About the states we work in

Andhra Pradesh
Karnataka
Kerala
Maharastra
Tamil Nadu

Please note that information on About the states we work in is from the link:  

http://www.tourismofindia.com/sts/stateshome.htm

Andhra Pradesh
The fifth largest state of India, Andhra Pradesh, was once a part of the Mauryan Empire during the reign of Emperor Ashoka. As such, it was an important Buddhist centre. One can still see evidences of the early Buddhist influence in Amaravati and at Nagarjunakonda. Later it came under the hegemony of the Chalukya dynasty and in the 10th century was engulfed by the Chola kingdom. Subsequently, it passed into the hands of a commander of the Mughal army under Aurangzeb. Finally, it succumbed to the rule of the hereditary monarchs known as the Nizams of Hyderabad, whose wealth was legendary. It remained with them till India attained independence.

Andhra Pradesh is situated on the Deccan (south) plateau - one of the oldest geological formations in India. The mighty Godavari and Krishna rivers cut their way through the plateau, forming large deltas before entering the Bay of Bengal. The state is aptly termed as the 'Rice Granary of India'.

With its recent foray into information technology, through the new hi-tech centre on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh is promoting itself as the 'No 1 State'.

Kuchipudi, the classical dance originating from the state has vigorous choreography and is somewhat akin to Bharatanatyam.

Cuisine
The Epicurean tastes of the Nizams, the most exalted royal house of princely India, gave rise to a fabled cuisine based on painstaking preparations and slow cooking.

Cities
The capital, Hyderabad, has the atmosphere of an Arabian Nights fairy tale, due to its Muslim heritage. Palaces, erstwhile stately homes and crowded, colorful bazaars characterize the city. In the distance looms the Golconda Fort.

Fast Facts About Andhra Pradesh
Area: 276,754 sq km
Population: 76 million
Capital: Hyderabad
Climate
Summer: (March to June) - Warm
Monsoon: (July to August) - Warm
Winter: (November to February)- Cool and Pleasant
Clothing
Summer: Cottons
Winter: Cottons or light woollens
Languages spoken: Telugu, Urdu
Best Time to visit: October to February

Karnataka
The state of Karnataka, formerly the princely state of Mysore, is home to a fascinating legacy of richly carved temples, imposing mosques, and trappings of a royal past. It has some of the most interesting historical architecture in India.

Karnataka is a state of strong contrasts, with the modern industrialized city of Bangalore at one extreme and expanses of rural farming areas at the other. It appeals equally to temple lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, trekkers, and beach bums.

The state consists of a narrow coastal strip backed by the monsoon-drenched Western Ghats and a drier, cooler interior plateau that turns arid in the far north. Andhra Pradesh is towards the east, the Arabian Sea to the west, Maharashtra and Goa to the north and northwest, and Kerala and Tamil Nadu to the South. It is a major producer of coffee, sandalwood, spices, and betelnut, and supplies 60% of the country's silk.

Cuisine
Karnataka has an amazing variety food, ranging from the earthy flavours of North Karnataka to the traditional fare of South Karnataka.

For breakfast, choose from the popular uppittu (roasted semolina laced with chillies, coriander leaves, mustard and cumin seed), idli-sambar (steamed rice cake and curry), tatte idlis (flat idlis), masala dosa (pancake with curried potato filling), rava dosa, puri playa, uthapam, vada sambar or kesari bhath (a halwa made of semolina, sugar, and laced with saffron).

Spicy fish delicacies like kane fry (lady-fish) are perennial favorites on the Mangalorean menu. Patrode, a special dish prepared by steamed stuffed colocasia leaves is a delicacy not to be missed. Akki roti is a favorite not only in Mangalore but also in Malnad and Coorg. There is a vast range of rice-based dishes including chirtanna (rice with lime juice, green chilli, turmeric powder sprinkled with fried groundnuts and coriander leaves), vangibhath (spiced rice of eggplant) and pulliyogare (rice flavouredflavored with tamarind juice and spiced with seasoning). The very special Karnataka dish, however, is the celebrated bisi bele bhath - a unique combination of rice, dal, tamarind, chilli powder, comma and a dash of cinnamon.

To end your meal, there are sweets like chiroti (a light flaky pastry sprinkled with granulated sugar and soaked in almond milk), Mysore pak, obbattu, or holige (a flat, thin wafer-like chappati filled with a mixture of jaggery, coconut or copra, and sugar and fried gently on a skillet), Dharwad peda, Gokak, kardantu, and Shavige payasa (made of milk, vermicelli, sugar, and cardamom seed).

Cities
Bangalore
At once a modern industrial city, centre of India's software industry, one of the fastest growing cities in Asia, a shopper's paradise and a gracious legacy of the British, Bangalore is known as much for its industrial plants as for its engineers, silk saris, race course, and the sprawling Cubbon Park which lies at the heart of the city.

From its comfortable perch of 3,250 ft above sea level, Bangalore offers visitors delightful weather conditions throughout the year. In this Garden city, do visit the Lal Bagh with its variety of old trees, fountains, lotus pools, terraces, and assortment of tropical and sub-tropical herbs. Also see the Maharaja's Palace and Government Buildings.

Mysore
Mysore, the capital of the erstwhile princely state, has a profusion of palaces and museums, and is a great place to be in during Dussehra.

Mangalore
The sunny, southern coastal town is named after the local goddess Mangladevi. Visit the tile, boat making, coffee curing and cashewnut factories, St. Aloysius Chapel with its 100 year old paintings, Shrimati Bai Memorial Museum, Beedi Factory, Jain Temples, Fort, Saib Mosque, and Music Gallery.

Fast Facts About Karnataka
Area: 191,791 sq km
Population: 52.7 million
Capital: Bangalore
Climate
Summer: (March to June) - Warm
Monsoon (July to September) - Warm
Winter (October to February) - Cool
Clothing
Summer: Light Cottons
Winter: Woollens
Languages spoken: Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Kodava, Hindi, English
Best Time to visit: September to February

Kerala
Kerala, a narrow, fertile strip on the south-west coast of India, is sandwiched between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats, whose dense forests and extensive ridges have sheltered Kerala from many mainland invaders. At the same time, the state's long coastline has encouraged maritime contact with the outside world. Such contact has resulted in an intriguing blend of cultures. With foreign influences as disparate as Chinese, Portuguese, Arab, and Dutch, Kerala's multitude of faiths - Islam, Judaism, and a host of sects of Christianity and Hinduism - all coexist harmoniously in a state that is known for its Marxist inclinations! Christianity has been in Kerala for as long as it has been in Europe.

Kerala is the spice coast of India. Edged by a thread of unbroken beachline, the state's heart is composed of intensely green paddy fields and a unique network of rivers and lagoons that comprise its famed "backwaters". The landscape is dominated by rice fields, mango and cashewnut trees, and coconut palms. Upland Kerala, relatively less visited, is composed of hills thickly wooded with teak and rubber. It is here that Kerala's most precious spices - cardamom, pepper, and nutmeg - are grown in carefully nurtured plantations.

The present-day state of Kerala was created in 1956 from Travancore, Kochi, and Malabar (formerly part of Madras state). Kerala is one of the most progressive and literate states in India. To visitors, Kerala really is "God's own country", offering exquisite beaches, lazy trips along peaceful lagoons and canals, hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries, and healing via the ancient Indian medical system, Ayurveda.

Cities
Thiruvananthapuram (formerly Trivandrum)
Visit:

• The famous Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, rebuilt in 1733, and an excellent example of South Indian architecture
• The Zoological Park (closed on Mondays)
• Napier Museum, with its bronze collection
• Sri Chitra Art Gallery, with paintings from various schools, from China, Japan, Java, and Bali (closed on Mon/Wed mornings)
• Padmanabhapuram Palace

Kochi (formerly Cochin)
Kochi, center of Kerala's maritime trade for innumerable centuries, is the fine natural harbor created by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks, whose quality ensures that the rougher the seas are outside, the calmer the waters are within the harbor. Vasco-da-Gama placed it on the world map. Along the harbor, rows of antediluvian Chinese fishing nets indicate Kerala's trade with China, just as buildings along the water's edge testify to the erstwhile presence of Dutch and Portuguese colonizers. Jewtown, with an immaculately preserved synagogue, has a flavor all its own, while Tripunathura, at the other end of the city, has many traditional houses with central courtyards.

Alleppey
The coastal town of Alleppey on the Arabian Sea is known as the Venice of the East, for the numerous canals that meander through the town. This town holds a thrilling snake-boat race every year in August. It is also known for its cashew nuts, coir trade, rice, pepper crops, and coconuts.

Fast Facts
Area: 38,864 sq km
Population: 33 million
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Summer: (Mar to June) - Warm
Monsoon: (August to September) - Warm
Winter: (November to February)- Mildly Warm and Pleasant
Clothing
Summer: Light Cottons
Winter: Woollens
Languages spoken: Malayalam

Maharastra
The state of Maharashtra, one of the largest in India in terms of both size and population, stands mostly on the high Deccan plateau, which stretches east some 800 km. from the Western Ghats. It has the Arabian sea on the west, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to the north, Madhya Pradesh on the east, and Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to the south.

Maharashtra means "The Great State". Historically this was the main centre for the Maratha Empire, which defied the Mughals for so long, and which, under the fearless rule of Shivaji, carved out a large part of central India as its domain. Maharashtra's many inland and coastal forts are a legacy of Shivaji and, to a lesser extent, the Portuguese.
Maharashtra is an economically important state.

Mumbai
From a fishing village to the dowry of a Portuguese queen to the country's foremost seaport, commercial centre and producer of films, Mumbai, India's western gateway, has donned many personas. It is an exhilarating city fuelled by entrepreneurial energy, determination, and dreams. The economic powerhouse of the nation, it can seem like another country altogether. A magnet to migrants from all over India, rich and poor, ensures the city keeps one foot in its hinterland and the other in the global marketplace. This balancing act is played out against a stately Victorian townscape with stunning Gothic architecture embodied in the Gateway of India, Bombay High Court, Old Secretariat, University Buildings, and Victoria Terminus.

Pune
170 kms to the south of Mumbai, Pune was one of the pivotal bases of the 17th century Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji, who was born at the Shivneri fort here. Pune was also the seat of power of the Peshwas, under whose influence Maratha power became a major political force. The Peshwas were renowned patrons of the arts and under their reign temples, gardens, and educational institutions flourished in the city. During the freedom movement, Pune saw Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak introduce the principal of Swadeshi. The Film and Television Institute of India, Osho Ashram and National Defence Academy are based here. Pune is fast growing into a center for software development.

Visit:

• Shaniwar Wada, now a picnic spot for locals
• Aga Khan Palace, a historical landmark
• Shinde Chhatri, a memorial to the great warrior, Mahadji Shinde
• National War Memorial, with the names of around 1200 martyrs from the state who have laid down their lives in various operations after Independence
• Snake Park, with snakes of 40 different species
• Bund Gardens, a popular place for visitors to take a leisurely stroll or enjoy a boat ride
• Empress Garden, a botanical garden spread over a large area in the heart of the Pune Cantonment, very close to the Pune Race Course
• National Defence Academy, a premier Inter Service training institution
• Pataleshwar Temple, an 8th century Shiva Temple
• Kasba Ganapati, a Shiva temple established by Shivaji

Fast Facts about Maharastra
Area: 3,07,690 sq km
Population: 9,97,52,247
Capital: Mumbai
Climate
Summer: (Mar to June) - Warm
Monsoon: (June to September) - Warm
Winter: (November to February)- Mildly Warm and Pleasant
Clothing
Summer: Light Cottons
Winter: Woollens
Languages spoken: Marathi
Best Time to visit: October to March

Tamil Nadu

East India - Tamil Nadu
The southern state of Tamil Nadu is referred to as the cradle of Dravidian culture, an ancient culture distinguished by unique languages and customs. The cultural icons are everywhere - huge temples with their towering gopurams (spires) not seen anywhere else in the country, intricate rock carvings, evocative music and, of course, the complex classical dance. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism at its most vigorous, whose past endures into the present.

Temples in Tamil Nadu were the fulcrum of society and even today art forms that have their origin in religious worship continue to color daily life. Notable among these are splendid bronzes of deities, painting on glass, and Bharatanatyam, an evocative dance form.
Tamil Nadu offers the traveler excellent value, particularly in accommodation. Hotel prices are generally lower than they are further north and standards are often higher.

Cuisine
The Aryans never brought their meat-eating influence to the extreme south of India, so Tamil Nadu is more or less totally vegetarian. Dosas (crispy pancakes) and idlis (steamed rice dumplings) have become enormously popular all over the country. Mounds of rice accompany every meal, sweets are a favorite, and coffee is more popular than tea. Alcohol is more likely to be available in non-vegetarian restaurants.

Cities
Chennai (formerly Madras)
Tamil Nadu's capital is a major metropolis, the centre for Tamil films, the most convenient point of entry to South India, and a fast-growing software and retail center. Chennai has an international airport, a seaport, and a rail and road network that links it to all major towns and cities. It also has several deluxe hotels and others to suit modest budgets.

Visit:

• The Art and Bronze Gallery (closed on Fridays and Public holidays
• The Flower and Fruit market
• High court
• Fort Museum
• Marina Beach
• Santhome Cathedral
• Snake Park
• Film Studios, try your luck at 'being discovered'
• Kalakshetra Arts Village, to see skilful performances of traditional dance

Coimbatore
This inland district on the east coast is a modern city thriving on its textile, engineering produce, and synthetic gems industries. It is famous for its elephant training camp on Varaghliar and Tirumurthi hill forests. Annamalai Sanctuary, rich in wildlife and teak forests, tea and coffee plantations is an added attraction.

Fast Facts about Tamil Nadu
Area: 130,058 sq km
Population: 55.8 million
Capital: Chennai
Climate
Summer: (Mar to June) - Warm
Winter: (November to February)- Warm and Pleasant
Clothing
Summer: Cottons
Winter: Cottons or light woollens
Languages spoken: Tamil
Best Time to visit: December to February