South India

Kovalam

Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach of Kerela, with three adjacent crescent beaches. Kovalam has been a favorite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse - sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes, Catamaran cruising etc.  The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night.  One of the world's greatest beaches, now a magnificent resort of the sun, surf and sea. A beach paradise: the boundless blue of the Arabian Sea and the unwinding miles of the fine sanded beaches washed by a surf which raors and hisses at the feet of the stalwart palms.  At the Kovalam Ashok Beach Resort, there's the magnificent Kovalam Hotel. Built as an extension of a hill that overlooks the Kovalam Bay, the five tiered hotel gently descends to the beach following the contours of the land. Nearby is Kovalam Grove, a beach village with 42 air-conditioned "kudils" or cottages set in a grove of lush palm trees. On the other side of Kovalam Hotel is Halcyon Castle the summer retreat of the kings, with two de luxe suites and mini conference facilities. Between the Hotel and the Grove is the Beach Center with typical south Indian circular kiosks with thatched conical roofs and facilities for popular aqautic sports.  Yet Kovalam is not just a beach resort. At the Yoga and Health Center in a shady grove, the intricacies and the dynamics of yoga and transcedental meditation are taught by experts. You can try out rejuvanating Ayurvedic massages and oil baths that date back thousands of years. And in the quietude of the evening take in a performance of Kathakali, the specatcular dance-drama of Kerala. Drawing from the rich heritage of Hindu epics, Kathakali depicts in chant and dance, th tales of gods, heroes and demons of the fabulous Indian legends. It is richly costumed and unrivalled in dramatic splendour.  Car hire and tour facilities take you to fabled Cochin through plantations of tea, coffee and fragrant spices; to  This enchanting strip of golden sands is laced with the rich greenery of coconut palms. A former fishing village, Kovalam is just 16 km away from Thiruvanantapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala's capital city. Kovalam is an evergreen and pleasant climatic beach resort. It is a dreamy place for tourists all over the world. Today Kovalam beach is known as the "Paradise of the South".  With high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore. Over the past three decades, the place has been well developed, and now figures prominently on the world tourism map.  Its scenic beauty and serenity is supplemented by the availability of excellent accommodation . There are a lot of restaurants which provide western style food as well as Indian, which is delicious. The grilled seafood items such as lobster, king prawns and kalamari which are got fresh from the sea at Kovalam. Ayurvedic massage parlours, yoga centers and water sport facilities, makes Kovalam a popular haven for tourists from all over the globe. General Information Altitude :Sea level Latitude : 8' 05'  Longitude : 77' 15"  Rainfall :170 cm Season : Throughout (Best - September to May) Languages : Malayalam, English, Hindi, Tamil

Ponmudi

Ponmudi hill resort is cool and quiet. As the hills come awake you can begin a pleasurable exploration of the wooded paths. Trekking is a passion with visitors to Ponmudi. Ponmudi has other surprises too for you. Orchids, for instance, grow in abundance here. A charming deer park is only 3kms. from Ponmudi. Picnic hampers that the staff at the guest house would be happy to arrange, which you could take down the hill to a picturesque ruined dam site or golden valley which is another pretty scenic spot. Other attractions are Bird watching, Deer park and long,  enjoyable walks.  An ideal little hill station, tucked away in the Western Ghats, Ponmudi is at an altitude of 1100 feet above sea level. Lush Green woods, lazily meandering streams and countless varieties of butterflies lend a strange magic to Ponmudi. It is a panorama of pristine beauty cloaked in mist. There are several tea and rubber estates around the hills. A hill tribe called Kannikkar lives in the surrounding areas. Ponmudi is a fast developing hill station with room and dormitory accommodation facilities, restaurants, hill trails for hiking, a collection of hovering trees and deer park. Ponmudi is 61 kms from Thiruvananthapuram and is easily reached by road from here.

Alappuzha

Alappuzha, also known as Venice of the East, is one of the exotic backwater sites of India's southern state Kerala and also the major center of coir Industry. A large net work of canals pass through the town and there is a long sandy beach. A singular characteristic of this land is the region called Kuttanad. The 'Granary of Kerala', Kuttanad is one of the few regions in the world where farming is done below sea level. At Punnamadakayal, one of Kerala's most famous boat races is held. The Nehru Cup, inaugurated in 1952, is the largest snake boat race in the state.The climate of this small town is temperate and humid in general and relatively more pleasant in the winter season. The temperature ranges from 22 to 35°C in summer and 20 to 32°C during winters. The best time to visit Alappuzha is during the winter season. The months from August-September and February-March are ideal for a visit to this place General Information Location : 64 Km North Of Kochi (Kerala)  Altitude Sea level  Area 1414.00 sq. km  Temperature (Mean Max, Mean Min) Summer 35 c Winter 32c ,20c  Rainfall Annual 299 cms.  Best time to visit August to March  Clothing Tropical cottons  Languages spoken Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and English.  Boundaries Arabian sea on the West

Kumarakom

The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and this small water world is part of the Kuttanad region. The bird sanctuary here, which is spread across 14 acres is a favorite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist's paradise. Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live There in flocks are a fascination for visitors. The best way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islands.An unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with while lillies - this is Kumarakom Kumarakom, located on the Southern coast of India enjoys a well-balanced tropical climate.  Kumarakom (Paradise of Travelers) : Rated as one of the top 15 beautiful spots in the world by the national geographic. Kumarakom lies in the hinterland between Kochi and Kottayam. The nearest airport is at Kochi and there are railway station at both Kochi and Kottayam. Bask in the beauty of nature amidst marvelous mangrove forests, coconut capopies and pulsating paddy fields sprinkle with enchanting waterways and canals decked with while lilies. For every one looking forward to a lazy and laid back holiday, Kumarakom is the place to be at. Since it is pollution free.

Cochin

Kochi (Cochin), the Queen of the Arabian Sea, is situated on the west coast of India in the beautiful state of Kerala. Kochi can be regarded as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala. Kerala is one of the most prosperous state of India, flanked by the Arabian Sea on the western side and the Western Ghats on the eastern side.Roughly speaking Kochi is 10 º North and 76 º East. Kochi is the most important city in Kerala. It is the second most important city (after Mumbai) on the western coast of India . Kochi is known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea and the Queen of the Adriatic. It is also referred to as the Gateway of South India.

Munnar

MUNNAR - One of the most popular hill stations in India, is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Located at 1600 Mts. above sea level, this was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar a unique experience.  Altitude : 1600 Mts to 1800 Mts above sea level  Temperature : Min. 22.5c - Max. 37.5c  Clothing : Warm Cloths and Rain Gear  Tourist Season : August to March  Munnar is a picturesque scope of the lofty Western Ghats. Munnar first came into prominence as a favorite summer resort of the British government. The town of Munnar stands at the confluence of three mountain streams. Come to Munnar. Go trekking. Go boating. Go riding. Go angling. Or just laze about and fill your soul with peace in Munnar. Wild life of Munnar All kinds of South Indian animals and birds are found in Munnar and surroundings. You can have a closer look at them at Eravikulam national park or Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. Tea estates of Munnar Munnar is essentially a tea town. Miles and miles of unending tea plantations are there to welcome you. Munnar is one of the most naturally beautiful hill-stations in South India. It is located in the Western Ghats in the Eastern parts of Central Kerala and an adjoining part of Tamilnadu. The former, mainly in Devikulam Taluks of Idukki district, Kerala is usually known as the Kannan Devan hills or the High Ranges. The plantations in High Ranges are clustered around the town of Munnar (10 N 77 E) which is about 130 km from Cochin. Kodaikanal, another famous hill-station is just 90kms from Munnar. Tea estates adds a heavenly charm to the serene landscape. These estates lie at elevations varying from about 1300m (4300 ft.) to 1900 m(6200 ft.) above mean sea level. Munnar is at about 1500 m (4300 ft.) above sea level. Some of the tea field sat 2100 m (7000 ft.), are among the highest in the world. The highest peak in South India - The Anamudi(2695 m/8841 ft.) - is situated in the High Ranges.

Periyaar

The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the 16 Project Tiger Reserves in India located in the in the Cardamom Hill Ranges in the southernmost part of western Ghats in Kerala.  A dam that was constructed on the River Periyar in 1895 resulted in the adjoining forests being granted protection by the Maharaja of Travancore. The resulting Periyar Lake and its surrounding forests, provide protection to the animals within. The forests are a mixture of deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen trees with patches of marsh and grasslands. The Periyar Widlife sanctuary is spread across 777 sq km, of which 360 sq km is thick evergreen forest, the Periyar Wiild Life Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Noted for its geomorphology, diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the Reserve attracts visitors all over the world and is one of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves. Although a Tiger Reerve, the Sanctuary is most famous as Elephant country. About 800 reside within these natural surroundings. Apart from Elephants, other animals here are the Gaur, Wild Pig, Sambhar, Mouse Deer, Indian Wild Dog and sometimes the Tiger, which are 40 in number. Along with wildlife, the bird population within the Sanctuary is plenty. These include the Darter, Cormorant, Kingfishers, Great Malabar Hornbill and Racket-tailed Drongoes. Apart from Elephants, the other animals to be seen in the Periyar sanctuary are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog and very rarely, a Tiger. There are, now, an estimated 40 tigers here. Four species of primates are found at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Common Langur And Bonnet Macaque. Periyar also happens to be the habitat of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr, which is rarely to be seen. The birdlife comprises of Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, the great Malabar Hornbill and racket-tailed Drongoes. The reptilian population boasts Of Monitor Lizards that can be spotted basking in the sun, on the rocks along the lakeshore. Visitors who trek into the Periyar national park often see a Python and sometimes even a King Cobra. In the lap of the mountains, the Periyar wildlife sanctuary's environ is like a canvas of many shades. The fresh air of the moist deciduous forest gives one a chance to experience the peace and serenity and long to return for more. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar, however are the herds of wild elephants that come down to the play in the lake.

Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is one of the most popular hill resorts in India. It is a charming hill station, stands amidst sylvan beauty on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. With its rocks, woods, lovely lake and bracing air, Kodaikanal is an ideal hill resort for the tourists.  The unique flowering plant 'Kurunji'(Strobilanthus Kunthanus) that last bloom in 1992, is the nature's gift to Kodaikanal. Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India, which mesmerises any visitor. Kodai is situated at an altitude of about 2,133-m high and covers an area of 21.45-sq-km. The hill town is renowned for its educational institutions of international repute. The hill-plantain fruits and plums are known for their freshness and taste. Berijam lake, one among the beautiful lakes of South India, spreads over an area of 24 hectares.

Ooty

The "Queen of hill stations" is the capital of Nilgiris district. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India. Nilgiris means "Blue Mountains". It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. Used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. An added attraction for the tourists to Udagamandalam is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens. One can notice a marvellous change in vegetation, as one goes from Kallar to Coonoor. The establishment of numerous tea estates made Ooty famous. Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers.

Mysore

Former Capital of the erstwhile Wodeyars, is also known as the City of Palaces. Located 770 m above sea level. Mysore inspite of being ruled by different Rulers and Kingdoms for ages, still retains its old charm and Stately beauty. There are many sights in Mysore like the magnificent Mysore Palace, Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, St. Philomena's Church, KRS Brindavan Gardens. And the convenient an exciting way to explore these sights is to take the KSTDC conducted Mysore Sight-seeing tour. Mysore is the formal Capital of the erstwhile Wodeyars and also theState of MYSORE before it was shifted to Bangalore. The city of Palaces has been theCulture Capital of Karnataka ever since and even to this day millions of Tourists from allover the World visit Mysore during Dasehra (Nava Rathri) during October. Srirangapatna The island fortress of the legendary Tiger of Mysore - Tipu Sultan, takes you through the pages of history. Every stone, every Temple, every Palace and every Mosque in here has a story to tell.  Prime Sites: Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace The summer Palace of Tipu Sultan, built fully by wood is today a museum devoted to Tipu Sultan  Gumbaz An imposing structure where the mortal remains of Hyder Ali, his wife and Tipu Sultan were confined.  Ranganathaswamy Temple Temple of Lord Vishnu in the sleeping posture on the Great Snake Anantha, is one of the Largest temples in the State. It is a beautiful example for both Vijayanagara and Hoysala Styles of Architecture.  St Philomena's Church A beautiful Cathedral with stained Glass Windows and lofty Towers. Reminiscent of Medival Architecture.  Art Gallery The Jaganmohan Palace today houses one of the India’s best Art Gallery since 1875. Mysore "Gold Leaf" paintings are well known through out the world.  Brindavan Gardens World Famous Terrace Gardens with Musical Fountains which gets transformed into a dreamland by night with swirling waters, colourful lights and melodious music.  Chamundi Hills A symbol of victory of Good over Evil is a 335 metre landmark with 1000 steps. Half way up along the stone steps is Nandi, a majestic 4.8 mts monolith. Atop the hill is huge statue of Mahishasura, the demon and a temple of Goddess Chamundeshwari, can also be reached by driving 13 Kms.  Mysore Palace Built in the Indo - Saracenic Style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades, the palace in-spite of housing the Royal Family is open for Visitors it attracts in millions from all over the world.  Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden A house for animals in captivity was established in 19th century under the patronage of the then King, houses many endangered species.

Bangalore

Bangalore, the 'Garden City Of India' and capital of the State (1000 m above level ) was founded in 1537 AD by a Vijaynagar chieftan Kempe Gowda. The legend goes that the King Veera Ballala of Vijaynagar once lost his way while hunting in a forest. Hungry tired, he came upon a lone hut in the thick of forest where he met an old woman. When he asked for food she gave him some baked beans (Benda Kalu in Kannada ). To the King this humble meal tasted better than those served in palace. To commemorate the incident, he called the place 'Benda Kaluooru' (place of baked beans ) and this in time transformed into Bangalore. In the 18th century it was the stronghold of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan. Today it is the fifth largest city of India and country's main industrial city which includes industries like aircraft, telephones, electronics etc. Places To See: Vidhana Soudha  A magnificent post independence structure incorporating the traditional feature of architecture, the Vidhan Soudha is located in Cubbon Park. This is an imposing granite structure with a total plinth area of over 5,00,000 sq.ft and houses the secretariat, the state legislature and several government offices. The huge carved doors of the cabinet are made of pure sandalwood. Cubbon Park  In the heart of the city is the Cubbon Park. This beautiful 300 acre park built by Lieutenant General Sir Mark Cubbon in 1864 has public library and the museum. The Vidhan Soudha and many Greco-colonial style buildings of the British era like the Public Library and the High Court are located here.  Government Museum  Established in 1896, the Government Museum has on display ancient weapons, stone carvings, pottery, painting and relics of the 5000-year-old Mohenjo-Daro civilization. Tipu's Summer Palace  One of Tipu's summer retreats - was begun by Hyder Ali and completed by Tipu Sultan. It is an elegant two storey wooden structure with ornate pillars, balconies, arches and a well-maintained garden.  ISKCON Temple  The ISKCON Temple was built recently by the International Society for Krishan Consciousness. As you climb the granite steps you will encounter three small shrines before the main temple. The three idols of Lord Krishna in the main shrine are made of brass. The Fort and Tipu Sultan's Palace  Built initially in 1537 by Kempe Gowda as a crude mud structure, it was rebuilt by Hyder Ali in 1761. In this fort hyder Ali had imprisoned David Baird along with a number of British army officers. the fort has well preserved Ganapati temple within it's precincts and the temple on the outer wall carries exquisite carvings of Sri Krishna playing his flute and inside, there is a fine statue of Lord Ganesh which still attracts devotees. Near the fort is Tipu's palace, begum by Hyder Ali and completed by Tipu Sultan in 1791. It resembles Daria Daulat Palace of Srirangapatnam.  Durgah Of Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Shah Suharawardi  Situated in the heart of Cottonpet this Muslim saint's shrine has been associated with the Hindu festival of 'Kangra'. The famous Kangra procession, while passing through the city, visits the 'Durgah' of the sufi saint Tawakkal Mastan whose tomb attracts thousands of both Muslims and non-Muslims.  Gangadhareswara Cave Temple Built by Kempe Gowda, this temple with four remarkable monolithic pillars, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It also has a rare idol of Agni, God of fire.  Bull Temple At Basavanagudi is one of the oldest temple, typical of the Dravidian style of architecture. Built by Kempe Gowda, the Nandi, the sacred bull, carved out of a single boulder, is 6.1 meter long and 4.6 meter high. Jumma Masjid Oldest Mosque built Mughal Killedar, was damaged by cannon fire during the Mysore war and renovated in 1836.  St Mary's Cathedral Built by French missionary in 1882 AD it is a grand Basillica with an impressive tower and typically gothic pointed arches.  Venkataramanswamy Temple Temple near Tipu's palace was built by Chikka Deva Raja Wodeyar nearly 300 years ago, in the typical Dravidian style.

Goa

The state of Goa is a tropical paradise located on the west coast of India. It is unique from the rest of India because of its history and geography. The people of Goa or Goans are friendly, fun-loving and peaceful.  Goa has a lot to offer the tourist seeking a fun filled vacation. Its idyllic tropical white sand beaches and warm tropical waters beckon to those who want to just relax. Its rich cultural blend of Indo-Portuguese heritage as is reflected in its history, culture, cuisine and its people has its own appeal, especially to those wanting to explore its past. For the international visitor, English is widely spoken and understood. It has a well maintained infrastructure and a growing service sector. Beaches of Goa To the average tourist interested in having a good time, " the beaches" is what Goa is all about. It has been widely publicized in the media, movies and adds to the mystique of Goa. This is not without reason because Goa possesses one of the finest stretches of sandy coastline in India .  The tropical climate, the coconut trees, the white sand beaches all have been immortalized in many song and dance sequences of Indian movies and add to the romantic allure of Goa. It is now the No 1 tourist destination of Indians on the move especially the newly weds on their honeymoon and the upwardly mobile Indian gentry. The beaches have seen some significant commercialization , especially Calangute with hotels of every shape, size and class with shops and restaurants to cater to every taste. There are a few isolated beaches for those in search of peace and tranquility. In general, the beaches are clustered into two regions, north and south Goa coastlines with the capital Panaji and nearby Miramar beach, and Bambolim beach , in the middle. The first is the coastline that extends from Fort Aguada and Sinquerim beach areas and goes upwards along the coastline to Chapora beach and fort. The beaches along this stretch of coastline include the following in order:  Sinquerim, Candolim, Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Vagator, Chapora, Morjim, Arambol. The second is the coastline extending south of Vasco da Gama and Bogmalo beach and going down along the coastline to the southern tip of Goa and ending with Polem Beach. The beaches along this stretch of the coastline include the following: Bogmalo, Velsao, Majorda, Colva, Benaulim, Betul, Canaguinim, Agonda, Palolem, Rajbhag.

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