HOW TO PLAN A TRIP TO SOUTHERN INDIA

Posted by Mords1944 on November 21st, 2019

Why travel to Southern India?

Home of many of the world's oldest civilizations, and several of the world's great religions, India is an enormous country to explore. A good itinerary of Southern India from a historic and cultural point of view will include Mumbai, featuring the World Heritage sites of the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) and the nearby Elephanta Caves. You might also consider visiting the amazing cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora in Maharashtra. Explore Goa, the former Portuguese colony featuring Christian churches that could almost have been transplanted from Europe and enjoy its beautiful beaches. Then head to Kerala and experience the tranquil backwaters on board of a private houseboat. Then see some of South India’s most stunning temples in Tamil Nadu, including Madurai, Thanjavur, and Mahabalipuram. You might also consider a visit to the former French colony of Pondicherry.

Weather-wise, when is the best time to travel to Southern India?

Southern India can be visited year-round, however, the best time to visit is during the winter months (October to March) with its dry, clear days.

What to consider when planning your journey to India

Traveling through India immerses you in a vast diversity of cultures, as you enjoy everything from the food and customs to the entertainment and landmarks of truly different countries. Exploring the Indian subcontinent on your own is always an option, but at times even experienced world travelers prefer an organized tour with Bestway travel, especially when it comes to traveling through India since it offers several advantages.

A guided tour company handles all the organization and prep work for visiting landmarks in the region. You save time and energy that you would normally put into planning the details of visiting a given destination. An organized tour company also makes the most efficient use of time, considering the visiting hours and stops on the itinerary so you don't have to spend hours researching the information for each place you want to visit. Transportation is handled for you, so you won’t have to worry about getting lost in the crowds, dealing with different writing systems, confusing public transportation, or taxi drivers who might not speak the same language in each country that you visit. 

An organized tour also gives you a sense of comfort and safety, since the accompanying tour guide understands the culture, knows areas of town tourists don’t normally go to and can help you avoid potentially dangerous areas. The tour may also allow you to uncover some hidden gems within the cities that you wouldn't otherwise know about.

With a tour, the planning is handled for you, whether you are traveling alone or joining a small group tour. Someone else puts together the itinerary, so you don’t have to worry about what to see or how much time to spend in any one place. Having someone else make the planning decisions can make things simpler and allow you to sit back and enjoy your vacation.

Joining a small group tour adds a social aspect to a guided tour, especially if you aren't traveling with people you already know. Experiencing a new place with others allows you to share your reactions and connect with fellow group members. If you are traveling alone, small group tours are a great way to meet other travelers, so you won’t feel completely on your own the whole time, and you might even make a new friend out of it. Also, if you are a new traveler, or new to solo travel, a small group tour might help you ease into traveling and you won’t get overwhelmed with all the details of planning the trip.

Customize your trip

You can also get an itinerary specially customized for you. Perhaps you find a scheduled itinerary appealing, but the dates don't work for you, or the tour operator doesn't include a site that you would like to see, or you simply prefer to travel on your own tailor-made itinerary. There are some reputable tour operators that offer custom-designed independent travel. These companies feature years of experience and in-depth knowledge of a given destination. Using their services might end up saving you time, money and above all hassle.

Here is a good example: https://bestway.com/tours/india-southern-heritage/