Heritage
South India has two World Heritage sites at Tanjore (Thanjavur) and Mamallapuram. In addition there are many other sites with outstanding cultural and religious significance, resulting from the 3000 years of civilisation. The history of South India is a fascinating study of human nature, illustrating all aspects of religion, government, empire building and decay, and the interaction with the environment.
Many factors have left their mark in South India. Jainism has influenced India for 2500 years, Buddhism reached its peak in the 5th century, and gradually Hinduism became dominate. Christianity arrived in 52 AD, Islam came in with the traders in the 7th Century and most of India was absorbed in the Islam based Moghul Empire.
Trading has always been an important factor, and South India has always been the conduit between the West (Greeks, Romans, Byzantine, Portuguese, Dutch, and British) and China, Japan, and the spice lands. The fishing nets in Cochin and the dragon sculptures in Gingee and Mamallapuram are evidence of the Chinese influence, while all the empires have left their mark.
