SOUTH INDIA AT A GLANCE

South India encircles the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the union territories of Puducherry and Lakshadweep. South India occupies 19.31% of the area of India. 

The land of south has weaved its own special charisma on travelers who love to wander down the southern coasts of India. Endowed with verdant pastures, warm sunbeams and exotic oceans, South India tourism has a whole bunch to offer to gadabouts and travelers. From magnificent sceneries to spiritual resorts to soothing spas, a tour to South India revitalizes your body, mind and soul. The striking traditions, tribes and sumptuous delicacies are bound to kindle your desire to travel. The scintillating landscapes speckled with ancient temples and delightful resorts will traverse you through a maze of history and time and will turn your tour into an experience to revive. 

Let’s get to know about some of the exotic destinations of South that will make an exciting South India tour:

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS: These islands are located in the south-east coast of India in the Bay of Bengal. Brimmed with splendid flora and fauna, marine life and sheltered with coconut palms, Andaman and Nicobar Islands make a perfect holiday resort for adventure hunters and gadabouts. The Andaman and Nicobar islands can be easily reached from Kolkata or Chennai by air. The places of interest in these islands include: 

Little Andaman Island: Here one can visit the Butler beach, magnificent waterfalls and plantations of oil-palms. 

Diglipur: Here one can see Saddle Peak, the highest point in the island which is 732 meters high. Nature lovers get a toast to their eyes with rich paddy and rice fields. One can also witness beautiful marine life here.

Rangat: A town in the middle Andaman Island, Rangat includes some nice tourist attractions like Amkunj Beach and Cutbert Bay Beach. Cutbert Bay Beach is a significant turtle nesting ground.

Neil Islands: With its thick and abundant greenery and golden beaches, Neil Islands form an ideal hangout for nature admirers.

LAKSHADWEEP: These islands are located in the Arabian Sea in the West Coast of India. There are a total of 36 islands, each bounded by its own beautiful beaches and corals. Places of interest include the Agatti Island, Minicoy Island, Kadmat Island, Kalpeni Island, Kavaratti Island and Banagarm. 

KERALA: Famous with the epithet- God’s own country, Kerala is a very small state and its landscape comprises of hills, lakes, mountains, forests, seacoast, backwaters and beautiful green countryside. Your tour to South India is bound to be incomplete without visiting Kerala’s beautiful beaches, wildlife destinations, spas and various forms of folk art.

TAMIL NADU: Tamil Nadu nests some of the ancient and serene places of worship. Known as the ‘Temple Circuit of India’, Tamil Nadu is the eleventh largest state of India. For a mesmerizing spiritual experience one should visit Velankanni, Kubhakonam and Thanjavur. 

PUDUCHERRY: Also known as the ‘The French Riviera of the East’, Puducherry is a well planned and beautifully crafted town and depicts the major French Colony of India. It is an ideal getaway to escape from the conundrum of routine life. A tour to this serene city and various tourist spots refreshes one’s body and soul.

If travelling to India is in your list then do not forget to visit the captivating cities of South. Plan your trip and get ready to unravel the ecstasy of South India. 

TOUR TO THE MAJESTIC CITY OF GUJARAT

A state in the North-West coast of India, Gujarat is locally known as ‘The Jewel of the West’. Being the seventh largest state in India, Gujarat is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country and offers picturesque beauty from ‘Great Rann of Kutch’ to ‘Satapura’. It is a land of rich-cultural heritage and the only place to view the ‘Asiatic Lions’ in the world. The state of Gujarat is diverse in itself with its diversity reflecting in the beautiful monuments, temples, wildlife and vibrant celebrations. It is also the birthplace of many stupendous souls. The martyrs of this popular state bravely fought for India's Independence and gave up their lives for their country.

The 3 main attractions of Gujarat are:

GIR FOREST NATIONAL PARK: This National Park and Wild Life Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife destinations of India famous for Asiatic lions. It is the only place in the world, apart from for Africa, where the lions reside in their natural-habitat. Visit this park to get the grand views of lions. Other wildlife species such as wild ass, chinkara, spotted deer, leopard, chital, monkeys, four-horned antelope, parrots and peacock are also found here. The park is maintained by the ‘Forest Department of Gujarat’.

AHMEDABAD: Situated on the banks of river Sabarmati, Ahmedabad is the commercial city of Gujarat. The city is famous for temples, mosques, monuments and its rich cultural heritage and is synonymous with Gandhi Ji’s ‘Sabarmati Ashram’. The ashram was set up by Mahatama Gandhi in 1915. There are numerous attractions of Ahmedabad such as Teen Darwaza, Bhadra fort, the mausoleums of ‘Ahmed Shah’ and his queens, Hathee Singh Jain Temple, Rani Rupmati’s Mosque, Dada-hari-di-Vav, Victoria Garden, NC Metha Museum of Miniatures, Calico Textile Museum and Kankaria Lake.

VADODARA: It is a marvelous destination consisting of museums, palaces and parks. Art Gallery, Sayaji Bagh, a small zoo and a planetarium are its famous attractions. The museum displays an extraordinary collection of ancient-manuscripts, artifacts, Egyptian-Antiquities and Indian-Sculptures. The art gallery showcases some magnificent works of Mughal miniatures and European Masters. The Naulakhi Well, Laxmi Vilas Palace and Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum are the other splendid attractions of this beautiful city.

The above cited attractions and destinations are only the miniature list of the wonderful tourist spots in the state. However, Gujarat has much more to offer to its visitors. Be a traveler and book your flight to explore the treasures of Gujarat.