South India

[mitch]

Re: South India

Originally posted by RedFred
Looks like I'll be visiting South India for the first time. Anyone have recommendations for stuff to see in Bangalore, Chennai and the state of Kerala? Anyone?

I'd love to see some temples and other architecture from before the British period.

How long are you going to be there for? I was just there last year during christmas/new years and I especially enjoyed Kerala. While your there make sure you take a houseboat on the backwaters. They basically take you around the whole back country of Kerala on these large boats with bedrooms and kitchens. Theres even people who cook all the meals for you during the 1 and a half day trip... it was great and the scenery was absolutely amazing.

The city of Banglore itself is an absolute mess. It might have the most mild weather in all of south India but it is the most overcrowded messy city. It has changed so much in the last ten years (I remember when it used to be one of my favorite places). It has basically grown so fast and new new infastructure has been built to support the growth. Regardless, it is still a site to see and there are many tourist attractions (like Mysore) which are nearby.

I havent been in Chennai for more than a day so I can't say too much about there. I surprised your not making a trip to Hyderabad, since its one of the more well known places in southern India and its also the center of the telugu (the most popular south Indian films) film industry. btw if you want to see temples the best in the world are located in south india in Tirupati, which is a pretty easy trip from Banglore or Chennai.

above all enjoy the food, the kingfisher beer and try not to let all the weird smells bother you too much lol (it will just hit you initially when you first get off you plane in India).

[LordShiva]

South India

Bangalore

Kerala's backwaters are nice, and it has some great beaches too.

[RedFred]

WOW!!! Real replies!

Thanks especially to mitch.

Unfortunately we are going for a short trip - not much more than two weeks. Worse still we have to go late August, early September for a wedding of one of my wife's cousins. But I am a marathoner, so I might be able to put up with the heat and humidity without my whole body shutting down. That close to the equator the season probably doesn't matter too much.

So the first three days are basically shot at the wedding in Bangalore. I saw some pictures of a bizarre Temple of Meenakshi in Chennai that I am hoping to visit. The only time we will hire a car is when we are in Kerala. Any other great temples to see?

[LordShiva]

Hampi in Karnataka (not too far from Bangalore) has some old temples.

[Barnabas]

Remember to throw vegetables at brahmins, they are the ones with expensive gemstones in their turbans

[aneeshm]

About temples: don't even consider missing Madurai or Srirangam.

I was awed when I visited Madurai temple for the first time. And it's smaller than Srirangam.

These are the only two I know anything about, unfortunately, because I've travelled very little in the South.

I almost forgot - visit the Thanjuvar (formerly Tanjore) temple. It's great.

Almost anything built by Raja Raja Chola is good, actually. He represents the zenith of that dynasty.

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Hampi in Karnataka (not too far from Bangalore) has some old temples.

That's the best you could come up with? I specifically avoided that one, because the magnificent city, the pinnacle of medieval Hindu culture, that surrounded it, was razed (no prizes for guessing who did the razing), and you can still see the ruins today. There is too much violence in that place for a knowledgeable tourist to even consider enjoying it.

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Kerala's backwaters are nice, and it has some great beaches too.

Not to mention great people

[LordShiva]

re: Hampi, I've been there, and there are plenty of intact temples to see.

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by Tacc


Not to mention great people

Admit it, the only reason you like them is because they're commies.

[Arrian]

I specifically avoided that one, because the magnificent city, the pinnacle of medieval Hindu culture, that surrounded it, was razed (no prizes for guessing who did the razing), and you can still see the ruins today. There is too much violence in that place for a knowledgeable tourist to even consider enjoying it.

WTF? Ruins are often excellent tourist destinations.

Would you avoid Pompey? Granted, that was destroyed by volcanic eruption and not teh eeeevil Muslims, but it's still a bunch of ruins (some are in excellent condition, of course).

-Arrian

[Nubclear]

Kerala
West Bengal (minus the silly "you aren't communist enough for us" communists, of course)

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by LordShiva
re: Hampi, I've been there, and there are plenty of intact temples to see.

With an unbroken priestly tradition or tradition of worship? Which have never been defiled or desecrated in any way?

[Arrian]

That's your definition of what a worthwhile tourist attraction is?

No need to visit the Pyramids then.

-Arrian

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by aneeshm


With an unbroken priestly tradition or tradition of worship? Which have never been defiled or desecrated in any way?

I wouldn't know. But the OP isn't necessarily interested in that.