Answer the call of the bells and travel to South India. A peninsula surrounded by three oceans, it is a region of great natural beauty.

There exist in this terrain a great number of temples and temple cities, overwhelming in their detail of sculpture and grandeur of scale. Many of them as much a part of everyday life today as they were centuries ago. The earlier temples that survive are rock-cut, literally carved out of enormous blocks of stone.

Follow the temple trail of the Kanchipuram-Madurai-Tiruchirapalli-Kanniyakumari circuit and discover some of the notable examples of temple art oand architecture. The Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram with a four-storeyed tower and octagonal shikhara is a commendable piece of creativity. During the reign of the Pandyas, the temple walls were pierced by entrance gates, surmounted by soaring towers called gopurams, taller than those raised on the shrine itself and elaborately sculptured. The Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple at Madurai and the Rock Fort temple at Tiruchirapalli figure among the marvels of the temple architecture of South India.

East India too is replete with immense and impressive temples. A journey through the temple belt, Bhubaneswar-Puri-Konark , reveals a tradition of magnificent and innovative architecture exhibited in places of worship.

Kanchipuram, the Golden City of a thousand temples and one of the seven sacred cities of India, is 71 km from Madras. It was successively the capital of the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Rayas of Vijayanagar. During the 6^th and 7^th centuries some of the best temples in the city were built by the Pallavas. The city was also a great seat of learning. Sri Sankaracharya, Appar, Siruthonder and the great Buddhist Bhikku, Bodhidharma lived and worked here. Today, it is known not only for its temples but also for its handwoven silk fabrics.

Climate : Summer (Mar to Jun) : Warm

Winter (Nov to Feb) : Mildly warm and pleasant

Clothing : Throughout the year : Cottons

Hotel Tamil Nadu (TTDC) and other unclassified hotels.

SAKKISWARAR TEMPLE : Built by the Cholas, the temple is situated near the Kamakshi Amman Temple. VAIKUNTHA PERUMAL TEMPLE : An important Vishnu temple built by the Pallava King Nandivarman Pallavamalla in the 7^th century AD. Numerous inscriptions are found in this temple relating to the wars between the Pallavas and the Chalukyas. KAILASANATHA TEMPLE : Built by Rajasimha and his son Mahendra III in the 8^th century AD. EKAMBARESWARAR TEMPLE : Another ancient temple, renovated by the Pallavas, the Cholas and theVijayanagar Kings. The 57-metre high Rajagopuram, is one of the tallest towers in South India. DEVARAJASWAMY TEMPLE : Also known as Varadarajar temple, it is a massive and impressive edifice. The shrine of Devarajaswamy is on an elephant-shaped rock called Hastagiri. KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE : This is one of the three holy places of Shakti worship in India. The other two are in Madurai and Varanasi. The temple in its present form was built by the Cholas during the 14^th century AD.

Kanchipuram's exquisite silk sarees are woven from pure mulberry silk in dazzling colurs and have an enviable reputation for lustre, durability and finish. Most of the handloom co-operatives have their own retail outlets in the town that sell Kanchipuram silk.

Brahmothsavam, Garudothsavam and the Chariot festival.

Madurai is celebrated for its Meenakshi temple and is one of India's oldest cities with a history dating back to the 6^th century BC. Madurai's trade with the ancient Greeks and Romans is well known. It was the capital of the Pandyan empire till the 14^th century and is now an important commercial centre of South India

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Climate : Summer (Mar to Jun) : Warm

Winter (Nov to Feb) : Warm and pleasant

Clothing : Throughout the year : Cottons

Connected by road to Madras (461 km) and to all major towns of South India by road with regular bus services. Madurai is connected to Madras and other southern towns by express trains. Madurai is connected by air to Madras.

WHERE TO STAY

Luxury Hotels : Madurai Ashok, Pandyan Hotel, Taj Garden Retreat, Hotel Supreme.

Standard Hotels : Hotel Tamil Nadu, YWCA, New College House.

ALAGARKOIL : A temple at the foot of the Alagar Hills (20 km). It has exquisite sculptures in the hall that faces the sanctum sanctorum.

At the southernmost tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, lies Kanniyakumari, an important pilgrim centre.

The Kumari Aman temple here is dedicated to Parvathi as Devi-Kanya-the virgin goddess who did penance to obtain the hand of Lord Siva.

Two rocks reach out of the ocean, south-east of the Kumari Amman temple. One of these is Sri Padaparai, where the footprints of the virgin goddess are to be seen. On this rock, Swami Vivekananda sat in long and deep meditation; and here stands the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, built in 1970.

Climate : Summer (Mar to Jun) : Warm

Winter (Nov to Feb) : Warm and pleasant

Clothing : Throughout the year : Cottons

Connected by road to Madras (703 km), Madurai (242 km) and other major towns in South India. Kanniyakumari is on the Thiruvananthapuram - Kanniyakumari section of the southern railway. Nearest airport, Thiravananthapuram (93 km).

Hotel Tamil Nadu, Youth Hostel (TTDC), Devasthanam Rest House, Kalaimagal Illam, Malaimagal Illam.

VATTAKOTTAI (CIRCULAR FORT) : The 18^th century fort overlooking the sea, located 6 km from Kanniyakumari. Here the sea is calm and suitable for bathing. SUCHINDRAM : The Thanumalayan temple here is a repository of art treasures belonging to many kingdoms. The presiding deity in the form of a Linga denotes Siva, Vishnu and Brahma. Inscriptions said to be of the 9^th century AD are found in this temple. UDAYAGIRI FORT : Built by King Marthanda Varma (1729-1758 AD), this fort also has a foundry for casting guns. De Lennoy's tomb is in this fort.

Handicrafts of Tamil Nadu and South India are available at all Government retail outlets in the main town.

Chithra Pournami Festival - first week of May Navarathri - last week of October Holy Annual festival of R C Church - four week of December.

The ancient capital of the Kalinga empire, Bhubaneswar's history goes back over 2000 years. At one time, the Bindu Sagar tank had over 7000 temples around it. If these, 500 still survive, all built in the extravagant Orissan style.

Climate : Summer (Mar to Jun) : Warm

Monsoon (Jul to Aug) : Warm

Winter (Nov to Feb) : Cool and pleasant

Clothing : Summer - Cottons

Winter - Woollens

On the national highway linking Calcutta (480 km) and Madras (1225 km). Air links to Delhi, Calcutta, Hyderabad and Nagpur. Rail links to Calcutta, Madras, Delhi (1745 km), Mumbai (1691 km).

The Oberoi, Kalinga Ashok, Hotel Swosti, New Kenilworth, Prachi, Panthaniwas.

LINGARAJA TEMPLE : Built in the 12^th century AD with an ornately-carved tower and soaring spires. PARASURAMESWARA TEMPLE : The oldest surviving temple, built in 650 AD. MUKTESWARA TEMPLE : Contains a stunningly-beautiful archway. RAJA RANI TEMPLE : Set in a garden, it creates a dramatic image against the setting sun BRAHMESWARA TEMPLE : Notable for its very finely-detailed sculptures.

Woven ikat fabrics, applique work, silver filigree jewellery, stone carvings, patta chitra paintings.

At Ashokashtami, during Mar/Apr, the idol of Lord Lingaraja is taken out in procession. Kali Puja, in Oct/Nov, the city is lit with lamps. Bali Yatra in Oct/Nov, a fair held by the banks of the Mahanadi river in Cuttack.