HISTORY of South India:
South India has a unique and diverse culture, traditions and history which had
been ruled by Satavahanas, Ikshvakus, Cholas, Kakatiya, Pandyas, Cheras,
Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagara over different parts prior
to the British occupation of India. The history of south India
Travel dates back to 8000 BC where many ancient aim have been found. This
region has also connection with Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Syrians,
Jews, and the Chinese in its crossroads. The medieval period saw the rise and
fall of Muslim power in South India. Finally, British established their
dominance and continued until independence. After independence, most of South
India was included in Madras State, which included the former Madras
Presidency and the princely states of Banganapalle, Pudukkottai and Sandur.
GEOGRAPHY:South India is a peninsula bounded on the west by the Arabian Sea,
on the east by the Bay of Bengal and on the north by the Vindhya and Satpura
ranges. The line created by the Narmada River and Mahanadi River is the
traditional boundary between northern and southern India. The Western Ghats,
along the western coast, mark another boundary of the plateau. Between the
Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea lies the narrow trip known as Konkan Region
which encompasses the area of Narmada as well as Goa. To the south of Western
Ghats lies Malnad region along the Karnataka coast, and terminate at the
Nilgiri mountains. The largest rivers of south India are Narmada, the Tapti
and the Mahi, Krishna, Kaveri etc. The four states of India generally follow
linguistic boundaries with a number of overlapping traditional geographic
regions. South India is full of tourist destinations for beach lovers, some
famous beaches include Alappuzha Beach, Kovalam Beach, Varkala Beach, Beaches
of Tamilnadu, Marina Beach, Mahabalipuram Beach, Kanyakumari Beach, Malpe
Beach, Maravanthe Beach, Murudeshwar Beach, Alappuzha Beach, Kovalam Beach,
Kanyakumari Beach etc. South India provide many hill stations like Munnar,
Kodaikanal, Nilgiri Hills and Ooty etc.
South India is genrally used term that is used in India the great country to
refer to the South India or Southern India. The Southern part of the Indian
peninsula is a linguistic-cultural region of India that comprises the four
states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the two Union Territories of
Lakshadweep and Puducherry, whose inhabitants are collectively referred to as
South Indians or more properly Southern Indians.
FLORA AND FAUNA:
South India with its dense forests, exotic fauna and amazing appeal has always
been a favorite wildlife destination for tourists around the world with lush
evergreen vegetation, tropical dry forests, scrub lands and moist forests made
it a biodiversity hotspot. The region also offers the best Indian wildlife
sanctuaries like Periyar National Park, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Mudumalai
National Park, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Silent Valley
National Park, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary, Indira
Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary, Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Calimere
Wildlife Sanctuary, Kunthakulam Bird Sanctury, Viralimalai Sanctuary,
Karnataka Wildlife, Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park etc.
Other tourist attractions include the backwaters like the Pulicut Lake in
Andhra Pradesh, Pitchavarum in Tamil Nadu and the famed backwaters of Kerala
formed by the Vembanad Lake, the Ashtamudi Lake and the Kayamkulam Lake.
CULTURE AND HERITAGE:
South Indian culture refers to the confluence of the four southern most states
of India, namely Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The
weltanschauung of South Indians is essentially the celebration of the eternal
universe through the celebration of the beauty of the body, and motherhood,
which is exemplified through their dance, clothing, and sculptures. South
Indian women traditionally wear the Saree while the men wear a type of sarong,
which could be either a white pancha (veshti in Tamil) or a colourful lungi
with typical batik patterns. The music of South India is commonly known as
Carnatic music, which includes rhythmic and structured music by composers like
Purandara Dasa, Kanaka Dasa, Tyagaraja, Annamacharya, Muthuswami Dikshitar,
Shyama Shastri, Subbaraya Shastri, Mysore Vasudevachar and Swathi Thirunal.
The contemporary singer Dr. K. J. Yesudas is a cultural ambassador of Carnatic
music. South India is home to several distinct dance forms like Koodiyattam,
Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Yakshagana, Theyyam, Ottamthullal, Oppana,
Kerala Natanam and Mohiniaattam etc.
CUISINE :
Cooking pattern in the four states of the south zone, namely, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, largely remain the same with rice as the
staple diet, while fish is an integral component of coastal South Indian
meals. However, Hyderbadi Biryani, Sambar, Dosa, Idli, Bhagara Baingan,
Romaali Roti, Kesari Bhath, Pineapple Pachhady, Fish Molee, Ven Pongal,
Chettinad Chicken, Masala Vada, Pal Payasam, Medu Vada, Avial (Semi-dry, Mix
Vegetable), Uttapam are popular throughout the region.
DIVERSITY :
There is great diversity in Indian traditions, manners, habits, tastes and
customs, languages but unity remains the distinctive feature throughout this
subcontinent including south India. The south Indian culture is unique and so
widely famous because people from different castes and customs reside here
amiably. The unity of oneness makes them stand out in. The heritage of the
states of south India deals mainly with high architectural designed temples
that are considered as the pride of India.
By: Manoj Gupta
Manoj Gupta is currently working in Culture Holidays India. culture Holidays provide India TourPackage, online hotel booking, cheap Air tickets, Hotel booking and also provide passport/visa Car rental services click for on Make My Trip for more detail.
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