the Indian subcontinent for the first time.
Here we suggest 10 travel experiences see in South India
- Evocate the Glory of the Last Great Empire of India in Hampi.
The Vijayanagar Empire, which had its peak in the 16th century, raised its splendid capital in Hampi, where today remains of temples, palaces, fortresses, bazaars and hydraulic systems that show the wealth and sophistication that reached the city are preserved.
- Admiring the Scenic Beauty and the Mountain Climate in Ooty.
If the traveler wants to take a break from the high temperatures and urban frenzy of India, nothing better than ascending on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Ooty, a mountain station over 2,200 meters high in the Nilgiri Mountains from the state of Tamil Nadu. Eucalyptus, oak, teak and rosewood forests, waterfalls, coffee plantations, green lakes, tea plantations, botanical gardens. If you are a nature lover you can witness impeccable beauty only at Kerala.
- Enjoy The Frances De Pondicherry Colonial Charm.
The historic coastal city of Pondicherry is an old French colony that clings to the remains of its colonial past, retaining much of its original coquetry. The French East India Company founded its head office in Pondicherry in 1674. The city was divided by a canal in the French Quarter and the Indian quarter. More than four centuries after we can stable enjoy the French effect mixed with the local Tamil style, visible in the architecture of the city. They highlight their brightly painted houses and the tree-lined streets of the French quarter. This is an ideal place to evoke those colonial days in coffee shops with a touch of French style, or walking through its streets and enjoy a unique atmosphere halfway between East and West.
- Test The Fresh Tea In Munnar.
Munnar is undoubtedly the most romantic mountainous area in southern India, where the smell of tea in the air permeates everything. The region is known for its comprehensive plantations, where we can see how it is congestive and processed, and taste fresh tea directly from the plantations. There is even a tea museum in the town. To make matters worse, this green landscape takes your breath away with its hills caressed by blankets of fog and forests full of exotic plants and wildlife.
- A Bathroom on the Beach of Kovalam.
Kovalam is the most developed tourist area in the state of Kerala and is one of the most popular surfing destinations in all of India. Around its beautiful crescent-shaped beaches you can find wide promenades with an excellent offer of restaurants, accommodation and entertainment venues.
- Burn The Tongue With A “Fish Curry”.
Among the things to do and see in South India could not miss the culinary experience par excellence, since one of the pleasures of a trip to South India is the exquisite regional cuisine based on coconut, burning spices and rice and / or lentils The food is often served in banana leaves and eaten with the hands. Fish or seafood curries from coastal areas of South India are reputed to be the best in the world. You have to accompany the meal with a cup of the aromatic filtered coffee typical of South India (kaapi).
- Dancing Between the Big Felines during Pulikkali.
Pulikkali is a recreational folk dance of the state of Kerala. It is usually performed by trained artists to entertain people on the occasion of Onam, an annual harvest festival, which is celebrated mainly in the Indian state of Kerala. On the fourth day of the Onam celebrations (Nalaam Onam), artists painted like tigers, leopards and hunters in bright shades of red yellow and black dance to the rhythm of instruments like Udukku and Thakil. The literal meaning of Pulikkali is the “game of the tigers”, therefore, the performance revolves around the theme of the tiger hunt. The best place to see the show is in Thrissur, the fourth day of Onam, where Pulikkali groups from across the district meet to showcase their skills. It is a day of pure fun. Onam is celebrated at the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of the Malay solar calendar (Kollavarsham). It falls in August or September of each year.
- Let You Be Fascinated By Tholpavakoothuis.
Tholpavakoothuis is the most popular form of Shadow Theater in Kerala. It is of ancient origin and is made using leather puppets. These are forms of a ritual dedicated to Bhadrakali (a popular Hindu goddess in southern India) and are usually interpreted in Devi temples (feminine manifestation of God), in specially constructed theaters called koothumadams.
- Wait For The Lights Of The Royal Palace Of Mysore.
The Mysore Royal Palace is the second most visited monument in India (after, of course, Taj Mahal in Agra) and therefore inevitable in a list of things to do and see in South India. It is one of the largest royal buildings in India, which was the headquarters of the Maharajas of Wodeyar. The luxurious Indo-Saracen interior, a kaleidoscope of stained glass, mirrors and bright colors, often impresses visitors. But, its most popular aspect is its exterior at sunset. Every Sunday and national holidays, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the palace is lit by about 100,000 light bulbs that accentuate its majestic profile against the night.
- Deleit with the Human Show.
In South India one is never alone, let’s look where we look. At any time of the day people are always seen, providing extraordinarily rich scenes, full of color and life; A true paradise for photographers . Since that is the case, it is worth knowing that the people of South India have a reputation for being very friendly and kind to travelers. In contrast to the culture of European influence of northern India, the predominant culture in southern India is Dravidic, with many different religious beliefs that coexist peacefully.
