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Tour Itineraries :
 View the temples and monuments of civilizations gone by - the Cholas, the Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara Empire in India's southern states. Explore the wildlife sanctuaries, see elephants and tigers in the wild, try the delicious south-indian cuisine and laze on golden beaches on your Southern India tour.
Some of the heritage destinations you will see on your tour of South India are:
Karnataka
Badami: Once the capital of the Chalukya dynasty, this town in Karnataka is known for its famous rock cut cave temples decorated with carved Gateways, fortresses, inscriptions, and lifelike sculptures. Badami has to be seen to be believed. Climb a flight of steps to reach the ancient caves - all hewn out of sand stone on the precipice of a hill.
Aihole: is famous as the "cradle of Indian Architecture". Nearby is Pattadakal - Situated on the left bank of the Malaprabha river, a world heritage centre, which has 10 major temples representing early Chalukyan architecture.
Hampi: Hampi is the site of the medieval Vijaynagar Empire, is the most evocative of all the ruins of past dynasties in Karnataka.
Belur and Halebid:These are beautiful examples of Hoyasala architecture. The most famous of them is the Chennakeshava Temple, which took 103 years to complete. The temples of Halebid, which have been described as "poetry in stone" bear eloquent testimony to the rich, cultural heritage of Karnataka.
Shravanabelgola: 51 kms south-east of Hassan, is one of most important Jain Pilgrim centres. Here you will see the 17m high monolith of Lord Bahubali - the world's tallest monolithic statue.
Mysore: In this gracious town in Karnataka you will see the magnificent Mysore Palace and the Chamundi hills. Towering over the city, these hills are 13 km away from Mysore. Halfway up is the Nandi bull, a 4.8m monolith. The Brindavan Gardens are a beautiful sight. The musical fountains and colourful lights transform the green lawns into a fairyland.
Srirangapatnam:Capital of the warrior-King Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, this town in Karnataka has several magnificent monuments including the historic Srirangapatnam fort
Tamil Nadu
Mahabalipuram: also known as Mamallapuram, this city of monumental splendors and sunny beaches, is in Tamil Nadu on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. You can see the nine rock-cut cave temples. The Mahishasuramardhini cave, is known for its mythological carvings. The Five Rathas or chariots are five monolithic temples, each created in a different style. The Shore Temple is one of the oldest temples in South India. The monuments are floodlit at night and so it is possible to enjoy their beauty even after sunset.
Kanchipuram: It is known as one of India's seven sacred cities. Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu has magnificent temples of unique architectural beauty, bearing eloquent testimony to its glorious Dravidian heritage. It as also known as a centre of excellence for weaving in silk and cotton.
Kerala
Kovalam Beach: Located 18 km from Thiruvananthapuram, this beach is considered to be one of the best in the world. Apart from swimming and relaxing on the white sands, you can enjoy surfing, water skiing and a catamaran ride.
Varkala: The striking geography of this beautiful beach has made it very popular. Behind the beach are towering cliffs that contrast with the white sands and the blue sky and clear water.
Backwaters: Travelling through the backwaters of Kerala on a traditional kettuvallom or houseboat is a tour like no other. The tranquil water, the green palm-fringed coast, the sounds of sea birds calling, tropical vegetation and friendly people. It is an experience to cherish forever.
Kumarakom: A cluster of islands located on the Vembanad Lake, with mangrove forests, a bird sanctuary, paddy fields, palm trees, and waterways, this getaway feels like a corner of paradise.
Andhra Pradesh
Golconda has been known as famous center for diamonds, and the diamond mines boast of some of the most renowned diamonds in the world. The Kohinoor originally belonged to Golconda as did the Darya-I-Noor, the Orloff, and the Pitt diamonds.
Warangal is situated 157 km north-east of Hyderabad. It is famous for its thousand pillar temple-a specimen of Chalukya architecture. The monolithic Nandi sits on guard at the entrance which also has rock cut statues of elephants on either side. The freestanding gateway in the Buddhist toran style is the most magnificent structure of its kind.
Bidar, 110 km northwest of Hyderabad lies the former capital of the Bahamani, and later on the Barid Shahi dynasty. Ultimately it was annexed by Aurangzeb and subsequently the Nizams took over Bidar. It has a vast range of palaces, mosques baths, schools and tombs within a strong fortified area. The tombs at Ashtur and Gawan's Madarsa have strong architectural splendor. If one has some time to spare one shouldn't miss nearby Gulbarga, the Bahmani capital, famous for its beautiful mosques and fort.
Nagarjunakonda, lying south-east of Hyderabad, is a Buddhist place of pilgrimage. The Satvahanas built a grand stupa at Amravati, embellished with sumptuous sculptures. A huge statue of Buddha dominates the crest of Nagarjunakonda.
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