Traveling from Goa to the Rest of South India – Fitting Quality Tourism into a trip

While North Indian locations are extremely beautiful and consistently make the tourists awe from all over the world, it comes at the cost of the heritage and magnificence of the countless beautiful parts of South India that are just as pretty, if not more, as North Indian locations, simply with different characteristics. Since you are reading this blog, the chances are that you have managed to look past the popular culture of heading to Manali and instead visit the equally worthy but underrated Southern Parts of India.

Now, while the North is obviously known for majestic snow-capped peaks, the South reserves more of a sandy allure to it. The obvious locations of attraction in the coastal states in the South of India are the expansive beaches that grapple with the 3 mighty water bodies, namely, the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. Having said that, when there is talk of beaches, the first location to catch your attention is Goa or Mumbai. We are here to tell you that you can accommodate the best of the Southern parts of India while also enjoying the much-wanted atmosphere of the joy of Goa or Mumbai in a single trip!

 If you have about 20 days to spare from your vacation allowance, a travel plan based on this article would probably be the best vacation of your life, especially if you enjoy extensive touring and experience varied cultures and different cuisines! 

  1. Chennai 
  2. Mahabalipuram 
  3. Tiruchirappalli
  4. Tanjore
  5. Madurai
  6. Periyar
  7. Kochi
  8. Mysore
  9. Srevanbelgola
  10. Hassan 
  11. Hampi
  12. Badami
  13. Goa
  14. Mumbai

 paradisal locations within 20 days. While it seems impossible, it will be one of the exhilarating experiences of a lifetime. With a spare of about 6 days, you can even choose locations that you wish to spend more time at and accordingly modify your schedule. 

Starting at Chennai, the best attractions are ancient as well as modern marvels of architecture. With tourist attractions such as Valluvar Kottam – an architectural ode to the brilliance of Thiruvalluvar, one of the finest scholars of India. Apart from this, you can also visit the glorious Thousand Lights Mosque, which is best enjoyed in the evenings and nights. Ashtalakshmi Temple is also one of the most revered temples in India and is dedicated to the 8 avatars of Lakshmi – the Goddess of knowledge and wealth. To soak up some important bits of the history of India, you can head to the Government Museum of Chennai too!

From Chennai, Mahabalipuram will be the next destination. The sites of attraction at this UNESCO World Heritage Sites are the historical monuments along with various caves and other structures that have been essentially sculpted from single stones, and countless locations are known to have been crucial parts of Indian Mythology. Locations such as the five chariots, the bas relief of Arjuna’s Penance, the Shore Temple, Ekambareswara, and so on depict the heroes that we merely hear about in folk tales, mythology, and our history books. 

Tiruchirappalli is one the holiest cities, with the Cauvery River flowing alongside it and plenty of physical references to the majesty of the Chola Dynasty of the South. The Rock fort temple is an important part of Indian religious history owing to the amount of turbulence it has faced in its lifetime. From Tiruchirappalli, you can head to Tanjore and Madurai and truly let your hair down and enjoy a scenic drive to end up at the Brihadeeswara Shiva Temple and other interesting tourist spots. Having reached Madurai, you can explore the capabilities of the Dravidian civilization as you walk through the Meenakshi Temple, known to be a maze and one of the best works of Dravidian architects. It is also the biggest temple of this great nation!

Continuing the tour, Periyar awaits you with its natural allure of wildlife, the Periyar Lake, and a National Park dedicated to keeping the wildlife safe from human interference. You could rent a boat and simply wade through the lake and enjoy the sights of wonders of nature such as tigers, langurs, leopards, and so on. If boating is not your interest, you can simply go for a hike in the lush forests around you.

From here, you can head to Kochi and truly understand one of the most strategic locations in terms of trading and why it was that every population, including the Britishers, Portuguese, Dutch, and Arabs craved to be here. It goes without saying that due to the influence of foreign forces at some point since its inception, Kochi, also known as the Queen of Arabian Sea, is home to various cultural references in terms of its buildings and ways of life. Whether you wish to Church or temples, synagogues, or a mosque, Kochi is the ideal place for you to be. 

Mysore will be one of the highlights of the journey simply owing to the existence of the Chamundeshwari Temple and the Mysore Palace that were erected by the Maharaja in circa 1911. The Chamundeshwari Temple, while not only being a destination of peace and serenity, will awe you with a view of the regal city of Mysore. With plenty of gardens and art galleries, this city will leave you wanting more time with it.

From here, Sravanbelgola will be the next destination. This location is particularly important to Jains all over the world, owing to the existence of the Gommateshvara Bahubali statue, which is extremely holy for Jains. Interested tourists can also visit the Hoysala Empire’s capital that is home to the Vishnu Temple – built over 103 years or so to commemorate a victory over the Cholas by Maharaja Vishnuvardhana. While heading toward Badami, tourists must make it a point to visit Hampi, which is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and only after that reach Badami – the Chalukya Capital for over two centuries. Spending the day visiting the red sandstone architecture of temples dedicated to the Gods Shiva, Vishnu, Vishnu’s various avatars, and Tirthankara Parshavnatha will be a perfect end to your visit to Badami. 

From Badami, you arrive at the penultimate destination – Goa. Soak in the Portuguese influence on this microcosm of paradise and enjoy excellent seafood cuisines such as the fish Ricardo preparation which is a long-standing delicacy and a specialty of Goan food. After having your fill of the famed beaches of Goa, including the rocky beaches such as Anjuna, and a motley of churches and bazaars strewn across the local landscape, you finally head for the economic capital of India – Mumbai. 

Without a doubt, this is not a trip for leisure rather one for people wishing to create memories of a lifetime. In fact, there are plenty of travel agencies that offer plans which span these locations efficiently and take the hassle of making the best tour plan by handing it to you on a platter! Soak up the glory of South India by cruising through it rather than restricting yourself to the fantastic pictures on a screen! We promise that the pictures do no justice to the first-hand beauty of it all!

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