South India & Islands
Kerala
South India and Kerala follows a much gentler pace than its northern counterparts and has a fascinating mix of influences, from the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and Chinese who came to trade spices and ivory, to the Dutch, Portuguese and British - all of whom have left their mark: the Chinese fishing nets in Cochin, the Dutch forts and palaces throughout the region, the tea plantations and the cricket pitches of the Raj occupation. Kerala, with its abundant greenery, rolling hills of the Western Ghats, wildlife sanctuaries, spice plantations and tranquil backwaters, deserves its title "God's Own Country".
Tamil Nadu
This south east state boasts one of the oldest Hindu civilizations and was the area least affected by the influence of the British (despite being the original foothold of the East India Company), and is often referred to as "the most Indian part of India". It is characterized by the most outstanding examples of Dravidian architecture with fascinating temple towns of Madurai, Chidambaram, Trichy and Tanjore; the largest temple, the Sri Ranganathaswamy at Trichy, houses over twenty thousand people within its walls.
Karnataka
Less populated and the least visited of all the southern states, Karnataka has stunning monuments that have borne witness to the rise and fall of Muslim and Hindu dynasties. Historic Mysore, the city of palaces, fragranced with sandalwood, the intricate temples at Halebid and Belur, the remnants of the Vijayanagar empire at Hampi, towering statues and vast areas of protected land by the national parks of Nagarhole and Bandipur contrast sharply with the hip IT capital Bangalore.
Goa
increasingly over-developed, Goa still has pockets where tourism has been carefully regulated, and some of India's finest beach hotels can be found on uninterrupted expanses of palm fringed beaches. It remains a great place to end a holiday for those who want breathtaking sunsets, great seafood and to catch a glimpse of India's Portuguese colonial legacy.
