South India

Planning

Plan a visit of at least a month or two, to experience the beauty of this mystic land. There is so much to see and experience. In a brief visit you won't be able to do this, which ultimately does not provide you with an unforgettable memory on your return. You can hardly see anything during a short trip, not even a glimpse of whole of South India. On a short visit, you will be able to cover just few places and return with that memory, without understanding the proper picture of South India.

Gathering information and Travel Booking

Collect information about the southern region of India through various websites, and relevant resources. Then make a list of places you want to visit and what you want to do there. Without any planning if you arrive in this amazing land you may not be able to experience the best of South India. Get your booking for flights and hotels done well in advance with a reputable online website, after checking with several online travel booking agents, so that you won't face any problem when you land up in a new country, especially if it is your first visit.

Choose a Festive season

If possible try to make your visit during any one of the main festivals of South India such as Onam, Dusserah, Ugadi, Pongal,Deepavali, Boat Race festival, Pooram festival etc. Festivals are always colorful in India. This will give you a unique experience. During your visit if you get an opportunity to attend a wedding in South India, it will be an added bonus to experience the customs and culture of this wonderful land.

Get the feeling of South India

When you arrive in any of the cities of South India, take good rest that day and get accustomed to the weather, which is most likely different from the country you are coming from. Get used to the various South Indian food. Don't be in a hurry for sightseeing until the next day, so that you feel refreshed and energised, and free from jetlag and enjoy your holidays better. During this time if you feel take a walk through the streets to see the varieties of lovely articles, fabrics and souveniers on display. If you want to buy any of them and feel that it is over-priced, try to bargain and bring it down.

South Indian cuisine

Enjoy a fabulous South Indian meal. In each State, the food may be slightly different. But on the whole, a South Indian meal consists of rice, sambar, few side dishes, papad, pickle, and curds. Usually a South Indian meal is served on plantain leaf, but they are available in steel plates, called thali, and sometimes plantain leaf is kept inside the steel plate. Once your stomach is used to South Indian vegetarian food you can even try sea food, preferably from good hotels. If you go for a road side food, it will certainly be cheaper, but it may not agree with your stomach.

Hill Stations

South India is blessed with abundant natural beauty. The highlands of Western Ghats are home for many picturesque hill stations. The shimmering lakes and verdant green forests along with the waterfalls and wildlife, you will enjoy the aroma of coffee and tea plantations in some of these hill stations. Visit any one of the hill stations like Ooty, Munnar, Coorg, Kodaikanal, Yercaud, and Horsely Hill. In most of the hills, you can enjoy a trekking, too.

Backwater Cruise

When you are in Kerala, don't forget to enjoy a backwater cruise in the kettuvalloms (houseboats), through the emerald waters, hearing the soothing sound of water rippling alongside your houseboat, as you drift and see the life of locals. The backwaters of Kerala are a series of interconnected waterways, lakes, inlets and riverine estuaries. Spend a night in the houseboat, though it is little expensive. Enjoy the freshly cooked sea-food. Experience the delightful and unforgettable journey where earth, sea, and sky come together in harmony. It is a unique experience which words cannot express. One must experience it to know its true joy.

Beach Holidays

Don't forget to enjoy a day or two in the sandy and palm-fringed beaches in any of the places.The southern parts of India are home of natural beauty with plenty of fabulous beaches. If you are a type who enjoys a party-type beach vacation, head towards Goa. Instead, if you are looking for a calm and quite vacation choose any of the unexplored beaches in South India. If you want to be in the midst of many international tourists doing kayaking, surfing, sailing, yatching, skiing, scuba diving and windsurfing, Kovalam beach is for you. In some unexplored beaches, if you're lucky, as you walk down you may see a fishing catch being brought up and sorted on the beach.

Monuments and Temples

South India is the land of temples and gifted with many monuments. If you are the type who love rich Architecture and Sculptural works a visit to some
of these places are a must. There are many monuments worth visiting, and some of them are (1) Mysore Palace, the royal residence of Wodeyar Kings, with Indo-Saracenic features, with a series of domes and arches, especially when it is lit on Sundays and on holidays, (2) gigantic temples built centuries ago like Meenakshi Amman temple at Madurai, in Tamil Nadu, with thousands of magnificent sculptures, adoring the nine towers of the shrine, (3) Belur-Halebid temples and (4) Hampi ruins in Karnataka.

Ayurveda

For the health conscious people Ayurveda can be included in their itinery. Ayurveda is renowned for its curative and rejuvenating powers, and works on the principle of "Prevention is better than cure". Ayurveda deals with the maintenance of health and relief from disease,and it is the most eco-friendly system of medicine. Many ayurvedic resorts are there in South India, especially in Kerala. Experience the wonderful ayurvedic system of treatment during your South India vacation.

Train Journey

To see most part of South India, a train journey is helpful, especially if you are arriving from other part of India. For long distant journey,
train journey is more convenient than bus and less expensive, too. You can see the true India in her various faces, people of all classes. You can take pictures of the beautiful tropical landscape of palm trees, rice paddies, small farms roll by.
If you opt for an overnight journey you can save on hotel bill. Domestic flights are available in all major cities, and if you are short of time and hate long distance journey opt for a domestic flight.