I had heard a lot about the temples of South India. Ancient temples are just a magnetic attraction to me. By nature, I am a religious person who love to go for religious places. What could be better option than the temples? So this time we, a group of seven friends planned a trip to south India temples. My wish to find God in nature seem to be fulfilled when I gave my consent to this tour.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The idea of going there was exciting as it was my first time of being there. We browse on web to know the tour details and finally got the suitable one. That is how we headed towards South India. The journey was enjoyable and comfortable as we all friends were very excited to see the ancient temples of South India. Thinking of it we reached Kerala, our first destination in South India tour.

Well, after reaching there, we all were set to embark on a spiritual journey. After taking rest and making ourselves comfortable, we got a brief about our tour plan.

We started with Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which was a unique experience. I was amazed to see the exemplary architecture of the temple. When we entered in this temple, we felt as if we have come to a place where all we can experience is tranquility and spirituality. The temple showcases architectural heritage of South India. Staying there for some time was really a holistic experience that helped us to gain inner peace due to its peaceful environ.

Our curiosity took us to Shree Krishna Temple in Guruvayur. The structure of this ancient temple was of typical Kerala style with mandaps, gopurams (gateways) and shreekovil. There, we saw many tourists who were also delighted to see the majesty of these temple like us. The guide told us that this temple is also known as ‘Guruvayoor Ambalam.’

Also, we got an opportunity to visit some other famous temples including Mannaarshala near Trivandrum and the Vadakkunnathar Temple at Thrissur. The glory of the South India temples reflects in its traditional architectural style.

During this tour, we also came across some of the finest examples of architecture in the form of Temples in Karnataka. We visited Iskcon Temple which is located in the Bangalore city. Built on a hill rock, this temple is a unique blend of glass and gopurams. You can experience spiritual harmony and tranquillity here. Our guide told us about the temple that it was constructed to promote the Vedic culture and spiritual learning. During the annual Krishna and Balarama Rath Yatra, this temple is visited by thousands of devotees.

Visiting Chennakesava Temple at Hassan was also a great experience. It allowed us to see an outstanding example of architecture. This magnificent temple was built with the amalgamation of granite and soapstone. Then, we went to see the Cave and Jain Temple at Badami and Virupaksha and Hemakuta Temples at Hampi which showcase great architectural style.

The South India Temple tour was once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. Thinking of this amazing tour, we came back with inner peace and increased energy!

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Kerala among the most sought after tourist destinations of India renowned across the globe for its amalgamated beauty of nature and culture. Teeming wildlife, mesmerizing backwaters, enchanting hill stations, tea and spice plantations are foremost attractions of this place. However, the charm of Kerala Beaches stands alone.

Last month during my Kerala Tour, I have experienced the speckled charm and unparallel beauty of Kerala Beaches whose memory still lingers in my mind. The miles stretch of Kerala coastline is dotted with a number of serene and scenic beaches. Each of these beaches has its own charm and glamour, which spellbind tourists who come here from across the globe.

Kovalam Beach is the place where I spent my last vacation. It is located around 13 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The Kovalam is made up of a three bow-shaped beaches separated by the mountain terrain. The largest beach is known as Light House Beach because of its 35 meter high lighthouse, situated on Kurumkal hillock. The second largest one is Hawah Beach. It was the first topless beach in India but now topless bathing has been banned here. And the third is Samudra Beach which is famous among the local fishermen of Kovalam.

For whole day I was lost in the scenic vistas of this place which enthralls me most. The beauty of rising and falling waves washing the shore was among the most delighted scene which I can ever forget in my life. I was standing on the shore and waves lapping my feet were really a thrilling experience.  Though Kovalam is the most sought after beaches in Kerala yet there are many other popular beaches which attract significant number of tourists during their Kerala tour.

Some of the popular Kerala Beaches are:

Varkala Beach

This is one of the popular Kerala Beaches located 54 Km north from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. It is also known as ‘Papanasam beach’ because of a belief that a dip in the holy water of this beach eliminates body impurities and sins. The presence of natural springs in the nearby area makes this a popular destination for Ayurvedic therapies.

Cherai Beach

This beach is famous for its 15 kilometers long golden stretch of sand, which is bordered by Vypeen Island from the northern side. The composite beauty of sea and backwaters, lush green coconut palms and paddy fields make this beach a paradise for nature lovers and swimmers.

Kappad Beach

This is the historic beach of Kerala were Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed on May 20, 1498. Apart from the historical significance, this beach is also known for its serene and pristine ambiance, which attracts a number of tourists round the year.

Muzhapilangad Beach

This is a secluded beach which attracts a large number of tourists who loves to spend their time in the calmness of nature. The scenic charm is heightened by the presence of scattered black rocks. These scattered rocks not only heighten its scenic beauty but also protect it from deep currents and form a shallow pool of water. This pool is a swimmer’s paradise. The long sandy stretch of this beach makes it an ideal place for sunbathe or just laze around.

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Kovalam Tour was the pleasant gift that I got after completing my official conference in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), the capital city of Kerala State. It is among the best known beach destinations of the world located around 13 km downtown of Thiruvananthapuram. Though one day trip to Kovalam was not enough to explore its scattered awesome beauty yet it was sufficient to experience its charisma. On Sunday early morning I reached this place from Trivandrum by taxi.

I have heard and read about this place but never visited so the joy and enthusiasm of sea kept me busy the whole day. I was so much fascinated that I was unable to decide from where to start my exploration. I was sitting on the glistening sand with this thought bouncing around in my mind. Sitting there I was watching the beauty of rising and falling waves washing the shore. The freshness of air and the whooshing sound of waves captivated me for long. This hypnotic effect was broken by the passing by hawker who was selling coconut water. I bought a coconut from him and while sipping it marched towards the sea to pamper myself in foaming waves.

I enjoyed the thrust, chilliness and salty taste of sea for long. There I realized that it is not an easy task to resist the force of waves. Though it was a tiring experience but the charm of sea waves refreshed me. After that I moved to the nearby rocky cliff to enjoy the binocular vision of the entire surrounding. The view that I saw was beyond description and one must visit this place to experience it. I took several snaps from this place and moved towards the nearby rooftop restaurant to satisfy my appetite with exotic Kerala seafood. The lunch was good as it was made from the fresh sea fish and original spices whose taste is still lingering on my taste buds.

The Kovalam beach is internationally renowned for its three bow-shaped beaches which are separated by the Rocky Mountain Terrain. The largest beach is known as Light House Beach because of its 35 meter high lighthouse, situated on Kurumkal hillock which I visited in the evening. The second largest one is Hawah Beach. It was the first topless beach in India but now topless bathing has been banned here. And the third is Samudra Beach which is famous among the local fishermen of Kovalam.

Along with the scenic locale Kovalam Beach is also the hub of various water sports activities, herbal body toning massages, cultural programs and sunbathing. I saw scores of national and international tourists involved in these activities enjoying their vacation in the best possible manner.

Though I missed the evening charm and the beauty of sunset of this place because I had to reach Thiruvananthapuram airport to board my flight, but, with no regrets, I was happy with what I could enjoy.

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