South India, stretching south of the Vindhya Mountain ranges down to the coastal areas surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, covers a vast swathe of the Deccan plateau. The history and culture of the people of South India, and their language, is dominated by the Dravidian empire from 2500 BC. The states in this region are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, all four of which have their own languages, slightly differing from each other, but vastly different from the language and culture of the Indian heartland in the North and West.

South India has two major claims to being a tourist attraction. Thousands of miles of pristine coastline and sandy beaches, dotted with sea side resorts and the ancient Hindu heritage architecture, temples and remnants of the Indus valley civilization, one of the earliest urban settlements known to man.

In addition to Hindu monuments, South India also features a cauldron mix of minority cultures and art. Main attractions include the gigantic 60 foot Jain statue of Gometeshwara in Karnataka, the Paradesi synagogue in Kochi, Kerala which is the oldest surviving synagogue in the Commonwealth, the Charminar in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, the Periyar National Park and last, but not least, the spectacular KanyaKumari. KanyaKumari is described in more detail under Tamil Nadu, but it needs to be said that this little slice of land has a magnificent beauty which cannot be described on paper. Without visiting KanyaKumari, a visit to India would be rather incomplete.

As far as cuisine goes, South India has one thing in plenty to offer – Rice. They have an uncountable number of different types of rice dishes, all of them mouth wateringly tasty and delicious. The favorite breakfasts are Dosai and Idli, which are made from – yes, rice! South Indian cuisine is famous enough to make it across the Vindhya Mountains and is commonly found in every nook and corner of India, and in lots of places around the world with expatriate Indian populations.
 

Kerala

Located at the very bottom of India, as far as the map goes, Kerala is commonly known as God’s own country, by both tourists and locals. With sandy white beaches and lazy backwaters, mild weather and friendly people, everything in Kerala works at its own slow and unhurried pace. Boat trips on the backwater canals and protected wetlands, sun bathing on the beach front resorts and the lush greenery of the Periyar National Park, not to mention the health spas and Ayurvedic clinics, make for a rejuvenating vacation, and most tourists leave Kerala in much better shape, mentally and physically, than when they came in. The Thrissur Pooram temple festival, held annually, is a magnificent spectacle with a procession of bedecked elephants and firecrackers.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra is a state with a mix of modernism and centuries old heritage sites, with a majority Hindu population and a Muslim façade to its capital and biggest city, Hyderabad. Boasting to the richest temple in India, Tirupati, with a massive flow of pilgrims, devotees and tourists all pouring money into its coffers, the Charminar in Hyderabad a reminder of the Muslim Emperors, Golconda Fort, the beaches of the port city of Visakhapatanam and the million year old limestone caves of Borra. In the middle of all this are modern skyscrapers and IT software parks in and around Hyderabad, vying for attention with five star accommodation and pubs and discos, catering to both leisure and corporate tourists.

Karnataka

Karnataka has a huge number of monuments and places of interest, not to mention that Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka, is highly popular among tourists due its westernized feel, with pubs and multi-ethnic cultural fabric and high tech population mixing with expatriates from the US and Europe. The ruins at Hampi, location of the early Vijyanagara Empire of 1335, are a world heritage site. The Jog waterfall is India’s tallest single tiered waterfall. With over 20 wildlife parks, numerous waterfalls and rushing rivers and a vast and varying geographical spread, adventure and outdoor tourism is also very popular in Karnataka.