Chennai
Capital of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is famous for its beaches, Tamil traditions and food. The Tamil people are proud guardians of their culture, and present a mix of the modern and the traditional. The Fort St. George, built in 1640, as a British trading post, rapidly gave rise to an entire city around it. George Town is the business district of this southern metropolis. The 2 mile long Marina Beach is reportedly the world's second longest beach. The Kapaleeshwar Temple at Mylapore, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is more than three centuries old and has a massive gopuram (South Indian temple tower).

Kanchipuram
Known as the City of Thousand Temples, Kanchipuram's temples are centers of pilgrimage as well as culture. The Ekambeshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, has gopurams almost 60 meters tall. The Sri Varadraja Perumal Temple, located on Elephant Hill, sprawls over 23 acres and has splendid stone carvings on pillars and walls. Kanchipuram is an important center of both Hindu and Jain pilgrimage in South India. The Jain temples were built by the Pallavas in the 9th century and house a massive stone image of Lord Mahaveer.

Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, is located 58 kilometer away from Chennai, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Mahabalipuram is famous for its rock cut sculptures and bas-relief artwork, depicting scenes from the daily life of ordinary people. The massive chariots cut from single rocks are a feature unique to Mahabalipuram. The two famous rathas, or chariots, are Arjuna's Penance and Krishna Mandapa, whose architecture show a strong Buddhist influence. The Shore Temple is built on the seashore and dominates the skyline of the town.

Pondicherry
Pondicherry was an important outpost of the French colonial empire, which explains the clear French influences on this Union Territory. In the older districts of the city, you can still see signboards written in French. The origin of this city is shrouded in mystery. It had trade relations with the ancient Greek and Roman empires, and was also known to have flourished under the Chola dynasty of the 10th century AD. The French style buildings lend a quaint, old world atmosphere to the city. The world famous Aurobindo Ashram, started by Shree Aurobindo, draws spiritual seekers from all over the world. Auroville, the City of Dawn, inspired by the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, seeks to be a model city for people from all races and faiths.

Tanjore
Tanjore, or Thanjavur, has been ruled by the Chola, Nayakan and Maratha dynasties. Known as the Rice Bowl of India, this town to the east of Trichy has a network of canals running across it. The Brahadeeshwar Temple, built by the greatest Chola king, Raja Raja Chola, is world famous for its marvelous architecture. Built in 1009 AD, this massive temple lies within the Shiv Ganga Fort. A tall gopuram stands at the center of the Temple. Tanjore is famous for its Tanjore paintings that depict female deities, their ornaments or clothes embossed with gold leaf or semi precious stones.

Trichy
Trichy, or Tiruchinapalli, is the fourth largest city of Tamil Nadu. It lies on the banks of the river Cauvery. The massive Rockfort Temple towers in the center of the town. Steep stairs cut into the rock lead to the entrance of the temple. The Srirangaswamy Temple complex is built on an island in the Cauvery. St. John's Church, built in 1821, has old tombs and memorial plaques dedicated to the loved ones of the British who once lived in the town.

Madurai
Thought to be almost 2000 years old, Madurai was the capital of the Pandya dynasty of South India. It sits on the banks of the river Vaigai. The famed Meenakshi Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Though originally built by Kulsekara Pandya, it were the rulers of the Nayaka dynasty who restructured this temple into the splendid edifice it is today. The complex houses numerous smaller temples, and 12 massive gopurams that are 50 meters tall and have carvings of various deities. The Gandhi museum, dedicated to the Apostle of Peace, is one of the most popular sites for visitors. It houses memorabilia, photographs and articles belonging to Mahatma Gandhi.

Periyar
Situated amidst the Western Ghats in Kerala, Periyar National Park is a protected sanctuary that boasts of a large elephant population. It also has around 30 tigers. You may spot Sambar and Chital deer near the artificial Periyar lake. The boat ride around the lake should not be missed, as you may spot animals gathered at the lake to drink water. The vegetation is refreshingly green, and the Cardamom Hills, named after its spice plantations, are a favorite with visitors.

Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a peninsular city on the Kerala's Vembanad Lake. The life of the people is laidback and revolves around the lake, with fishing, boating and canoeing being major activities. In fact, a boat race is held on the Vembanad Lake every year. Lush plantations and coconut groves grow along the banks of the lagoons and canals that traverse almost all of Kerala, especially Kumarakom. The marine life of these backwaters include the Kumarakom Karimeen, a spotted fish, crabs and prawns. The unpolluted, clear waterways are home to many indigenous water birds and attract many migratory birds.

Cochin
Known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, Cochin is situated in Kerala, India, on the shores of the Arabian Sea. This bustling city is the business hub of Kerala. It has a history of maritime trade with the Chinese, Arabs, British and Dutch. Visitors are still surprised to come across Chinese style fishing nets- the more than 1,000 year old legacy of trade with China. Its importance as a coastal seaport and gateway to India was underlined by the Europen traders of the 15th century who called Cochin the "Queen of the Adriatic". The Bolghatty Palace, built by the Dutch, now houses a hotel. The Dutch Palace, built by the Potuguese, later passed into the hands of the Dutch, who gifted it to the King of Kochi (present day Cochin). The paintings on the palace walls depict scenes from the great Indian epics- the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The Hill Palace, built by the king of Kochi in the 19th century, now houses a museum that displays antiques from that era. The over 500 year old Jewish heritage of Cochin is on display at the Synagogue, with interiors of Chinese tiles. St. Francis Church, the oldest church in India, has a tomb that once held the remains of Vasco da Gama, the intrepid Portuguese explorer.