The breath taking and rippling beauty of splendid Southern India
seeps into every aspect of this magnificent corner of the world.
Straight out of the musical numbers of Bollywood, the striking and
saturated colours of Kerala, Bengaluru and Kochi turn this part of
India into a brilliant painting of different hues and
strokes.
Part of this tapestry are a series of delightful cities, bustling
and thriving under the Indian sun, but lying in the shadow of more
well-known metropolises like Agra, Delhi and Mumbai. Many of these
cities have enormous populations, and the towers, markets and
temples stretch out for miles across the ever-changing landscape.
In this post, we go through some of the finest Southern Indian
cities, discovering their history, culture and landmarks.
Kochi
One of India's most prominent port cities, Kochi is found on the
west coast of the state of Kerala and has the nickname Queen of the
Arabian Sea. This should come as little surprise as this one of
Kerala's finest destinations. A bedazzling concentration of silvery
tower blocks sit on the marina, gazing across the sea of turquoise,
and deeper in the city confines a rumbling buzz of locals stream
through tingling marketplaces.
Much of Kochi's import and wealth comes from a storied history as
the centre of the Indian Spice Trade which stretches back centuries
to ancient times. Here, traders from across the known world, from
Romans to the Chinese came to access a spice market which was one
of the only markets to sell treasured spices. This heritage as a
major trading post saw Kochi develop into a remarkable city which
played host to Europeans and Indians alike, and its wealth was and
still is reflected in some of the remarkable buildings which are
found on the streets corners and in the squares.
The Fort Kochi region of the city is arguably the most striking
area. This is where the iconic Chinese fishing nets are found, hung
suspended across the water and still in operation today. The Kochi.
Tirumala Devaswom temple is also a sight well worth seeing. This
impressive Hindu building was constructed around the
16th century and is an important institution at the
heart of Kochi.
Bengaluru
Benglauru is a megacity, there is simply no other word for it.
With a staggering 10 million people living there, Bengaluru is
India's third largest city and the capital of the state of
Karnataka. A magnificent maze of veritable labyrinthine streets set
out across the landscape, Bengaluru is rising quickly as India's
answer to Silicon Valley and the technological centre of this
enigmatic nation.
A major feature of Bengaluru is the striking skyline of glass
towers. The technological boom which hit India recently has seen an
abundance of wealth, providing excellent examples for start-up and
existing companies. It's a fantastic place, building its way up
into the sky. Examples of the architectural renaissance that this
tech surge has brought is the glimmering Bagmane Tech Park and the
Infosys headquarters. Both of this structures herald a new age for
India's industries; the Bagmane Tech Park features seemingly
impossible structures leaning over the park while the Infosys
headquarters has fantastic glass buildings including a
Louvre-inspired pyramid.
Bengaluru also plays host to some wonderful sights from both the
colonial period and before. The palace here is stunning, and took
its inspiration from London's Buckingham Palace. Also well worth
seeing is the marvellous seat of state government, the Vidhana
Soudha, which combines the architectural styles of various Indian
eras.
Chennai
Significantly smaller than Bengaluru, but still boasting a
remarkable 4.6 million people (1 million more than the population
of Wales!), Chennai is a truly idiosyncratic city. Located on the
eastern coast overlooking the Bay of Bengal, Chennai is famous for
its beaches and its reputation as a health destination for foreign
tourists. Colourful temples, enormous parks and some
memorable buildings make this city a delight to discover, and its
status as the capital of the Tamil Nadu region cement it as one of
southern India's greats.
There is simply so much to talk about here. There's the Indian
National Art Gallery, the Shore Temple, the India Land Tech Park,
the splendid High Court and miles and miles of golden beaches, sat
against the azure bay. Marina beach is notable the largest beach in
the world, and runs for an astonishing 3.7 miles along the coast.
It was and indeed is the sight of the first British fort in India,
the formidable Fort St. George which was created in the
17th century at a cost of £3,000.
So those are some of our picks for the greatest southern Indian
cities. Each one offers something different, from the technological
wonders of Bengaluru to the health centre of Chennai with its
glorious coastlines. Southern India has so much more to offer than
just urban adventures though, so keep your eyes open for future
blogs about this magnificent corner of the world.
