Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Welcome to
South India & Kerala
Like a giant wedge plunging into the Indian Ocean, peninsular
South India is the subcontinent's steamy heartland, and a lush
contrast to the snow-capped peaks and sun-crisped plains of the
North.
Expect the Unexpected
India loves to toss up the unexpected. This can be challenging, particularly for the first-
time visitor: the poverty is confronting, Indian bureaucracy can be exasperating and the
crush of humanity may turn the simplest task into a frazzling epic. Even veteran travellers
find their nerves frayed at some point, yet this is all part of the India experience. With an
ability to inspire, frustrate, thrill and confound all at once, adopting a 'go with the flow' at-
titude is wise if you wish to retain your sanity. Love it or loathe it - and most travellers see-
saw between the two - to embrace the unpredictability is to embrace India's soul.
Soul Stirring
Spirituality is the common thread that weaves its way through the vast and complex
tapestry that is contemporary India. The multitude of sacred sites and time-honoured rituals
are testament to a long, colourful, and sometimes tumultuous, religious history. And then
there are the festivals! South India hosts some of the nation's most spectacular devotional
events - from formidable city parades celebrating auspicious dates on the religious calen-
dar, to simple harvest fairs that pay homage to a locally worshipped deity.
Luscious Landscapes
South India comprises thousands of kilometres of coastline that frame fertile plains and
curvaceous hills, all kept glisteningly green by the double-barrelled monsoon. The region's
tropical splendour is one of its greatest tourist drawcards with thick coconut groves, lumin-
escent rice paddies, fragrant spice gardens and picturesque tea plantations proffering plenty
of green respite. And then there are the waterways. Azure seas gently lap crescents of sun-
