UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South India

By the Nexara Holidays travel desk · 2 min read

South India has a remarkable concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, many within a day or two of Chennai. Here is an introduction for travellers.

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram

Seventh- and eighth-century Pallava monuments by the sea, including the Shore Temple, the Pancha Rathas and the great relief of Arjuna's Penance. An easy trip from Chennai. See Mahabalipuram.

Great Living Chola Temples

The Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur, the temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. These are not ruins but living temples, still in daily worship after about a thousand years.

Group of Monuments at Hampi

The ruined capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, spread across a landscape of granite boulders by the Tungabhadra river. See Hampi and Hampi in 2 days: how to see the ruins of Vijayanagara.

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal

Chalukyan temples showing the blending of northern and southern temple styles, near Badami.

Mountain Railways of India

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Ooty is part of this listing, along with the Darjeeling and Kalka–Shimla lines.

The Western Ghats

A natural heritage site covering forests and mountains across several states, including areas in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas

The temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura in Karnataka, famous for their intricate soapstone carvings.

Ramappa Temple

The Kakatiya temple near Warangal, known for its sculptures and engineering. See Warangal.

Planning a heritage trip

• Visit in the cooler months, October to March.
• Hire licensed guides at the major sites.
• Combine sites by region: Chennai with Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram; Thanjavur with the other Chola temples; Hampi with Badami and Pattadakal.
• Check opening hours and photography rules.

See our Cultural holidays page for heritage itineraries.