Tanima Holidays

South India is a land of temples and devout where new wonders wait. Chennai (Madras), the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu is a marvelous place to start the voyage of discovery. It is a town steeped in tradition though the British 350 created it years ago. Visit the Fort St. George, the St. Mary's Church, the splendid Marina Beach, the beautiful Kapaleeswarar Temple, the St. Thomas Mount, where St. Thomas the Apostle was martyred, the National Art Gallery, the San Thome Cathedral, the Parthasarathy Temple, Valluvar Kottam, Cholamandalam, the artist's village and Kalakshetra.

Tamil Nadu has fascinating towns with magnificent temples - Kanchipuram, Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, and Rameswaram. Mamallapuram close to Chennai, is a marvelous open-air museum set along a fabulous beach with an array of sculptured edifices, cave temples and reliefs. Further down the coast, Pondicherry displays its French heritage in its seaside villas and the French names of its streets. Ooty (Udhagamandalam) and Kodaikanal - picturesque hill towns are close to this region.

The splendid cities of Bangalore and Mysore reflect the royal heritage of Karnataka. Bangalore, the state capital is a lively cosmopolitan city noted for its fine climate and extensive gardens. The exquisite Hoysala temples at Halebid and Belur are not far from Bangalore.

Mysore is another charming city with its beautiful palaces and royal traditions. Up on a hill overlooking the city is the temple to Chamundeswari, its patron goddess. Interesting trips around Mysore include the Brindavan Gardens, Srirangapatna, the Ranganathittoo Bird Sanctuary, the ornate Hoysala temple at Somnathpur and the Nagarhole National Park - all within easy reach of the city.

Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh is exciting with its domes and minarets, palaces and colorful bazaars spilling over with silks, pearls, perfumes, antiques and glittering glass bangles. The imposing Charminar and the Golconda Fort looming in the distance are two well-known landmarks. Take time off to visit the unusual museum at Nagarjunakonda where an ancient Buddhist site has been relocated on an island in the reservoir of the Nagarjunakonda Dam.

The state of Kerala along the west coast of the peninsula is a lush green escape with beautiful beaches, historic port towns and pretty retreats in the hills. Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital offers a glimpse of the life of the people of Kerala. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the unusual Napier Museum and the Chitra Art Gallery are some of its attractions. The delightful beach resort at Kovalam and the famous Padmanabhapuram Palace are closeby. The port town of Kochi can reveal so much on exploration as the city is full with places like the old Jewish Synagogue, the Mattancherry Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church - the oldest European church in

the subcontinent and the Chinese fishing nets. Visit Kumarakom set in the scenic backwater country and drift along the serene waterways vaulted by coconut palms for a delightful break from routine. The coral islands of Lakshadweep are easily accessible from Kochi. Relax on its pristine beaches and go snorkeling in its crystal lagoons.