Indian history can mesmerize you in more ways than one. The traces of historic events, people, communities and cultures left behind in some of the places in India can give you goosebumps and take you on a virtual tour to a time long long ago. South India, in particular, presents a rich account of the history in this part of the world through its ancient ruins, temples, monuments and cities. If you are a history lover, you should not think twice before including some of these places in your South India trip itinerary.
The Archaeological Museum in Hampi is the first museum established by the Archeological Survey of India. The museum houses a collection of sculptures and artifacts. It beautifully captures the history of Hampi. There are several galleries in the museum, which have sculptures of deities, metal objects of religious importance, gold…
HistoricalCultural
Arikamedu, about six km south of Puducherry, was flourishing port town during ancient Roman times. Remains of the port which was a major maritime centre between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD have been unearthed during excavations. Situated at the mouth of the Ariyankuppam River, Arikamedu is…
Historical
It was set up in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo Ghose. The main ashram building also houses the mortal remains of Aurobindo and his chief disciple, the Mother. The ashram is open daily between 8 AM-12 PM and 2 PM-6 PM. Children below 3 years are not allowed. Photography is allowed…
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Once the capital of the mighty Chalukyas, Badami, located in Bagalkot district of Karnataka, is known for its rock-cut temples built in 5th and 8th century AD. The town faces the Agastya lake which is surrounded by two hills, Vatapi and Ilvala named after the two demon siblings who wreaked havoc in…
HistoricalTemples
The King’s Balance also known as Tulapurushandana is located to the south-west of Vittala temple. The structure is five meters tall and is like an archway, carved from stone. It is believed that, on ceremonious occasions like lunar and solar eclipses and Dussera, the King was weighed against gold, jewels…
HistoricalArchitecture
The Queen’s bath in Hampi refers to the private bathing chambers of the kings and queens of the Vijanagara era. The Queen’s bath will make you realise that the modern day spas and tubs are nothing compared to the lavish baths used in the past. A huge corridor runs around…
HistoricalArchitecture
Popular for its history and ancient temples, Sultan Bathery is a town in Wayanad district of Kerala. Situated on theKozhikode-Kollegal National Highway, it is the biggest town in the Wayanad district. Along with tourism, the town is also an important commercial centre. The town was earlier called as ‘Ganapativattom’ and ‘Kidanganadu’. The present…
HistoricalReligious
It is a tank that was built by Ali Adil Shah, named after his wife Chand Bibi, to meet the needs of the migrants within the town. The water tank has a capacity of about 20 million liters. Many structures were built around it, mainly to house the maintenance staff.
Historical
A small town on the banks of Yagachi River, Belur is famous for the Chennakesava temple complex. A trip to Belur is incomplete without a trip to Halebeedu.
Historicalculture
Capital of the Bijapur Sultanate, this medieval city in Karnataka is known for its fort, gardens and mosques. Founded by the Chalukyas in the 11th century, Bijapur’s regal monuments attract a large number of tourists. The town was ruled by the Chalukyas from the 11th-12th century and was known as…
Historicalculture
The limestone Kavala Caves are situated at a distance of about 25 km from Dandeli. The caves house a Shiva Lingam and one has to descend 375 steps reach. The last 40 ft requires crawling through a narrow tunnel.
Historical
Edakkal caves in the Ambukuthi Hills in North Kerala are considered to be one of the earliest centres of human habitation. You can see many interesting things like ancient stone scripts, pictorial wall inscriptions of human and animal figures with peculiar headdresses, the swastika form, symbols and cave drawings of…
Historical
Built in 1591, the Charminar is a historical monument and mosque located in Hyderabad, Telangana. It is a widely accepted theory that this structure was built in the centre of the city to commemorate the eradication of plague. The Charminar is a square structure with each side 20 meters long,…
HistoricalArchitecture
Built in the 13th century, Goripalayam Mosque, which is also known as Hajha Syed Sultan Alaoudeen Syed Sultan Samsudeen Aouliya Dargah, is the largest mosque in Madurai. The mosque houses the tombs of two of the Muslim rulers of Madurai – Hazrat Sulthan Alauddin Badusha (Radiyallah) and Hazrat Sulthan Shamsuddin Badhusha…
Historical
Dhanushkodi is an abandoned town located just
Historical
It was the largest cannon in medieval India with a length of 4 m, 1.5 m diameter and a weight of 55 tons. It was brought from Ahmednagar after a victory in battle. It is placed upon a special plinth that was made for the cannon. The nozzle of the…
Historical
Elephant Stables in Hampi is a must see place for history buffs. The stable has a row of 11 chambers and one in the center. The center chamber is grander than the other chambers with its temple-style tower. It is adorned with frescos and carvings. Inside the chambers, one can…
HistoricalArchitecture
The enclosure was meant for royal women. There are four structures inside the enclosure, of which the Queen’s palace is the largest one but now it’s in ruins. There are two towers on the north and south-east of the enclosure. Northeast of the Royal Centre within the walled ladies’ quarters…
Historical
Halebeedu, a small town in the Hassan district of Karnataka, is known for its temples built during Hoysala period. Along with Belur and Shravanabelagola, Halebeedu forms the Golden Triangle of Karnataka tourism. Like Halebeedu, the Belur town too has several shrines built during Hoysala reign. Halebeedu and Belur are called as…
HistoricalReligious
Hampi is a UNESCO world heritage site with the most prominent temple being the Virupaksha Temple. Every January, Karnataka Government hosts Hampi Utsav annually.
HistoricalArchitecturecultureNature
Hyderabad, the City of Pearls, is the capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and named after Hyder Mahal, wife of the ruler Qutab Shah. More than 400 years old Hyderabad today is the fifth largest metropolis of India and is known for its history, culture, heritage monuments crafts and dance. Hyderabad is also…
HistoricalCuisine
Known as the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations, the Pardesi synagogue located in Kochi, Kerala, in South India is one of seven synagogues of the Malabar Yehudan people or Cochin Jewish community in the Kingdom of Cochin. The literal meaning of the term ‘Pardesi’ is "foreigners", applied…
HistoricalReligious
The Kerala Museum in Kochi is a quiet ethnic building away from the city hustle-bustle. You can see a statue of Parasurama, the sage who is said to have created Kerala, as you are about to enter the museum. The Madhavan Nayar Foundation which is also called the Museum of…
HistoricalMuseums
The Krishnapuram Palace is a palace and museum located in Kayamkulam near Alappuzha in Alappuzha district, Kerala in south-western India. It is known for its grand Keralan architecture. It has gabled roofs, narrow corridors and dormer windows. It was the residence of the rulers of Kayamkulam Kingdom. The most fascinating…
HistoricalCultural
Mahabalipuram, situated about 60 km south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, is an ancient port town known for its stone carvings and stone temples. Built largely between the 7th and the 9th centuries, the port city of Pallavas has been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site. ALSO READ 7 Facts about…
Historical
Situated in City of Thrissur in Kerala, Sakthan Thampuran Palace is a beautiful palace of historical importance. It gives you an insight into the glorious past of the Perumpadappu Swaroopam dynasty. The palace was formerly known as Vadakkechira Kovilakam and got its current name after the monument was renovated by…
Historical
A small town, situated a merely 13 km from Mysore city. The town is enclosed by river Kaveri to form an island. The town gets its name from the celebrated Ranganathaswamy temple, making it one of the most important Vaishnavite centers of pilgrimage in south India.
Historical
Talakad is 45 km from Mysore. A historic site, Talakad once had over 30 temples that today are buried in sand. Now it is a scenic and spiritual pilgrimage center. Talakad is also known as Talakuda and is a desert like town located on the west bank of the river…
Historical
A former Danish colony, Tranquebar stands mute testimony to the struggle between colonial powers to gain control of the lucrative spice trade. Located in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, the Dansborg fort, the churches and the old monuments are the only remnants of the Danish heritage. ALSO READ Tranquebar: Remnants of…
Historical
Recognized as one of the best heritage cities of India, Warangal is situated 145 km away from Hyderabad in Telangana state. The fifth largest city in the state, its name is derived from the word Orugallu: Oru, which means one and Kallu means stone. The city was also known as…
Historical
