What to know about a January Vacation in South India

A four-week dance festival showcasing classical and folk dances from all over South India. The performances are done in an open-air stage in the fascinating backdrop of the rock cut work of Mamallapuram. The dances on display include Kathakali (Kerala drama), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu) and tribal dances.

Puducherry’s Yoga culture and ashrams put on show workshops, demonstrations and competitions. The event attracts yoga practitioners and experts from all over India and beyond. This is a great opportunity to get introduced to this age old way of life.

This season will see a number of carnatic music concerts by highly competent musicians being organised in different parts of Chennai city every day. Audiences and artists come from across India and international Indian diaspora.

This is a popular event held on the full moon day in January. The Meenakshi temple deities are taken on a procession in an elaborately decorated float on the huge Mariamman Teppakulam tank. It is like a brightly lit mini-temple.

With a host of rare art forms, kolam contests, street food, craft zone and exhibitions, mylapore the cultural hub of Chennai becomes even more active.

This open-air theatre in the palace attracts renowned dancers who are famed in traditional dances like Bharatnatyam to modern ballet and folk art. Artists and connoisseurs of dance from all over India come to experience this. There also food fests, handicraft display along the sidelines of this festival. For travellers the event gives a fascinating glimpse of Indian cultural heritage.

This annual festival is the biggest in Kochi city. The adjacent Durbar Hall ground becomes a beehive of activities during the festival with stalls, temple arts, elephant processions and chendamelams. The fireworks in the night are also splendid.

This is a great time for cultural events in and around Kovalam. A typical Kerala village is re-created with traditional thatched houses with a long courtyard and travellers are given native drinks and food. The houses are decorated with ancient works and classical art forms are also on display. A must experience for travellers who would like to experience culture.

It is the most auspicious occasion when a celestial light is seen on the horizon. This Indian spiritual experience is open to people of all religions. The temple is accessible by climbing the hills and is open for 5 day every month.

In its heritage settings, this week long music festival is organised in honour of Swathi tirunal and his music compositions. This event is organised by the Royal family of Travancore.

This is a wonderful elephant pageant organised as part of the ten day annual temple festival. Imagine the sight of nine decorated tuskers in their ceremonial attire and throngs of crowds creating a festival mood.

This is Asia’s largest shopping event organised annually with unique products, mind blowing offers and discounted prices in Kerala. You will really have a unique shopping experience when you visit any of 10000 odd establishments participating in the festival.

Theyyam, also known as Kaliyattam is a popular ritual art form of North Kerala (Malabar). The performance happens interior villages in the open grounds near temples. This art form is noted for its elaborate headgear, music, mimes and dance which has its origin in tribal culture. Over 400 theyyams are performed over the season in Malabar and some temples like Parassinikadavu Muthappan temple in Kannur has Theyyam performed daily.

An annual dance festival where classical art forms are performed in the backdrop of the world heritage temple sites of Pattadakkal. The 'Nrithyotsava' draws many famous dancers and is accompanied by a craft mela.