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{{Short description|Region in India}}
:''See also: [[Dravida Nadu]]''
{{Good article}}
[[Image:Dravida nadu.jpg|thumb|South India]]
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
'''South India''' is often used to refer to the states and territories in the southern part of the [[Republic of India]]. In general, one of the following is meant:
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
*[[Andhra Pradesh]]
{{Infobox settlement <!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
*[[Goa]]
| name                    = South India
*[[Karnataka]]
| native_name_lang        = <!-- ISO 639-3 {{lang|ori}} instead --> <!-- ISO 639-2 {{lang|bn}} instead -->
*[[Kerala]]
| settlement_type          = Region
*[[Tamil Nadu]]
| image_skyline            =
*[[Lakshadweep]], a group of [[Island]]s, and union territory
| image_alt                =
*[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] or Pondicherry, anoter union territory made up of city states along the coast.
| image_caption            =
| motto                    =
| image_map                = India South India Locator Map.svg
| map_alt                  =
| map_caption              = Map of [[states and union territories of India|states]] and [[union territory|union territories]] in South India
| coordinates_footnotes    =
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = {{flagu|India}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[States and union territories of India|States and union territories]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{plainlist|
* [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
* [[Andhra Pradesh]]
* [[Karnataka]]
* [[Kerala]]
* [[Lakshadweep]]
* [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
* [[Tamil Nadu]]
* [[Telangana]]
  }}
| subdivision_type2        = Most populous cities <span style="font-weight:normal"></span>
| subdivision_name2        = {{plainlist|
*[[Bangalore]]
*[[Chennai]]
*[[Hyderabad]]
*[[Thiruvananthapuram]]
*[[Visakhapatnam]]
*[[Mangalore]]
*[[Coimbatore]]
*[[Thrissur]]
*[[Vijayawada]]
*[[Mysore]]
*[[Kozhikode]]
*[[Madurai]]
*[[Kochi]]
*[[Tiruchirappalli]]
*[[Hubli]]
  }}
| blank_name_sec1          = [[Official languages of India|Official languages]]
| blank_info_sec1          = {{plainlist|
* [[English language|English]] ([[lingua franca]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/090619/in-the-land-of-many-tongues-hindi-cant-be-lingua-franca.html|title=In the land of many tongues, Hindi can't be lingua franca|date=9 June 2019|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref>
* [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
* [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
* [[Kannada]]
* [[Malayalam]]
  }}
| unit_pref                = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->| area_footnotes          =
| area_note                =
| area_water_percent      =
| area_rank                =
| area_total_km2          = 635,780
| area_land_km2            =
| area_water_km2          =
| population_total        = 253,051,953
| population_as_of        =
| population_density_km2  = 400
| population_demonym      = South Indian<br />Dravidian<br />Andhraite<br />Kannadiga<br />Keralite<br />Laccadivian<br />Pondicherrian<br />Tamilian<br />Telanganite
| timezone1                = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] ([[UTC+5:30]])
| utc_offset1              =
| timezone1_DST            =
| utc_offset1_DST          =
| official_name            = [[India]]
| population_density_sq_mi =
| other_name              =
| blank_info_sec2          = {{plainlist|
* [[Beary language|Beary]]
* [[Badaga language|Badaga]]
* [[Deccani language|Urdu]]
* [[Gondi language|Gondi]]
* [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
* [[Kodava language|Kodava]]
* [[Konkani language|Konkani]]
* [[Tulu language|Tulu]]
}}
| blank_name_sec2          = [[Official languages of India|Minority languages]]
}}


'''South India''' is a region consisting of the southern part of [[India]], which encompasses the [[States and union territories of India|Indian states]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]], [[Tamil Nadu]], and [[Telangana]], as well as the [[union territory|union territories]] of [[Lakshadweep]] and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]], comprising 19.31% of India's area ({{convert|635,780|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and 20% of India's population. Covering the southern part of the [[peninsula]]r [[Deccan Plateau]], South India is bounded by the [[Bay of Bengal]] in the east, the [[Arabian Sea]] in the west and the [[Indian Ocean]] in the south. The geography of the region is diverse with two mountain ranges – the [[Western Ghats|Western]] and [[Eastern Ghats]] – bordering the [[plateau]] heartland. The [[Godavari River|Godavari]], [[Krishna River|Krishna]], [[Kaveri]], [[Tungabhadra River|Tungabhadra]], [[Periyar River]], [[Bharathappuzha]] River, [[Pamba River]], [[Thamirabarani River|Thamirabarani]], [[Palar River|Palar]] and [[Vaigai River|Vaigai]] rivers are important non-[[Perennial stream|perennial]] sources of water.
{{bar box|title=Religion |titlebar=#ddd|left1=Religion|right1=Percent(%)|float=right|bars={{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|Orange|80}}{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|11}}{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|purple|8}}{{bar percent|Other|grey|1}}}}


[[File:Zonal Councils.svg|thumb|300px|[[Zonal Council]]s of India]]
{{multistub|geo|Asia}}


The majority of the people in South India speak at least one of the four major [[Dravidian languages]]: [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Kannada]], and [[Malayalam]]. Some states and [[Union territory|union territories]] also recognize a minority language: such as [[Urdu]] in [[Telangana]],<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/urdu-second-official-language-telangana-state-passes-bill-71742 |title = Urdu is second official language in Telangana as state passes Bill|date=17 November 2017 |website=The News Minute }}</ref> and [[French language|French]] in Puducherry. Besides these languages, [[Indian English|English]] is used by both the central and state governments for official communications and is used on all public signboards.
[[Category:Regions of India]]
 
During its [[History of South India|history]], a number of dynastic kingdoms ruled over parts of South India; and the [[Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent]] across [[South Asia|southern]] and [[Southeast Asia|southeastern]] Asia impacted the history and culture in those regions. Major dynasties established in South India include the [[Cheras]], [[Cholas]], [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandyas]], [[Pallavas]], [[Satavahanas]], [[Chalukyas]], [[Rashtrakutas]], [[Bahmani]], [[Deccan Sultanates]], [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]], [[Kakatiyas]], [[Kadambas]], [[Hoysala dynasty|Hoysalas]], [[Zamorin]], [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara]], [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]], [[Travancore]], [[Arakkal kingdom|Arakkal]], and [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]]. [[Cochin Jews|Jews]], [[Saint Thomas Christian]]s, [[Mappila Muslims]], and [[Age of discovery|Europeans]] entered India through the southwestern [[Malabar Coast]] of [[Kerala]]. South India was colonized under [[Portuguese India]] and the [[British Raj]]. The [[Hyderabad State]] ruled by the [[Nizam]]s was the last princely state of India.
 
South India witnessed sustained growth in per-capita income and population, structural changes in the economy, an increased pace of technological innovation {{cn|date=April 2022}}. After experiencing fluctuations in the decades immediately after [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]], the economies of South Indian states have registered a higher-than-national-average growth over the past three decades. South India has the [[List of Indian states and union territories by GDP|largest gross domestic product]] than any other region in India. The South Indian states lead in some [[socio-economics|socio-economic]] metrics of India. The [[Human Development Index|HDI]] in the southern states is high and the economy has undergone growth at a faster rate than in most northern states. [[Literacy in India|Literacy rates]] in the southern states is higher than the national average, with approximately 81% of the population capable of reading and writing. The [[fertility rate]] in South India is 1.9, the lowest of all regions in India.
 
==Etymology==
[[File:Dravida nadu.jpg|thumb|South India]]
 
South India, also known as Peninsular India, has been known by several other names. The term "Deccan", referring to the area covered by the [[Deccan Plateau]] that covers most of peninsular India excluding the coastal areas, is an anglicised form of the [[Prakrit language|Prakrit]] word ''dakkhin'' derived from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''dakshina'' meaning south.<ref>{{Cite book |title = Hobson-Jobson: The Definitive Glossary of British India |first1=Henry|last1=Yule|first2=A. C. |last2=Burnell|date=13 June 2013|publisher=Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-164583-9 }}</ref> ''Carnatic'', derived from ''"Karnād"'' or ''"Karunād"'' meaning ''high country'', has also been associated with South India.<ref name="hobsons">{{cite web |url = https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.0:1:415.hobson |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120714033828/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.0:1:415.hobson |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2012 |title = Origins of the word 'Carnatic' in the Hobson Jobson Dictionary |publisher=University of Chicago |access-date=15 September 2006 }}</ref>
 
== History ==
{{Main|History of South India}}
 
=== Historical references ===
{{See also|Dakshinapatha}}
 
Historical South India has been referred to as [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]], a [[prakrit]]ic derivative of an ancient term 'Dakshin' or Dakshinapatha. The term had geographical as well as the geopolitical meaning and was mentioned as early as [[Pāṇini|Panini]] (500 BCE).
 
=== Ancient era ===
{{See also|Spice trade}}
[[File:Silk route.jpg|thumbnail|Ancient [[Silk Road]] map. The [[Spice trade]] was mainly along the water routes (blue).]]
[[File:Rajendra map new.svg|thumb|upright=0.9|The [[Chola Empire]] during Rajendra Chola I, c. 1030]]
 
[[Carbon dating]] shows that ash mounds associated with [[Neolithic]] cultures in South India date back to 8000&nbsp;BCE. Artifacts such as ground stone axes and minor copper objects have been found in the Odisha region. Towards the beginning of 1000&nbsp;BCE, [[Iron Age|iron technology]] spread through the region; however, there does not appear to be a fully developed [[Bronze Age]] preceding the Iron Age in South India.<ref name="prehistory">{{cite book|last=Agarwal|first=D.P.|url=https://www.arkeologi.uu.se/afr/projects/BOOK/agrawal.pdf|title=Urban Origins in India|year=2006|publisher=Uppsala University|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525164517/https://www.arkeologi.uu.se/afr/projects/BOOK/agrawal.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2006|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The region was in the middle of a trade route that extended from [[Muziris]] to [[Arikamedu]] linking the [[Mediterranean]] to [[East Asia]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea: Travel And Trade In The Indian Ocean By A Merchant Of The First Century |first=Wilfred|last=Schoff|year=1912|publisher=South Asia Books|isbn=978-81-215-0699-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Miller|last=J. Innes|orig-year=1969|title=The Spice Trade of The Roman Empire: 29 B.C. to A.D. 641 |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1998|isbn=978-0-19-814264-5}}</ref> Trade with [[Phoenicians]], [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], [[Greeks]], [[Arabs]], [[Demographics of Syria|Syrians]], [[Jew]]s, and [[Chinese people|Chinese]] began during the [[Sangam period]] (c. 3rd century BCE to c. 4th century CE).<ref>{{Cite book|first=Bjorn|last=Landstrom|title=The Quest for India|publisher=Allwin and Unwin|year=1964|isbn=978-0-04-910016-9}}</ref> The region was part of the ancient [[Silk Road]] connecting the [[Eastern world|East]] with the [[Western culture|West]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Elisseeff|first=Vadime |title=The Silk Roads: Highways of Culture and Commerce |publisher=[[UNESCO]] Publishing / Berghahn Books|year=2001|isbn=978-92-3-103652-1}}</ref>
 
Several dynasties – such as the [[Chera dynasty|Cheras]] of [[Karur|Karuvur]], the [[Pandyas]] of [[Madurai]], the [[Cholas]] of [[Thanjavur]], the [[Zamorin]]s of [[Kozhikode]], the [[Travancore royal family]] of [[Thiruvananthapuram]], the [[Kingdom of Cochin]], the [[Mushika dynasty|Mushikas]] of [[Kannur]], the [[Satavahanas]] of [[Amaravati]], the [[Pallavas]] of [[Kanchi]], the [[Kadambas]] of [[Banavasi]], the [[Western Ganga Dynasty|Western Gangas]] of [[Kolar]], the [[Rashtrakuta]]s of [[Manyakheta]], the [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukyas]] of [[Badami]], the [[Hoysalas]] of [[Belur, Karnataka|Belur]], and the [[Kakatiya dynasty|Kakatiyas]] of [[Warangal|Orugallu]] – ruled over the region from the 6th century BCE to the 14th century CE. The [[Vijayanagara Empire]], founded in the 14th century CE. was the last Indian dynasty to rule over the region. After repeated invasions from the [[Sultanate of Delhi]] and the fall of Vijayanagara empire in 1646, the region was ruled by [[Deccan Sultanates]], the [[Maratha Empire]], and [[Palaiyakkarar|polygars]] and [[Nayak dynasty|Nayak]] governors of the Vijayanagara empire who declared their independence.<ref>{{cite news |title=They administered our region |url = https://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/06/04/stories/2007060451940400.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140407102228/https://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/06/04/stories/2007060451940400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2014|date=4 June 2007|access-date=6 April 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
 
===Colonial era===
The Europeans arrived in the 15th century; and by the middle of the 18th century, the [[French East India Company|French]] and the [[British East India Company|British]] were involved in a protracted struggle for military control over South India. After the defeat of [[Tipu Sultan]] in the [[Fourth Anglo-Mysore War]] in 1799 and the end of the [[Vellore Mutiny]] in 1806, the British consolidated their power over much of present-day South India, with the exception of [[Pondicherry district|French Pondichéry]]. The [[British Empire]] took control of the region from the British East India Company in 1857.<ref>{{cite book |title=Great Mutiny: India 1857 |first=Christopher |last=Hibbert |date=1 March 2000 |publisher=Penguin|page=221|isbn=978-0-14-004752-3 }}</ref> During the British colonial rule, the region was divided into the [[Madras Presidency]], [[Hyderabad State]], [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]], [[Thiruvithamcoore|Travancore]], [[Kingdom of Kochi|Kochi]], [[Kingdom of Jeypore|Jeypore]], and a number of other minor [[princely state]]s. The region played a major role in the [[Indian independence movement]]: of the 72 delegates who participated in the first session of the [[Indian National Congress]] at Bombay in December 1885, 22 hailed from South India.<ref>{{cite book |title = Indian National Evolution: A Brief Survey of the Origin and Progress of the Indian National Congress and the Growth of Indian Nationalism |page=59|publisher=Cornell University Press|date=22 September 2009|isbn=978-1-112-45184-3}}</ref>
 
=== Post-independence ===
[[File:South Indian territories.svg|thumb|upright=0.9|Map of South India (1953–1956) before the States Reorganisation Act of 1956]]
 
After the [[independence of India]] in 1947, the region was organised into four states: [[Madras State]], [[Mysore State]], [[Hyderabad State (1948–56)|Hyderabad State]] and [[Travancore–Cochin]].<ref name="Article 1">{{cite book|title=Constitution of India|chapter=Article 1|chapter-url=https://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-indexenglish.htm|publisher=Law Ministry, Government of India|access-date=31 December 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402064301/https://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-indexenglish.htm|archive-date=2 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The [[States Reorganisation Act]] of 1956 reorganized the states on linguistic lines, resulting in the creation of the new states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.epw.in/system/files/pdf/1955_7/42/reorganisation_of_statesthe_approach_and_arrangements.pdf|title=Reorganisation of states|publisher=Economic Weekly|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend7.htm|title=Seventh Amendment|publisher=Indiacode.nic.in|access-date=19 March 2016|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501011646/https://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend7.htm|archive-date=1 May 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> As a result of this Act, Madras State retained its name and [[Kanyakumari district]] was added to it from the state of Travancore-Cochin.<ref name="1956act"/> The state was subsequently renamed Tamil Nadu in 1968.<ref name="1956act"/> Andhra Pradesh was created through the merger of [[Andhra State]] with the Telugu-speaking districts of Hyderabad State in 1956.<ref name="1956act" /> Kerala emerged from the merger of [[Malabar district]] and the [[Kasaragod taluk]] of [[South Canara]] districts of Madras State with Travancore–Cochin.<ref name="1956act">{{cite web |url = https://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/state%20reorganisation%20act.pdf |title = States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |website = indiaenvironmentportal.org.in |access-date = 19 March 2016 }}</ref> [[Mysore State]] was re-organised with the addition of the districts of [[Bellary district|Bellary]] and South Canara (excluding Kasaragod ''taluk''{{NoteTag|''Taluk'' is a smaller administrative division than a district.}}) and the [[Kollegal|Kollegal taluk]] of [[Coimbatore district]] from Madras State; the districts of [[Belgaum district|Belgaum]], [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Bijapur]], [[North Canara]], and [[Dharwad district|Dharwad]] from [[Bombay State]]; the Kannada-majority districts of [[Bidar]], [[Raichur]], and [[Gulbarga]] from the Hyderabad State; and the province of [[Coorg]].<ref name="1956act"/> Mysore State was renamed as Karnataka in 1973. The [[Union territory]] of Puducherry was created in 1954, comprising the previous [[French India|French]] enclaves of Pondichérry, [[Karaikal]], [[Yanam, French India|Yanam]], and [[Mahé, India|Mahé]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.epw.in/system/files/pdf/1955_7/42/reorganisation_of_statesthe_approach_and_arrangements.pdf |title = Reorganisation of states |publisher=Economic Weekly|access-date=31 December 2015 }}</ref> The [[Laccadive Islands]], which were divided between South Canara and the Malabar districts of Madras State, were united and organised into the union territory of [[Lakshadweep]]. [[Goa]] was created as a union territory by taking military actions against the Portuguese by the government of India, later it has been declared as a state due to its drastic growth.<ref>{{cite book |last=Poddar |first=Prem |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=peOqBgAAQBAJ&q=Goa+was+made+India%27s+twenty-fifth+state&pg=PA454 |title = Historical Companion to Postcolonial Literatures - Continental Europe and its Empires |date=2008-07-02 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |isbn=978-0-7486-3027-1 |language=en }}</ref> Telangana was created on 2 June 2014 by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh; and it comprises ten districts of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{cite web |title = The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 |url = https://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/APRegACT2014_0.pdf |publisher=Ministry of law and justice, Government of India |access-date=3 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160108223043/https://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/APRegACT2014_0.pdf |archive-date=8 January 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Telangana bill passed by upper house |url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/telangana-bill-in-rajya-sabha/liveblog/30712218.cms |newspaper=[[Times of India]] |access-date=20 March 2016 |date=20 February 2014 }}</ref>
 
== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of South India}}
 
[[File:South India satellite.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Satellite image of South India]]
[[File:AnaimudiPeak DSC 4834.jpg|thumb|The peak of [[Anamudi]] ({{convert|2695|m|ft}} above sea level) is the highest point of elevation in South India]]
South India is a [[peninsula]] in the shape of an inverted triangle bound by the [[Arabian Sea]] on the west, by the [[Bay of Bengal]] on the east and the [[Vindhya]] and [[Satpura]] ranges on the north.<ref>{{cite book |first=Edward|last=Balfour|title=The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia, Commercial Industrial, and Scientific: Products of the Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Kingdoms, Useful Arts and Manufactures |url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_3U0OAAAAQAAJ |year=1885|publisher=Bernard Quaritch|pages=1017–1018|asin=B00IQKGW1M}}</ref> The [[Narmada river]] flows westwards in the depression between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, which define the northern spur of the [[Deccan plateau]].<ref>{{cite book |first=James|last=Outram|title = A few brief Memoranda of some of the public services rendered by Lieut.-Colonel Outram, C. B. |url = https://archive.org/details/fewbriefmemorand00outr |year=1853|publisher=Smith Elder and Company|page=[https://archive.org/details/fewbriefmemorand00outr/page/31 31]|isbn=978-1-173-60712-8 }}</ref> The [[Western Ghats]] run parallel to the Arabian Sea along the western coast and the narrow strip of land between the mountains and the sea forms the [[Konkan]] region. The Western Ghats continue south until [[Kanyakumari]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v403/n6772/fig_tab/403853a0_T6.html|title=Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities|journal=Nature|year=2000|doi=10.1038/35002501|access-date=16 November 2013|last1=Myers|first1=Norman|last2=Mittermeier|first2=Russell A.|last3=Mittermeier|first3=Cristina G.|last4=Da Fonseca|first4=Gustavo A. B.|last5=Kent|first5=Jennifer|volume=403|issue=6772|pages=853–858|pmid=10706275|bibcode=2000Natur.403..853M|s2cid=4414279}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-02/flora-fauna/32507340_1_world-heritage-list-western-ghats-border-town
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130131192257/https://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-02/flora-fauna/32507340_1_world-heritage-list-western-ghats-border-town
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=31 January 2013
|title=UN designates Western Ghats as world heritage site|date=2 July 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]
|access-date=20 March 2016 }}</ref> The [[Eastern Ghats]] run parallel to the Bay of Bengal along the eastern coast and the strip of land between them forms the [[Coromandel Coast|Coromandel]] region.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.portal.gsi.gov.in/pls/portal/url/page/GSI_STATIC/GSI_STAT_GEO_TOURISM_MONUMENTS |title = Eparchaean Unconformity, Tirumala Ghat section |access-date=20 September 2009 |publisher=Geological Survey of India |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130419091251/https://www.portal.gsi.gov.in/pls/portal/url/page/GSI_STATIC/GSI_STAT_GEO_TOURISM_MONUMENTS |archive-date=19 April 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Both mountain ranges meet at the [[Nilgiris (mountains)|Nilgiri]] mountains. The Nilgiris run in a crescent approximately along the borders of Tamil Nadu with northern Kerala and Karnataka, encompassing the [[Palakkad District|Palakkad]] and [[Wayanad]] hills and the [[Sathyamangalam]] ranges, extending to the relatively low-lying hills of the Eastern Ghats on the western portion of the Tamil Nadu–Andhra Pradesh border, forming the [[Tirumala - Tirupati|Tirupati]] and [[Annamalai Hills|Annamalai hills]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Eagan|first=J. S. C|title=The Nilgiri Guide And Directory|url=https://archive.org/details/nilgiriguideandd031416mbp|publisher=S.P.C.K. Press|location=Chennai|isbn=978-1-149-48220-9|year=1916}}</ref>
 
The low-lying [[coral]] islands of [[Lakshadweep]] are situated off the southwestern coast of India. The [[Andaman and Nicobar]] islands lie far off the eastern coast. The [[Palk Strait]] and the chain of low sandbars and islands known as [[Rama's Bridge]] separate the region from [[Sri Lanka]], which lies off the southeastern coast.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title= Adam's bridge |url = https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9003680 |encyclopedia= [[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |year=2007 |access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/srilanka.pdf |title = Map of Sri Lanka with Palk Strait and Palk Bay |publisher=UN|access-date=1 January 2016 }}</ref> The southernmost tip of mainland India is at [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]] where the Indian Ocean meets the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/tamil-nadu/kanyakumari-cape-comorin|title=Kanyakumari alias Cape Comorin|publisher=Lonely Planet|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>
 
[[File:Back Water View.jpg|left|thumb|Birds view of Krishna river Back water at Srisailam dam]]
 
The Deccan plateau is the elevated region bound by the mountain ranges.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dr. Jadoan|first=Atar Singh|title=Military Geography of South-East Asia|publisher=Anmol Publications|location=India|date=September 2001 |isbn=81-261-1008-2}}</ref> The plateau rises to {{convert|100|m}} in the north and to more than {{convert|1|km}} in the south, forming a raised triangle within the downward-pointing triangle of the [[Indian subcontinent]]'s coastline.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.sanctuaryasia.com/resources/biogeozones/decpen.php |title=The Deccan Peninsula |publisher=Sanctuary Asia |date=5 January 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017150254/https://www.sanctuaryasia.com/resources/biogeozones/decpen.php |archive-date=17 October 2006}}</ref> It also slopes gently from West to East resulting in major rivers arising in the Western Ghats and flowing east into the Bay of Bengal.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/ecoregions/edeccan_plateau_moist_forests.cfm |title=Eastern Deccan Plateau Moist Forests
|publisher=World Wildlife Fund |access-date=5 January 2007 }}</ref> The volcanic [[basalt]] beds of the Deccan were laid down in the massive [[Deccan Traps]] eruption, which occurred towards the end of the [[Cretaceous]] period, between 67 and 66 million years ago.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsoffice.mit.edu/2014/volcanic-eruption-dinosaur-extinction-1211|title=What really killed the dinosaurs?|publisher=MIT News Office|date=11 December 2014}}</ref> Layer after layer was formed by the volcanic activity that lasted 30,000&nbsp;years;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/08/050810130729.htm |title=India's Smoking Gun: Dino-killing Eruptions |website=ScienceDaily|author=Geological Society of America|date=10 August 2005}}</ref> and when the volcanoes became extinct, they left a region of highlands with typically vast stretches of flat areas on top like a table.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/154969/Deccan |title=Deccan Plateau |encyclopedia=Britannica|access-date=1 January 2016 }}</ref> The plateau is watered by the east-flowing [[Godavari River|Godavari]], [[Krishna]], [[Kaveri]], and [[Vaigai]] rivers. The major tributaries include the [[Pennar]], [[Tungabhadra]], [[Bhavani River|Bhavani]], and [[Thamirabarani River|Thamirabarani]] rivers.<ref>{{cite book|title=Flora of Eastern Ghats: Hill Ranges of South East India|publisher=Regency Publications|date=1 April 2002|first1=Thammineni |last1=Pullaiah|first2=D. Muralidhara|last2=Rao|first3=K.|last3=Sri Ramamurthy|isbn=978-81-87498-20-9}}</ref>
 
==Climate==
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| image1 = India climatic zone map en.svg
| width1 = 200
| caption1 = Climatic zones
| image2  = India southwest summer monsoon onset map en.svg
| width2    = 200
| caption2  = Southwest monsoon currents
}}
 
The region has a [[tropical climate]] and depends on monsoons for rainfall. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], it has a non-[[arid]] climate with minimum mean temperatures of {{Convert|18|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite book|last1=McKnight|first1=Tom L|last2=Hess|first2=Darrel|year=2000|chapter=Climate Zones and Types: The Köppen System|title=Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation|pages=[https://archive.org/details/physicalgeographmckn/page/205 205–211]|location=Upper Saddle River, NJ|publisher=Prentice Hall|isbn=0-13-020263-0|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/physicalgeographmckn|url=https://archive.org/details/physicalgeographmckn/page/205}}</ref> The most humid is the [[tropical monsoon climate]] characterized by moderate to high year-round temperatures and seasonally heavy rainfall above {{Convert|2000|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} per year. The tropical climate is experienced in a strip of south-western lowlands abutting the [[Malabar Coast]], the Western Ghats; the islands of Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar are also subject to this climate.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chouhan|first=T. S.|year=1992|title=Desertification in the World and Its Control|publisher=Scientific Publishers|isbn=978-81-7233-043-9}}</ref>
 
A [[tropical savanna climate|tropical wet and dry climate]], drier than areas with a tropical monsoon climate, prevails over most of the inland peninsular region except for a semi-arid [[rain shadow]] east of the Western Ghats. Winter and early summer are long dry periods with temperatures averaging above {{Convert|18|°C|°F|0}}; summer is exceedingly hot with temperatures in low-lying areas exceeding {{Convert|50|°C|°F|0}}; and the rainy season lasts from June to September, with annual rainfall averaging between {{Convert|750|and|1500|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} across the region. Once the dry northeast monsoon begins in September, most precipitation in India falls in Tamil Nadu, leaving other states comparatively dry.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1994174.stm|title=India's heatwave tragedy|work=[[BBC News]]|date=17 May 2002|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> A [[hot semi-arid climate]] predominates in the land east of the Western Ghats and the [[Cardamom Hills]]. The region – which includes Karnataka, inland Tamil Nadu and western Andhra Pradesh – gets between {{Convert|400|and|750|mm|1}} of rainfall annually, with hot summers and dry winters with temperatures around {{Convert|20|–|24|C|F}}. The months between March and May are hot and dry, with mean monthly temperatures hovering around {{Convert|32|C|F}}, with {{Convert|320|mm|in|0}} precipitation. Without artificial irrigation, this region is not suitable for agriculture.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Caviedes|first=C. N.|title=El Niño in History: Storming Through the Ages|edition=1st|publisher=University Press of Florida|date=18 September 2001|isbn=978-0-8130-2099-0}}</ref>
 
The [[monsoon|southwest monsoon]] from June to September accounts for most of the rainfall in the region. The Arabian Sea branch of the southwest monsoon hits the Western Ghats along the coastal state of Kerala and moves northward along the [[Konkan coast]], with precipitation on coastal areas west of the Western Ghats. The lofty Western Ghats prevent the winds from reaching the Deccan Plateau; hence, the leeward region (the region deprived of winds) receives very little rainfall.<ref>{{NatGeo ecoregion|id=im0209|name=South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests|access-date=5 January 2005}}</ref><ref>{{WWF ecoregion|id=im0209|name=South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests|access-date=5 January 2005}}</ref> The Bay of Bengal branch of the southwest monsoon heads toward northeast India, picking up moisture from the Bay of Bengal. The [[Coramandel coast]] does not receive much rainfall from the southwest monsoon, due to the shape of the land. [[Tamil Nadu]] and southeast [[Andhra Pradesh]] receive rains from the northeast monsoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdchennai.gov.in/northeast_monsoon.htm|title=North East Monsoon|publisher=IMD|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref> The northeast monsoon takes place from November to early March, when the surface [[high-pressure system]] is strongest.<ref>{{cite book|title=Climatology|first1=Robert V.|last1=Rohli|first2=Anthony J.|last2=Vega|page=204|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Publishers|year=2007|isbn=978-0-7637-3828-0}}</ref> The [[North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone]]s occur throughout the year in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, bringing devastating winds and heavy rainfall.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/ANNUAL_FREQ_CYCLONIC_DISTURBANCES.pdf |title=Annual frequency of cyclonic disturbances over the Bay of Bengal (BOB), Arabian Sea (AS) and land surface of India |publisher=India Meteorological Department |access-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805212718/https://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/ANNUAL_FREQ_CYCLONIC_DISTURBANCES.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/hurricane#hurricane|title=hurricane|publisher=Oxford dictionary |access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/cyclone.html|title=The only difference between a hurricane, a cyclone, and a typhoon is the location where the storm occurs|publisher=NOAA|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref>
 
== Flora and fauna ==
{{Main|Wildlife of Karnataka|Wildlife of Tamil Nadu|Wildlife of Kerala|List of birds of South India}}
[[File:Elephas maximus (Bandipur).jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|South India also has the largest elephant population.]]
{{multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=300|caption_align=center
| image1 = A courting male in Eravikulam NP AJTJohnsingh DSCN2997.jpg|caption1=[[Nilgiri tahr]]s are commonly found around the [[Nilgiri Mountains]].
| image2 = Lion-tailed Macaque, Singapore Zoo (27787086112).jpg|caption2=[[Lion-tailed macaque]]s are native to the [[Western Ghats]] of South India.
}}
 
There is a wide diversity of plants and animals in South India, resulting from its varied climates and geography. [[South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests|Deciduous forests]] are found along the Western Ghats while [[South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests|tropical dry forests]] and [[Deccan thorn scrub forests|scrub lands]] are common in the interior Deccan plateau. The southern Western Ghats have rain forests located at high altitudes called the [[South Western Ghats montane rain forests]], and the [[Malabar Coast moist forests]] are found on the coastal plains.<ref name="netgeo_terres">{{cite magazine|url= https://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial_im.html|title=Indo-Malayan Terrestrial Ecoregions|magazine=National Geographic|access-date=15 April 2006}}</ref> The Western Ghats is one of the eight hottest [[biodiversity hotspot]]s in the world and a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1342/multiple=1&unique_number=1921|title=Western Ghats|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|access-date=21 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Clara|last=Lewis|url=https://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-03/mumbai/32523277_1_radhanagari-wildlife-world-heritage-centre-western-ghats|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707023508/https://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-03/mumbai/32523277_1_radhanagari-wildlife-world-heritage-centre-western-ghats|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2012|title=39 sites in Western Ghats get world heritage status|date=3 July 2007 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=21 February 2014}}</ref>
 
Important ecological regions of South India are the [[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]] – located at the conjunction of Karnataka, Kerala and, Tamil Nadu in the [[Nilgiri Hills]] – and the [[Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve]] - located at the conjunction of Kerala and, Tamil Nadu in the [[Agastya Mala]] hills - and the [[Cardamom Hills]] of [[Western Ghats]]. Bird sanctuaries – including [[Thattekad Bird Sanctuary|Thattekad]], [[Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary|Kadalundi]], [[Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary|Vedanthangal]], [[Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary|Ranganathittu]], [[Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary|Kumarakom]], [[Neelapattu Sanctuary|Neelapattu]], and [[Pulicat Lake|Pulicat]] – are home to numerous migratory and local birds.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The birds of southern India, including Madras, Malabar, Travancore, Cochin, Coorg and Mysore|first1=H.R.|last1=Baker|first2=Chas. M.|last2=Inglis|year=1930|publisher=Superintendent, Government Press|place=Chennai}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Birds of Southern India|first1=Richard|last1=Grimmett|first2=Tim|last2=Inskipp|date=30 November 2005|publisher=A&C Black}}</ref> [[Lakshadweep]] has been declared a bird sanctuary by the [[Wildlife Institute of India]].<ref name=wii>{{cite web|url=https://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/list_proposedwls.pdf |title=List of proposals for protected areas |publisher=[[Wildlife Institute of India]] |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222525/https://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/list_proposedwls.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> Other protected ecological sites include the [[Mangrove|mangrove forests]] of [[Pichavaram]], and the [[backwater (river)|backwaters]] of Pulicat lake, in Tamil Nadu; and [[Vembanad Lake|Vembanad]], [[Ashtamudi Lake|Ashtamudi]], [[Paravur Kayal|Paravur]], and [[Kayamkulam]] lakes in Kerala. The [[Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve]] covers an area of 10,500&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of ocean, islands and the adjoining coastline including [[coral reef]]s, [[salt marsh]]es and mangroves. It is home to [[endangered]] aquatic species, including [[dolphin]]s, [[dugong]]s, [[whale]]s and [[Holothuroidea|sea cucumbers]].<ref>{{cite book|page=10|title=Environment impact assessment|first1=J.|last1=Sacratees|first2=R.|last2=Karthigarani|publisher=APH Publishing|year=2008|isbn=978-81-313-0407-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Conservation and Sustainable-use of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve's Coastal Biodiversity |place=New York |year=1994 |url=https://www.gefweb.org/wprogram/May99/Bio/India_1.doc |format=doc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616221152/https://www.gefweb.org/wprogram/May99/Bio/India_1.doc |archive-date=16 June 2007}}</ref>
 
South India is home to one of the largest populations of endangered [[Bengal tigers]] and [[Indian elephants]] in India, being home to one-third of the tiger population and more than half of the elephant population,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150120/nation-current-affairs/article/tiger-population-rises-2226-2014-1706-2010 |title=India's tiger population rises|newspaper=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=15 January 2015|access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://envfor.nic.in/pe/PE%20Note.pdf |title=Elephant Census 2005 |year=2007 |publisher=Ministry of Environment and Forests |access-date=23 February 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312060920/https://envfor.nic.in/pe/PE%20Note.pdf |archive-date=12 March 2012}}</ref> with 14 [[Project Tiger]] [[Tiger reserves of India|reserves]] and 11 [[Project Elephant]] reserves.<ref>{{cite book|last=Panwar|first=H. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YdC-wfyZwZEC&pg=PA110 |title=Project Tiger: The reserves, the tigers, and their future|publisher=Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, N.J.|pages=110–117|year=1987|isbn=9780815511335}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mysore/Project_elephant_status_for_Bhadra_sanctuary/articleshow/4066438.cms|title=Project Elephant Status|date=2 February 2009|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|access-date=24 February 2009}}</ref> Elephant populations are found in eight fragmented sites in the region: in northern Karnataka, along the Western Ghats, in [[Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary|Bhadra]]–[[Malnad]], in [[Brahmagiri (hill)|Brahmagiri]]–[[Nilgiri Mountains|Nilgiris]]–[[Eastern Ghats]], in [[Nilambur]]–[[Silent Valley National Park|Silent Valley]]–[[Coimbatore]], in [[Anamalai]]–[[Parambikulam]], in [[Periyar National Park|Periyar]]–[[Srivilliputhur]], and in [[Agasthyamalai]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Sukumar|first=R|year=1993|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=95MoRwdQlcYC|title=The Asian Elephant: Ecology and Management|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0-521-43758-X}}</ref> Other threatened and endangered species found in the region include the [[grizzled giant squirrel]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/ws_sgsws.html|title=Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary|year=2007|work=Wild Biodiversity|publisher=TamilNadu Forest Department|access-date=24 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409230945/https://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/ws_sgsws.html|archive-date=9 April 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[grey slender loris]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=M.|last2=Lindburg|first2=D.G.|last3=Udhayan|first3=A.|last4= Kumar|first4=M.A.|last5=Kumara|first5=H.N. |year=1999|title=Status survey of slender loris Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus|publisher=Oryx|pages=31–37}}</ref> [[sloth bear]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=Daroji-an ecological destination|last=Kottur|first=Samad|publisher=Drongo|year=2012|isbn=978-93-5087-269-7}}</ref> [[Nilgiri tahr]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/nilgiri-tahr-population-over-3000-wwfindia/article7717561.ece|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|title=Nilgiri tahr population over 3,000: WWF-India|date=3 October 2015|access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref> [[Nilgiri langur]],<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Malviya|first1=M.|last2=Srivastav|first2=A.|last3=Nigam|first3=P.|last4=Tyagi|first4=P.C.|title=Indian National Studbook of Nilgiri Langur (''Trachypithecus johnii'')|url=https://www.cza.nic.in/Nilgiri%20Langur%20studbook.pdf|year=2011|publisher=[[Wildlife Institute of India]], Dehradun and [[Central Zoo Authority]], New Delhi|access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref> [[lion-tailed macaque]],<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Singh, M. |author2=Kumar, A. |author3=Kumara, H.N. |date=2020 |title=''Macaca silenus'' |volume=2020 |page=e.T12559A17951402 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T12559A17951402.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> and the [[Indian leopard]].<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Stein, A.B. |author2=Athreya, V. |author3=Gerngross, P. |author4=Balme, G. |author5=Henschel, P. |author6=Karanth, U. |author7=Miquelle, D. |author8=Rostro-Garcia, S. |author9=Kamler, J.F. |author10=Laguardia, A. |author11=Khorozyan, I. |author12=Ghoddousi, A. |date=2020 |title=''Panthera pardus'' |volume=2020 |page=e.T15954A163991139 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T15954A163991139.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Symbols of states of South India
! style="width:150px;"|Name
! style="width:150px;"|Animal
! style="width:150px;"|Bird
! style="width:150px;"|Tree
! style="width:150px;"|Fruit
! style="width:150px;"|Flower
|-
|[[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ls1.and.nic.in/doef/index.php#&panel1-1&panel2-1|title=State Bird/Animal/Tree|publisher=Department of Environment & Forest, Andaman & Nicobar Administration|access-date=2 January 2018}}</ref>
|[[Dugong]] (''Dugong dugon'')
|[[Andaman wood pigeon]] (''Columba palumboides'')
|[[Pterocarpus dalbergioides|Andaman padauk]] (''Pterocarpus dalbergioides'')
|
|[[Lagerstroemia|Andaman crape myrtle]] (''Lagerstroemia hypoleuca'')
|-
|[[Andhra Pradesh]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.andhrabulletin.com/Andhra_info/Ap_Symbols_Purna_kumbham.php|title=Symbols of AP|publisher=andhrabulletin.in|access-date=15 October 2013}}</ref>
|[[Blackbuck]] (''Antilope cervicapra'')
|[[Rose-ringed parakeet]] (''Psittacula krameri'')
|[[Neem]] (''Azadirachta indica'')
|[[Mango]] (''Mangifera indica'')
|[[Jasminum officinale|Common jasmine]] (''Jasminum officinale'')
|-
|[[Karnataka]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.karnataka.gov.in/Pages/Default.aspx|title=Symbols of Karnataka|publisher=Government of Karnataka|access-date=15 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010092942/https://www.karnataka.gov.in/Pages/Default.aspx|archive-date=10 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|[[Indian elephant]] (''Elephas maximus'')
|[[Indian roller]] (''Coracias indica'')
|[[Santalum album|Sandalwood]] (''Santalum album'')
|[[List of Karnataka state symbols|Mango]] (''Mangifera indica'')
|[[Nelumbo nucifera|Lotus]] (''Nelumbo nucifera'')
|-
|[[Kerala]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=16#ke|title=Symbols of Kerala|publisher=Government of India|access-date=17 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112080035/https://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=16#ke|archive-date=12 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="ke">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2818&Itemid=2263 |title=Symbols of Kerala |publisher=Government of Kerala |access-date=17 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018033926/https://www.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2818&Itemid=2263 |archive-date=18 October 2013}}</ref>
|[[Indian elephant]] (''Elephas maximus'')
|[[Great hornbill]] (''Buceros bicornis'')
|[[Cocos nucifera|Coconut]] (''Cocos nucifera'')
|[[Jackfruit]] (''Artocarpus heterophyllus'')
|[[Cassia fistula|Cana fistula]] (''Cassia fistula'')
|-
|[[Lakshadweep]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=16#ld|title=Symbols of Lakshadweep|publisher=Government of India|access-date=17 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112080035/https://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=16#ld|archive-date=12 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://lakshadweep.nic.in/lakkeyindicators07.pdf#page=3|title=Symbols of Lakshadweep|publisher=Government of Lakshadweep|access-date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017221721/https://lakshadweep.nic.in/lakkeyindicators07.pdf#page=3|archive-date=17 October 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|[[Butterfly fish]] (''Chaetodon falcula'')
|[[Anous stolidus|Noddy tern]] (''Anous stolidus'')
|[[Artocarpus incisa|Bread fruit]] (''Artocarpus incisa'')
|
|
|-
|[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindu.com/2007/04/21/stories/2007042103560200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031012044/https://www.hindu.com/2007/04/21/stories/2007042103560200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 October 2007|title=Puducherry comes out with list of State symbols|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 April 2007|access-date=10 February 2014}}</ref>
|[[Indian palm squirrel]] (''Funambulus palmarum'')
|[[Asian koel|Koel]] (''Eudynamys scolopaceus'')
|[[Bael fruit tree|Bael fruit]] (''Aegle marmelos'')
|
|[[Cannonball tree|Cannonball]] (''Couroupita guianensis'')
|-
|[[Tamil Nadu]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=16#tn|title=Symbols of Tamil Nadu|publisher=Government of India|access-date=12 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112080035/https://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=16#tn|archive-date=12 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forests.tn.nic.in/|title=Symbols of Tamil Nadu|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu|access-date=12 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020195613/https://www.forests.tn.nic.in/|archive-date=20 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|[[Nilgiri tahr]] (''Nilgiritragus hylocrius'')
|[[Common emerald dove|Emerald dove]] (''Chalcophaps indica'')
|[[Borassus flabellifer|Palmyra palm]] (''Borassus flabellifer'')
|[[Jackfruit]] (''Artocarpus heterophyllus'')
|[[Gloriosa superba|Glory lily]] (''Gloriosa superba'')
|-
|[[Telangana]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telangana.gov.in/about/state-symbols|title=Telangana symbols|publisher=Government of Telangana|access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref>
|[[Chital deer]] (''Axis axis'')
|[[Indian roller]] (''Coracias indica'')
|[[Prosopis cineraria|Khejri]] (''Prosopis cineraria'')
|[[Mango]] (''Mangifera indica'')
|[[Senna auriculata|Tanner's cassia]] (''Senna auriculata'')
|}
 
==Transport==
[[File:India roadway map with population density.svg|thumb|upright=1.15|Map showing highway distribution with population density]]
 
===Road===
South India has an extensive road network with {{convert|20573|km|mi|abbr=on}} of [[National Highway (India)|National Highways]] and {{convert|46813|km|mi|abbr=on}} of [[State Highway (India)|State Highways]]. The [[Golden Quadrilateral]] connects Chennai with Mumbai via Bangalore, and with Kolkata via Visakhapatnam.<ref>{{cite news|title=Govt declares Golden Quadrilateral complete |newspaper=[[Indian Express]] |date=7 January 2012 |url=https://www.indianexpress.com/news/Govt-declares-Golden-Quadrilateral-complete/896873/ |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108133041/https://www.indianexpress.com/news/Govt-declares-Golden-Quadrilateral-complete/896873 |archive-date=8 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhai.org/gqmain_english.htm|title=National Highways Development Project Map|publisher=National Highways Institute of India|access-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034111/https://www.nhai.org/gqmain_english.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Bus services are provided by state-run transport corporations, namely the [[Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Profile, APSRTC|url=https://www.apsrtc.gov.in/profile.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315015215/https://apsrtc.gov.in/profile.aspx|archive-date=15 March 2015|access-date=20 March 2016|publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh}}</ref> [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov.in/transport/cbedivone.htm |title=About TNSTC |publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu |access-date=20 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120222101/https://www.tn.gov.in/transport/cbedivone.htm |archive-date=20 November 2011}}</ref> [[Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation]],<ref>{{cite web|title=History of KSRTC |url=https://www.ksrtc.in/site/history |publisher=Government of Karnataka |access-date=20 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317003217/https://www.ksrtc.in/site/history |archive-date=17 March 2016}}</ref> [[Telangana State Road Transport Corporation]],<ref>{{cite news|title=It will be TGSRTC from June 2|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/it-will-be-tgsrtc-from-june-2/article6014676.ece|first=Suresh|last=Krishnamoorthy|date=16 May 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Hyderabad|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> [[Kerala State Road Transport Corporation]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.keralartc.com/html/aboutus.html|title=KSRTC Directory|publisher=Government of Kerala|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> and [[Puducherry Road Transport Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news|title=PRTC set for Revival|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Puducherry|first=Rajesh|last=Nair|url=https://www.hindu.com/2009/09/22/stories/2009092252840300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925162759/https://www.hindu.com/2009/09/22/stories/2009092252840300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2009|date=22 September 2009|access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%"
|-
! State || National Highway<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.nhai.org/statewise1.asp|title=List of highways by state|publisher=NHAI|access-date=21 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215043627/https://www.nhai.org/statewise1.asp|archive-date=15 February 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> || State Highway<ref>{{cite report|url=https://morth.nic.in/index3.asp?sslid=1284&subsublinkid=590&lang=1|title=Basic Road Statistics of India 2014|date=23 May 2014|publisher=Ministry of Road Transport & Highways|access-date=21 June 2014}}</ref> ||Motor vehicles per 1000 pop.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://morth.nic.in/showfile.asp?lid=1131|title=Road Transport Yearbook 2011–2012|publisher=[[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]], Government of India|page=115|year=2012|access-date=30 April 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Andhra Pradesh]] || {{convert|7356|km|mi|abbr=on}} || {{convert|10650|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 145
|-
| [[Karnataka]] || {{convert|6432|km|mi|abbr=on}} || {{convert|20774|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 182
|-
| [[Tamil Nadu]] || {{convert|5006|km|mi|abbr=on}} || {{convert|10764|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 257
|-
| [[Telangana]] || {{convert|2635|km|mi|abbr=on}} || {{convert|3152|km|mi|abbr=on}} || N/A
|-
| [[Kerala]] || {{convert|1811|km|mi|abbr=on}} || {{convert|4341|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 198
|-
| [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands|Andaman and Nicobar]] || {{convert|330|km|mi|abbr=on}} || {{convert|38|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 152
|-
| [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] || {{convert|64|km|mi|abbr=on}} || {{convert|246|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 521
|-
| '''Total''' || '''{{convert|22635|km|mi|abbr=on}}''' || '''{{convert|49965|km|mi|abbr=on}}''' ||
|}
 
===Rail===
The [[South Indian Railway Company|Great Southern of India Railway Company]] was founded in England in 1853 and registered in 1859.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Herepath's Railway and Commercial Journal|page=3|title=Indian Tramway Limited|date=1 January 1870|volume=32|issue=1595}}</ref> Construction of track in the Madras Presidency began in 1859 and the {{convert|80|mile}} link from [[Tiruchirappalli|Trichinopoly]] to [[Nagapattinam|Negapatam]] and a link from [[Tirur]] to the [[Beypore|Port of Beypore]] at [[Kozhikode]] on the [[Malabar District|Malabar Coast]], which eventually got expanded into the [[Mangalore]]-[[Chennai]] line via [[Palakkad Gap]] were opened in 1861.<ref name="TR">{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/lifeline-of-malabar-turns-125/article4250472.ece |website=www.thehindu.com |title='Lifeline' of Malabar turns 125  |date=29 December 2012 |access-date= 19 December 2020}}</ref> The Carnatic Railway Company was founded in 1864 and opened a Madras–[[Arakkonam]]–[[Kancheepuram|Conjeevaram]]–Katpadi junction line in 1865. These two companies subsequently merged in 1874 to form the South Indian Railway Company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/always-the-second-station/article3195520.ece|title=Always the second station|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=3 July 2006|access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref> In 1880, the [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway]], established by the [[British India|British]], built a railway network radiating from [[Madras]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Shyam|last=Rungta|title=The Rise of Business Corporations in India, 1851–1900|url=https://archive.org/details/riseofbusinessco0000rung|url-access=registration|year=1970|publisher=Cambridge U.P.|isbn=978-0-521-07354-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/riseofbusinessco0000rung/page/17 17]}}</ref> In 1879, the [[Madras Railway]] constructed a line from [[Royapuram]] to Bangalore; and the Maharaja of Mysore established the [[Mysore State Railway]] to build an extension from Bangalore to [[Mysore]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Origin and development of Southern Railway |url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/12705/10/10_chapter%202.pdf |publisher=Indian Railways |access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> In order to get access to the west coast, Malabar region of the country through [[Port of Quilon]], Maharajah [[Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma|Uthram Thirunal]] of [[Travancore]] built the [[Kollam–Sengottai branch line|Quilon-Madras rail line]] jointly with the [[South Indian Railway Company]] and the [[Madras Presidency]].<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/Kollam-Sengottai-train-service-likely-from-May/article16916876.ece|title =Kollam-Sengottai train service likely from May |newspaper=The Hindu|date=21 December 2016|access-date=18 October 2019}}</ref> The [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]] was founded on 1 January 1908 by merging the Madras Railway and the [[Southern Mahratta Railway]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Cambridge Economic History of India, Vol 2|page=755|publisher= Orient Blackswan|first1=Tapan|last1=Raychaudhuri|first2=Irfan|last2=Habib|year=1982|isbn=978-81-250-2731-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://indianrlys.wordpress.com/tag/royapuram-railway-station/|title =Third oldest railway station in country set to turn 156 |publisher=Indian Railways|access-date =13 February 2013}}</ref>
 
On 14 April 1951, the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway, and the Mysore State Railway were merged to form the [[Southern Railway (India)|Southern Railway]], in the [[Southern Railway zone|first zone]] of [[Indian Railways]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.indianrailways.gov.in/financecode/ADMIN_FINANCE/AdminFinanceCh1_Data.htm|title=Evolution of Indian Railways-Historical Background|publisher=Ministry of Railways|access-date=13 February 2013}}</ref> The [[South Central Railway zone|South Central zone]] was created on 2 October 1966 as the ninth zone of Indian Railways and the [[South Western Railway zone|South Western zone]] was created on 1 April 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1|title=About Us|publisher=South Central Railway|access-date=20 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922131447/https://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1|archive-date=22 September 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Most of the region is covered by the three zones, with small portions of the coasts covered by [[East Coast Railway zone|East Coast Railway]] and [[Konkan Railway]], In 2019, the [[Government of India]] announced the formation of the [[South Coast Railway zone]] in the southeast, with headquarters at [[Visakhapatnam]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=South East Coast Railway could be the New Railway Zone for Andhra Pradesh – RailNews Media India Ltd|url=https://www.railnews.in/south-east-coast-railway-could-be-the-new-railway-zone-for-andhra-pradesh/|access-date=2020-09-08|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
[[Rapid transit|Metro rail]] is operated by [[Namma Metro]] in Bangalore, [[Chennai Metro]] in Chennai, [[Kochi Metro]] in Kochi and [[Hyderabad Metro]] in Hyderabad. [[Chennai MRTS]] provides suburban rail services in [[Chennai]] and was the first elevated railway line in India.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sreevatsan|first=Ajai|title=Metro Rail may take over MRTS|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai|date=10 August 2010|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/metro-rail-may-take-over-mrts/article562317.ece|access-date=19 August 2012}}</ref> Hyderabad [[Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System|MMTS]] provides the suburban rail services in the city of Hyderabad.
 
The [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]] is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railtourismindia.com/Trains/HillCharters/neelgiri.html|title=Nilgiri Mountain Railway|publisher=IRCTC|access-date=8 March 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114624/https://www.railtourismindia.com/Trains/HillCharters/neelgiri.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%"
|+
! Sl. No !! Name of railway zone<ref name="zone">{{cite web|url=https://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,366,533,1007,1012|title=Zones & Divisions of Indian Railways|publisher=Indian Railways|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref>!! Abbr. !! Route length<br /> (in km)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/Stat_0910/Year%20Book%202009-10-Sml_size_English.pdf|title=Indian Railways Year Book 2009–10|publisher=Indian Railways|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref>!! Headquarters<ref name="zone"/> !! Founded<ref>{{cite web |url=https://iced.cag.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/C-10/F-1/2.%20Intorductio%20to%20IR%20&%20Rail%20Budget%20formulation.pdf|title=Introduction to Indian Railways & Rail Budget formulation|publisher=International centre for Environmental Audit, Government of India|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref>!! Divisions !! Major stations<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_Avl.html |title=Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways |publisher=Indian Railways |access-date=20 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510115649/https://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_Avl.html |archive-date=10 May 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 1. || [[Southern Railway zone|Southern]] || style="text-align:center;" | SR || style="text-align:center;" | 5,098 || [[Chennai]] || 14 April 1951 || [[Chennai]],<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,263,579,580|title = Chennai Railway Division |access-date= 24 March 2014 |website= [[Railway Board]]|publisher = [[Southern Railway zone]]}}</ref> [[Tiruchirappalli Railway Division|Tiruchirappalli]],<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,263,579,582|title = Tiruchirappalli Railway Division |access-date= 24 March 2014|website = [[Railway Board]]|publisher = [[Southern Railway zone]]}}</ref> [[Madurai]],<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,263,579,581|title = Madurai Railway Division|access-date = 24 March 2014|website = [[Railway Board]]|publisher = [[Southern Railway zone]]}}</ref> [[Palakkad Railway Division|Palakkad]],<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,263,579,583|title = Palakkad Railway Division|access-date = 24 March 2014|website = [[Railway Board]]|publisher = [[Southern Railway zone]]}}</ref> [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]],<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,263,579,585|title = Salem Railway Division|access-date = 24 March 2014|website = [[Railway Board]]|publisher = [[Southern Railway zone]]}}</ref> [[Thiruvananthapuram Railway division|Thiruvananthapuram]]<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,263,579,584|title = Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division|access-date = 24 March 2014|website = [[Railway Board]]|publisher = [[Southern Railway zone]]}}</ref> || [[Chennai Central railway station|Chennai Central]], [[Chennai Egmore railway station|Chennai Egmore]], [[Chennai Beach railway station|Chennai Beach]], [[Tambaram railway station|Tambaram]], [[Coimbatore Junction railway station|Coimbatore]], [[Ernakulam Junction railway station|Ernakulam]], [[Erode Junction railway station|Erode]], [[Katpadi Junction railway station|Katpadi]], [[Kollam Junction railway station|Kollam]], [[Kozhikode railway station|Kozhikode]], [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai]], [[Mangalore Central railway station|Mangalore Central]], [[Palakkad Junction railway station|Palakkad]], [[Salem Junction railway station|Salem]], [[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur]], [[Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station|Thiruvananthapuram Central]], [[Thrissur railway station|Thrissur]], [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchirappalli]], [[Tirunelveli Junction railway station|Tirunelveli]]
|-
|2.
|[[South Coast Railway zone|South Coast]]
| style="text-align:center;" |SCoR
| style="text-align:center;" |3,496
|[[Visakhapatnam railway station|Visakhapatnam]]
|2019 (announced)
|[[Waltair railway division|Waltair]], [[Vijayawada railway division|Vijayawada]], [[Guntakal]], [[Guntur railway division|Guntur]]
|[[Visakhapatnam railway station|Visakhapatnam]], [[Guntur railway station|Guntur]], [[Nellore railway station|Nellore]], [[Tirupati Main railway station|Tirupati Main]], [[Vijayawada Junction railway station|Vijayawada]], [[Adoni]], [[Guntakal Junction railway station|Guntakal]], [[Rajahmundry railway station|Rajahmundry]], [[Kakinada Town railway station|Kakinada Town]], [[Kadapa railway station|Kadapa]], [[Kondapalli railway station|Kondapalli]]
|-
| 3. || [[South Central Railway zone|South Central]]|| style="text-align:center;" | SCR || style="text-align:center;" | 3,127 ||[[Secunderabad Railway Station|Secunderabad]]|| 2 October 1966 ||[[Secunderabad]],<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,291,360|title = Secunderabad Railway Division|access-date = 24 March 2014|website = [[Railway Board]]|publisher = [[South Central Railway zone]]}}</ref> [[Hyderabad (India)|Hyderabad]], [[Nanded]]||[[Secunderabad Railway Station|Secunderabad]], [[Hyderabad railway station|Hyderabad]], [[Warangal railway station|Warangal]]
|-
| 4. || [[South Western Railway zone|South Western]]|| style="text-align:center;" | SWR || style="text-align:center;" | 3,177 ||[[Hubli]]|| 1 April 2003 || [[Hubli]], [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]], [[Mysore]], [[Gulbarga]]<ref>{{Cite news|title = New railway division in Gulbarga to be under SWR|url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/new-railway-division-in-gulbarga-to-be-under-swr/article5754127.ece|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 6 March 2014|access-date = 25 December 2015|issn = 0971-751X|language = en-IN}}</ref>||[[Bangalore City railway station|Bengaluru City]], [[Hubli Junction railway station|Hubli]], [[Mysore Junction railway station|Mysore]]
|-
| 5. || [[East Coast Railway zone|East Coast]]|| style="text-align:center;" | ECoR || style="text-align:center;" | 2,572 ||[[Bhubaneswar]]|| 1 April 2003 || [[Khurda Road]], [[Sambalpur]]|| [[Visakhapatnam railway station|Visakhapatnam]], [[Rayagada railway station|Rayagada]], [[Palasa railway station|Palasa]], [[Vizianagaram Junction railway station|Vizianagaram]]
|-
| 6. ||[[Konkan Railway|Konkan]]|| style="text-align:center;" | KR || style="text-align:center;" | 741 ||[[Navi Mumbai]]|| 26 January 1988 ||[[Karwar]], [[Ratnagiri]]||[[Madgaon railway station|Madgaon]]
|}
 
===Air===
[[Quilon Aerodrome]] at [[Kollam]], was established under the kingdom of [[Travancore]] in 1920, but it was closed in 1932.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article252269.ece |title=Aviation school proposal evokes mixed response |journal=The Hindu |date=8 June 2009 |access-date=21 July 2015}}</reF> In March 1930, a discussion initiated by pilot G. Vlasto led to the founding of the [[Madras Flying Club]], which became a pioneer in pilot training in South India.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ayyappan|first=V.|title=When Good Old Madras Took Wing|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|location=Chennai|date=21 August 2009|url=https://mobiletoi.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=3&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=21-08-2009&pubname=Times%20of%20India%20-%20Chennai&edname=&articleid=Ar00300&publabel=TOI|access-date=25 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614041323/https://mobiletoi.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=3&sectid=edid%3D&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=21-08-2009&pubname=Times%20of%20India%20-%20Chennai&edname=&articleid=Ar00300&publabel=TOI|archive-date=14 June 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 15 October 1932, Indian aviator [[J. R. D. Tata]] flew a [[De Havilland Puss Moth|Puss Moth]] aircraft carrying mail from [[Karachi airport|Karachi]] to [[Juhu aerodrome]], [[Bombay]]; and the aircraft continued to [[Madras]], piloted by Neville Vincent, a former [[Royal Air Force]] pilot and friend of Tata.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=https://www.tata.in/aboutus/articlesinside/How-the-Maharaja-got-his-wings|title=How Maharaja got his wings|publisher=Tata Sons|access-date=7 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604131141/https://www.tata.in/aboutus/articlesinside/How-the-Maharaja-got-his-wings|archive-date=4 June 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Kannur]] had an airstrip used for commercial aviation as early as 1935 when [[Tata Group|Tata]] airlines operated weekly flights between [[Mumbai]] and [[Thiruvananthapuram]] – stopping at [[Goa]] and Kannur.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sudhakaran, P|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/Kannur-flew-way-before-its-first-airport/articleshow/48951701.cms|title=Kannur flew, way before its first airport|publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=13 November 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518022943/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/Kannur-flew-way-before-its-first-airport/articleshow/48951701.cms|archive-date=18 May 2017}}</ref> [[Chennai International Airport]] and [[Trivandrum International Airport]], both inaugurated in 1932 and now managed by the [[Airport Authority of India]], are among the oldest existing airports in South India.
 
There are 11 [[international airport]]s, 2 [[customs airport]]s, 15 domestic airports, and 11 [[air base]]s in South India. [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bengaluru]], [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]], [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport|Hyderabad]], and [[Cochin International Airport|Kochi]] international airports are amongst the 10 busiest in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/sep2k15annex3.pdf |title=Traffic Statistics-2015(April–September) |publisher=AAI |access-date=26 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107171758/https://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/Sep2k15annex3.pdf |archive-date=7 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/sep2k15annex2.pdf |title=Aircraft movements-2015 |publisher=AAI |access-date=26 October 2015}} {{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/sep2k15annex4.pdf |title=Cargo Statistics-2015 |publisher=AAI |access-date=26 October 2015}} {{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> [[Chennai International Airport]] serves as the Southern Regional Headquarters of the [[Airports Authority of India]], the Southern Region comprising the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, and the union territories of Puducherry and Lakshadweep.<ref>{{cite web|title=Regional Headquarters of AAI|publisher=Airports Authority of India|url=https://www.aai.aero/public_notices/aaisite_test/rhq.jsp|access-date=30 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227130723/https://www.aai.aero/public_notices/aaisite_test/rhq.jsp|archive-date=27 December 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
 
The [[Southern Air Command, Indian Air Force|Southern Air Command]] of the [[Indian Air Force]] is headquartered at [[Thiruvananthapuram]], and the [[Training Command, Indian Air Force|Training Command]] is headquartered at [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]]. The Air Force operates eleven air bases in Southern India including two in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indian Air Force Commands|url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/|publisher=[[Indian Air Force]]|access-date=29 June 2010}}</ref> In the region, the [[Indian Navy]] operates airbases at [[INS Garuda|Kochi]], [[INS Rajali|Arakkonam]], [[INS Parundu|Uchipuli]], [[INS Dega|Vizag]], [[INS Baaz|Campbell Bay]], and [[INS Kohassa|Diglipur]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Organisation of Southern Naval Command |url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/organisation-southern-naval-command-kochi# |publisher=[[Indian Navy]] |access-date=26 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206221912/https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/organisation-southern-naval-command-kochi |archive-date=6 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ENC Authorities & Units|url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/enc-authorities-units|publisher=[[Indian Navy]]|access-date=26 October 2015}}</ref>
[[File:RGIA 26112021 2.jpg|thumb|The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad]]
[[File:P 20160211 085640.jpg|thumb|Aircraft parked at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport]]
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%"
|-
!State/UT
!International
!Customs{{ref|1|Note 1}}
!Domestic
!Military
|-
| [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands|Andaman and Nicobar]] || 1 || 0 || 0 || 4
|-
| [[Andhra Pradesh]] || 2 || 0 || 4 || 1
|-
| [[Karnataka]] || 2 || 0 || 6 || 3
|-
| [[Kerala]] || 4 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
| [[Lakshadweep]] || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0
|-
| [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0
|-
| [[Tamil Nadu]] || 3 || 1 || 3 || 6
|-
| [[Telangana]] || 1 || 0 || 3 || 2
|-
| '''Total''' || '''12''' || '''1''' || '''14''' || '''16'''
|}
{{note|1|Note 1}}<span style="font-size:75%">Restricted international airport</span>
 
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%" width= align=
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
!Rank||Name||City||State||IATA Code||Total<br />passengers (2018–19)
|-
| 1||[[Kempegowda International Airport]]||Bengaluru||[[Karnataka]]||BLR||33,307,702
|-
| 2||[[Chennai International Airport]]||[[Chennai]] ||[[Tamil Nadu]] ||MAA||22,543,822
|-
| 3||[[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport]]||[[Hyderabad]]||[[Telangana]]||HYD||21,403,972
|-
| 4||[[Cochin International Airport]]||[[Kochi]]||[[Kerala]]||COK||10,119,825
|-
| 5||[[Trivandrum International Airport]]||[[Thiruvananthapuram]]||[[Kerala]]||TRV||4,434,459
|-
| 6||[[Calicut International Airport]]||[[Kozhikode]]||[[Kerala]]||CCJ||3,360,847
|-
| 7||[[Coimbatore International Airport]]||[[Coimbatore]]||[[Tamil Nadu]]||CJB||3,000,882
|-
| 8||[[Visakhapatnam Airport|Visakhapatnam International Airport]]||[[Visakhapatnam]]||[[Andhra Pradesh]]||VTZ||2,853,390
|-
| 9||[[Mangalore International Airport]]||[[Mangalore|Mangaluru]]||[[Karnataka]]||IXE||2,240,664
|-
| 10||[[Tiruchirappalli International Airport]]||[[Tiruchirappalli]]||[[Tamil Nadu]]||TRZ||1,578,831
|-
| 11||[[Kannur International Airport]]||[[Kannur]]||[[Kerala]]||CNN||
|-
|}
 
===Water===
A total of 89 ports are situated along the southern seacoast: Andaman and Nicobar (23), Kerala (17), Tamil Nadu (15), Andhra Pradesh (12), Karanataka(10), Lakshadweep (10), Pondicherry (2).<ref>{{cite report|url=https://business.gov.in/Industry_services/ports.php |title=List of ports |publisher=Government of India |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821132857/https://business.gov.in/Industry_services/ports.php |archive-date=21 August 2013}}</ref> Major ports include those at [[Visakhapatnam Port|Visakhapatnam]], [[Chennai Port|Chennai]], [[New Mangalore Port|Mangalore]], [[Tuticorin Port|Tuticorin]], [[Ennore Port|Ennore]], [[Kakinada Port|Kakinada]], and [[Cochin Port Trust|Kochi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ipa.nic.in/e-magazine.pdf|title=Ports Report|publisher=Indian Ports Association|access-date=19 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402204558/https://ipa.nic.in/e-magazine.pdf|archive-date=2 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
 
[[File:Vizag harbour view1.JPG|thumb|300px|A Vishakhapatnam harbour view]]
[[File:Port of Chennai, India - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|A terminal at the Chennai Port]]
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! rowspan="2"|Name
! rowspan="2"|City
! rowspan="2"|State
! colspan="2"|Cargo Handled <br /><small>([[fiscal year|FY]]2017–18)</small><ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.ipa.nic.in/WriteReadData/Links/Trf%20April%20to%20March%202018a388518f-75d5-4b54-b0b1-ae77da51d1d1.xls|title=Traffic handled at major ports|publisher=Indian Ports Association|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref>
|-
! Million [[tonne]]s !! % Change<br /><small>(over previous [[fiscal year|FY]])</small>
|-
|[[Visakhapatnam Port]] || [[Visakhapatnam]] || [[Andhra Pradesh]] ||align=center|63.54 || align=center| 4.12% ↑
|-
|[[Chennai Port]] || [[Chennai]] || [[Tamil Nadu]] ||align=center| 51.88 || align=center| 3.32% ↑
|-
|[[New Mangalore Port]] || [[Mangalore]] || [[Karnataka]] ||align=center| 42.05 || align=center| 5.28% ↑
|-
|[[Tuticorin Port|V.O. Chidambaranar Port]] || [[Thoothukudi]] || [[Tamil Nadu]] ||align=center| 36.57 || align=center| -4.91% ↓
|-
|[[Ennore Port|Kamarajar Port]] || [[Chennai]] || [[Tamil Nadu]] ||align=center| 30.45 || align=center| 1.42% ↑
|-
|[[Cochin Port]] || [[Kochi]] || [[Kerala]] ||align=center| 29.14 || align=center| 16.52% ↑
|-
|[[Gangavaram Port]] || [[Visakhapatnam]] || [[Andhra Pradesh]] ||align=center|20.54 || align=center| 5.12% ↑
|-
|[[Kakinada Port]] || [[Kakinada]] || [[Andhra Pradesh]] ||align=center|15.12 ||align=center| 1.1 ↑
|}
 
The [[Kerala backwaters]] are a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes, and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900&nbsp;km of waterways. In the midst of this landscape, there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and endpoints of transportation services and backwater cruises.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/india-s-southern-sun-drenched-state-of-kerala-uncovered-cruises-elephants-and-ancient-cures-a6814086.html|first=Mark|last=Evaleigh|title=Backwater cruises and ancient cures in Kerala, India's southern, sun-drenched state|newspaper=The Independent|date=15 January 2016|access-date=1 March 2016}}</ref> [[Vizhinjam International Seaport]] also called The Port of [[Trivandrum]] is a mother port under construction on the Arabian Sea at Vizhinjam in [[Trivandrum]], India. Once completed, it is estimated that this port will handle over 40% of India's [[transshipment]]s, thereby reducing the country's reliance on ports at [[Dubai]], [[Colombo]], and [[Singapore]].
 
The [[Eastern Naval Command]] and [[Southern Naval Command]] of the Indian Navy are headquartered at [[Visakhapatnam Port|Visakhapatnam]] and [[Cochin Port|Kochi]], respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/Satish-Soni-is-now-Command-of-Vizag-based-Eastern-Naval-Command/articleshow/36616092.cms|title=Vizag based Eastern naval command|date=14 June 2014|last=Rao|first=Kamalakara|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/organisation-southern-naval-command-kochi|title=Southern naval command|publisher=[[Indian Navy]]|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref> In the region, the Indian Navy has its major operational bases at Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Kochi, Karwar, and Kavaratti.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/kadamba.htm |title=INS Kadamba |publisher=[[Indian Navy]] |access-date=4 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208193718/https://indiannavy.nic.in/kadamba.htm |archive-date= 8 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/india-set-drop-anchor-china-764 |title=India set to drop anchor off China |newspaper=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |date=26 June 2011 |access-date=6 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827013028/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/india-set-drop-anchor-china-764 |archive-date=27 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article3370886.ece|title=Navy commissions full-scale station in Lakshadweep|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=1 May 2012|access-date=9 May 2012}}</ref>
 
==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of South India}}
[[File:Major crop areas India.png|thumb|upright=0.9|Major crop areas]]
[[File:Technopark Phase III Buildings February 2014.jpg|thumb|Technopark, [[Trivandrum]]]]
[[File:Tidel Park.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|The growth of information technology hubs in the region have spurred economic growth. Pictured is [[Tidel Park]] in [[Chennai]]]]
 
After independence, the economy of South India conformed to a [[socialism|socialist]] framework, with strict governmental control over [[private sector]] participation, [[foreign trade]], and [[foreign direct investment]]. From 1960 to 1990, the South Indian economies experienced mixed economic growth. In the 1960s, Kerala achieved above-average growth while Andhra Pradesh's economy declined. Kerala experienced an economic decline in the 1970s while the economies of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh consistently exceeded national average growth rates, due to [[Economic reforms in India|reform-oriented]] economic policies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.icrier.org/pdf/wp144.pdf|title=Economic Growth in Indian States|publisher=ICRIER|first=K.L.|last=Krishna|date=September 2004|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref> As of March 2015, there are 109 operational [[Special Economic Zone]]s in South India, which is about 60% of the country's total.<ref name="Com">{{cite web |title=Special Economic Zones|url=https://commerce.nic.in/pquestion/RS20150311.pdf|access-date=15 January 2016|publisher=Government of India|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128151624/https://commerce.nic.in/pquestion/RS20150311.pdf|archive-date=28 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> As of 2019–20, the total [[gross domestic product]] of the region is ₹67 trillion (US$946 billion). [[Tamil Nadu]] has the [[List of Indian states by GDP|second]]-highest GDP and is the second-most industrialised state in the country after [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at Current Prices |url=https://planningcommission.nic.in/data/datatable/0306/table%20168.pdf|publisher=Planning Commission Government of India|archive-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715140421/https://planningcommission.nic.in/data/datatable/0306/table%20168.pdf}}</ref> With the presence of two major ports, an international airport, and a converging road and rail networks, Chennai is referred to as the "Gateway of South India."<ref name="OT_ScorchingHot">{{cite web | url = https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/70874/things-to-do-in-chennai | title = Scorching hot during summer and unbelievably crowded, the modern city of Chennai dipped in traditions from its Madras days never fails to surprise a traveller | last = Mohan | first = Vishnu | date = 5 October 2020 | website = | publisher = Outlook Traveller | access-date = 31 December 2021 | quote = }}</ref><ref name="OI_TourismDay2018">{{cite news | last = Vikas | first = S. V. | title = World Tourism Day 2018: Significance, theme and why it is observed | newspaper = One India | location = New Delhi | pages = | language = | date = 27 September 2018 | url = https://www.oneindia.com/india/world-tourism-day-2018-significance-theme-why-it-is-observed-2783487.html | access-date = 27 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="National_Unwrapped">{{cite news | last = Grover | first = Amar | title = Chennai unwrapped: Why the city is the great international gateway to South India | newspaper = The National | location = Chennai | pages = | language = | date = 17 September 2019 | url = https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/travel/chennai-unwrapped-why-the-city-is-the-great-international-gateway-to-south-india-1.911568 | access-date = 31 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="OI_Turns375">{{cite news | last = Sharma | first = Reetu | title = Chennai turns 375: Things you should know about 'Gateway to South India' | newspaper = One India | location = Chennai | pages = | language = | date = 23 August 2014 | url = https://www.oneindia.com/feature/chennai-turns-375-years-old-things-you-should-know-1507481.html | access-date = 20 March 2021}}</ref>
 
[[File:Idukki Dam Reservoir.jpg|thumbnail|At {{convert|168.91|m|ft}} height,<ref name="damfacts">{{cite web |title=Idukki Arch Dam |url=https://idukki.gov.in/tourist-place/idukki-arch-dam/ |website=GOVERNMENT OF KERALA |access-date=20 August 2018}}</ref> the [[Idukki Dam]] is one of the highest [[arch dam]]s in [[Asia]].]]
 
Over 48% of South India's population is engaged in agriculture, which is largely dependent on seasonal monsoons. Frequent droughts have left farmers debt-ridden, forcing them to sell their livestock and sometimes to commit suicide.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3769981.stm|title=Suicide spree on India's farms|access-date=10 April 2006|date=3 June 2004|work=[[BBC News]]|first=Omer|last=Farooq}}</ref> Some of the main crops cultivated in South India include [[Paddy field|paddy]], [[sorghum]], [[pearl millet]], [[pulses]], [[Finger millet|ragi]], [[sugarcane]], [[mango]]es, [[chile pepper|chilli]], and [[cotton]]. The staple food is rice; the delta regions of Godavari, [[Krishna River|Krishna]], and [[Kaveri River|Kaveri]] are among the top rice producing areas in the country.<ref name="Com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+in0139)|title=India: A Country Study: Crop Output|date=September 1995|publisher=[[Library of Congress]], [[Washington D.C.]]|access-date=21 March 2009}}</ref> [[Areca]] nut, [[coffee]], [[tea]], [[turmeric]] and other [[spices]], and [[rubber]] are cultivated in the hills, the region accounting for 92% of the total [[coffee production in India]].<ref name="Com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ip.cals.cornell.edu/courses/iard602/2006spring/documents/sample_papers/value_coffee.ppt#1 |title=Value Addition to Coffee in India |access-date=5 October 2005 |publisher=Cornell Education |first=Salomey |last=Yeboah |date=8 March 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060919130235/https://ip.cals.cornell.edu/courses/iard602/2006spring/documents/sample_papers/value_coffee.ppt |archive-date=19 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx |publisher=[[FAO|UN Food & Agriculture Organization]] |title=Production of Spice by countries |year=2011 |access-date=20 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713020710/https://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx |archive-date=13 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/possibilities-for-improving-vehicular-traffic-flow-explored/article7627408.ece|title=Possibilities for improving vehicular traffic flow explored|date=8 September 2015|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-12-29/news/28384976_1_turmeric-lakh-bags-quintal|title=Turmeric at an all-time high price|date=29 December 2009|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> Other major agricultural products include [[poultry]] and [[silk]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tnsericulture.gov.in/prototype2/briefnoteonesriculture.htm |title=Sericulture note |publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu |access-date=20 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527142455/https://www.tnsericulture.gov.in/prototype2/briefnoteonesriculture.htm |archive-date=27 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.financialexpress.com/news/tamil-nadu-poultry-industry-seeks-export-concessions/88614|title=Tamil Nadu Poultry Industry Seeks Export Concessions|newspaper=[[The Financial Express (India)|Financial Express]]|date=28 June 2013|access-date=28 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114342/https://archive.financialexpress.com/news/tamil-nadu-poultry-industry-seeks-export-concessions/88614|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
 
Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram are amongst the major information technology (IT) hubs of India, with Bengaluru known as the [[Silicon Valley]] of India.<ref name="cnn-Dec2012">
* {{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/06/tech/bangalore-india-internet-access |title=How the 'Silicon Valley of India' is bridging the digital divide |last=Canton |first=Naomi |publisher=CNN| access-date=6 December 2012 |date=6 December 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218052853/https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/06/tech/bangalore-india-internet-access| archive-date=18 December 2012| url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/20/business/worldbusiness/20bangalore.html |title=Is the Next Silicon Valley Taking Root in Bangalore? |last=Rai |first=Saritha |work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=20 March 2006 |date=20 March 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013023256/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/20/business/worldbusiness/20bangalore.html | archive-date=13 October 2011 | url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20201666 |title=Can the 'American Dream' be reversed in India? |last=Vaidyanathan |first=Rajini |publisher=[[BBC World News]]| access-date=5 November 2012 |date=5 November 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105101908/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20201666| archive-date=5 November 2012| url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The presence of these hubs has spurred economic growth and attracted foreign investments and job seekers from other parts of the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/after-delhi-maharastra-tn-received-highest-fdi-equity-inflows-in-fy15-114113000130_1.html|title=Maharashtra tops FDI equity inflows|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|date=1 December 2012|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref> Software exports from South India grossed over {{INRConvert|640|b}} in fiscal 2005–06.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-info-tech/tn-software-exports-clock-32-pc-growth/article1733052.ece|title=TN software exports clock 32 pc growth|date=7 May 2006|newspaper=[[The Hindu Business Line]]|access-date=5 October 2006}}</ref>
 
[[Salem Steel Plant]] (SSP), a unit of [[Steel Authority of India|Steel Authority of India Limited]] (SAIL), is a [[Steel mill|steel plant]] involved in the production of [[stainless steel]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Salem Steel Plant {{!}} SAIL|url=https://sail.co.in/special-steel-plants/salem-steel-plant|website=sail.co.in|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> It is located along the [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]] — [[Bangalore]] [[National Highway 44 (India)|National Highway 44]] in the foothills of [[Kanjamalai]] in [[Salem district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=PROFILE OF SALEM STEEL PLANT (SSP)|url=https://sg.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/23165/7/07_chapter%202.pdf|website=sg.inflibnet.ac.in|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=M|first1=Prakash|last2=M|first2=Manickam|year=2014|title=A Salem Steel plant an Overview|url=https://theinternationaljournal.org/ojs/index.php?journal=rjcbs&page=article&op=download&path%5B%5D=2803&path%5B%5D=pdf|journal=Research Journal of Commerce and Behavioural Science|publisher=The International Journal Research Publications|volume=3|pages=8|issn=2251-1547}}</ref> The plant has an installed capacity of 70,000 tonnes per annum in its cold rolling mill and 3,64,000 tonnes per annum in the hot rolling mill.<ref name=":0" /> It also has the country's first stainless steel blanking facility.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Dutta|first=Indrani|date=2010-07-12|title=Salem Steel's expansion set to be completed by September|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/Salem-Steels-expansion-set-to-be-completed-by-September/article16194342.ece|access-date=2020-05-30|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
 
Chennai, known as the "[[Detroit of Asia]]", accounts for about 35% of India's overall automotive components and automobile output.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rediff.com/money/2000/oct/25cars.htm|title=Madras, the Detroit of South Asia|work=[[Rediff]]|date=30 April 2004|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref> Coimbatore supplies two-thirds of India's requirements of motors and pumps, and is one of the largest exporters of [[wet grinder]]s and [[Automobile|auto components]], as well as jewellery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.resourceinvestor.com/News/2007/8/Pages/India-s-Gems-and-Jewellery-Market-is-Glittering.aspx|title=India's Gems and Jewellery Market is Glittering|publisher=Resource Investor|access-date=30 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926235942/https://www.resourceinvestor.com/News/2007/8/Pages/India-s-Gems-and-Jewellery-Market-is-Glittering.aspx|archive-date=26 September 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Andhra Pradesh]] is emerging as another automobile manufacturing hub.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Subramanyam Javvadi: 'Eight auto majors are looking at Andhra Pradesh as their base for operations.'|url=https://www.autocarpro.in/Interview/subramanyam-javvadi-eight-auto-majors-are-looking-at-andhra-pradesh-as-their-base-for-operations-55581|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Autocar Professional|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
Another major industry is textiles<ref>{{cite news|title=Lok Sabha Elections 2014: Erode has potential to become a textile heaven says Narendra Modi|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lok-sabha-elections-2014-erode-has-potential-to-become-a-textile-heaven-says-narendra-modi-1979317|newspaper=DNA India|date=17 April 2014|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> with the region being home to nearly 60% of the fiber textile mills in India.<ref>{{cite web|title=State wise number of cotton mills |url=https://www.citiindia.com/images/database/table4.pdf |publisher=Confederation of Textile Industry |access-date=23 January 2016}} {{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
 
[[Tourism in India|Tourism]] contributes significantly to the GDP of the region, with three states – Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana – among the top 10 states for tourist arrivals, accounting for more than 50% of domestic tourist visits.<ref>{{cite web |title=India Tourism Statistics at a Glance |url=https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/english%20India%20Torurism%20Statics%20020917.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Tourism, Government of India |access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable collapsible"
|-
! colspan ="3"| Economic and demographic indicators<ref name="ecoindicators"/>
|-
! style="width:50%;"| Parameter
! style="width:25%;"| South India
! style="width:25%;"| National
|-
|[[Gross domestic product]] (GDP)
|₹67 trillion (US$946 billion)
|₹209.19 trillion (US$2.9 trillion)
|-
|[[net domestic product|Net state domestic product]] (SDP)
|{{INRConvert|29.027|k}}
|{{INRConvert|23.222|k}}
|-
|Population below the poverty line
|15.41%
|26.1%
|-
|Urban population
|32.8%
|27.8%
|-
|Households with electricity
|98.91%
|88.2%
|-
|[[Literacy rate]]
|81.09%
|74%<ref name="ciastats">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html|title=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=22 July 2015|archive-date=11 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611033144/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}
 
==Demographics==
{{Main|Dravidian people|Telugus|Tamils|Kannadigas|Malayalis|Tuluvas}}
[[File:SouthIndiaAgePyramid.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Population Pyramid in South India]]
 
As per the [[2011 census of India]], the estimated population of South India is 252 million, around one fifth of the total population of India. The region's [[total fertility rate]] (TFR) was less than the [[Sub-replacement fertility|population replacement level]] of 2.1 for all states, with Kerala and Tamil Nadu having the lowest TFRs in India at 1.7.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The surprising global variation in replacement fertility|last1=Espenshade|first1=TJ|last2=Guzman|first2=JC|last3=Westoff|first3=CF|s2cid=10798893|year=2003|journal=Population Research and Policy Review|volume=22|doi=10.1023/B:POPU.0000020882.29684.8e|issue=5/6|page=580}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url= https://www.censusindia.gov.in/vital_statistics/SRS_Bulletins/MMR_release_070711.pdf|title=Maternal & Child Mortality and Total Fertility Rates|publisher=Office of Registrar General|place=India|date=7 July 2011|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> As a result, from 1981 to 2011 the proportion of the population of South India to India's total population has declined.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ishtiaq|first=M.|title=Language Shifts Among the Scheduled Tribes in India: A Geographical Study|year=1999|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|location=Delhi| isbn=978-81-208-1617-6| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fkIgsfb95rAC|access-date=7 September 2012|pages=26–27}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement5.htm |title=Comparative Speaker's Strength of Scheduled Languages – 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2001 |publisher=Census of India |year=1991 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411183701/https://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement5.htm |archive-date=11 April 2009}}</ref> The population density of the region is approximately 463 per square kilometer.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} [[Scheduled Castes and Tribes]] form 18% of the population of the region. Agriculture is the major employer in the region, with 47.5% of the population being involved in agrarian activities.<ref>{{Cite report|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/A-Series/A-Series_links/t_00_009.aspx|title=Distribution of workers by category of workers, Census 2011|publisher=Government of India|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> About 60% of the population lives in permanent housing structures.<ref>{{Cite report|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/hlo/HLO_Tables.html|title=Houselisting and Housing, Census 2011|publisher=Government of India|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> 67.8% of South India has access to tap water, with wells and springs being major sources of water supply.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://data.gov.in/resources/households-access-safe-drinking-water/download |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806011859/https://data.gov.in/resources/households-access-safe-drinking-water/download |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 August 2020 |title=Households access to safe drinking water |publisher=Government of India |year=2011 |access-date=21 April 2014}}</ref>
 
After experiencing fluctuations in the decades immediately after the independence of India, the economies of South Indian states have, over the past three decades, registered growth higher than the national average. While South Indian states have improved in some of the [[socio-economics|socio-economic]] metrics,<ref name="ecoindicators">{{cite journal|url=https://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070716&fname=HThe+Stats&sid=1|title=Also A Head For Numbers|date=16 July 2007|journal=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|access-date=22 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502014202/https://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070716&fname=HThe+Stats&sid=1|archive-date=2 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=outlook1>{{cite journal|url=https://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070716&fname=AOpenning+Essay+%28F%29&sid=1|title=The Better Half|first=Ramachandra|last=Guha|journal=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|date=22 July 2015|access-date=20 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320010101/https://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070716&fname=AOpenning+Essay+%28F%29&sid=1|archive-date=20 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> poverty continues to affect the region as it does the rest of the country, although it has considerably decreased over the years. Based on the 2011 census, the [[Human Development Index|HDI]] in the southern states is high, and the economy has grown at a faster rate than those of most northern states.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://medind.nic.in/iby/t08/i8/ibyt08i8p198.pdf|title=Human development, poverty, health & nutrition situation in India|first1=G.M.|last1=Antony|first2=A.|last2=Laxmaiah|journal=The Indian Journal of Medical Research|publisher=Council of Social Development, Southern Regional Centre & Division of Community Studies National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR)|date=20 April 2015|volume=128|issue=2|pages=198–205|pmid=19001685|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref>
 
As per the 2011 census, the average [[literacy rate]] in South India is approximately 80%, considerably higher than the Indian national average of 74%, with Kerala having the highest literacy rate of 93.91%.<ref name="lit">{{cite report|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/india/Final_PPT_2011_chapter6.pdf|title= Literacy in South India |page=14|publisher= Government of Indiaformat=PDF|access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref> South India has the highest [[human sex ratio|sex ratio]] with Kerala and Tamil Nadu being the top two states.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/vital_statistics/SRS_Report_2012/10_Chap_3_2012.pdf|title=Vital statistics report 2012|date=19 April 2014|publisher=Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|access-date=19 April 2014}}</ref> The South Indian states rank amongst the top 10 in [[Indian states ranked by economic freedom|economic freedom]], [[List of Indian states by life expectancy at birth|life expectancy]], [[Indian states ranking by drinking water|access to drinking water]], [[Indian states ranking by families owning house|house ownership]], and [[Indian states ranking by television ownership|TV ownership]].<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/inequality_adjusted_human_development_index_for_indias_state1.pdf|title=Inequality-Adjusted Human Development Index for India's States 2011|publisher=United Nations Development Programme|access-date=13 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/economic-freedom-india-2013/economic-freedom-states-of-india-chapter-1.pdf|title=Economic Freedom of the States of India: 2013| publisher=[[Cato Institute]]|page=24|year=2013|access-date=29 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://data.gov.in/resources/households-access-safe-drinking-water/download |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806011859/https://data.gov.in/resources/households-access-safe-drinking-water/download |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 August 2020 |title=Households access to safe drinking water |publisher=Government of India |access-date=21 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://indiabudget.nic.in/es2012-13/estat1.pdf|title=Access to safe drinking water in households in India|publisher=Government of India|access-date=21 April 2014|date=|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106093350/https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/es2012-13/estat1.pdf%20|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/hlo/hlo_highlights.html|title=TV ownership| publisher=Government of India |access-date=21 April 2014}}</ref> The [[Poverty in India|poverty]] rate is at 19% while that in the other Indian states is at 38%. The [[per capita income]] is {{INRConvert|19531}}, which is more than double of the other Indian states ({{INRConvert|8951}}).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/dravida-nadu-what-if-south-seceded-republic-india-1413910|title=Dravida Nadu: What If The South Seceded From The Republic Of India?|work=IBT Times|date=10 March 2013|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/north-india-vs-south-india-who-is-doing-better-report-says-south-india/1/269761.html|title=Who is doing better?|work=[[India Today]]|date=7 March 2013|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> Of the three demographically related targets of the [[Millennium Development Goals]] set by the [[United Nations]] and expected to be achieved by 2015, Kerala and Tamil Nadu achieved the goals related to improvement of maternal health and of reducing infant mortality and child mortality by 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.frontline.in/other/data-card/missing-targets/article5740024.ece|title=Missing targets|work=Frontline|date=12 March 2014|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/mdg_26feb15.pdf|title=Millennium Development Goals – Country report 2015|publisher=Government of India|access-date=1 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113185746/https://www.mospi.nic.in/mospi_new/upload/mdg_26feb15.pdf|archive-date=13 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
 
===Languages===
{{Main|Dravidian languages|Telugu language|Tamil language}}
[[File:DravidianTree.png|upright=1.35|thumb|right|Dravidian language tree]]
 
The largest linguistic group in South India is the [[Dravidian family of languages]], of approximately 73 languages.<ref>{{cite book|first=Robert|last=Caldwell|title=A comparative grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian family of languages|edition=3rd|place=New Delhi|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=1998|isbn=978-81-206-0117-8}}</ref> The major languages spoken include [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Kannada]], and [[Malayalam]].<ref>{{cite book|first=K.A.|last=Nilakanta Sastri|title=A History of South India|edition=7th|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=1996|isbn=978-0-19-560686-7}}</ref> [[Tulu language|Tulu]] is spoken by about 1.5&nbsp;million people in coastal Kerala and Karnataka; [[Konkani language|Konkani]], an [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] language, is spoken by around 0.8 million people in the Konkan coast (Canara) and Kerala; [[Kodava language|Kodava Takk]] is spoken by more than half a million people in Kodagu, Mysore, and Bangalore. English is also widely spoken in urban areas of South India.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.languageinindia.com/junjul2002/baldridgeindianenglish.html |title=Lingusitic and Social Characteristics of Indian English |first=Jason |last=Baldridge |publisher=University of Edinburgh |access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref> [[Urdu]] is spoken by around 12 million [[Indian Muslims|Muslims]] in southern India.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Social_and_cultural/Religion.aspx|title=Religious statistics, Census 2011|publisher=Government of India|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.languageinindia.com/april2003/urduinap.html |title=Urdu in Andhra Pradesh |publisher=Language in India |first=A.R. |last=Fatihi |access-date=22 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713110121/https://www.languageinindia.com/april2003/urduinap.html |archive-date=13 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Upadhyaya|first=Padmanabha|title=Coastal Karnataka: Studies in Folkloristic and Linguistic Traditions of Dakshina Kannada Region of the Western Coast of India|publisher=Govind Pai Samshodhana Kendra|isbn=81-86668-06-3|year=1973}}</ref> Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Konkani, and Urdu are listed among the 22 [[official languages of India]] as per the Official Languages Act (1963). Tamil was the first language to be granted [[Classical language in India|classical language]] status by the Government of India in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3667032.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|title=India sets up classical languages|access-date=1 May 2007|date=17 September 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/18/stories/2004091806530100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303153544/https://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/18/stories/2004091806530100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 March 2018|title=Tamil to be a classical language|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=18 September 2004|access-date=1 August 2010 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Other major languages declared classical are Kannada (in 2008), [[Telugu language|Telugu]] (in 2008), and Malayalam (in 2013)<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=44340|title=Declaration of Telugu and Kannada as classical languages|work=Press Information Bureau|publisher=Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India|access-date=31 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/classical-status-for-malayalam/article4744630.ece |title=Classical status for Malayalam|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=24 May 2013|access-date=25 May 2013|location=Thiruvananthapuram, India}}</ref> These four languages have literary outputs larger than other [[literary language]]s of India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dravidian literature|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/Dravidian-literature|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>
 
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!S.No.
!Language
!Number of speakers<ref>"Census of India: Comparative speaker's strength of Scheduled Languages-1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011" (PDF).</ref>
!States and union territories where official
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|align=center|74,002,856
|[[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana]], [[Yanam, Puducherry|Puducherry]]
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|align=center|60,793,814
|[[Tamil Nadu]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|[[Kannada]]
|align=center|43,706,512
|[[Karnataka]]
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|[[Malayalam]]
|align=center|34,838,319
|[[Kerala]], [[Lakshadweep]], [[Mahé, India|Mahé]]
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|[[Urdu]]
|align=center|12 – 13 million
|[[Telangana]]
|-
| align="center" |6
| align="center" |[[Tulu language|Tulu]]
| align="center" | 1,846,427
|[[Dakshina Kannada]], [[Udupi district]], [[Kasargod district]]
|-
|align="center" |7
|align="center" |[[Konkani]]
|align="center" |800,000+
|[[Uttara Kannada|Uttara Kannada (Karnataka)]], [[Dakshina Kannada|Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka)]], [[Udupi, Karnataka|Udupi Karnataka]], [[Goa]].
|-
| align="center" |8
| align="center" |[[Kodava Takk]]
| align="center" |
|[[Kodagu district|Kodagu district (Karnataka)]]
|}
 
===Religion===
{{bar box
|title=Religion in South India |titlebar=#ddd |left1=Religion |right1=Percent(%) |float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|Orange|84}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|11}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|purple|4}}
{{bar percent|Other|grey|1}}
}}
 
Evidence of [[prehistoric religion]] in South India comes from scattered [[Mesolithic]] rock paintings depicting dances and rituals, such as the [[Kupgal petroglyphs]] of eastern Karnataka, at [[South Asian Stone Age|Stone Age]] sites.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ancient Indians made 'rock music'|work=[[BBC News]]|date=19 March 2004|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3520384.stm|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref>
 
[[Hinduism]] is the major religion today in South India, with about 84% of the population adhering to it, which is often regarded as the oldest religion in the world, tracing its roots to prehistoric times in India.<ref>{{Cite book|publisher=Merriam-Webster|title=Encyclopedia of World Religions|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/484 484]|first=Merriam|last=Webster|isbn=978-0-87779-044-0|year=1999|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/484}}</ref> Its spiritual traditions include both the [[Shaivism|Shaivite]] and [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] branches of Hinduism, although [[Buddhist]] and [[Jainism|Jain]] philosophies were influential several centuries earlier.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Religion|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofre13elia|url-access=limited|first1=Mircea|last1=Eliade|first2=Charles J.|last2=Adams|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofre13elia/page/169 169]|year=1993|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-0-02-897135-3}}</ref> [[Ayyavazhi]] has spread significantly across the southern parts of South India.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Janak|title=World religions and the new era of science|year=2010|publisher=Xlibris Corporation|isbn=978-1-4535-3572-1|page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Wallis|first1=Graham Harvey|last2=Wallis|first2=Robert|title=The A to Z of shamanism|year=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Md.|isbn=978-0-8108-7600-2|page=101|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mf-xa4cisbUC&q=Ayyavazhi|access-date=4 October 2014}}</ref>[[Shaiva Siddhanta]] philosophy is prominent among many communities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shaiva-siddhanta {{!}} Hindu philosophy|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shaiva-siddhanta|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>
 
[[Shaivism]] developed as an amalgam of pre-Vedic religions and traditions derived from the southern [[Tamils|Tamil]] Dravidian [[Shaiva Siddhanta]] traditions and philosophies, which were assimilated in the non-Vedic Shiva-tradition. The religious history of South India is influenced by Hinduism quite notably during the medieval century. The twelve [[Azhwars]] (saint poets of Vaishnavite tradition) and sixty-three [[Nayanars]] (saint poets of Shaivite tradition) are regarded as exponents of the ''bhakti'' tradition of Hinduism in South India. Most of them came from the Tamil region and the last of them lived in the 9th century CE.
 
About 11% of the population follow [[Islam]], which was introduced to South India in the early 7th century by [[Arab]] traders on the Malabar Coast, and spread during the rule of the Deccan Sultanates, from the 17th to 18th centuries. Muslims of Arab descent in Kerala are called [[Jonaka Mappila]].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Shail|last1=Mayaram|first2=M. S. S.|last2=Pandian|first3=Ajay|last3=Skaria|title=Muslims, Dalits and the Fabrications of History|year=2005|publisher=Permanent Black and Ravi Dayal Publisher|isbn=978-81-7824-115-9|pages=39–}}</ref>
 
About 4% follow [[Christianity]].<ref>{{cite report|title=Population By Religious Community – Tamil Nadu|year=2011|url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|format=XLS|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref> According to tradition, Christianity was introduced to South India by [[Thomas the Apostle]], who visited Muziris in Kerala in 52 CE and proselytized natives, who are called [[Saint Thomas Christians|Nazrani Mappila]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Christianity|volume=5|first=Erwin|last=Fahlbusch|publisher=Eerdmans Publishing|year=2008|isbn=978-0-8028-2417-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities|first=Orpa |last=Slapak|publisher=The Israel Museum, Jerusalem|year=2003|page=27|isbn=965-278-179-7}}</ref>
 
Kerala is also home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, who are supposed to have arrived on the Malabar coast during the reign of [[Biblical account of King Solomon|King Solomon]].<ref>{{cite book|first=James|last=Henry|year=1977|title=The Jews in India and the Far East|page=120|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=0-8371-2615-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Katz|first1=Nathan|last2=Goldberg|first2=Ellen S|year=1993|title=The Last Jews of Cochin: Jewish Identity in Hindu India|publisher=Univ. of South Carolina Press|isbn=0-87249-847-6}}</ref>
 
==Administration==
South India consists of the five southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, as well as the union territories of Puducherry, and Lakshadweep.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/state_uts.php|title=States and Union Territories|publisher=Government of India|access-date=17 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024173954/https://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/state_uts.php|archive-date=24 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Puducherry and the five states each have an elected state government, while Lakshadweep is [[Government of India|centrally]] administered by the [[president of India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://india.gov.in/knowindia/profile.php?id=21|title=Union Territories of India|publisher=National Portal of India|access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Changing UPA's governors: Why Tharoor is only half-right|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/changing-upas-governors-tharoor-half-right-1576401.html|newspaper=Firstpost|access-date=19 March 2016|date=27 June 2014}}</ref> Each state is headed by a [[Governor (India)|Governor]] who is appointed by the President of India and who names the leader of the state legislature's ruling party or [[coalition government|coalition]] as [[chief minister]], who is the head of the state government.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lawmin.nic.in/coi/contents.htm|title=Constitution of India|publisher=[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India]]|access-date=20 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325025912/https://lawmin.nic.in/coi/contents.htm|archive-date=25 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Durga Das|last=Basu|title=Introduction to the Constitution of India|year=1960|pages=241, 245|publisher=LexisNexis Butterworths|isbn=978-81-8038-559-9}}</ref>
 
Each state or territory is further divided into [[Districts of India|districts]], which are further subdivided into revenue divisions and ''[[taluk]]''s / ''[[Mandal]]''s or ''tehsil''s.<ref>{{cite report |title=Statement showing the Nomenclature and Number of Sub-Districts in States/UTs |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/Admin_Units/Admin_links/subdistrict_nomeclature.html |publisher=Office of The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, New Delhi |access-date=19 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Govt"/> Local bodies govern respective cities, towns, and villages, along with an elected [[mayor]], [[municipality|municipal chairman]], or [[panchayat|panchayat chairman]], respectively.<ref name="Govt"/>
 
===States===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%"
|-
!S. No.
!Name
![[ISO 3166-2:IN|ISO 3166-2 code]]<ref name="iso">{{cite web|url=https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:code:3166:IN|title=ISO Online Browsing Platform|publisher=[[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]]|access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="gefeg">{{cite web|url=https://www.gefeg.com/edifact/d03a/s3/codes/cl1h.htm|title=Code List: 3229|work=UN/EDIFACT|publisher=GEFEG|access-date=25 December 2012}}</ref>
!Date of formation<ref name="1956act"/>
!Population
!Area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="census_main">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-states-of-india.html|website= www.worldatlas.com |title=Area of Indian states |date= 10 July 2018 |access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>
!Official<br />language(s)<ref name=langoff50>{{cite report|url=https://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 50th report (July 2012 to June 2013) |publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |access-date=14 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/https://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date= 8 July 2016}}</ref>
!Capital
!Population density <br />(per km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="census_main"/>
!Sex Ratio<ref name="census_main"/>
!Literacy Rate (%)<ref name="lit"/>
!% of urban population<ref name="urban">{{cite report|url=https://mohua.gov.in/pdf/5c80e2225a124Handbook%20of%20Urban%20Statistics%202019.pdf|title=Urban Population in South India (by percent)|page=36|publisher=Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India|access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|[[Andhra Pradesh]]
|align=center|AP
|align=center|1 Nov 1956
|align=center|49,506,799<ref name="andhra"/>
|align=center|162,968<ref name="andhra"/>
|align=center|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|align=center|[[Amaravati]]
|align=center|308<ref name="andhra"/>
|align=center|996<ref name="andhra">{{cite report|url=https://www.ap.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2-AP-Demography.pdf|title=Demographics of Andhra Pradesh|publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328080346/https://www.ap.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2-AP-Demography.pdf|archive-date=28 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|align=center|67.41<ref>{{cite report|title=Literacy of AP (Census 2011)|url=https://www.ap.gov.in/AP%20State%20Statistical%20Abstract%20May%202014/2%20AP%20Demography.pdf|publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh|access-date=11 June 2014|page=43|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714213923/https://www.ap.gov.in/AP%20State%20Statistical%20Abstract%20May%202014/2%20AP%20Demography.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|align=center|29.4<ref name="andhra"/>
|-
| align="center" |2
| align="center" |[[Karnataka]]
| align="center" |KA
| align="center" |1 Nov 1956
| align="center" |61,095,297
| align="center" |191,791
| align="center" |[[Kannada language|Kannada]], [[English language|English]]
| align="center" |[[Bengaluru]]
| align="center" |319
| align="center" |973
| align="center" |75.60
| align="center" |38.67
|-
| align="center" |3
| align="center" |[[Kerala]]
| align="center" |KL
| align="center" |1 Nov 1956
| align="center" |33,406,061
| align="center" |38,863
| align="center" |[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]]
| align="center" |[[Thiruvananthapuram]]
| align="center" |860
| align="center" |1084
| align="center" |94.00
| align="center" |47.72
|-
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |[[Tamil Nadu]]
| align="center" |TN
| align="center" |26 Jan 1950
| align="center" |72,147,030
| align="center" |130,058
| align="center" |[[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[English language|English]]
| align="center" |[[Chennai]]
| align="center" |555
| align="center" |996
| align="center" |80.33
| align="center" |48.40
|-
| align="center" |5
| align="center" |[[Telangana]]
| align="center" |TG
| align="center" |2 Jun 2014<ref name="telangana" />
| align="center" |35,193,978<ref name="telangana">{{cite report|title=Telangana State Profile|url=https://www.telangana.gov.in/About/State-Profile|publisher=Telangana government portal|access-date=11 June 2014|page=34|format=PDF}}</ref>
| align="center" |112,077<ref name="telangana" />
| align="center" |[[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Urdu]]
| align="center" |[[Hyderabad]]
| align="center" |307<ref name="stats">{{cite report|title=Population of Telangana|url=https://www.telangana.gov.in/Telangana%20Statistical%20Abstract%20May%202014/2%20Demography.pdf|publisher=Telangana government portal|access-date=11 June 2014|page=34|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701085602/https://www.telangana.gov.in/Telangana%20Statistical%20Abstract%20May%202014/2%20Demography.pdf|archive-date=1 July 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| align="center" |988<ref name="telangana" />
| align="center" |66.50<ref name="stats" />
| align="center" |38.7<ref name="telangana" />
|}
* {{note|1|Note 1}} Andhra Pradesh was divided into two states, Telangana and a residual Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014.<ref name="The Times Of India">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/T-party-today-Indias-29th-state-Telangana-is-born/articleshow/35912105.cms|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|title=Bifurcated into Telangana State and residual Andhra Pradesh State|date=2 June 2014|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/APRegACT2014.pdf |title=The Gazette of India : The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 |publisher=Government of India |journal=Ministry of Law and Justice |date=1 March 2014 |access-date=23 April 2014}} {{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref name="APGazetteMar4">{{cite web |url=https://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2014/158365.pdf|title=The Gazette of India : The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 Sub-section|date=4 March 2014|access-date=23 April 2014}}</ref> [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], located entirely within the borders of Telangana, is to serve as joint capital for both states for a period of time not exceeding ten years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/andhra-pradesh-minus-telangana-10-facts-534339|title=Andhra Pradesh Minus Telangana: 10 Facts|first=Sanchari|last=Bhattacharya|date=1 June 2014|access-date=20 March 2016|work=[[NDTV]]}}</ref>
 
===Union territories===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%"
|-
!S.No.
!Name
![[ISO 3166-2:IN|ISO 3166-2 code]]<ref name="iso"/><ref name="gefeg"/>
!Population
!Area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="census_main"/>
!Official<br />language<ref name=langoff50/>
!Capital
!Population density<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="census_main"/>
!Sex Ratio<ref name="census_main"/>
!Literacy Rate(%)<ref name="lit"/>
!% of urban population<ref name="urban"/>
|-
| align="center" |1
| align="center" |[[Lakshadweep]]
| align="center" |LD
| align="center" |64,473
| align="center" |30
| align="center" |[[Indian English|English]], [[Malayalam]]
| align="center" |[[Kavaratti]]
| align="center" |2,013
| align="center" |946
| align="center" |92.28
| align="center" |78.07
|-
| align="center" |2
| align="center" |[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
| align="center" |PY
| align="center" |1,247,953
| align="center" |490
| align="center" |[[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Indian English|English]]
| align="center" |[[Pondicherry (city)|Puducherry]]
| align="center" |2,598
| align="center" |1037
| align="center" |86.55
| align="center" |68.33
|}
 
===Legislative representation===
{{multiple image
| header = Legislative assemblies of states
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Fort_St._George,_Chennai_2.jpg
| width1 = 150
| caption1 = [[Fort St. George, India|Fort St. George]] (Tamil Nadu)
| image2  = Andhra_Pradesh_Legislative_Assembly.jpg
| width2    = 150
| caption2  = Shasana Sabha (Telangana)
| image3    = Vidhana_Soudha_2012.jpg
| width3    = 150
| caption3  = [[Vidhan Soudha]] (Karnataka)
| image4    = Kerala Legislative Assembly, Thiruvananthapuram.jpg
| width4    = 150
| caption4  = [[Niyamasabha Mandiram]] (Kerala)
}}
 
South India elects 132 [[Member of Parliament (India)|members]] to the [[Lok Sabha]], accounting for roughly one-fourth of the total strength.<ref name="Lok Sabha"/> The region is allocated 58 seats in the [[Rajya Sabha]], out of the total of 245.<ref name="Rajya Sabha"/>
 
The [[Legislative Assembly|state legislatures]] of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry are [[unicameral legislature|unicameral]], while Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana have [[bicameral legislature|bicameral]] legislatures.<ref name="Vidhan Sabha"/><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Pearson Concise General Knowledge Manual 2016|first=Showick|last=Thorpeand|publisher=Pearson Education India|year=2015|isbn=978-93-325-5884-7|chapter=Chapter 3|page=17}}</ref> States with bicameral legislatures have an upper house ([[Legislative Council]]) with members not more than one-third the size of the Assembly. State legislatures elect members for terms of five years.<ref name="Govt">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/India/Railways-and-roads#toc46435|title=State and local governments of India|encyclopedia=Britannica|access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> Governors may suspend or dissolve assemblies and can administer when no party is able to form a government.<ref name="Govt"/>
 
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center;" style="font-size: 85%"
|-
!State/UT
![[Lok Sabha]]<ref name="Lok Sabha">{{cite web|url=https://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/intro/introls.htm|title=Lok Sabha Introduction|publisher=National Informatics Centre, Government of India|access-date=22 September 2008}}</ref>
![[Rajya Sabha]]<ref name="Rajya Sabha">{{cite web|url=https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/faq/freaq1.asp#six |title=Rajya Sabha |publisher=Indian Parliament |access-date=8 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130724045633/https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/faq/freaq1.asp |archive-date=24 July 2013}}</ref>
![[Vidhan Sabha]]<ref name="Vidhan Sabha">{{cite web|url= https://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/seat_in_legislativeassembilies.aspx|title=State/UT wise Seats in the Assembly and their Reservation Status|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref>
![[Governor (India)|Governor]]/[[Lieutenant Governor]]
![[Chief Minister (India)|Chief Minister]]
|-
|[[Andhra Pradesh]]|| 25 || 11 || 175 || [[Biswabhusan Harichandan]] || [[Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy]]
|-
|[[Karnataka]] || 28 || 12 || 224 || [[Thawar Chand Gehlot]] || [[Basavaraj Bommai]]
|-
|[[Kerala]] || 20 || 9 || 140 || [[Arif Mohammad Khan]] || [[Pinarayi Vijayan]]
|-
|[[Lakshadweep]] || 1 || N/A || N/A || [[H. Rajesh Prasad]] || N/A
|-
|[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] || 1 || 1 || 30 || [[Tamilisai Soundararajan]]|| [[N. Rangaswamy]]
|-
|[[Tamil Nadu]] || 39 || 18 || 234 || [[R. N. Ravi]] || [[M. K. Stalin]]
|-
|[[Telangana]] || 17 || 7 || 119 || [[Tamilisai Soundararajan]] || [[K. Chandrashekar Rao]]
|-
|'''Total''' || '''132''' || '''58''' || '''922''' || ||
|}
 
==Politics==
{{Main|Politics in South India}}
 
Politics in South India is characterized by a mix of regional and national political parties. The [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]] and [[Swaraj Party]] were the two major parties in the erstwhile Madras Presidency.<ref name="encyclopp">{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Political Parties|last=Ralhan|first=O.P.|year=2002|publisher=Print House|pages=180–199|isbn=978-81-7488-287-5}}</ref> The Justice Party eventually lost the [[1937 Madras Presidency legislative assembly election|1937 elections]] to the Indian National Congress, and [[Chakravarti Rajagopalachari]] became the Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency.<ref name="encyclopp"/>


During the 1920s and 1930s, the [[Self-Respect Movement]], spearheaded by [[Theagaroya Chetty]] and [[E. V. Ramaswamy]] (commonly known as Periyar), emerged in the Madras Presidency.<ref>{{cite book|title=Political and Social Conflict in South India; The non-Brahmin movement and Tamil Separatism, 1916–1929|last=Irschick|first=Eugene F.|year=1969|oclc=249254802|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|url=https://history.berkeley.edu/faculty/Irschick/Politics.pdf|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001539/https://history.berkeley.edu/faculty/Irschick/Politics.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 1944, Periyar transformed the party into a social organisation, renaming the party [[Dravidar Kazhagam]], and withdrew from electoral politics. The initial aim was the secession of [[Dravida Nadu]] from the rest of India upon Indian independence. After independence, [[C. N. Annadurai]], a follower of Periyar, formed the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) in 1948. The [[Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu]] led to the rise of Dravidian parties that formed Tamil Nadu's first government, in 1967. In 1972, a split in the DMK resulted in the formation of the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) led by [[M. G. Ramachandran]]. [[Dravidian parties]] continue to dominate Tamil Nadu electoral politics, the national parties usually aligning as junior partners to the major Dravidian parties, AIADMK and DMK.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Wyatt|first=A.K.J.|title=New Alignments in South Indian Politics: The 2001 Assembly Elections in Tamil Nadu|journal=[[Asian Survey]]|volume=42|issue=5|pages=733–753|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|year=2002|doi=10.1525/as.2002.42.5.733|df=dmy-all|hdl=1983/1811|url=https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/new-alignments-in-south-indian-politics-the-2001-assembly-elections-in-tamil-nadu(ccd8e236-7d18-4981-92b0-5a1d63ff695d).html|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hasan|first=Zoya|title=The democratisation of politics|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2 February 2003|url=https://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/lr/2003/02/02/stories/2003020200180300.htm|access-date=19 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307083023/https://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/lr/2003/02/02/stories/2003020200180300.htm|archive-date=7 March 2008|url-status=usurped|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Its a diverse region with many cultures and people
 
Indian National Congress dominated the political scene in Tamil Nadu in the 1950s and 1960s under the leadership of [[K. Kamaraj]], who led the party after the death of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] and ensured the selection of Prime Ministers [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] and [[Indira Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year=1990|page=[https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/164 164]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|asin=B003DXXMC4}}</ref> Congress continues to be a major party in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. The party ruled with minimal opposition for 30 years in Andhra Pradesh, before the formation of the [[Telugu Desam Party]] by [[Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao]] in 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_telugu-desam-party-turns-29-nt-rama-rao-remembered_1364859|title=Telugu Desam Party turns 29, NT Rama Rao remembered|newspaper=DNA India|date=29 March 2010|access-date=31 May 2010}}</ref> Two prominent coalitions in Kerala are the [[United Democratic Front (India)|United Democratic Front]], led by the Indian National Congress, and the [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]], led by the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]. For the past fifty years, these two coalitions have been alternately in power; and [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]], the first elected chief minister of Kerala in 1957, is credited as the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Olle|last=Törnquist|year=1991|title=Communists and democracy: Two Indian cases and one debate|journal=Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars|publisher=Committee of Concerned Asian Scholars|volume=23|issue=2|pages=63–76|issn=0007-4810|url=https://criticalasianstudies.org/assets/files/bcas/v23n02.pdf|doi=10.1080/14672715.1991.10413152|quote=The first democratically elected communist-led government in India actually came to power in 1957 in the southwest-Indian state of Kerala|access-date=1 January 2016|archive-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811034858/https://criticalasianstudies.org/assets/files/bcas/v23n02.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Sarina|last1=Singh|first2=Amy|last2=Karafin|first3=Anirban|last3=Mahapatra|title=South India|date=1 September 2009|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74179-155-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/southindia0000unse}}</ref> The [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] and [[Janata Dal (Secular)]] are significant parties in Karnataka.<ref>{{cite web |last=Price |first=Pamela |url=https://www.isec.ac.in/Karnataka_Price16.5.05_aligned.pdf |title=Ideological Elements in Political Instability in Karnataka |publisher=University of Oslo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525164515/https://www.isec.ac.in/Karnataka_Price16.5.05_aligned.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2006}}</ref>
 
C. Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor General of India post independence, was from South India. The region has produced six Indian presidents, namely, [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1060415/asp/opinion/story_6099278.asp|title=Why Amartya Sen should become the next president of India|access-date=30 November 2008|first=Ramachandra|last=Guha|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]|date=15 April 2006}}</ref> [[V. V. Giri]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/giri.asp |title=Giri, Shri Varahagiri Venkata |access-date=30 November 2008 |publisher=Vice President's Secretariat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210115524/https://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/giri.asp |archive-date=10 February 2009}}</ref> [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]],<ref>{{cite news|first=G.S.|last=Bhargava|title=Making of the President – Congress chief selects PM as well as President|newspaper=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]|location=India|access-date=6 January 2009|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070730/edit.htm|date=29 July 2007}}</ref> [[R. Venkataraman]],<ref>{{cite news|first=Sanjoy|last=Hazarika|title=India's Mild New President: Ramaswamy Venkataraman |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=17 July 1987|access-date=6 January 2009|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEEDD1239F934A25754C0A961948260&n=Top/News/World/Countries%20and%20Territories/India}}</ref> [[K. R. Narayanan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/krn.asp |title=Narayanan, Shri K, R |access-date=6 December 2008 |publisher=Vice President's Secretariat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210115549/https://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/krn.asp |archive-date=10 February 2009}}</ref> and [[APJ Abdul Kalam]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Prisoners of the Nuclear Dream|last1=Ramana|first1=M. V.|last2=Reddy, C.|first2=Rammanohar|year=2003|publisher=Orient Blackswan|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-250-2477-4|page=169}}</ref> [[Prime Minister of India|Prime ministers]] [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] and [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] were from the region.<ref>{{cite news|first=S.A.|last=Aiyar|title=Unsung hero of the India story|quote=Twenty years ago, Narasimha Rao became Prime Minister and initiated economic reforms that transformed India|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|date=26 June 2011|url=https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Swaminomics/entry/unsung-hero-of-the-india-story}}</ref>
 
==Culture and heritage==
{{Main|South Indian culture}}
 
===Clothing===
South Indian women traditionally wear a ''[[sari]]'', a garment that consists of a drape varying from {{convert|5|yd|}} to {{convert|9|yd|}} in length and {{convert|2|ft|}} to {{convert|4|ft|}} in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff, as according to Indian philosophy, the navel is considered as the source of life and creativity.<ref name="Saree">{{cite book|last=Boulanger|first=Chantal|title=Saris: An Illustrated Guide to the Indian Art of Draping|year=1997|publisher=Shakti Press International|location=New York|isbn=0-9661496-1-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Lynton|first=Linda|title=The Sari|year=1995|publisher=Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated|location=New York|isbn=0-8109-4461-8}}</ref> Ancient Tamil poetry, such as the ''[[Silappadhikaram]]'', describes women in exquisite drapery or sari.<ref>{{cite book|last=Parthasarathy|first=R.|year=1993|title=The Tale of an Anklet: An Epic of South India – The Cilappatikaram of Ilanko Atikal, Translations from the Asian Classics|publisher=Columbia University Press|location=New York|isbn=0-231-07849-8}}</ref> [[Madisar]] is a typical style worn by Brahmin women from Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tamilnadu.com/fashion/madisar-pudavai.html |title = Tamilnadu {{!}} The Brahmin Way of Wearing A Saree|date = 13 March 2014}}</ref> Women wear colourful [[silk saree]]s on special occasions such as marriages.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sociology of Religion|first1=Susanne|last1=C. Monahan|first2= William|last2= Andrew Mirola|first3=Michael|last3= O. Emerson|publisher=Prentice Hall|year=2001|isbn=978-0-13-025380-4|page=83}}</ref>
 
The men wear a ''[[dhoti]]'', a {{convert|4.5|m}} long, white rectangular piece of non-stitched cloth often bordered in brightly coloured stripes. It is usually wrapped around the waist and the legs and knotted at the waist.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/dhoti|title=About Dhoti|encyclopedia=Britannica|access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> A colourful ''[[lungi]]'' with typical [[batik]] patterns is the most common form of male attire in the countryside.<ref name="Cloth">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/India/Clothing|title=Clothing in India|encyclopedia=Britannica|access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref>
 
People in urban areas generally wear tailored clothing, and western dress is popular. Western-style school uniforms are worn by both boys and girls in schools, even in rural areas.<ref name="Cloth"/>
[[File:Calico Sample.JPG|thumb|The weave of [[Calico]] sample from a [[shopping bag]] shown against a [[centimetre]] scale.]]
[[Calico]], a [[plain weave|plain-woven]] [[textile]] made from unbleached, and often not fully processed, [[cotton]], was originated at [[Kozhikode|Calicut]] (Kozhikode), from which the name of the textile came, in South India, now [[Kerala]], during the 11th century,<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=calico |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica Online]] |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/calico-textile |access-date=2021-02-01}}</ref> where the cloth was known as ''Chaliyan''.<ref>{{cite book |first=Jill |last=Condra |title=The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Clothing Through World History: 1801 to the Present |year=2008 |volume= 3 |isbn=9780313336652 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q6FI2czFz6MC&q=calico+calicut}}</ref> The raw fabric was dyed and printed in bright hues, and [[Chintz|calico prints]] later became popular in the [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KuQyRKaoJmUC&q=calico+calicut |title=Lynda Mugglestone "The Oxford History of English" |date= 27 July 2006|isbn=9780191623172 |access-date=2014-01-16|last1=Mugglestone |first1=Lynda }}</ref>
 
===Cuisine===
{{main|South Indian cuisine}}
[[File:Veg Full Meals in Tamil Nadu.JPG|thumb|upright=0.85|A traditional meal served on a banana leaf]]
 
[[Rice]] is the diet staple, while fish is an integral component of coastal South Indian meals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://faostat.fao.org/site/616/DesktopDefault.aspx?PageID=616#ancor|title=Food Balance Sheets and Crops Primary Equivalent|publisher=[[FAO]]|access-date=17 August 2012}}</ref> [[Coconut]] and spices are used extensively in South Indian cuisine. The region has a rich cuisine involving both traditional non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes comprising rice, [[legume]]s, and [[lentil]]s. Its distinct aroma and flavour is achieved by the blending of [[flavouring]]s and spices, including [[Curry tree|curry leaves]], [[mustard seed]]s, [[coriander]], [[ginger]], [[garlic]], [[chili powder|chili]], [[black pepper|pepper]], [[cinnamon]], [[clove]]s, [[green cardamom]], [[cumin]], [[nutmeg]], coconut, and [[rosewater]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Czarra|first=Fred|year=2009|title=Spices: A Global History|url=https://archive.org/details/spicesglobalhist0000czar|url-access=registration|publisher= Reaktion Books|page=[https://archive.org/details/spicesglobalhist0000czar/page/128 128]|isbn=978-1-86189-426-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Dalby|first=Andrew|title=Dangerous Tastes: The Story of Spices|publisher=Berkeley: University of California Press|year=2002|isbn=978-0-520-23674-5}}</ref>
 
The traditional way of eating a meal involves being seated on the floor, having the food served on a [[banana leaf]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Advancing banana and plantain R & D in Asia and the Pacific|page=84|last1=Molina|first1=A.B.|last2=Roa|first2=V.N.|last3=Van den Bergh|first3=I.|last4=Maghuyop|first4=M.A.|publisher=Biodiversity International|year=2000|isbn=978-971-91751-3-1}}</ref> and using clean fingers of the right hand to take the food into the mouth.<ref>{{cite book|title=India: The Culture|first=Bobbie|last=Kalman|publisher=Crabtree Publishing Company|year=2009|page=29|isbn=978-0-7787-9287-1}}</ref> After the meal, the fingers are washed; the easily degradable banana leaf is discarded or becomes fodder for cattle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iskconhighertaste.com/served-on-a-banana/|title=Serving on a banana leaf|publisher=ISCKON|access-date=1 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114232758/https://www.iskconhighertaste.com/served-on-a-banana/|archive-date=14 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Eating on banana leaves is a custom thousands of years old, imparts a unique flavor to the food, and is considered healthy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/health/healthyliving/the-benefits-of-eating-food-on-banana-leaves-242512.html|title=The Benefits of Eating Food on Banana Leaves|publisher=India Times|date=9 March 2015|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref>
 
''[[Idli]]'', ''[[Dosa (food)|dosa]]'', ''[[uthappam]]'', ''[[Pesarattu]]'', ''[[appam]]'', ''[[Pongal (dish)|pongal]]'', and ''[[paniyaram]]'' are popular breakfast dishes in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.<ref>{{cite book|first=K.T.|last=Achaya|title=The Story of Our Food|date=1 November 2003|publisher=Universities Press |isbn=978-81-7371-293-7|page=80}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/seta/2004/10/21/stories/2004102100111600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141206094937/https://www.thehindu.com/seta/2004/10/21/stories/2004102100111600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 December 2014 |title=Changes in the Indian menu over the ages|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 October 2014|first=D.|last=Balasubramanian|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> Rice is served with ''[[Sambar (dish)|sambar]]'', ''[[Rasam (dish)|rasam]]'', and ''[[poriyal]]'' for lunch. [[Telugu cuisine|Andhra cuisine]] is characterised by [[Pickling|pickles]] and spicy [[curry|curries]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130731/lifestyle-food/gallery/look-telangana-cuisine|title=The Telangana Table|last=Lesley|first=A.|newspaper=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=1 June 2012|access-date=22 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225113155/https://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130731/lifestyle-food/gallery/look-telangana-cuisine|archive-date=25 February 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>  Famous dishes are ''[[Pesarattu]]'', ''[[Ulava charu]]'', ''[[Bobbatlu]]'', ''[[Pootharekulu]]'', and ''[[Gongura]]''. [[Chettinad cuisine]] is famous for its non-vegetarian items, and [[Hyderabadi cuisine]] is popular for its ''[[Hyderabadi biryani|biryani]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/05/26/stories/2003052600120400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030628053658/https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/05/26/stories/2003052600120400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 June 2003|title=Varieties from Chettinad cuisine|date=26 May 2003|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> ''[[Neer dosa]]'', ''[[Chitranna]]'', ''[[Ragi mudde]]'', ''[[Maddur vada]]'', ''[[Mysore pak]]'', ''[[Obbattu]]'', ''[[Bisi Bele Bath]]'', ''[[Mangalore buns]]'', ''[[Kesari bat]]'', ''[[Akki rotti]]'' and ''[[Dharwad pedha]]'' are famous cuisines of Karnataka.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://travel.earth/delicious-karnataka-foods-you-have-to-try|title=Popular Karnataka Food Items You Have To Try|date=21 October 2020}}</ref> [[Udupi cuisine|Udupi Cuisine]], which originates from [[Udupi]] located in the Coastal [[Kanara]] region of Karnataka is famous for its vegetarian dishes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=6 Dishes from Udupi Every South Indian Food Lover Must Try|url=https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/6-dishes-from-udupi-every-south-indian-food-lover-must-try-1720411|access-date=2021-01-20|website=NDTV Food}}</ref>
[[File:Ready biriyaani.jpg|thumbnail|A [[Thalassery cuisine]] which makes use of [[Malabar pepper|Malabar spices]]]]
[[Coconut]] is native to Southern India and spread to [[Europe]], [[Arabia]], and [[Persia]] through the southwestern [[Malabar Coast]] of South India over the centuries. Coconut of Indian origin was brought to the Americas by Portuguese merchants. [[Black pepper]] is also native to the [[Malabar Coast]]<ref name="Sen, Colleen-Taylor">{{cite book |title= Food Culture in India – Food culture around the world |first=Colleen Taylor |last=Sen |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=2004 |isbn=9780313324871 |page=58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YIyV_5wrplMC |quote=Peppers, called the king of spices, are the dried berries of a tropical vine native to Kerala, which is India's major producer}}</ref><ref name="Hajeski">{{cite book |title=National Geographic Complete Guide to Herbs and Spices: Remedies, Seasonings, and Ingredients to Improve Your Health and Enhance Your Life |first=Nancy J |last=Hajeski |publisher=National Geographic Books |year=2016 |isbn=9781426215889 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DmscDQAAQBAJ |page=236}}</ref> of [[India]], and the [[Malabar pepper]] is extensively cultivated there. During classical era, [[Phoenicians]], [[Greeks]], [[Egyptians]], [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], and [[Chinese people|Chinese]] were attracted by the [[spice]]s including [[Cinnamon]] and [[Black pepper]] from the ancient port of [[Muziris]] in the [[Malabar coast|southwestern coast of India]].<ref name="Menon57">{{cite book|author=A Sreedhara Menon|title=A Survey of Kerala History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C&pg=PA57|access-date=10 October 2012|year=2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-1578-6|pages=57–58}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6jF4Q5jQWboC&pg=PA392 ''Faces of Goa: a journey through the history and cultural revolution of Goa and other communities influenced by the Portuguese''] By Karin Larsen (p. 392)</ref>
 
During [[Middle Age]]s prior to the [[Age of Discovery]] which began with the end of the 15th century CE, the kingdom of [[Kozhikode|Calicut]] (Kozhikode) on [[Malabar Coast]] was the centre of Indian [[black pepper|pepper]] exports to the [[Red Sea]] and [[Europe]] at this time<ref name="Diffie">''Foundations of the Portuguese empire, hi lo millo1415–1580'' Bailey Wallys Diffie p.234''ff'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=vtZtMBLJ7GgC&pg=PA236]</ref> with [[Egypt]]ian and [[Arab]] traders being particularly active. The [[Thalassery cuisine]], a style of cuisine originated in the [[Malabar District|Northern Kerala]] over centuries, makes use of such spices.
 
===Music and dance===
{{multiple image
| header = South Indian dance forms
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = SavithaPress1.jpg
| width1 = 100
| caption1 = [[Bharatanatyam]] (Tamil Nadu)
| image2  = Kathakali IMG 0348 by Joseph Lazer.JPG
| width2    = 100
| caption2  = [[Kathakali]] (Kerala)
| image3    = A Kuchipudi Dancer from Andhra Pradesh.JPG
| width3    = 100
| caption3  = [[Kuchipudi]] (Andhra Pradesh)
| image4    = Demon Yakshagana.jpg
| width4    = 100
| caption4  = [[Yakshagana]] (Karnataka)
}}
 
The traditional music of South India is known as [[Carnatic music]], which includes rhythmic and structured music by composers such as [[Purandara Dasa]], [[Kanaka Dasa]], [[Tyagayya]], [[Annamacharya]], [[Bhadrachala Ramadasu|Baktha Ramadasu]], [[Muthuswami Dikshitar]], [[Shyama Shastri]], [[Kshetrayya]], [[Mysore Vasudevachar]], and [[Swathi Thirunal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindu.com/seta/2005/01/13/stories/2005011300111500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050331184754/https://www.hindu.com/seta/2005/01/13/stories/2005011300111500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 March 2005|title=The music of we primates:Nada Brahmam|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=13 January 2013|access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref> The main instrument that is used in South Indian Hindu temples is the ''[[nadaswaram]]'', a [[reed instrument]] that is often accompanied by the [[thavil]], a type of [[drum instrument]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sound of Indian Music|first=Ganavya|last=Doraisamy|date=5 August 2014|isbn=978-1-304-50409-8|publisher=Lulu|page=35}}</ref>
 
South India is home to several distinct dance forms such as [[Bharata Natyam|Bharatanatyam]], [[Kuchipudi]], [[Andhra Natyam]], [[Kathakali]], [[Kerala Natanam]], [[Koodiyattam]], [[Margamkali]], [[Mohiniaattam]], [[Oppana]], [[Ottamthullal]], [[Theyyam]], Vilasini Natyam, and [[Yakshagana]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Handbook of Tamil Culture and Heritage|year=2000|publisher=International Tamil Language Foundation|location=Chicago|page=1201}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9079037/bharata-natya|title=Bharata-natyam|encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica|year=2007|access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Samson|first=Leela|title=Rhythm in Joy: Classical Indian Dance Traditions|year=1987|publisher=Lustre Press|location=New Delhi|page=29|isbn=978-99919-41-55-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Banerjee|first=Projesh|title=Indian Ballet Dancing|date=1 February 1989|publisher=Abhinav Publications|location=New Jersey|page=43|isbn=978-81-7017-175-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last= Bowers|first=Faubion|title=The Dance in India|date=June 1953|publisher=AMS Press|location=New York|pages=13–15|isbn=978-0-404-00963-2}}</ref> The dance, clothing, and sculptures of South India exemplify the beauty of the body and motherhood.<ref name="Saree"/><ref>{{cite journal|last=Beck|first=Brenda|year=1976|title=The Symbolic Merger of Body, Space, and Cosmos in Hindu Tamil Nadu|journal=Contributions to Indian Sociology|volume=10|issue=2|pages=213–243|doi=10.1177/006996677601000202|s2cid=143220583}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Natyasastra A Treatise on Hindu Dramaturgy and Histrionies Ascriben to Bharata-Muni|first=Manomohan|last=Ghosh|place=Calcutta|publisher=Manisha Granthalaya|page=204|isbn=978-5-88214-664-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Vidya|last1=Dehejia|first2=Richard H.|last2=Davis|first3=R.|last3=Nagaswamy|first4=Karen|last4=Pechilis|publisher=Prentiss|year=2002|title=The Sensuous and the Sacred: Chola Bronzes from South India|isbn=0-295-98284-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Wadley|first=Susan|year=1980|title=The Powers of Tamil Women|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=978-0-915984-42-8}}</ref>
 
===Cinema===
Films done in regional languages are prevalent in [[Cinema of South India|South India]], with several regional cinemas being recognized: [[Kannada cinema]] (Karnataka), [[Malayalam cinema]] (Kerala), [[Tamil cinema]] (Tamil Nadu), and [[Telugu cinema]] (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana). The first silent film in South India, ''[[Keechaka Vadham]]'', was made by [[R. Nataraja Mudaliar]] in 1916.<ref name=RANDOR>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/09/07/stories/2009090750790300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912035730/https://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/09/07/stories/2009090750790300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 September 2009 |title=The pioneer 'Tamil' film-maker |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 September 2009|access-date=29 June 2011|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Mudaliar also established Madras's first film studio.<ref>{{cite news|last=Muthiah|first=S.|title=The pioneer 'Tamil' film-maker|url=https://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/09/07/stories/2009090750790300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912035730/https://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/09/07/stories/2009090750790300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2009|access-date=21 April 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 September 2009}}</ref> The first Tamil talkie, ''[[Kalidas (film)|Kalidas]]'', was released on 31 October 1931, barely seven months after India's first talking picture, ''[[Alam Ara]]''.<ref name="velayutham2">{{cite book|last=Velayutham|first=Selvaraj |title =Tamil cinema: the cultural politics of India's other film industry |year=2008|url=https://archive.org/details/tamilcinemacultu00vela|url-access=limited|page=[https://archive.org/details/tamilcinemacultu00vela/page/n18 2]|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-39680-6}}</ref>
 
[[Swamikannu Vincent]] built the first cinema studio of South India, at Coimbatore, introducing the "tent cinema", which he first established in Madras and which was known as "Edison's Grand Cinemamegaphone".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/04/30/stories/2010043051340400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505150330/https://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/04/30/stories/2010043051340400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2010|title=He brought cinema to South|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=26 September 2011|location=Chennai, India|date=30 April 2010}}</ref> Filmmakers [[K Balachandar]], [[Balu Mahendra]], [[Bharathiraaja]], and [[Mani Ratnam]] in Tamil cinema; [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]], [[Shaji N. Karun]], [[John Abraham (director)|John Abraham]], and [[G. Aravindan]] in Malayalam cinema; [[Girish Kasaravalli]] , [[Girish Karnad]] and [[P. Sheshadri]] in Kannada cinema; and [[K. N. T. Sastry]] and [[B. Narsing Rao]] in Telugu cinema produced realistic cinema in parallel with each other throughout the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Rajadhyaksha, Ashish|year=1998|title=Oxford Guide to Film Studies|publisher=Oxford: Oxford University Press|page=65}}</ref>
 
South Indian cinema has also [[Tamil cinema and Dravidian politics|had an influence on politics of Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite book|first1=K.|last1=Moti Gokulsing|first2=Wimal|last2=Dissanyake|year=2004|title= Indian Popular Cinema: A Narrative of Cultural Change|publisher=Trentham Books Limited|isbn=978-1-85856-329-9}}</ref> Prominent film personalities such as [[C N Annadurai]], [[M G Ramachandran]], [[M Karunanidhi]], [[N. T. Rama Rao]], and [[Jayalalithaa]] have become chief ministers of South Indian states.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kasbekar|first=Asha|title=Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle|page=215|year=2006|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-636-7}}</ref> As of 2014, South Indian film industries contribute to 53% of the total films produced in India.<ref name="film">{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfed.org/IFF2017.HTML|title=Film Federation Of India|website=www.filmfed.org}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable" style="width:33em; text-align:center; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"
|-
!colspan="2" style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:left;"|Feature films certified by the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] (2019)<ref>{{cite web|title=Film Federation Of India|url=https://www.filmfed.org/IFF2019.html|access-date=2020-12-03|website=www.filmfed.org}}</ref>
|-
!Language!!No. of films
|-
| [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| 281
|-
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| 254
|-
| [[Malayalam]]
| 219
|-
| [[Kannada]]
| 336
|-
| [[Tulu language|Tulu]]
| 16
|-
| [[Konkani language|Konkani]]
| 10
|-
| '''Total'''
| 1116
|}
 
===Literature===
[[File:Madurai meenakshi temple.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|The large ''[[gopuram]]'' is a hallmark of [[Dravidian architecture]].]]
 
South India has an independent literary tradition dating back over 2500 years. The first known literature of South India is the poetic [[Sangam literature]], which was written in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] 2500 to 2100 years ago. [[Tamil literature]] was composed in three successive poetic assemblies known as [[Tamil Sangams]], the earliest of which, according to ancient tradition, were held on a now vanished [[Kumari Kandam|continent]] far to the south of India.<ref>{{cite book|author=Zvelebil, Kamil|year= 1973|title=The smile of Murugan on Tamil literature of South India|publisher= Leiden|quote=Zvelebil dates the ''Ur-Tolkappiyam'' to the 1st or 2nd century BCE}}</ref> This Tamil literature includes the oldest grammatical treatise, ''[[Tholkappiyam]]'', and the epics ''Silappatikaram'' and ''[[Manimekalai]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Women and Farm Work in Tamil Folk Songs|year=1993|first=Vijaya|last=Ramaswamy|volume=21|issue=9/11|pages=113–129|doi= 10.2307/3520429|quote=As early as the Tolkappiyam (which has sections ranging from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD) the eco-types in South India have been classified into|journal=Social Scientist|jstor=3520429}}</ref> References to [[Kannada literature]] appear from the fourth century CE.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ramanujan|first=A. K.|year=1973|title=Speaking of Śiva|publisher=Penguin|page=[https://archive.org/details/speakingofiva0000rama/page/11 11]|isbn=0-14-044270-7|url=https://archive.org/details/speakingofiva0000rama/page/11}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=R.S.|last=Mugali|year=2006|title=The Heritage of Karnataka|pages=173–175|isbn=1-4067-0232-3}}</ref> [[Telugu literature]] inscriptions. Poets such as [[Annamacharya]] made many contributions to this literature.<ref>{{cite book|title= A History of Telugu Literature|last1=Chenchiah|first1=P.|last2=Rao|first2=Raja Bhujanga|year=1988|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=81-206-0313-3|page=16}}</ref> A distinct [[Malayalam literature]] came about in the 13th century.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/359722/Malayalam-language|title=Malayalam Language|encyclopedia=Britannica|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>
 
===Architecture===
South India has two distinct styles of rock architecture, the ''[[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian]]'' style of Tamil Nadu and the ''[[Vesara]]'' style of Karnataka.<ref>{{cite book|last=Harman|first=William P.|title=The sacred marriage of a Hindu goddess|date=9 October 1992|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|page=6|isbn=978-81-208-0810-2}}</ref>
 
''[[Koil]]'', [[Hindu temple architecture|Hindu temples]] of the Dravidian style, consist of porches or ''mantapas'' preceding the door leading to the sanctum. Monumental, ornate gate-pyramids, or ''[[gopuram]]s'' – each topped by a ''[[kalasam]]'', or stone [[finial]] – are the principal features in the quadrangular enclosures that surround the more notable temples<ref>{{cite book|first=Francis D.K.|last=Ching|year= 2007|title= A Global History of Architecture|url=https://archive.org/details/globalhistoryofa0000chin|url-access=registration|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-471-26892-5|page= [https://archive.org/details/globalhistoryofa0000chin/page/762 762]|display-authors=etal}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Francis D.K.|last= Ching|year= 1995|title= A Visual Dictionary of Architecture|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|location=New York, NY |isbn=0-471-28451-3|page=253}}</ref>along with pillared halls. A South Indian temple typically has a [[Temple tank|water reservoir]] called the ''Kalyani'' or ''Pushkarni''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fergusson|first=James|title=History of Indian and Eastern Architecture|orig-year= 1910|edition=3rd|year=1997|publisher=Low Price Publications|location=New Delhi|page=309|isbn=978-1-172-80350-7}}</ref>
 
The origins of the ''gopuram'' can be traced back to early structures of the Pallavas. Under the Pandya rulers in the twelfth century, gateways had become the dominant feature of a temple's outer appearance, eventually overshadowing the inner sanctuary which became obscured from view by the ''gopuram''{{'}}s colossal size.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mitchell|first=George|title=The Hindu Temple|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=1988|location=Chicago, IL |pages=151–153|isbn=0-226-53230-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9037402/gopura|title=Gopuram|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=20 January 2008}}</ref>
 
The [[Architecture of Kerala]] is a unique architecture that emerged in the [[Malabar Coast|southwestern part of India]], which is in its striking contrast to Dravidian architecture, which is normally practised in other parts of South India.<ref name="Krc">{{Cite web |url=https://nitc.academia.edu/BPhilip/Papers/374480/TRADITIONAL_KERALA_ARCHITECTURE |title = Traditional Kerala Architecture |last1 = Philip |first1 = Boney}}</ref> It has been performed/followed according to Indian Vedic architectural science (''[[Vastu Shastra]]'').<ref name="Krc"/>
 
== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}
 
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
 
== External links ==
{{Sisterlinks}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
 
{{-}}
{{Geography of India}}
{{South India topics |state = expanded }}
{{Portal bar|India}}
 
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:South India| ]]
[[Category:Peninsulas of India]]
[[Category:Regions of India]]
[[Category:South Asia]]
[[Category:Landforms of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Landforms of Kerala]]
[[Category:Landforms of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Landforms of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Landforms of Telangana]]
[[Category:Landforms of Lakshadweep]]
[[Category:Landforms of Puducherry]]

Revision as of 19:47, 7 August 2022

See also: Dravida Nadu
South India

South India is often used to refer to the states and territories in the southern part of the Republic of India. In general, one of the following is meant:

Religion
Religion Percent(%)
Hinduism
 
 80%
Islam
 
 11%
Christianity
 
 8%
Other
 
 1%
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