Why is South India preferable among the Global Travelers?

If you are looking to tour across places with heritage, greenery, monuments, culture and option to relax,  then a trip to South India will provide you with that and much more exceeding your expectations. If you want to enjoy the traditional Indian cuisines and divulge in the festivities of the land pack up your bags and head towards the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. 

Let us start our exploration with the most popular tourist destination among the global travelers, the “God’s own country” ! Sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea with itss green orchards and crystal clear backwaters, Kerala gives you abundant choices to recreate and relax. Divulge in the smell of the sweet air that wafts in the wind, relax inside the comforts of the boathouses in the backwaters or make ease your body and mind with the Ayurvedic massage following the ancient and traditional strategies. Fort Kochi, Varkala, Kovalam are the ideal beach destinations where can relax and rejuvenate. Munnar is the most sought after hill station where you can find that the entire mountain range is covered in a carpet of tea plantations beholding your sight for a while. An evening can be worth watching the ancient artform of Kerala called Kathakali, which is a dance-drama make you spell bound with the stunning performances of the artistes. Equally brilliant is the Kalaripayatru, which is a martial artform originated in Kerala and spread across the other Asian countries. 

Rest of South India can be started with Chennai since it is called as “Gateway to the South” and the capital city of Tamil Nadu. This city is located on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. As you get out of the airport you will be greeted with a multicultural people traveling across this metropolitan city. Plan your mornings visiting the imposing temples, painted caves and carved shrines of Mahabalipuram which is a couple hour drive from Chennai. Since you are near the vicinity of Chennai you can also visit Kanchipuram, “City of Thousand temples”, which is one among the sacred cities in Hinduism. The other places to visit in Chennai are St.Fort.George, Government Museum, Marina Beach,

Kalakshetra and Dakshinachitra which portray the culture and lifestyle prevailing in the city. The entire Tamil Nadu is with numerous temples existing from the ancient times. The most prominent among them are the Great Living Chola Temples, Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, Ramanatha Swamy temple at Rameshwaram and the Natarajar temple at Chidambaram. If you visit Tamil Nadu during the times of festivals, you can witness the colorful celebrations across the state aiming at rejuvenating the relationships among the friends and families.

The famous hill stations in Tamil Nadu are the Nilgiris and the Kodaikanal which are popularly known as Queen of hills and Princess of hills respectively. The hill stations in the Western Ghats 

give you a life time experience with the misty mountains and lush green scenic locations and tranquility prevailing around. You can also find the adventurer in you, exploring the select locations in the mountain ranges with the help of a trained guide.

Karnataka, the largest state in South India welcomes you with the serene coastal lines and magnificent temple architectures. The Mysore palace, Gokarna Beach, Mangalore port city, Nagerhole sanctuary and the IT hub Bangalore are some of the popular tourist destinations in Karnataka. The global travelers should never afford to miss the Group of Monuments at Hampi in Karnataka, which was once the second richest city in the world next to Vatican in Rome. Lying along the banks of the River Thungabadra, Hampi houses magnificently built temples. Though the monuments are amidst the ruined sites, the temple complex beholds its majesty and charm embracing us with awestruck surprises. Belur, Halebid, Badami and Pattadakkal are the other sites one cannot afford to miss.

The Lepakshi temple, Kanaga Durga temple, Chrminar are some of the popular tourist locations in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Promenade beach, Aurobindo Ashram and the Auroville are the prominent locations in Pondicherry which still has the impact of the French colonization reflecting even its cuisines. 

The most happening state in India,. Goa welcomes you with the ancient churches, cuisines with the Portuguese tint and the series of beaches which make the Konkan coastline very scenic and most enjoyable one. The all night parties, music bands, buffets make Goa the ideal destination for fashion fanatics and the leisure travelers. 

South India has everything a global traveler looks for. Be it a traditional temple complex, most beautiful hill stations, relaxing beach resorts, homestays, backwater cruises or adventurous sports, South India has it all. Any kind of recipe suiting to your tastes and needs can be tailor made as a perfect combo of the places and activities which will definitely make your holiday an unforgettable one.

Plan a tour to South India and  explore more possibilities for a life changing experience. Redefine your travel dreams after visiting South India and get to know why India is Incredible.

For a  Tour Plan : Visit : https://www.south-india-tours.in/Tour-Packages.html

KERALA BACK AS “GOD’S OWN COUNTRY”

KERALA BACK AS “GOD’S OWN COUNTRY”

Kerala, the most sought after tourist destination among the Global travelers has now started to revamp itself after the recent devastating floods and rainfalls. The tourists who used to visit Kerala from all across the Globe during this season got highly disappointed and shocked to know how Kerala got affected by the Nature’s wrath.

But, to all our surprise, Kerala has shown its ability to withstand the catastrophic moments with utmost determination and will power and you will be glad to know that Kerala will be ready for a vibrant tourism drive very soon. The trains, buses and flights that were cancelled due to floods and rain are now up and running.

Yes, it was a frightening sight to witness the damages in Kerala when we visited the state recently. But Remedial actions are done on a war footing to regain normalcy everywhere. We could see lot of houses completely damaged and drowned in flood which could not be repaired. More than two hundred thousand people were in the relief camps possessing only the mandatory documents with them. Still, during those times of despair, we could see people dancing and singing around, spreading positive vibes to face the problems confidently.

A strong thread of compassion was the only key for all the magic that happened in Kerala. A victim succumbed to the floods belonging to a Hindu community was buried inside a church premises and on the day of Bakrid, lot of Muslim friends were found praying inside a Hindu Temple complex. this is the lesson everyone needs to learn from Kerala. Togetherness and compassion can help people revive out of any disaster.

The Onam festival this year is a bit dull  as people are coping up with the flood. Yet the flower markets are bustling with the colorful and sweet scented flowers and the sweet vendors have started to fill the streets with the delicacies. Despite everything Kerala has fared well given the huge loss it has experienced and the State is expected to fully function within a month’s time.

Having witnessed Kerala standing up after the calamity, we started from Kerala with a strong ray of hope that, we will get back our God’s own country very soon with its lush green landscapes, unending expanse of tea plantations, beautiful hill stations and gleaming backwaters making our visit  the most unforgettable and undoubtedly amazing !

Truly, Kerala is still and always be the God’s Own Country !!

For More 

Visit :  https://www.south-india-tours.in/tour-packages/kerala-tour-packages.html

Best places to Tour in South India from september To February

The Southern Part of India has something to offer for diverse variety of clientele visiting during September to February every year. This is said to be an ideal period when all the Southern states of India namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Pondicherry and Goa has been witnessing lakhs of tourists coming from across the globe. The period from September to February has a pleasant climatic conditions prevailing across South India, which can be experienced when you visit the ancient temples, relax in the backwaters, enjoy at the wonderful hill stations and explore in the sanctuaries with trekking and spotting the wild life into the dense woods. 

South India has a diverse variety of landscapes which will give you bundle of experiences when you visit from one place to the other. The hill stations in Ooty, Kodaikanal, Munnar and Coorg take your breath away with their tranquility and scenic locations. The plains of the southern states houses the monuments and temples expressing you the stories of yesteryears told and retold. The paddy fields of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and lush green landscapes make your day. 

Why don’t you opt for relaxing with your dear ones along the coastal lines of the South India? The most beautiful Marina, the scenic Konkan coastal lines, the most sought after promenade beach of Pondicherry and the series of beaches in the most happening state Goa transform your visit to South India and give you a lifetime of experiences. 

The ancient temples of South India are yet another significant vertical in your tour to South India. The thousand year old Great Living Chola Temple at Tanjore, the erstwhile second richest city next to the Vatican, which has still its reminiscent to be adored, at Hampi along the banks of the River Tungabhadra, the historically famous Lepakshi temple in Andhra Pradesh and the list goes endless as you find at least a small temple at the corner of every South Indian street. 

Tour to South India will not be complete without tasting the delicacies across the states. The hot meals on the banana leaves in Tamil Nadu followed by the tasty betel leaves, the spicy Gongura chutneys of Andhra, the famous meals of Karnataka with a taste of sweetness invariably in all the dishes, the varieties of food stuffs in Pondicherry with the recipes embraced from France, the most delicious original Kerala cuisines inclusive of fish and kadalai curry in almost all their meals and the recipes reflecting the Portuguese style in Goa are some of the most interesting value additions of your tour to South India. You may be a historian, photo fanatic, travel lover or a casual traveler, South India has everything you look for.

Plan a tour to South India for an unmatched experience which can be a life changing experience for you to take back memories which will be cherished forever.

For Planning a trip to South India Visit
https://www.south-india-tours.in/tour-Packages.html

7 Ted Talks on travel which will inspire you to travel more & explore

Travel more & Explore

There is no doubt we all love to travel, but often it happens that most of us plan a lot and never end up travelling for real. For me, there are two types of people and I categorize them as the “Babysitters” and then the “Go-Getters”.

I call them Babysitters, those who always seem to make huge plans at first and then complain about their situations or something “Blah-Blah” as reasons for not materializing their plans. They are so used to their routine life and never want to get out of their sweet spots and explore the world around them. And then there are the Go-Getters, my kind of people who don’t love to stay in their comfort zone for a long time and always has that inner excitement and curiosity boiling in them to travel somewhere new and explore the unknown.

I remember that famous quote by the Prophet Mohammed 

“Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have travelled”
– The Prophet Mohammed

Yes! It does make sense for those who travel extensively. They gain a lot of knowledge about every aspect of this phenomenon we call “Life on Planet Earth”. Travel is not just holidaying, it is more about learning, experimenting, experiencing and exploring new dimensions and landscapes, people, culture, language and YES! FOOD! Travel is like putting yourself into a test and discover where in this World you fit in?

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page”
– Saint Augustine

Travel is about preparing yourself for facing all the challenges you would face in your life. Travel is happiness. Travel is being at peace. Travel sometimes annoys you, sometimes confuses you and sometimes tire you down, but all of it makes you wiser and bring about the best of you. That is where the true essence of travelling lies.


Sometimes travel does answer us the most raging question we all ask our self “Who am I?”

Travel for me is all about finding myself within!

Below I have picked 7 of the most inspiring Ted Talks on travel I found on Youtube, which pretty much boosted me to travel more.I hope it does the same for you! Enjoy!

’Learn to travel- Travel to learn’ by Robin Esrock

’Travel more and Buy Less’ by Luis Vargas

’How and why travel transforms you’ by Francis Tapon

‘Deep Travel- Connecting on the road and in life’ by Judith Fein

 ‘Open Road, Open Life’ by Andrew Evans

’Why Bother Leaving the house’ by Ben Saunders

’The Value of travel’ by Rick Steves

https://www.south-india-tours.in

Blooming Season of Kurinji - South India - Now or at 2030 Only

Kurinji Flower – Treasure of Tamilnadu

Out of the five segments of Sangam Landscapes Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal, Palai in Tamil Nadu, Kurinji represents the mountainous regions where the flower Kurinji abundantly blooms. The Queen of Hills, Ootacamund is popularly called as Blue Mountain, the reason being the flower Kurinji Which covers the entire landscape with its purplish blue flowers, transforming the region into totally blue colored one. Ooty mountain ranges are home to around 33 varieties of Kurinji flowers. It is a natural phenomenon, either a scientist or a naturalist can never arrive at any conclusions on how exactly the time intervals are being strictly adhered to by the Kurinji flowers ranging from 3, 7, 12, 17 and 36 years for blossoming, One of the several mysteries of the mother earth still unexplored !

This year, the areas in the Blue Mountain Ranges like Ooty, Kotagiri, Coonoor Lamb’s rock are the places where you can see the abundant blooming of the diverse varieties of the Kurinji flowers. Out of all varieties, Kurinji flowers, blossoming once in 12 years claims a special significance and attraction amidst the tourists and nature lovers.

Blossoming for once in 12 years, Kurinji flowers are abundantly available in the Shola Forests of the Western Ghats in South India. Though Kurinji is found to blossom in Ooty, Yercaud hills, and some parts of Kerala, it is seen as a carpet covering the mountain predominantly in Kodaikanal, which is the Princess of Hill Stations in South India. Kodaikanal is the most renowned tourist destination where tourists, nature lovers and photo fanatics arrive during the blossoming season for witnessing and enjoying the natural beauty of these Kurinji flowers.

There is a separate temple housing the deity named after this flower called Kurinji Andavar temple and references to Kurinji flower and Kurinji andavar temple are found in the Sangam Age Literature called Kurunthogai. By this, we can understand the ethnicity and antiquity of Kurinji flower which is a part and parcel of the culture of Tamil Nadu.

Kurinji, referred by its botanical name as Strobilanthes kunthiana, grows at an altitude of 2400 meters , growing well beyond 150cm under suitable climatic conditions. Due to its unusual flowering behavior, Kurinji flower still remains a mystery and attraction to the tourists across the globe. Kurinji flower has a special quality of blooming at long intervals and die, their seeds sprout and spread by the technique called Mast seeding and make themselves ready for the next tenure of blossoming after a long twelve years ! Festivals at small scales have been celebrated since the ancient times to welcome the blooming season of Kurinji as this is a symbol of clandestine love and romance for the people in that region.

This year 2018 happens to be the wonderful much awaited year where the blossoming of Kurinji flower has already started in Kodaikanal making the entire mountainous landscape purplish blue, a undoubtedly real feast to the eyes! From July to November, Kodaikanal makes everyone spellbound with the bluish tint everywhere, an event unique to Kodaikanal !!

Plan a visit to Kodaikanal this season, to enjoy the phenomenal beauty of Kurinji flowers giving you an experience of life time, which no one can afford to miss else need to wait for another eventually long twelve years !!

Planning For a trip to south india ??

Visit : https://www.south-india-tours.in/tour-Packages.html 

Planning a trip to Explore Kerala??

Kerala is so #Special  for Travel

Kerala is the most sought after destinations for #tourists from across the globe. You can see lakhs of tourists thronging around Kerala to have the wonderful #experience of visiting the lush green  tea plantations, relaxing at the beautiful hill stations and enjoying the cherished moments in a house boat cruise, the list goes endless. The scenic beauty of the Mother #Nature can be witnessed in its purest form in Kerala justifying the word renowned statement “Kerala is God’s own country” !

Kerala – the Best Place for #Tourism?

Kerala offers whatever a tourist looks for. During my recent #trip to Kerala, I was really taken aback by the beauty of the different scenic locations. Though I had lot of information about #Kerala from my friends who had visited earlier, it was an unmatched experience for me, an unique experience for life time. Kerala is the only place in #India  where you get to see all varieties of landscapes, that too not far away from each other. 
I enjoyed walking through the unending expanse of the tea plantations at #Munnar, the most renowned hill station in Kerala, topping the list of “Must See” destinations for global travelers. Walking through the plantations and the tea tasting sessions made my day. While returning,  I got the information from one of the local residents about the #Lockhart Tea Factory which is very near to Munnar, we decided not to miss that. We soon realized that our decision was correct. The Lockhart Tea Factory, established by the British People still functions in the #traditional way of manufacturing the original orthodox tea. We enjoyed going around the #factory with the help of a guide and purchased varieties of tea to take back. 

Our trip to Periyar is yet another interesting one where we were able to witness the #elephants being given bath and food. The #boat riding in Periyar is an extraordinary experience in such a wonderful ambience. 

Our visit to the Alleppey #backwaters tops the list. Acclaimed as “Venice of the East”, Alleppey welcomes you with the wide ranges of houseboats suitable for day cruise and for a night stay as well. Cruising on the #houseboat, watching the lifestyles of people in the villages along the banks is an experience something different. The dishes of the original Kerala #cuisine cooked onboard were just divine and we literally felt awesome !

The evenings we spent in Kerala were filled with entertainment sessions which were so unassumingly wonderful. The #Kalaripayatru demonstrations was a really thrilling experience and we heard that it is an ancient defensive mechanism existing since many centuries. Also, the most interesting art form of Kerala, #Kathakali and we never expected such a mind blowing performance. We made sure that we attended the kathakali sessions almost everyday evening till we left for our home town.

The list of places we visited further are in #Cochin, #Trivandrum, #Kovalam,#Guruvayur, #Vaikom etc… which I will share with you in my next post.

#Family_trip !

Kerala is a tourist #destination suitable to go on a tour with family or #friends. You have hotels preferable in all ranges like budget , standard and luxury and very genuine homestay #accommodations. You have eat outs wherever you go. That too, when you go to the beach resorts, you can get the freshly cooked dishes which are the tastiest one we ever had. There are many weekend getaways dotted across the state to make your weekend beautiful unlike the other week days.
Right Time to #Visit_Kerala!!

Though Kerala can be #visited during any time of the year, to enjoy the beauty of the state in its entirety, plan your visit to Kerala between September and March. Also, plan to visit Kerala between #June and #August, if you are keen in rejuvenating your body and mind the Ayurvedic therapeutic centers dotted across the state.

Why #Kerala is must Visit #Destination for #World Wide #Travellers?

The nature treasured with its original beauty, unpolluted #atmosphere, lush green landscapes, beautiful hill stations, #wildlife sanctuaries, #backwater cruises … 

What else a global traveler will look for spending his precious vacation, find everything under one roof in the God’s Own Country, Kerala.

To Plan  your Trip 

Visit : https://www.south-india-tours.in/tour-packages/kerala-tour-packages.html

 The unsolved mystery behind the Trillion dollar Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Kerala

The Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple located at the southernmost district of Kerala, #Thiruvananthapuram, has been headlining the world news in the recent years. It hold in its vaults, more than a trillion dollar worth of treasure, claiming the title of the “Richest temple in the World”. There are six vaults altogether inside the temple named A, B, C, D,E and F. 

The chamber A was opened in 2001 by certain famous #archaeologists and to their surprise they found more than a tonne of gold, ancient coins, diamonds and lot more. Later in 2011 a seven member team were sent by the Supreme Court to open and investigate about the rest of the #chamber vaults. The vaults were opened under the supervision of the Travancore Trust Head Trustee, and lot more of gold and diamonds were uncovered. However an intriguing secret they found is that the Chamber B is connected to another secret chamber and as per the legend it is guarded by the “Naga Bandham” or serpents. It is believed the door can only be opened by chanting the “Garuda Mantras” by a Sadhu and not by any other means is it possible. Let it be the latest technological machineries or any human efforts to open this particular door, it is said to create havoc in and around the temple. Some believe it would even cause the end of the world. 

The origin of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy #Temple is not found in any #historical sources and it still puzzles the modern archaeologists and historians. It is run by the Royal family of Travancore. People from far and near visit the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, fascinated by the news of its #mysterious vault and also to pay a visit to the “World’s Richest Temple”.
The Royal Family of Travancore and a group of devotees opposed against the opening of the secret vault, however it could be ruled out by the Supreme Court. The decision could lead to the uncovering of probably the greatest treasure in world history.

Is it true whether the temple is guarded by a supernatural or divine force?

Is it true the mysterious vault inside Vault B cannot be opened by any human efforts?

Is it true it would be the end of the World if this secret vault is opened?

All the answers lie beyond the door of the secret vault.

For Travel guidance

Visit :https://www.south-india-tours.in/tour-packages/kerala-tour-packages.html

Monsoon Places In South India

Monsoon Places In South India

It so happens travellers always seek advice on what it is like to travel to India during Monsoon. Most of the time when you think of Monsoon, heavy rainfall, storm and floods pop up in your mind. However, travelling to India is always an enlightening experience and nothing must restrict you from doing it. You come across new people, new culture, cuisine, and of course a completely different topography, unlike your country. Moreover, if you love rain, and do not mind getting wet at times, a trip to India during the Monsoon season is a one of a kind travel experience.

June to September is the major Monsoon season in India. This is the time when the young and the old enjoy the rain alike and celebrate the moment. Why don’t you join the party as well?

Here we are, with a list of  places in South India to visit during the monsoon to make it easy for you to plan a tour to India during Monsoon.

1.Cherrapunji, Meghalaya

Rite then! Let us start with the boss, Cherrapunji. The wettest place in India and the second of its kind on Planet Earth, Cherrapunji is for those hard-core rain lovers. Yes! This evergreen paradise located in North East India receives rainfall throughout the year. For the same reason, the area is densely green and makes a perfect setting for some adventurous trekking trips. Do enjoy the occasional chilly Monsoon drizzle.

2.Chikmagalur, Karnataka

The not so popular yet spectacular hill station in South India, Chikmagalur is a hidden heaven for the mountain lovers. The Monsoon showers make it even more beautiful. To spice it up, do remind yourself to grab a cup of hot smoking Coffee at this so-called Coffee land of India. The Mullayanagiri peak, Baba Budangiri peak, Kalhatti Falls and Kemmangundi are the major attractions you must check out at Chikmagalur.

3.Munnar, Kerala

Munnar has been rightly called the honeymooner’s paradise. Words fall short to describe the beauty and charm of this splendid hill station. Probably the torchbearer of Kerala Tourism, Munnar is an all year round destination attracting tourists from all parts of the globe. Her beauty multiplies manifold during the monsoon. It is not just Munnar, the whole state of Kerala wears a completely greenish outfit during the Monsoon.

 Therefore if you are planning for Munnar, better make full use of your time and explore more of Kerala. The Athirapally Falls, Wayanad, Alleppey, Kovalam are some of the Monsoon recommendations for you.

 4.Goa

Probably the most sought after holiday destination in India, Goa excites and engages every one of its visitors all year round. Monsoon is not an exception. Unlike travellers think, Goa is not closed during Monsoon. You have the Candolim Beach, Baga Beach and the Calangute Beach to hit it. All 3 of these sea sides are ever welcoming and lively even when it rains.

If sandy beaches, rain and cocktails are your things, think no further. Head to Goa.

5.Athirapally Waterfalls, Kerala

Ah! There you go. Who doesn’t love waterfalls? Waterfalls get lively during the Monsoon and this giant falls at Athirapally is at its best when it rains. The largest waterfalls in Kerala, Athirapally entertains its visitors with a stunning water show. The blissful sight of the near 100 feet high shimmering Athirapally falls gushing down to the bottom is no less than mesmerizing. If you happen to visit India during Monsoon, do not risk missing it out.

For More Visit : https://www.south-india-tours.in/tour-packages.html

Gangaikondacholapuram : City of the Chola who conquered the Ganga

Gangaikondacholapuram - Famous Temple in South India

The tongue-twisting name means ‘the town of the Chola who took the Ganges’.

Developed as the centrepiece of a city, it was built by the Chola king Rajendra I to celebrate his conquests. The magnificent Brihadishwara Temple (a replica of the Tanjore temple) stands in the tiny village of GANGAIKONDACHOLAPURAM in Ariyalur District, 35 km north of Kumbakonam. This temple was built in 11th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Under Rajendra I, the Chola empire did indeed stretch as far as the great river of the north, an unprecedented achievement for a southern dynasty.

Rajendra Chola-I (1012-1044 A.D) son of the Great Rajaraja-I, established this temple after his great victorious march to river Ganges on Northern India. He assumed the title of Rajendra during his coronation and continued to rule along with his father Rajaraja-I for a while. He was awarded the supreme title of the Cholas known as Parakesari.

His empire included the whole of southern India to the river Tungabhadra in the north. For administrative and strategic purposes he built another capital and named it Gangaikondacholapuram. The Gangaikondacholapuram temple he constructed consists of 3 stories and was surrounded by a huge fort-like wall, the outer wall largely destroyed during the English rule (1896) to reuse the building material (granite rocks) for constructing the Lower Anicut the dam built across river Kollidam. He built around 10 temples at various places.


He assumed the title of Gangaikonda Cholan and named his new capital as Gangaikondacholapuram and he also constructed a huge Lake known as Chola Gangam that spreads 22 km mainly used for drinking and irrigation. A statue of Rajendra-I is found in Kolaram temple at Kolar of Karnataka state in India.

For Tour plan:
Visit : https://www.south-india-tours.in/south-india/cities/gangai-konda-cholapuram.html

1000 year old - Big Temple in South India

Why you should visit the 1000 year old - Ancient Big Temple in Tamilnadu?

Tamilnadu in India is well known for its ancient temples which are no less than architectural gems, to say the least. It is home to more than 33000 temples. YES! You heard me right, 33000 temples which earned this state its label the “Land of Temples”. Out of these many temples, more than half of them are 800 to 2000 year old. Tamilnadu also boasts of housing most of the biggest temples in India. Among those, the Brihadiswara Temple or popularly known as the Tanjore Big Temple in Tamilnadu stands out with its ginormous structure and spectacular architecture. It is one of the ancient temples in India and is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one among the Three God heads in Hinduism. A fine exemplar of the ancient Dravidian architecture, this piece of art was built by the great Raja Raja Chola I in the year 1010 AD. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.

History remembers the Cholas for their outstanding contribution to the ancient Indian architecture scene which puts even the modern architects to shame. The Brihadeeswarar temple is their masterpiece. It is declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO under the “Great Living Chola Temples” along with the other Cholan marvels such as the Airavateswarar Temple and the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamilnadu.

This 216 feet high structure is made of whopping 130,000 tons of granite. Considering the fact that there are no mountains or any rock formations for nearly 60 km around Tanjore city, it still puzzles the historians and the architects, the means by which these many tons of granite was brought to the site. How come these rocks ended up here? Some say a group of 3000 elephants were used to carry these granites from far off lands.

Another surprising fact about this intricate architecture is the technique used in building it. The whole structure is made by the interlocking method, which means one rock kept over the other. There is literally nothing between the stones, no cement or any kind of adhesives. Fascinating, isn’t it? There is more coming. You know the very foundation of this gigantic structure is made without digging a single grain of sand and yet is so strong that it kept the whole temple straight with 0 inclination for more than 1000 years.

The most striking feature of the temple is its beautiful carved out Vimana. The top of the Vimana, which is called the Kumbam weighs around 81000 Kgs. How could somebody place this heavy stone at the top? Well, as per the historians and the localites, a 6 km long ramp was made adjacent to the temple and with the help of horses this stone was carried to the top of the temple Vimana. Amazing! No words.

Apart from its massive structure and detailed well worked out sculptures, the Cholans have also made a large number Tamil inscriptions on the temple. These inscriptions detail the reader on the temple’s construction, the daily rituals to be carried out, the various offerings to be made to the deity and even the whole story of how the king Raja Raja Chola I planned and executed the construction of this splendid structure in granite.

No doubt, the Brihadeshwara temple is one of the most beautiful and biggest temples in the world. Make a visit to the Big Temple in Tamilnadu and see for yourself. Admire the brilliance of our ancestors while you explore and enjoy this architectural wonder on Earth.

More interesting facts about the Tanjore Temple

The Shiva Lingam of the Big Temple in Tamilnadu is the world’s largest of its kind. There is a 13 feet tall Nandi [Lord Shiva’s Bull] Statue located outside the main temple structure, which is carved out of a single stone. This is yet another brilliance of the Brihadeeswarar Temple. Adding more to its structural beauty, you would come across a lot of finely detailed paintings of Lord Shiva and other gods, Asuras [demons] and animals which inspired the world famous Thanjavur Paintings. Painted using natural dyes, these impressive work of art still remain intact even after 1000 years.

Also, on the main temple structure, we could spot 2 figures which definitely does not look Indian. As per the historians, those are of two European men, one English and the other of a French which indicates the overseas connection of the Cholas during the period.

How to reach Tanjore big temple?

By road: Tanjore or Thanjavur is 60 km from the city of Trichy or Tiruchirappalli and 350 km from the capital city Chennai. There are frequent buses connecting Trichy to Tanjore and Chennai to Tanjore. Else, hire a taxi and head to Tanjore city. From the city, it is 1 km to the Tanjore temple.

By Rail: Tanjore is connected to all major cities in India by rail. You can easily catch a train to Chennai and then to Tanjore.

By Air: There is no airport at Thanjavur, however, the Trichy airport is just 65 kms from Thanjavur. Fly to Chennai and board a connecting flight to Trichy. From there hire a cab to reach the Brihadeshwara temple at Thanjavur.

For planning for a Tour..

Then Visit: 

https://www.south-india-tours.in/south-india/cities/thanjavur-tamilnadu.html

Pondicherry (or Puducherry) - South India

Pondicherry 

Pondicherry being the Former capital of French territories was established by Francois Martin in 1674. Enriched with cultural wealth where you can easily witness the dominance of French practices still existing, this place remains a place close to the heart for tourist seeking calmness, cleanliness and heritage.

Apart from the pristine beauty of the city, the other factor which attracts flocks of tourist is the availability of cheap beers and best cuisine giving you the freedom to enjoy.Located in the Old Law building is the Pondicherry Museum consisting of the mesmerizing collections of the art crafts during the French Colonial period displaying Bronze and stone sculptures of the Pallava and Chola periods.

Inside the same complex would be the Romain Rolland Library having the rich collections of more than 300,000 volumes of books in both the languages of French and English. The next tourist attraction would be Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus, which cloaks the Neo – Gothic brown and white Church of 1700’s, consisting the large stained glass panels where the incidents from the life of Jesus Christ is portrayed.

The most awaited destination for any tourist would be the Aurobindo Ashram, one of the best – known landmark of the town. Founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926 is considered to be a place of calmness and peaceful retreat where one can attain joy and wisdom.

Auroville considered to be the City of Dawn, was planned by Mother Mirra as the futuristic International city, where one can live in peace. Spherical marble with a crystal inside it and the Meditation centre is the main attraction. Evening walk around the French colonies and through the beach side is worthwhile and overall a place for serenity and calmness.

Best Time to Visit Pondicherry : The best time to visit Pondicherry is winter months, from November till March.

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Pondicherry Beach 

Pondicherry beaches are peaceful and gorgeous in their beauty where the French culture still exists. The beaches are surrounded with palm trees that reflect the sound of the waves of water in the breeze. The breathtaking vision of the sunset and dawn and the silky sand under a morning sunshine brings in liveliness and radiance to the beaches. The beaches are so clean that it is much suitable for the swimming and sunbathing or to sit leisurely and relax. The Karaikal Beach has a breathtaking view of the confluence Arasalar River and the sea and should not be missed. The boating club on this beach supplies tourists with rowing boats, pedaller boats and motorboats. Palm trees and fishing hamlets on the Mahe beach gives the beach a gracious look.

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Navagraha Temples in Tamilnadu South India

Navagraha Temples

Navagraha Sthalas, the most auspicious and holy location where one can offer prayers to the nine planets, and considered to be the most important religious destination in Tamil Nadu state in South India.

All these nine temples are located in a close circuit, in and around the famous temple town of Kumbakonam. Each of these temples are unique with special features in beliefs, rituals and traditions.

The temple structures are all attractive and architecturally marvelous. The locations are all picturesque and attractive. Apart from pilgrims, many tourists loving to enjoy the nature and its gifts prefer to visit Navagraha Sthalas The name of the place itself means the location (Sthalas) of Nine Planets (Navagraha).

A pilgrimage tour to these nine temples has assured benefits in eliminating the wicked effects of the planets on the person’s life, to strengthen the planetary influences for prosperity, to weaken the bad effects and bad influences of the planets on the well being of the person and also to understand the astronomical powers and importance of the planets in the day to day life of the human populaces.

The temples dedicated to nine planets are Vaitheeswaran Koil Angaraka dedicated to Mars, Thiruvengadu dedicated to Mercury (Budhan), Keezhaperumpallam dedicated to Kethu stands for descending node of Chandra- Moon), Thirunallar dedicated to Saturn (Sani), Kanjanoor dedicated to Venus (Sukran), Suriyanar Koil dedicated to Sun (Surya), Thirunageswaram dedicated to Raagu (stands for the ascending node of Chandra - Moon), Thingaloor dedicated to Moon (Chandra) and Alangudi dedicated to Jupiter (Guru).

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