Why I Love South India

I was recently chatting to Joe, one of our South India specialists, about this amazing region of India and what he loves about it. Afterwards, he emailed me this article for the Audley blog which I thought I would share with you:

“The South of India is best described as the steamy, tropical Hindu heartland of the Subcontinent, a place so far removed from the soaring mountain peaks and sun-blasted deserts of the North that you could be forgiven for thinking you had been transported to another planet.

Life is slower and gentler in the South, the sea-kissed coastline, fertile plains, and undulating tea and spice plantations providing the perfect back-drop.
This is the India for those seeking the laid-back beach life of Goa; the magical ancient Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; the sprawling urban jungles of Mumbai and Bangalore; the lush green backwaters of Kerala; the trekking and wildlife opportunities of the plains; and the unspoilt rural culture of Andhra Pradesh.

South India presents the traveller with a smorgasbord of experiences, from the cultural to the gastronomic, the active to the wonderfully in-active. Bustling temple towns, palm-fringed beaches, unique ethnic groups, traditional rural cultures, colourful festivals and national parks teeming with wildlife are just some of the many draw-cards.

For me, the main reason that I have fallen helplessly in love with the south of India, lies in the incredible warmth and friendliness of its people. Everyone you meet, from the fisherman hauling in his catch, to the groups of immaculate school-children holding hands as they walk to and from school, greets you with a dazzling smile and a friendly ‘hello’.

Wherever you go in South India you are guaranteed an assault on your senses and a lifetime of memories. Chances are you will find yourself drawn back time and time again just as I have done!”

To discuss your own South Indian adventure please contact Joe Parkes, Kerala and Tamil Nadu specialist, on 01993 838 331 or by email:  joe.parkes@audleytravel.com