Template:Short description Template:Pp Template:Good article Template:Use Indian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Main other{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox settlement with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | alt | anthem | anthem_link | area_blank1_acre | area_blank1_dunam | area_blank1_ha | area_blank1_km2 | area_blank1_sq_mi | area_blank1_title | area_blank2_acre | area_blank2_dunam | area_blank2_ha | area_blank2_km2 | area_blank2_sq_mi | area_blank2_title | area_code | area_code_type | area_codes | area_footnotes | area_land_acre | area_land_dunam | area_land_ha | area_land_km2 | area_land_sq_mi | area_metro_acre | area_metro_dunam | area_metro_footnotes | area_metro_ha | area_metro_km2 | area_metro_sq_mi | area_note | area_rank | area_rural_acre | area_rural_dunam | area_rural_footnotes | area_rural_ha | area_rural_km2 | area_rural_sq_mi | area_total_acre | area_total_dunam | area_total_ha | area_total_km2 | area_total_sq_mi | area_urban_acre | area_urban_dunam | area_urban_footnotes | area_urban_ha | area_urban_km2 | area_urban_sq_mi | area_water_acre | area_water_dunam | area_water_ha | area_water_km2 | area_water_percent | area_water_sq_mi | blank_emblem_alt | blank_emblem_link | blank_emblem_size | blank_emblem_type | blank_info | blank_info_sec1 | blank_info_sec2 | blank_name | blank_name_sec1 | blank_name_sec2 | blank1_info | blank1_info_sec1 | blank1_info_sec2 | blank1_name | blank1_name_sec1 | blank1_name_sec2 | blank2_info | blank2_info_sec1 | blank2_info_sec2 | blank2_name | blank2_name_sec1 | blank2_name_sec2 | blank3_info | blank3_info_sec1 | blank3_info_sec2 | blank3_name | blank3_name_sec1 | blank3_name_sec2 | blank4_info | blank4_info_sec1 | blank4_info_sec2 | blank4_name | blank4_name_sec1 | blank4_name_sec2 | blank5_info | blank5_info_sec1 | blank5_info_sec2 | blank5_name | blank5_name_sec1 | blank5_name_sec2 | blank6_info | blank6_info_sec1 | blank6_info_sec2 | blank6_name | blank6_name_sec1 | blank6_name_sec2 | blank7_info | blank7_info_sec1 | blank7_info_sec2 | blank7_name | blank7_name_sec1 | blank7_name_sec2 | caption | code1_info | code1_name | code2_info | code2_name | coor_pinpoint | coor_type | coordinates | coordinates_footnotes | demographics_type1 | demographics_type2 | demographics1_footnotes | demographics1_info1 | demographics1_info10 | demographics1_info2 | demographics1_info3 | demographics1_info4 | demographics1_info5 | demographics1_info6 | demographics1_info7 | demographics1_info8 | demographics1_info9 | demographics1_title1 | demographics1_title10 | demographics1_title2 | demographics1_title3 | demographics1_title4 | demographics1_title5 | demographics1_title6 | demographics1_title7 | demographics1_title8 | demographics1_title9 | demographics2_footnotes | demographics2_info1 | demographics2_info10 | demographics2_info2 | demographics2_info3 | demographics2_info4 | demographics2_info5 | demographics2_info6 | demographics2_info7 | demographics2_info8 | demographics2_info9 | demographics2_title1 | demographics2_title10 | demographics2_title2 | demographics2_title3 | demographics2_title4 | demographics2_title5 | demographics2_title6 | demographics2_title7 | demographics2_title8 | demographics2_title9 | dimensions_footnotes | dunam_link | elevation_footnotes | elevation_ft | elevation_link | elevation_m | elevation_max_footnotes | elevation_max_ft | elevation_max_m | elevation_max_point | elevation_max_rank | elevation_min_footnotes | elevation_min_ft | elevation_min_m | elevation_min_point | elevation_min_rank | elevation_point | embed | established_date | established_date1 | established_date2 | established_date3 | established_date4 | established_date5 | established_date6 | established_date7 | established_title | established_title1 | established_title2 | established_title3 | established_title4 | established_title5 | established_title6 | established_title7 | etymology | extinct_date | extinct_title | flag_alt | flag_border | flag_link | flag_size | footnotes | founder | geocode | governing_body | government_footnotes | government_type | government_blank1_title | government_blank1 | government_blank2_title | government_blank2 | government_blank2_title | government_blank3 | government_blank3_title | government_blank3 | government_blank4_title | government_blank4 | government_blank5_title | government_blank5 | government_blank6_title | government_blank6 | grid_name | grid_position | image_alt | image_blank_emblem | image_caption | image_flag | image_map | image_map1 | image_seal | image_shield | image_size | image_skyline | imagesize | iso_code | leader_name | leader_name1 | leader_name2 | leader_name3 | leader_name4 | leader_party | leader_title | leader_title1 | leader_title2 | leader_title3 | leader_title4 | length_km | length_mi | map_alt | map_alt1 | map_caption | map_caption1 | mapsize | mapsize1 | module | motto | motto_link | mottoes | name | named_for | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nickname_link | nicknames | official_name | other_name | p1 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19 | p2 | p20 | p21 | p22 | p23 | p24 | p25 | p26 | p27 | p28 | p29 | p3 | p30 | p31 | p32 | p33 | p34 | p35 | p36 | p37 | p38 | p39 | p4 | p40 | p41 | p42 | p43 | p44 | p45 | p46 | p47 | p48 | p49 | p5 | p50 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | parts | parts_style | parts_type | pop_est_as_of | pop_est_footnotes | population | population_as_of | population_blank1 | population_blank1_footnotes | population_blank1_title | population_blank2 | population_blank2_footnotes | population_blank2_title | population_demonym | population_demonyms | population_density_blank1_km2 | population_density_blank1_sq_mi | population_density_blank2_km2 | population_density_blank2_sq_mi | population_density_km2 | population_density_metro_km2 | population_density_metro_sq_mi | population_density_rank | population_density_rural_km2 | population_density_rural_sq_mi | population_density_sq_mi | population_density_urban_km2 | population_density_urban_sq_mi | population_est | population_footnotes | population_metro | population_metro_footnotes | population_note | population_rank | population_rural | population_rural_footnotes | population_total | population_urban | population_urban_footnotes | postal_code | postal_code_type | postal2_code | postal2_code_type | pushpin_image | pushpin_label | pushpin_label_position | pushpin_map | pushpin_map_alt | pushpin_map_caption | pushpin_map_caption_notsmall | pushpin_map_narrow | pushpin_mapsize | pushpin_outside | pushpin_overlay | pushpin_relief | registration_plate | registration_plate_type | seal_alt | seal_link | seal_size | seal_type | seat | seat_type | seat1 | seat1_type | seat2 | seat2_type | settlement_type | shield_alt | shield_link | shield_size | short_description | subdivision_name | subdivision_name1 | subdivision_name2 | subdivision_name3 | subdivision_name4 | subdivision_name5 | subdivision_name6 | subdivision_type | subdivision_type1 | subdivision_type2 | subdivision_type3 | subdivision_type4 | subdivision_type5 | subdivision_type6 | timezone | timezone_DST | timezone_link | timezone1 | timezone1_DST | timezone1_location | timezone2 | timezone2_DST | timezone2_location | timezone3 | timezone3_DST | timezone3_location | timezone4 | timezone4_DST | timezone4_location | timezone5 | timezone5_DST | timezone5_location | total_type | translit_lang1 | translit_lang1_info | translit_lang1_info1 | translit_lang1_info2 | translit_lang1_info3 | translit_lang1_info4 | translit_lang1_info5 | translit_lang1_info6 | translit_lang1_type | translit_lang1_type1 | translit_lang1_type2 | translit_lang1_type3 | translit_lang1_type4 | translit_lang1_type5 | translit_lang1_type6 | translit_lang2 | translit_lang2_info | translit_lang2_info1 | translit_lang2_info2 | translit_lang2_info3 | translit_lang2_info4 | translit_lang2_info5 | translit_lang2_info6 | translit_lang2_type | translit_lang2_type1 | translit_lang2_type2 | translit_lang2_type3 | translit_lang2_type4 | translit_lang2_type5 | translit_lang2_type6 | type | unit_pref | utc_offset | utc_offset_DST | utc_offset1 | utc_offset1_DST | utc_offset2 | utc_offset2_DST | utc_offset3 | utc_offset3_DST | utc_offset4 | utc_offset4_DST | utc_offset5 | utc_offset5_DST | website | width_km | width_mi | mapframe | mapframe-area_km2 | mapframe-area_mi2 | mapframe-caption | mapframe-coord | mapframe-coordinates | mapframe-custom | mapframe-frame-coord | mapframe-frame-coordinates | mapframe-frame-height | mapframe-frame-width | mapframe-geomask | mapframe-geomask-fill | mapframe-geomask-fill-opacity | mapframe-geomask-stroke-color | mapframe-geomask-stroke-colour | mapframe-geomask-stroke-width | mapframe-height | mapframe-id | mapframe-length_km | mapframe-length_mi | mapframe-marker | mapframe-marker-color | mapframe-marker-colour | mapframe-point | mapframe-shape | mapframe-shape-fill | mapframe-shape-fill-opacity | mapframe-stroke-color | mapframe-stroke-colour | mapframe-stroke-width | mapframe-switcher | mapframe-width | mapframe-wikidata | mapframe-zoom }}{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check | template = Infobox settlement | cat = Template:Main other | population; population_total | image_size; imagesize | image_alt; alt | image_caption; caption }}{{#if:
|
South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area (Template:Convert) and 20% of India's population. It is bound 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 and Eastern Ghats, bordering the plateau heartland. The Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Penna, Tungabhadra and Vaigai rivers are important non-perennial sources of water. Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Kochi are the largest urban areas in the region.
The majority of the people in South India speak at least one of the four major Dravidian languages: Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. During its history, a number of dynastic kingdoms ruled over parts of South India, and shaped the culture in those regions. Major dynasties that were established in South India include the Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas, Satavahanas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Rashtrakutas and Vijayanagara. European countries entered India through Kerala and the region was colonized by Britain, Portugal and France.
After experiencing fluctuations in the decades immediately after Indian independence, the economies of South Indian states have registered a sustained higher-than-national-average growth over the past three decades. South India has the largest combined largest gross domestic product compared to other regions in India. The South Indian states lead in some socio-economic metrics of India with a higher HDI as the economy has undergone growth at a faster rate than in most northern states. As of 2011, Literacy rates in the southern states is higher than the national average at approximately 76%. The fertility rate in South India is 1.9, the lowest of all regions in India.
EtymologyEdit
"South India" is also known as "Peninsular India" indicating its location in a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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 word dakkhiṇa derived from the Sanskrit word dakshiṇa meaning south.<ref name="HobsonJobson2013">Template:Cite book</ref> Carnatic, derived from "Karnāḍ" or "Karunāḍ" meaning high country, has also been associated with South India.<ref name="hobsons">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
Ancient and medieval eraEdit
Carbon dating shows that ash mounds associated with Neolithic cultures in South India date back to 8000 BCE. Towards the beginning of 1000 BCE, 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">Template:Cite book</ref> The region was in the middle of a trade route that extended from Muziris to Arikamedu linking the Mediterranean to East Asia.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Trade with Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Syrians, Jews, and Chinese began during the Sangam period (c. 3rd century BCE to c. 4th century CE).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The region was part of the ancient Silk Road connecting the East with the West.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Several dynasties such as the Cheras of Karuvur, the Pandyas of Madurai, the Cholas of Thanjavur, the Zamorins of Kozhikode, the Satavahanas of Amaravati, the Pallavas of Kanchi, the Kadambas of Banavasi, the Western Gangas of Kolar, the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta, the Chalukyas of Badami, the Hoysalas of Belur, and the Kakatiyas of Orugallu ruled over the region from the 6th century BCE to the 14th century CE. In the 15th century, Vijayanagara empire was the last kingdom to conquer all of Southern India.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After repeated invasions from the Sultanate of Delhi, the Vijayanagara empire fell in 1646 and the region was ruled by various Deccan Sultanates, polygars and Nayak governors of the erstwhile Vijayanagara empire who declared independence.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Colonial eraEdit
The Europeans arrived in the 15th century; and by the middle of the 18th century, the French and the 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 French Pondichéry. The British Empire took control of the region from the British East India Company in 1857.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> During the British colonial rule, the region was divided into the Madras Presidency (later, the Madras Province), Hyderabad State, Mysore, and the Madras States Agency (composed of Travancore, Cochin, Jeypore, and a number of other minor princely states). 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>Template:Cite book</ref>
Post-independenceEdit
After Indian Independence in 1947, the region was organized into four states Madras State, Mysore State, Hyderabad State and Travancore-Cochin.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Dravida Nadu was a proposal for a separate sovereign state for the speakers of the Dravidian languages in South India. Initially, the demand of Dravida Nadu proponents was limited to Tamil-speaking regions, but it was later expanded to include other Indian states with a majority of Dravidian-speakers in the region.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The States Reorganisation Act 1956, which created linguistic States, weakened the demand for a separate sovereign state.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 reorganized the states based on linguistic lines resulting in the creation of the new states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.<ref name="ROS"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As a result of this act, Madras State retained its name with Kanyakumari district added to from Travancore-Cochin. The state was subsequently renamed Tamil Nadu in 1968.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Andhra Pradesh was created with the merger of Andhra State with the Telugu-speaking districts of Hyderabad State in 1956. Kerala was created with the merger of Malabar district and the Kasaragod taluk of South Canara districts of Madras State with Travancore-Cochin. Mysore State was re-organized with the addition of districts of Bellary and South Canara (excluding Kasaragod taluk) and the Kollegal taluk of Coimbatore district from the Madras State, the districts of Belgaum, Bijapur, North Canara and Dharwad from Bombay State, the Kannada-majority districts of Bidar, Raichur and Gulbarga from Hyderabad State and the province of Coorg.<ref name="1956act">Template:Cite report</ref> Mysore State was renamed as Karnataka in 1973.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Union Territory of Puducherry was created in 1954 comprising the previous French enclaves of Pondichéry, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahé.<ref name="ROS"/> The Laccadive Islands which were divided between South Canara and Malabar districts of Madras State were united and organized into the union territory of Lakshadweep.<ref name="ROS">Template:Cite report</ref> Telangana was created on June 2, 2014, by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh and comprises ten districts in northwestern Andhra Pradesh.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
GeographyEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
TopographyEdit
South India is a peninsula in the shape of an inverted triangle bound by Indian Ocean in the South, Arabian Sea in the west, by Bay of Bengal in the east and the Vindhya and Satpura ranges in the north.<ref>Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite book</ref> The low-lying coral islands of Lakshadweep are situated off the southwestern coast of India and 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>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The southernmost tip of mainland India is at Kanyakumari where the Indian Ocean meets the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Western Ghats runs south along the western coast from south of the Tapti River to Kanyakumari and forms a narrow strip of land with the Arabian sea called Konkan region.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Anai Mudi in the Anaimalai Hills Template:Convert is the highest peak in South India.<ref>Template:Cite book</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 region.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They are a discontinuous range of mountains, which have been eroded and quadrisected by the four major rivers of southern India, the Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Kaveri.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Both mountain ranges meet at the Nilgiri mountains which run in a crescent approximately along the borders of Tamil Nadu with northern Kerala and Karnataka, encompassing the 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 Tirupati and Annamalai hills.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The Deccan plateau is the elevated region bound by the mountain ranges.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The plateau rises to Template:Convert in the north and to more than Template:Convert in the south, forming a raised triangle within the downward-pointing triangle of the Indian subcontinent's coastline.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Layer after layer was formed by the volcanic activity that lasted many years 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>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> The plateau is watered by the east-flowing Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Penna, Tungabhadra, Vaigai rivers and their tributaries.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Other prominent features include the Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Strait, which separates India from Sri Lanka; the Ten Degree Channel, which separates the Andamans from the Nicobar Islands; and the Eight Degree Channel, which separates the Laccadive and Amindivi Islands from the Minicoy Island to the south.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Laccadive Sea is a smaller sea.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> There are coral reefs located in the Gulf of Mannar and Lakshadweep islands.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Large lakes include Vembanad Lake and Pulicat Lake.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
ClimateEdit
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 Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The most humid is the tropical monsoon climate characterized by moderate to high year-round temperatures and seasonally heavy rainfall above Template:Convert per year. The tropical climate is experienced in a strip of south-western lowlands abutting the Malabar Coast, the Western Ghats and the Lakshadweep islands.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
A 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 Template:Convert; summer is exceedingly hot with temperatures in low-lying areas exceeding Template:Convert; and the rainy season lasts from June to September, with annual rainfall averaging between Template:Convert 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>Template:Cite news</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 Template:Convert of rainfall annually, with hot summers and dry winters with temperatures around Template:Convert. The months between March and May are hot and dry, with mean monthly temperatures hovering around Template:Convert, with Template:Convert precipitation. Without artificial irrigation, this region is not suitable for agriculture.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The 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>Template:NatGeo ecoregion</ref><ref>Template:WWF ecoregion</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The northeast monsoon takes place from November to early March, when the surface high-pressure system is strongest.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The North Indian Ocean tropical cyclones occur throughout the year in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, bringing devastating winds and heavy rainfall.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Flora and faunaEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Further There is a wide diversity of plants and animals in South India, resulting from its varied climates and geography. Deciduous forests are found along the Western Ghats while tropical dry forests and 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>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Western Ghats is one of the eight hottest biodiversity hotspots in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Important ecological regions of South India are the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Nilgiri Hills, the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve in the Agastya Mala-Cardamom Hills and Gulf of Mannar coral reefs.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve covers an area of Template:Convert of ocean, islands and the adjoining coastline including coral reefs, salt marshes and mangroves. It is home to endangered aquatic species, including dolphins, dugongs, whales and sea cucumbers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bird sanctuaries including Thattekad, Kadalundi, Vedanthangal, Ranganathittu, Kumarakom, Neelapattu, and Pulicat are home to numerous migratory and local birds.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> with 14 Project Tiger reserves and 11 Project Elephant reserves.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Elephant populations are found in eight fragmented sites in the region: in northern Karnataka, along the Western Ghats, in Bhadra–Malnad, in Brahmagiri–Nilgiris–Eastern Ghats, in Nilambur–Silent Valley–Coimbatore, in Anamalai–Parambikulam, in Periyar–Srivilliputhur, and in Agasthyamalai<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Other threatened and endangered species found in the region include the grizzled giant squirrel,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> grey slender loris,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> sloth bear,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Nilgiri tahr,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Nilgiri langur,<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> lion-tailed macaque,<ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref> and the Indian leopard.<ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Name | Animal | Bird | Tree | Fruit | Flower |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andhra Pradesh<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) | Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) | Neem (Azadirachta indica) | Mango (Mangifera indica) | Common jasmine (Jasminum officinale) |
Karnataka<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Indian elephant (Elephas maximus) | Indian roller (Coracias indica) | Sandalwood (Santalum album) | Mango (Mangifera indica) | Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) |
Kerala<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Indian elephant (Elephas maximus) | Great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) | Coconut (Cocos nucifera) | Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) | Cana fistula (Cassia fistula) |
Lakshadweep<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Butterfly fish (Chaetodon falcula) | Noddy tern (Anous stolidus) | Bread fruit (Artocarpus incisa) | ||
Puducherry<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Indian palm squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) | Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) | Bael fruit (Aegle marmelos) | Cannonball (Couroupita guianensis) | ||
Tamil Nadu<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) | Emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica) | Palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer) | Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) | Glory lily (Gloriosa superba) |
Telangana<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Chital deer (Axis axis) | Indian roller (Coracias indica) | Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) | Mango (Mangifera indica) | Tanner's cassia (Senna auriculata) |
PoliticsEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
Politics in South India is characterized by a mix of regional and national political parties. The Justice Party and Swaraj Party were the two major parties in the erstwhile Madras Presidency.<ref name="encyclopp">Template:Cite book</ref> The Justice Party eventually lost the 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>Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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>Template:Cite book</ref> Congress continues to be a major party in Telangana, 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>Template:Cite news</ref> Two prominent coalitions in Kerala are the United Democratic Front, led by the Indian National Congress, and the 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>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) are significant parties in Karnataka.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>
Template:Image label begin Template:Image label Template:Image label Template:Image label Template:Image label Template:Image label Template:Image label Template:Image label Template:Image label end
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>Template:Cite news</ref> V. V. Giri,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Neelam Sanjiva Reddy,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> R. Venkataraman,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> K. R. Narayanan,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and APJ Abdul Kalam.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Prime ministers P. V. Narasimha Rao and H. D. Deve Gowda were from the region.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
AdministrationEdit
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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Puducherry and the five states each have an elected state government, while Lakshadweep is centrally administered by the president of India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Each state is headed by a Governor who is appointed by the President of India and who names the leader of the state legislature's ruling party or coalition as chief minister, who is the head of the state government.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Each state or territory is further divided into districts, which are further subdivided into revenue divisions and taluks / Mandals or tehsils.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Local bodies govern respective cities, towns, and villages, along with an elected mayor, municipal chairman, or panchayat chairman, respectively.<ref name="Govt"/>
StatesEdit
Name | ISO<ref name="iso">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref name="gefeg">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Estd.<ref name="1956act"/> | Population<ref name="andhra">Template:Cite report</ref><ref name="telangana">Template:Cite report</ref> | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Official language(s)<ref name=langoff50>Template:Cite report</ref> |
Capital | Population density (per km2)<ref name="census_main"/> |
Sex Ratio<ref name="census_main"/> | Literacy(%)<ref name="lit"/> | % urban pop.<ref name="urban">Template:Cite report</ref> |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andhra Pradesh | AP | 1 Oct 1953 | 49,506,799 | 162,968 | Telugu, English | Amaravati | 308 | 996 | 67.41 | 29.4 | |||
Karnataka | KA | 1 Nov 1956 | 61,095,297 | 191,791 | Kannada, English | Bengaluru | 319 | 973 | 75.60 | 38.67 | |||
Kerala | KL | 1 Nov 1956 | 33,406,061 | 38,863 | Malayalam, English | Thiruvananthapuram | 860 | 1084 | 94.00 | 47.72 | |||
Tamil Nadu | TN | 26 Jan 1950 | 72,147,030 | 130,058 | Tamil, English | Chennai | 555 | 996 | 80.33 | 48.40 | |||
Telangana | TG | 2 Jun 2014 | 35,193,978 | 112,077 | Telugu, Urdu | Hyderabad | 307 | 988 | 66.50 | 38.7 |
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^Note 1{{#if:| }} Andhra Pradesh was divided into two states, Telangana and a residual Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014.<ref name="The Times Of India">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Hyderabad, located entirely within the borders of Telangana, was to serve as joint capital for both states for a period of time not exceeding ten years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Union territoriesEdit
Name | ISO<ref name="iso"/><ref name="gefeg"/> | Estd.<ref name="1956act"/> | Population | Area (km2)<ref name="census_main"/> |
Official language<ref name=langoff50/> |
Capital | Population density (per km2)<ref name="census_main"/> |
Sex Ratio<ref name="census_main"/> | Literacy (%)<ref name="lit"/> | % urban pop.<ref name="urban"/> |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lakshadweep | LD | 1 Nov 1956 | 64,473 | 30 | English, Malayalam | Kavaratti | 2,013 | 946 | 92.28 | 78.07 |
Puducherry | PY | 1 Jul 1963 | 1,247,953 | 490 | Tamil, English | Puducherry | 2,598 | 1037 | 86.55 | 68.33 |
Legislative representationEdit
South India elects 132 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 state legislatures of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry are unicameral, while Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana have bicameral legislatures.<ref name="Vidhan Sabha"/><ref>Template:Cite book</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">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> Governors may suspend or dissolve assemblies and can administer when no party is able to form a government.<ref name="Govt"/>
State/UT | Lok Sabha<ref name="Lok Sabha">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Rajya Sabha<ref name="Rajya Sabha">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
State Assembly<ref name="Vidhan Sabha">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Governor/Lt. Governor | Chief Minister |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andhra Pradesh | 25 | 11 | 175Template:Efn | S. Abdul Nazeer | N. Chandrababu Naidu | |||
Karnataka | 28 | 12 | 224Template:Efn | Thawar Chand Gehlot | Siddaramaiah | |||
Kerala | 20 | 9 | 140 | Arif Mohammad Khan | Pinarayi Vijayan | |||
Lakshadweep | 1 | Nil | NA | Praful Khoda Patel | NA | |||
Puducherry | 1 | 1 | 30 | Tamilisai Soundararajan | N. Rangaswamy | |||
Tamil Nadu | 39 | 18 | 234 | R. N. Ravi | M. K. Stalin | |||
Telangana | 17 | 7 | 119Template:Efn | Tamilisai Soundararajan | Revanth Reddy | |||
Total | 132 | 58 | 922 |
DemographicsEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}Template:See also As per the 2011 census of India, the estimated population of South India was 252 million, around one fifth of the total population of the country. The region's total fertility rate (TFR) was less than the population replacement level of 2.1 for all states, with Kerala and Tamil Nadu having the lowest TFRs in India at 1.7.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> As a result, from 1981 to 2011 the proportion of the population of South India to India's total population has declined.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> 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>Template:Cite report</ref> About 60% of the population lives in permanent housing structures.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> 67.8% of South India has access to tap water, with wells and springs being major sources of water supply.<ref>Template:Cite report</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-economic metrics,<ref name="ecoindicators">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=outlook1>Template:Cite journal</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 HDI in the southern states is high, and the economy has grown at a faster rate than those of most northern states.<ref>Template:Cite journal</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">Template:Cite report</ref> South India has the highest sex ratio with Kerala and Tamil Nadu being the top two states.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> The South Indian states rank amongst the top 10 in economic freedom,<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> life expectancy .,<ref name="HDI">Template:Cite report</ref> access to drinking water,<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> house ownership,<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> and TV ownership<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The poverty rate is at 19% while that in the other Indian states is at 38%. The per capita income is Template:INRConvert, which is more than double of the other Indian states (Template:INRConvert).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</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 name="IMR">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref>
State | Population | Males | Females | Sex Ratio | Literacy % | Rural Population | Urban Population | Area (km2) | Density (/km2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 380,520 | 202,330 | 177,614 | 878 | 86.63 | 237,093 | 143,488 | 8,249 | 46 |
Andhra Pradesh | 49,386,799 | 24,738,068 | 24,648,731 | 996 | 67.41 | 34,776,389 | 14,610,410 | 162,975 | 308 |
Karnataka | 61,130,704 | 30,966,657 | 30,128,640 | 973 | 75.36 | 37,469,335 | 23,625,962 | 191,791 | 319 |
Kerala | 33,406,061 | 16,027,412 | 17,378,649 | 1084 | 96.2 | 17,471,135 | 15,934,926 | 38,863 | 859 |
Lakshadweep | 64,473 | 33,123 | 31,350 | 946 | 91.85 | 14,141 | 50,332 | 32.62 | 2,013 |
Puducherry | 1,247,953 | 612,511 | 635,442 | 1037 | 86.55 | 395,200 | 852,753 | 483 | 2,598 |
Tamil Nadu | 72,147,030 | 36,137,975 | 36,009,055 | 996 | 82.9 | 37,229,590 | 34,917,440 | 130,058 | 555 |
Telangana | 35,003,674 | 17,611,633 | 17,392,041 | 988 | 72.80 | 21,395,009 | 21,395,009 | 112,077 | 312 |
LanguagesEdit
Template:Pie chart {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The largest linguistic group in South India is the Dravidian family of languages, of approximately 73 languages.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The major languages spoken include Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Tulu is spoken by about 1.5 million people in coastal Kerala and Karnataka; Konkani, an Indo-Aryan language, is spoken by around 0.8 million people in the Konkan coast (Canara) and Kerala; 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Deccani Urdu a regional dialect of Urdu is spoken by the Muslims.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, and konkani are listed among the 22 official languages of India. Tamil was the first language to be granted classical language status by the Government of India in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008) and Malayalam (2013) were also declared as classical languages.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> These four languages combined have literary outputs larger than other literary languages of India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
S.No. | Language | Number of speakers (2011)<ref name="census2011-langreport"/> | States and union territories where official |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Telugu | 78,631,655 | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry |
2 | Tamil | 68,239,659 | Tamil Nadu, Puducherry |
3 | Kannada | 42,560,250 | Karnataka |
4 | Malayalam | 34,104,225 | Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry |
5 | Urdu | 15,411,542 | Telangana |
6 | Konkani | 1,655,065 | Karnataka, Kerala |
ReligionEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Pie chart
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 Stone Age sites.<ref>Template:Cite news</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>Template:Cite book</ref> Its spiritual traditions include both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite branches of Hinduism, although Buddhist and Jain philosophies were influential several centuries earlier.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Ayyavazhi has spread significantly across the southern parts of South India.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy is prominent among many communities.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Islam 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. About 11% of the population In South India follow Islam.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Muslims of Arab descent in Kerala are called Jonaka Mappila.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> About 4% follow Christianity.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Christianity was introduced to South India by Thomas the Apostle, who visited Muziris in Kerala in 52 CE and proselytized natives, who are called Nazrani Mappila.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</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 King Solomon.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Largest citiesEdit
The major metropolitan areas in south India are as follows:
TransportEdit
RoadEdit
South India has an extensive road network with Template:Convert of National Highways and Template:Convert of State Highways. The Golden Quadrilateral connecting Chennai with Mumbai and Kolkata traverses Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Bus services are provided by state-run transport corporations, namely the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Telangana State Road Transport Corporation,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kerala State Road Transport Corporation,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Puducherry Road Transport Corporation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
State | National Highway<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> | State Highway<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> | Motor vehicles per 1000 pop.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> |
---|---|---|---|
Andhra Pradesh | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | 145 |
Karnataka | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | 182 |
Tamil Nadu | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | 257 |
Telangana | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | N/A |
Kerala | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | 425 |
Andaman and Nicobar | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | 152 |
Puducherry | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | 521 |
Total | Template:Convert | Template:Convert |
RailEdit
In 1832, the proposal to construct the first railway line in India at Madras was made.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Hist">Template:Cite report</ref> In 1835, a railway track was constructed between Red Hills and Chintadripet in Madras and became operational in 1837.<ref name="FR">Template:Cite news</ref> The Madras Railway was established in 1845.<ref name="Hist"/> The Great Southern of India Railway Company was founded in England in 1853 and registered in 1859.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The construction on the first main line in the South between Royapuram in Madras and Arcot started in 1853, which became operational on 1 July 1856.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Construction of track in the Madras Presidency began in 1859 and the Template:Convert link from Trichinopoly to Negapatam and a link from Tirur to the Port of Beypore at Kozhikode on the Malabar Coast, which eventually got expanded into the Mangalore-Chennai line via Palakkad Gap were opened in 1861.<ref name="TR">Template:Cite news</ref> The Carnatic Railway Company was founded in 1864 and opened a Madras–Arakkonam–Conjeevaram–Katpadi junction line in 1865. These two companies subsequently merged in 1874 to form the South Indian Railway Company.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1880, the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, established by the British, built a railway network radiating from Madras.<ref>Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite report</ref> The Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway was founded on 1 January 1908 by merging the Madras Railway and the Southern Mahratta Railway.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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, the first zone of Indian Railways.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The South Central zone was created on 2 October 1966 as the ninth zone of Indian Railways and the South Western zone was created on 1 April 2003.<ref name="SCR">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SWR">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Most of the region is covered by the three zones, with small portions of the coasts covered by East Coast Railway and Konkan Railway. In 2019, a new South Coast Railway zone was announced but is yet to become operational as of 2023.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The Nilgiri Mountain Railway of Southern Railway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Indian Railways under the ownership of the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India operates the railway system.<ref name="IRYB">Template:Cite report</ref>
citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Abbr. | Route length (km)<ref name="IRYB"/> |
Headquarters<ref name="zone"/> | Estd.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> | Divisions | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
SR | 5,087 | Chennai | 14 April 1951 | Chennai, Madurai, Palakkad, Salem, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli | MGR Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Tambaram, Coimbatore Jn., Madurai Jn., Thiruvananthapuram Central, Ernakulam Jn., Kozhikode, Katpadi Jn., Thrissur, Arakkonam Jn., Chengalpattu Jn., Tiruvallur, Avadi, Tiruchirappalli Jn., Tirunelveli Jn., Salem Jn., Tiruppur, Palakkad Jn., Erode Jn. | ||||
South Central<ref name="SCR"/> | SCR | 6,471 | Secunderabad | 2 October 1966 | Guntakal, Guntur, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Vijayawada | Secunderabad Jn., Hyderabad, Kacheguda, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Vijayawada Jn., Guntakal Jn., Guntur, Nellore, Warangal | |||||
South Western<ref name="SWR"/> | SWR | 3,629 | Huballi | 1 April 2003 | Bengaluru, Hubli, Mysuru | KSR Bengaluru, Mysore Jn., Yesvantpur Jn., Huballi Jn. | |||||
East Coast<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
ECoR | 2,818 | Bhubaneswar | 1 April 2003 | Waltair | Visakhapatnam Jn. |
Suburban and MetroEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Currently, operational metro systems are there in four cities Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Chennai Suburban founded in 1928 is one of the oldest and largest urban networks in the country.<ref name="SR"/> Opened in 1995, Chennai MRTS was the first elevated urban railway in India.<ref name="SR"/> Hyderabad MMTS was opened in 2003, becoming the second city in South India to have a local rail transit system.<ref name="AD"/> As of December 2022, South India has 205.06 km of operational metro lines and 16 systems.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite news</ref>
AirEdit
Template:Multiple image In 1915, Tata Sons started a regular airmail service between Karachi and Madras marking the beginning of air transportation in the southern part of India.<ref name="PIB">Template:Cite press release</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>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 15 October 1932, Indian aviator J. R. D. Tata flew a Puss Moth aircraft carrying mail from 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">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
There are 12 international airports, 2 customs airports, 15 domestic airports, 5 state owned/private airports and 15 air bases in South India.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kochi international airports are amongst the 10 busiest in the country.<ref name="AAI">Template:Cite report</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Four of the ten busiest airports in India are in South India.
The region comes under the purview of the Southern Air Command of the Indian Air Force headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram. In addition, the National Training Command is headquartered at Bengaluru. The Air Force operates nine air bases in Southern India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the region, the Indian Navy operates airbases at Kochi, Arakkonam, Uchipuli, Vizag and Chennai.<ref name="command-kochi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
State/UT | International | Template:Tooltip | Domestic | State/Private | Military |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andhra Pradesh | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Karnataka | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Kerala | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Lakshadweep | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Puducherry | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Tamil Nadu | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Telangana | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Total | 12 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 15 |
Rank | Name | City | State | IATA Code | Total passengers (Apr-Jul'24)<ref name="AAI"/> |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kempegowda International Airport | Bengaluru | Karnataka | BLR | 1,35,63,383 |
2 | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport | Hyderabad | Telangana | HYD | 90,75,887 |
3 | Chennai International Airport | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | MAA | 72,52,642 |
4 | Cochin International Airport | Kochi | Kerala | COK | 36,59,362 |
5 | Thiruvananthapuram International Airport | Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala | TRV | 16,54,523 |
6 | Calicut International Airport | Kozhikode | Kerala | CCJ | 12,46,845 |
7 | Coimbatore International Airport | Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | CJB | 10,39,954 |
8 | Visakhapatnam International Airport | Visakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh | VTZ | 9,14,742 |
9 | Mangalore International Airport | Mangaluru | Karnataka | IXE | 7,34,128 |
10 | Tiruchirappalli International Airport | Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu | TRZ | 6,52,780 |
WaterEdit
The region is covered by water on three sides and has a long coastline. A total of 67 ports are situated in South India: Tamil Nadu (18), Kerala (14), Andhra Pradesh (13), Karanataka (11), Lakshadweep (10) and Pondicherry (1).<ref name="Ports">Template:Cite report</ref> Major ports include Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Mangalore, Tuticorin, Ennore and Kochi.<ref name="Ports"/>
Name | City | State | Cargo Handled (MT) (FY2021–22)<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> |
Passengers (FY2022–23)<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> |
---|---|---|---|---|
Visakhapatnam Port | Visakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh | 69.03 | Nil |
Chennai Port | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 48.56 | 88,596 |
New Mangalore Port | Mangalore | Karnataka | 39.30 | 1,440 |
Kamarajar Port | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 38.74 | Nil |
Cochin Port | Kochi | Kerala | 34.55 | 26,550 |
V.O. Chidambaranar Port | Thoothukudi | Tamil Nadu | 34.12 | Nil |
The Kerala backwaters are a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes, and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km of waterways.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Eastern Naval Command and Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy are headquartered at Visakhapatnam and Kochi respectively.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="command-kochi"/> In the region, the Indian Navy has its major operational bases at Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Kochi, Karwar, and Kavaratti.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kochi Water Metro is the first water metro service in India launched in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
EconomyEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
After independence, the economy of South India conformed to a 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 reform-oriented economic policies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of March 2015, there are 109 operational Special Economic Zones in South India, which is about 60% of the country's total.<ref name="Com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of 2019–20, the total gross domestic product of the region is ₹67 trillion (US$946 billion). Tamil Nadu has the second-highest GDP and is the second-most industrialised state in the country after Maharashtra.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> South India contributes 30% of India's GDP<ref name="rbi_data1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="rbi_data2">Template:Cite news</ref> with a higher per capita income and lower debt-to-GDP ratio than the national average.<ref name="rbi_data1"/><ref name="rbi_data2"/> According to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad are amongst the most integrated with the global economy with Bengaluru classified as an alpha- city, Chennai as beta and Hyderabad as beta-.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref name="RBI2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
State/Union Territory | All India Rank | GDP (Crore₹) | NSDP (Crore₹) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tamil Nadu | 2 | 17,97,228 | 16,19,720 | ||
Karnataka | 5 | 16,28,927 | 14,75,277 | ||
Andhra Pradesh | 8 | 9,71,224 | 8,70,064 | ||
Telangana | 9 | 9,57,207 | 8,71,374 | ||
Kerala | 11 | 8,54,689 | 7,73,099 | ||
Puducherry | 26 | 38,003 | 34,578 | ||
South India | 62,47,278 | 56,44,113 |
Economic and demographic indicators (2019–20)<ref name="ecoindicators"/><ref name="ciastats">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref name="RBI1"/><ref name="RBI2"/> | ||
---|---|---|---|
Parameter | South India | All India | |
Gross domestic product (GDP) | ₹62.5 trillion | ₹207.7 trillion | |
Net state domestic product (SDP) | ₹56.4 trillion | ₹186.4 trillion | |
Population below the poverty line | 15.4% | 26.1% | |
Urban population | 32.8% | 27.8% | |
Households with electricity | 98.9% | 88.2% | |
Literacy rate | 81.1% | 74% |
AgricultureEdit
Agriculture is the primary occupation in South India with nearly 5.31 crore people engaged in agriculture and allied activities in 2021.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Rice is the staple food and major crop in the region.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> South India is a major producer of spices with black pepper, cardamom, clove and nutmeg grown exclusively in the region.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some of the main crops cultivated in South India include sugarcane, chilli, banana, cotton, turmeric, millets and pulses.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Other plantation crops include cashew, coffee, tea, rubber, betel, areca nut, coconut, bamboo and cocoa.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The region accounts for 92% of the coffee<ref name="Com"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 85% of the natural rubber production in the country.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Other major agricultural products include poultry and silk.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Being a peninsular region, aquaculture is a major contributor to the economy. As of 2017–18, the region produced 53.68 lakh tonnes fish contributing to nearly 43% of total fish production in India.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Like most of the Indian subcontinent, agriculture in the region is largely dependent on seasonal monsoons<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and monsoon failure often leads to droughts forcing farmers into debt, selling livestock and sometimes into committing suicide.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Information technologyEdit
South India's urban centres are significant contributors to the Indian and global IT economy. Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are amongst the major information technology (IT) hubs of India.<ref name="cnn-Dec2012">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The presence of these hubs has spurred economic growth and attracted foreign investments and job seekers from other parts of the country.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Software exports from South India grossed over Template:INRConvert in fiscal 2005–06.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
ManufacturingEdit
Manufacturing is various states are governed by state owned industrial corporations like APIIC (Andhra Pradesh), KIDC (Karnataka), KSIDC (Kerala), TIDC (Tamil Nadu) apart from central government owned companies. The automotive industry in Chennai accounts for about 35% of India's overall automotive components and automobile output with Andhra Pradesh is emerging as another automobile manufacturing hub.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Coimbatore supplies two-thirds of India's requirements of motors and pumps, and is one of the largest exporters of wet grinders and auto components, as well as jewellery.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Another major industry is textiles<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with the region being home to nearly 60% of the fiber textile mills in India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> State owned companies include Bharat Electronics (electrical components), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (power equipments) and HMT (machine tools).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, operated by Indian Railways is the oldest and largest producer of railway coaches and wagons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Space and DefenseEdit
Defense establishments include Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bangalore which manufactures fighter aircraft, helicopters and aircraft components.<ref name="HAL-Our History">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> DRDO which is India's premier defense agency operates various facilities in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mysuru in South India.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite press release</ref>
There are three Ordnance factories in Aruvankadu (Tamil Nadu), Tiruchirappalli and Medak.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> AVANI, headquartered in Chennai manufactures Armoured fighting vehicles, Main battle tanks, tank engines and armored clothing for the use of the Indian Armed Forces.<ref name="mint2021">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Bharat Dynamics manufacturers of ammunitions and missile systems and is based in Hyderabad.<ref name="bdl-about">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ISRO is the premier Indian space agency primarily responsible for performing tasks related to space-based operations, space exploration, international space cooperation and the development of related technologies. It is headquartered in Bangalore.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It operates research facilities in Thiruvananthapuram and Tirupati, test facility at Mahendragiri, satellite development facilities at Bangalore, launch facilities at Sriharikota and Thiruvananthapuram, tracking facilities at Bangalore, Hyderabad and Hassan and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology at Thiruvananthapuram.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
TourismEdit
Tourism contributes significantly to the GDP of the region, with four 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tamil Nadu has the largest tourist inflow in India both domestic and international as of 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2023, Kerala was listed at the 13th spot in The New York Times' annual list of places to visit and was the only tourist destination listed from India.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kerala was named by TIME magazine in 2022 among the 50 extraordinary destinations to explore in its list of the World's Greatest Places.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Culture and heritageEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} As defined by Ministry of Culture of the Government of India to promote and preserve the cultural heritage, most of the region falls under the purview of South Zone Cultural Center at Thanjavur.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ClothingEdit
Template:Multiple image South Indian women traditionally wear a sari, a garment that consists of a drape varying from Template:Convert to Template:Convert in length and Template:Convert to Template:Convert 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">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Ancient Tamil poetry such as the Silappadhikaram, describes women in exquisite drapery or sari.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Madisar is a typical style worn by Brahmin women from Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Women wear colourful silk sarees on special occasions such as marriages.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Kanchipuram silk sari is a type of silk sari made in the Kanchipuram region in Tamil Nadu and these saris are worn as bridal and special occasion saris by most women in South India. It has been recognized as a Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2005Template:Ndash2006.<ref name="Hindu">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="GI">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kovai Cora Cotton is a type of cotton saree made in the Coimbatore.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The men wear a dhoti, a Template:Convert 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>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> A colourful lungi with typical batik patterns is the most common form of male attire in the countryside.<ref name="Cloth">Template:Cite encyclopedia</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"/> Calico, a plain-woven textile made from unbleached, and often not fully processed, cotton, was originated at Calicut (Kozhikode), from which the name of the textile came, in South India, now Kerala, during the 11th century,<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> where the cloth was known as Chaliyan.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The raw fabric was dyed and printed in bright hues, and calico prints later became popular in the Europe.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
CuisineEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Multiple image Rice is the staple food in South Indian meals.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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, legumes, and lentils. Its distinct aroma and flavour is achieved by the blending of flavourings and spices, including curry leaves, mustard seeds, coriander, ginger, garlic, chili, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, green cardamom, cumin, nutmeg, coconut, and rosewater.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The traditional way of eating a meal involves being seated on the floor, having the food served on a banana leaf,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and using clean fingers of the right hand to take the food into the mouth.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After the meal, the fingers are washed; the easily degradable banana leaf is discarded or becomes fodder for cattle.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Eating on banana leaves is a custom thousands of years old, imparts a unique flavor to the food, and is considered healthy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Idli, dosa, uthappam, pesarattu, appam, pongal, and paniyaram are popular breakfast dishes.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Rice is generally served with sambar and rasam for lunch. Tamil cuisine includes a typical virundhu for lunch with poriyal, kootu and kuzhambu.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Particular dishes include sevai, paniyaram, parotta and opputtu.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Kerala cuisine includes dishes like appam idiyappam, puttu, and pathiri and a full-course vegetarian meal is known as sadya.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Andhra cuisine is characterized by pickles and spicy curries with popular dishes including Ulava charu, Bobbatlu, Pootharekulu and Gongura.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Chettinad cuisine is famous for its non-vegetarian items, and Hyderabadi cuisine is popular for its biryani.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Udupi Cuisine, which originates from Udupi located in the Coastal Kanara region of Karnataka is famous for its vegetarian dishes and Neer dosa, Ragi mudde, Maddur vada, Obbattu, Bisi Bele Bath and Dharwad pedha are some of the popular cuisines of Karnataka.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Fish and sea food form an integral component of the diet along the coast.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Music and danceEdit
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, Baktha Ramadasu, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Shyama Shastri, Kshetrayya, Mysore Vasudevachar, and Swathi Thirunal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Nadaswaram, a reed instrument that is often accompanied by the thavil, a type of drum instrument are the major musical instruments used in temples and weddings.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
South India is home to several distinct dance forms with major being Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Mohiniaattam and Yakshagana.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Other regional folk dances include Andhra Natyam, Karakattam, Kavadi, Kerala Natanam, Koodiyattam, Margamkali, Oppana, Ottamthullal, Oyilattam, Puravaiattam and Theyyam.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The dance, clothing, and sculptures of South India exemplify the beauty of the body and motherhood.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
LiteratureEdit
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 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 continent far to the south of India.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> This Tamil literature includes the oldest grammatical treatise, Tholkappiyam, and the epics Silappatikaram and Manimekalai.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
References to Kannada literature appear from the fourth century CE.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Telugu literature adopted a form of Prakrit which in course of development became the immediate ancestor of Telugu.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Distinct Malayalam literature came later in the 13th century.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ArchitectureEdit
South India has two distinct styles of rock architecture, the Dravidian style of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the Vesara style of Karnataka, Telangana.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Architecture of Kerala is a unique architecture that emerged from the Dravidian architecture in the southwestern part of India.<ref name="Krc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In Dravidian architecture, the temples considered of porches or Mantapas preceding the door leading to the sanctum, Gate-pyramids or Gopurams in quadrangular enclosures that surround the temple and Pillared halls used for many purposes and are the invariable accompaniments of these temples. Besides these, a South Indian temple usually has a tank called the Kalyani or Pushkarni.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Gopuram is a monumental tower, usually ornate at the entrance of the temple forms a prominent feature of Koils and Hindu temples of the Dravidian style.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> They are topped by the kalasam, a bulbous stone finial and function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The gopuram's origins can be traced back to the Pallavas who built the group of monuments in Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram.<ref name="UNC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Cholas later expanded the same and by the Pandya rule in twelfth century, these gateways became a dominant feature of a temple's outer appearance.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Vimanam are similar structures built over the garbhagriha or inner sanctum of the temple but are usually smaller than the gopurams in the Dravidian architecture with a few exceptions including the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Vesara style of architecture originated during the reign of Chalukyas and later adopted by Western Chalukyas and Hoysalas.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The later Vijayanagara architecture incorporated the features of both Dravidian and Vesara styles.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The temples at Mahabalipuram,<ref name="UNC"/> Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hampi<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Pattadakal<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> are declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Visual artsEdit
Films done in regional languages are prevalent in 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>Template:Cite news</ref> Mudaliar also established Madras's first film studio.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The first Tamil talkie, Kalidas, was released on 31 October 1931, barely seven months after India's first talking picture, Alam Ara.<ref name="velayutham2">Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite news</ref> Filmmakers K. N. T. Sastry and B. Narsing Rao in Telugu cinema; K Balachandar, Balu Mahendra, Bharathiraaja, and Mani Ratnam in Tamil cinema; Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shaji N. Karun, John Abraham, and G. Aravindan in Malayalam cinema; and Girish Kasaravalli, Girish Karnad and P. Sheshadri in Kannada cinema produced realistic cinema in parallel with each other throughout the 1970s.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
South Indian cinema has also had an influence on politics of Tamil Nadu.<ref>Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite book</ref> As of 2014, South Indian film industries contribute to 53% of the total films produced in India.<ref name="film">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (2019)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
---|---|---|
Language | No. of films | |
Telugu | 281 | |
Tamil | 254 | |
Malayalam | 219 | |
Kannada | 336 | |
Tulu | 16 | |
Konkani | 10 | |
Total | 1116 |
Utility servicesEdit
HealthEdit
All South Indian states rank in the top 10 in institutional delivery in India<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> and life expectancy.<ref name="HDI"/> South India also rates higher in maternal health and reduction infant and child mortality.<ref name="IMR"/> Chennai attracts about 45 percent of health tourists and is known as India's health capital.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The number of public facilities in South India as of 2018:
State | Public facilities | Public beds<ref name="Hospitals in the Country">Template:Cite press release</ref> | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Centers | Community Centers | Sub/Divisional Hospitals | District Hospitals | Total | ||
Andhra Pradesh | 1,417 | 198 | 31 | 20 | 1,666 | 60,799 |
Karnataka | 2,547 | 207 | 147 | 42 | 2,943 | 56,333 |
Kerala | 933 | 229 | 82 | 53 | 1,297 | 39,511 |
Lakshadweep | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 250 |
Puducherry | 40 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 53 | 4,462 |
Tamil Nadu | 1,854 | 385 | 310 | 32 | 2,581 | 72,616 |
Telangana | 788 | 82 | 47 | 15 | 932 | 17,358 |
Total | 7,583 | 1,108 | 624 | 167 | 9,482 | 251,509 |
The number of Government Hospitals and Beds in Rural & Urban Areas as of 2017:<ref name="Hospitals in the Country"/>
State | Rural | Urban | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Hospitals | Beds | Hospitals | Beds | |
Andhra Pradesh | 193 | 6,480 | 65 | 16,658 |
Karnataka | 2,471 | 21,072 | 374 | 49,093 |
Kerala | 981 | 16,865 | 299 | 21,139 |
Lakshadweep | 9 | 300 | 0 | 0 |
Puducherry | 3 | 96 | 11 | 3,473 |
Tamil Nadu | 692 | 40,179 | 525 | 37,353 |
Telangana | 802 | 7,668 | 61 | 13,315 |
Total | 5,151 | 92,780 | 1,335 | 141,031 |
EducationEdit
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"/> South India is home to some of the nation's largest and most prominent public and private institutions of higher education.
The table below is correct Template:As of.
State | Central universities |
State universities |
Deemed universities |
Private universities |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andhra Pradesh (list) | 3 | 27 | 4 | 6 | 40 |
Karnataka (list) | 1 | 34 | 14 | 25 | 74 |
Kerala (list) | 1 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
Puducherry (list) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Tamil Nadu (list) | 2 | 22 | 28 | 4 | 56 |
Telangana (list) | 3 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 29 |
Total | 11 | 116 | 54 | 40 | 221 |
Following are the Institutes of National Importance present across the region.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
SportsEdit
Cricket is the most popular sport in South India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The region has five current international cricket venues: M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy International Cricket Stadium in Vishakapatnam, Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad and Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Six more defunct venues have also hosted international matches in the past.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tennis ball cricket is played throughout the region.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Indian Premier League is the premium T20 cricket competition which has three teams from the region namely Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Chennai Super Kings is the most successful franchise in IPL.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Football is also popular with the Indian Super League being the major club competition. There are four teams from the region:Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Hyderabad FC and Kerala Blasters FC. The Southern Derby or Southern Rivalry, is the name given to a derby contested by any two of the three professional football clubs Bengaluru, Chennaiyin and Kerala Blasters.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Santosh Trophy is a football competition amongst states organized by the Indian Football Association.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Maharaja of Santosh dead, Indian Express, 1 April 1939, p. 15</ref> As of 2022, South Indian teams have won 17 championships.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kabaddi is a contact sport which is the state game of all the states in South India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is played across the region. Pro Kabaddi League is the most popular region based franchise tournament and has three teams representing the region: Bengaluru Bulls, Tamil Thalaivas and Telugu Titans.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Chess is a popular board game which originated as Sathurangam in the seventh century A.D.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Traditional games like Pallanguzhi,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Uriyadi,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gillidanda,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Dhaayam<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> are played across the region. Jallikattu,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Rekla<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Kambala<ref name=tribes>Template:Cite book</ref> are traditional sporting events involving bulls. Traditional martial arts include Silambattam,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gatta gusthi,<ref name=M>Template:Cite news</ref> Adimurai<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and Kalari.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Vallam kali is a boat race organized in Kerala.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
See alsoEdit
Template:NoteFoot Template:Notelist
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Sister project links Template:Wikivoyage