|
Tour Itineraries for South India :
 To the south of the Great Plains of North India lie the Great Plateau of Peninsular India, divided into two parts, namely, the Malwa Plateau and the Deccan Plateau. The Malwa plateau bounded by the Aravali hills in the northwest and the Vindhyas in the south form the northern half of this peninsula. The valley of the Narmada River forms the southern boundary of this plateau. The Deccan plateau extends from the Satpura hills in the north to Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, finally culminating in the Indian Ocean.
This great region was inhabited by the aboriginal people of India (known as Dravidians); one of the greatest patrons of art and culture in the world. They built great temples, which also played central role in the society and economy and are erect today with the same strength as before. The South India tour is famous for basically this temple tour. The major tourist states and Union territories in the South India are Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Andaman Nicobar and Pondicherry.
Unlike the rivers of north India, most of the rivers of south India flow from west to east. Most prominent of the rivers are Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery (Kaveri). These rivers of south India also have great religious significance. Many great cultures and pilgrimage centers developed on the banks of these holy rivers. Even now, in South India, rivers are seen as a source of protection against the evil things and the lifeblood of human beings.
History of South India
Following the decline of the Mauryan Empire, a number of powerful kingdoms arose in Central and South India, of which the Satvahanas and Vakatakas hold precedence. Later on, these regions saw the rise of some of the greatest dynasties of South India like Cholas, Pandyas, Cheras, Chalukyas, and Pallavas. After the decline of these mighty empires, after the 12th century, the south India saw the emergence of new kingdoms like Vijayanagar, Bahmani, Bijapur, and Golkunda. Accession of Mughals in the North India in the 16th century and their expansionist policies spreading their tentackles towards the southern kingdoms created a direct conflict of these empires with the Mughals.
Southern India was also the first to receive the European powers at the end of 15th century, when Vasco da Gama stepped on Calicut coast in 1498. Then successively Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English came and established their business centers in the region. In south India, Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan fought vigorously with the British for some time, but could not save the region from being ruled by the British.
Tourist Places in South India
Temple towns of south India are the greatest contribution to the world. Backwaters of Kerala, wildlife sanctuaries of Nilgiris, and beaches of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andaman & Nicobar, and Lakshadweep are one of the best you can find in South India Tour. The architectural remains and the excavations in Northern Karnataka have attracted tourists from all over the world, who are interested in exploring the lost empire of Vijayanagar at Hampi. The Meenakshi Temple, gurvayur Temple, Vivekananda Rock, Ramkrishna Ashram and Aurobindo Ashram are some of the most frequently visited places in South India.
.
|
