Most Beautiful Historical Places in South India

Gateway of India, Mumbai – An iconic entry point to the city of dreams

Built as an access point for the entry and exit during the British period, the Gateway of India is one of the best historical places in India. This ancient gateway was completed in 1924 and was inaugurated by The Viceroy, the Earl of Reading. It has been reinforced over time using yellow basalt and concrete and has delicate latticework all over the turrets. The statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji and Swami Vivekananda were also installed at the Gateway later on.

Interesting fact: The last of the British ships set sail for England from the Gateway of India in the 20th century.

Entry fee: None

Open from: 12am-12pm

Must see: There are steps behind the gateway from where you can take trips to Elephanta Island.

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Konark Temple, Odisha – An ode to the Sun God

Built by the great ruler of the Ganga dynasty – King Narasimhadeva I, along with 1200 artisans, the Konark Temple is magic set in stone. Located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, this temple signifies the exquisite detailing of ancient architecture and is one of the famous historical places in India. A particularly interesting feat is at the entrance of the temple where two lions are shown crushing elephants and a human body lies at the foot of the elephant.

Interesting fact: The 12 wheels at the base of the temple are sun dials that accurately denote time.

Entry fee: Indians- INR 10
Foreigners- INR 250
There is no entrance fee on Fridays.

Open from: 10 am- 5pm ( Closed on Fridays)

Must see: The three statues of the sun gods where the sun’s rays fall at dawn, noon and sunset.

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Mysore Palace, Karnataka – The shimmering abode of the royal family

Once the royal abode of a number of rulers, the Mysore Palace is now a museum that has all the royal pictures, clothing and artefacts of the Wodeyar dynasty. This palace is one of the most historical places in India and is frequently visited by several tourists. The palace was built and refined by several emperors throughout the years and is thus an amalgamation of Hindu, Rajput, and Mughal styles making it one of the heritage destinations in India. Glazed tiles, chandeliers, and iron pillars adorn the pavilion inside the temple that is used to host royal weddings.

Interesting fact: The Maharajas used to earlier sit on a Golden palanquin that was then carried by elephants during the Dasara festival. Goddess Durga’s idol is now placed inside the palanquin.

Entry fee: Indians- INR 40
Foreigners- INR 200

Open from: 10am-5.30pm (Closed on Sundays and govt holidays)

Must see: The way the palace is lighted up during the Dussehra festival with over 10,000 lights.

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Hampi, Karnataka – A land replete with tales from The Ramayana

Hampi’s rocky outcrops, chariot structures, gopurams, elephant stables, ornate halls – all depict the tale of one of the greatest Hindu kingdoms. It is believed that Lord Rama and his brother visited this historical place to search for Sita. They took the help of the two brothers Bali and Sugriv who ruled this region then. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most famous historical places in South India and was also the region where Vijayanagara’s main coin mint was situated.

Interesting fact: The first instance of human settlement recorded here dates all the way back to 1 CE.

Entry fee: Indians- INR 10
Foreigners- INR 330
This ticket allows entry to three ancient monuments: Vittala Temple, Zenena Enclosure and the Elephant stables

Open from: 10 am- 5pm ( closed on Fridays)

Must see: Hampi Monuments that have carvings from the 14th century!

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Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu – Monolithic depictions of the Mahabharata

Dravidian-style temples dotted with innumerable sculptures are the major attractions of Mahabalipuram. The stone carvings display Pallava art and took over 200 years to create making this one of the most ancient historical places in India.

11 temples called Mandapas lie on both sides of the hills at Mahabalipuram and these have both Dravidian style architecture as well as several Buddhist elements. The Shore Temple, Arjuna’s Penance and the Cave temples are some of the most popular tourist attractions of this region.
Interesting fact: The “Descent of the Ganges” that has been carved from pink granite and displays how Lord Shiva made the water of the Ganges descend from the heavens onto the earth.

Entry fee: Indians- INR 10
Foreigners- INR 334

Open from: 6am to 6pm

Must see: Dance festivals are major tourist attractions of these Mahabalipuram temples. There is a Mamallapuram Dance Festival every year celebrated in the month of December or January.

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