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South India Travel
South India is still untouched, green and pure. The delightful south; almost
untouched by invasions throughout its history, the Indian heritage is more intact
here than in other regions of the country.
This is a land of temples, a land of the devout where new wonders await - the
profusion of orange flowers, the shade of the banyan tree, and the soft beat
of distant drums as yet another festival starts... A Myriad of Temples.
The devout Dravidian people of the south live and breathe their ancient religion.
Nothing, however, can really prepare a visitor for the temples, where images
of the quiet bustle of the vast halls, the huge gopurams completely covered
by coloured sculptures of gods and goddesses, the sight of bare feet walking
across cool slabs, the heady smell of incense and the chime of the temple bell
rung by priests and the faithful leave entrancing impressions. Rustic carts
drawn by oxen with their brightly coloured painted horns, smiling villagers
harvesting the hay at the side of the road - these will be some of the memorable
features of the short journey from Madras to the famous temple town of Mahabalipuram.
A
swim off the glorious beach will refresh you after absorbing the wonders of
the romantic shore temples and of Arjuna’s Penance, the huge rock carvings
of animals and gods.
There are so many impressive temple towns in South India - nearby Kanchipuram
with its spectacular gopurams, ’ visible from miles away, or other magical
sounding places - Chidambaram, Tanjore, Tiruchirapalli, and, most of all, the
pilgrim centre of Madurai - one of the oldest cities in Southern India - with
its dramatic and lively Meenakshi temple, dedicated to the fish-eyed goddess.
Alternatively, for a different style of relaxation, visit the attractive French-style
coastal town of Pondicherry, south of Madras. In the neighbouring state of Karnataka
lie the stone-carved temples of Belur and Halebid. Relive the exciting era of
the Hoysalas, who flourished around the 12th century, by examining the endless
stories which the sculptural detail portrays the war, the hunt, the animals,
the dancing girls and, of course the gods.
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