The Southern Sojourn

Like pearls are rare and precious to people, so is Goa to the western part of India. Embracing the Portuguese influences, this tourism destination has only seen better days in the coming years. With shimmering beaches, wild parties, great food, friendly environment, prismatic shrines, one can’t probably name something that Goa doesn’t have to offer to its wanderers. Divided into North and South, the travellers who love peace and solace, Goa takes them for a ride down to the lesser visited places that have been influenced by Portuguese culture, offbeat beaches and sightseeing spots, something the state cherishes till date.

A silver lining in the sky of Karnataka is the city of Hampi. A land so blessed with a history which it showcases in the form of its Group of Monuments that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hampi is like the true love of every architecture and history buff whose faces glow up at the site of fine ancient carvings. And that’s not all as the city is blessed with other tourist attractions like Monkey Temple, Archaeological Museum and Virupaksha Temple that keeps the travellers engrossed and makes them stay here a little while more. The famous Hampi festival brings in a number of travellers to its door who want to experience the culture and traditions that are followed on the land.

A tourist place which is praised by every other traveller for its historical importance and heritage in Karnataka is none other than Mysore. Travellers from across the globe come here just to get a glimpse of the Amba Vilas Palace also known as Mysore Palace just to relive history. The famous festival of Karnataka, Mysore Dussehra that takes place for 10 days uses the charming location of Mysore Palace which is dolled up for the event. And just when the travellers think that there is nothing left in Mysore to explore, the city brings its fine cuisine, crowded bazaars and its ayurvedic importance in the notice.

A lot of travellers talk about Cochin, for it has been a major port city on the south-west coast of India. What all that they praise this tourism destination in Kerala is for maintaining a different identity. It’s the land of the traders, where Portuguese houses still remain the same, the place that talks about religion in its age-old mosques and the land that shares harmony with international destinations like China. From sunrise to sunset, the beauty of this tourist destination of Kerala remains ethereal. The best part which Cochin itself is proud of is its deep roots in Kerala arts like dance and music.

The taste of sweet life comes as soon as travellers step into this village which uses the background of Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom. Being an important part of Kuttanad region in Kerala, the village is a popular tourist destination for its flora and fauna, backwaters, outpouring presence of Ayurveda and sacred sites. When people get tired of running along their busy schedule, the backwaters of Kumarakom switches places and rejuvenates souls. And it’s not just the people who come here but the migratory birds who join the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary for a warm home-like environment.

A city to which the western coast sings a lullaby and the whole South Indian state takes pride in, is Trivandrum, a land known for backwaters, beaches and everything travellers love. Known as the capital city of Kerala and lovingly called the “Evergreen city of India’ by Mahatma Gandhi, Trivandrum possess the modern touch wanderers from across the globe wish for in India. From the 1729 built Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kovalam and Varkala beach and the soothing backwaters, Trivandrum is as massive and astounding as one can expect it to be.