Landmarks of South India

India is a land of cultural diversity that has managed to preserve its time-honored traditions while absorbing new customs, trends and ideas from invaders and immigrants. This fusion of culture is quite evident in languages, festivals, cuisines and attires of different regions of India.

Indian Architecture is one of the finest examples of fusion of Indian culture as it boasts of some of the best specimen of different styles of architecture. These architectural landmarks are the result of traditions that combined elements from several parts of the country and abroad. Grand tombs, forts, palaces, temples and cities built by different dynasties, are living lessons about the history and culture of an earlier golden era.

hampi Hampi is a village in northern Karnataka and is located within the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. The village of Hampi contains several important monuments such as Virupaksha Temple. The monuments at Hampi are listed as the World Heritage Site since 1986. Hampi is identified with Kishkindha, the kingdom of monkey (vanara) mentioned in the Ramayana. The historical settlements in Hampi date back to 1 CE.

Pattadakal is a town in Karnataka known for its group of monuments that are the culmination of earliest experiments in vesara style of Hindu temple architecture. Virupaksha Temple, Sangameshvara Temple, Kashivisvanatha Temple, Mallikarjuna Temple, Galganatha Temple, Kadasiddeshvara Temple, Jambulinga Temple, Jain Temple and Papanatha Temple are worth seeing. They were built in 8th century CE. The group of monuments in Pattadakal was designated the World Heritage Site.

Chola Temple: The Brihadeeswarar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Thanjavur in the state of Tamil Nadu. Dedicated to Shiva, the temple is enlisted as the World Heritage Site in 1987 for being a great living temple. This temple is one of India's most prized architectural sites. The vimana of the temple is about 70 meters and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Shikhara of Brihadeswara temple is very large and heavy and has been carved out of a single stone.

Mahabalipuram also known as Mamallapuram is a town in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7 th and 9 th century AD and has been classified as the World Heritage Site since 1984. Some important structures here include Thirukadalmallai, Descent of the Ganges, Arjuna’s Penance, Varaha Cave Temple, Shore Temple and Pancha Rathas.

kancheepuram Kanchipuram is a city in Tamil Nadu. Popular for temples, the well-known temple structure here are the Ekambarantha Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple, Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Kumara Kottam, Kacheshwarar Temple and Kailasanathar Temple. Kanchipuram is known as the "City of 1000 Temples". The temple city is also famous for its silk sarees, which are hand woven.

Charminar is a monument located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh and is one of the most important landmarks of the city. It is a beautiful and impressive square monument, with each side measuring 20 m, and each of the edges having a pointed high minaret. It derives its name from these four gracefully carved minarets which soar to a height of 48.7 m above the ground, commanding the landscape for miles around.

Gomatheswar Temple: The tallest monolithic statue in the world, a great statue of Sri Gomatheswar built in AD 981, is located in Karnataka. The hill of Sravanabelagola surrounds majestically at 3347 feet above sea level. The name itself means "the monk on the top of the hill". A flight of 614 steps from the base leads to the summit, where the statue stands. At 58 feet 8 inches high, it is the tallest free-standing statue in the world.

Meenakshi Temple: The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort, Goddess Parvati. The temple has a stunning architecture as the complex houses 12 magnificent gopurams or towers that are elaborately sculptured and painted.