30 INDIA
June 2014 Travel News You haven’t been to India until
You haven’t been to India until you’ve seen south India, argues contributor NATASHA WARCHOLAK. You’re more likely to meet locals rather than back-packers, the people are friendlier, the food is fantastic and the area has a magnetic charm.....
F YOU think you have been to India because you’ve partied in Goa or ‘done’ Rajasthan, chance is you are wrong. The country is so big and so diverse that no two trips to the Indian subcontinent are the same. If you can afford to take some time off, it would be worth considering adding South India - the very bottom tip of the country - to your ‘been there, done that’ list. When planning, bear in mind that English and local names are often used interchangeably, with locals insisting on using the local names – often longer and more difficult to pronounce. Why
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South India is a popular tourist destination but it is often eclipsed by other, more popular spots. Visiting the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and the fascinating Kanyakumari – India’s southernmost tip – is easy and rewarding because there are no big cities in this part of India, people are generally much friendlier, food is simply delicious – and beef not uncommon, and Kanyakumari - the ‘meeting point’ of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal - has truly magnetic charm. In addition, it is frequented by the Indian tourists rather than backpackers, and therefore a trip to South India offers a great opportunity to mingle with the locals. What
The often overlooked Meenakshi Amman Temple CRUISING DOWN THE RIVER: Families onboard house boats in Kerala
in Madurai - an important religious site for the Tamil people - is simply a must. Boasting four grand entrances facing four directions, this temple complex is an architectural gem – but sadly photography is not allowed (bags are carefully checked at the doors), and parts of the complex are off-limits to non-Hindus.
If you’re a keen photographer, souvenir shops surrounding the temple offer rooftop spots overlooking the Meenakshi Amman ‘for free’ but if you take up the offer to ‘use’ their roof, you’ll be expected to buy something from the shop. Bargaining is expected and welcome.
The aforesaid Kanyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin, can easily absorb a day or two – watching the waters of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal mingle has truly therapeutic properties. If you are tempted to take a dip, do it Indian style – fully clad. Because of its unique ‘three-sea’ location, Kanyakumari boasts both ‘sunrise point’ and ‘sunset point’, where hundreds of people gather every day to watch the sun go up or down – at respective times. Kanyakumari is also one of the so-called Ghandi
Taking a dip - fully clothed, Indian style
sites: the Gandhi Memorial was built where the urn containing the Ghandi’s ashes was kept before immersion. The building is constructed in such a way that on Gandhi's birthday - October 2 - the first rays of the sun fall on the exact spot where his ashes were kept.
Then Kerala’s backwaters beckon: these are a network of interconnected canals, rivers and lakes, totalling in more than 900 km of waterways. To navigate them, you can either stay overnight on a luxurious houseboat or, if you’re on a shoestring – stay on the dry land and book a half-day or full-day boat trips.
If you’re on a really tight budget, you can take a bigger, commuter boat with the locals and immense yourself in their daily life. This way however you won’t be able to visit the small, narrow canals that make the backwaters so special. Kochi, also known as Cochin, is home to the unique Chinese fishing nets – an icon of the city. To fully enjoy the area, it is best to stay at Fort Cochin that offers many other places of interest. It was where the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama died in 1524. His body was buried in St Francis Church in Fort Kochi before it was moved to Lisbon. When
South India enjoys a tropical climate, with April and May being the hottest months. May normally heralds the beginning of the monsoon season – and the end of the tourist season.
Kanyakumari beach - women drying silk Continued on Page 31
One of the gates to Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai
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