South India Under One Roof!

South India, a beautiful region dotted with a number of wildlife sanctuaries, exotic beaches, plush valleys and dense forests, continues to be a favourite holiday spot with tourists from near and far. The vast and rich region is divided in to four major states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Each state has its own language, festivals and culture and distinct history. It is naturally difficult to explore this vast chunk of the Deccan plateau in one stretch. Perhaps that is what struck the Confederation of Indian Industry because starting January 23, 2013 a weeklong celebration of South India kicks off in Hyderabad.

Organized for the first time, FoSI or Festival of South India will have exhibitions and stalls from important regions of South India, giving a sneak peek in to this culturally rich land. The aim of the festival is to promote South India as an important tourist destination. What you can expect here are a series of events covering all genres starting from classical and folk dances and musical performances to exhibitions of art, literature, architecture and spiritualism.

While at FoSI, explore the rich and palatable South Indian cuisine, which extends beyond idli, sambar, dosa and vada. Take back home exquisite spices, dried snacks and chutneys from Kerala. While a detailed events’ list remains to be shared with the public, you can certainly expect a promising crafts stall at the festival, for tourists to pick up souvenirs like wooden and metal sculptures, stone and shell handicrafts and vibrant cotton and silk fabrics, a trademark of South India.

Hyderabad, the city of Nizams will be bustling with excitement from January 23 to 27. The venue for the event is HITEX, Hyderabad. You can chose to stay at a hotel close by. Experience the depths of South Indian culture; from enchanting kathakali dances to the lavish Tanjore paintings, from the soul embracing Carnatic music to the unparalleled biryani - all under one roof! Now that’s what you call a multicultural festival. Club your trip to the festival with a visit to the neighbouring states (Hyderabad enjoys excellent flight connectivity to other important cities) and you have for yourself a complete South Indian experience.