PATTADAKAL: This group of eighth century monuments in Pattadakal, Karnataka, was built by the Chalukyas to commemorate their victory over the Pallavas. Photo: M. A. Sriram
NILGIRI PASSENGER: Built by the British in 1908, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway was originally operated by Madras Railway. Photo: Bijoy Ghosh
HAMPI: The name Hampi comes from the river Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra. In its heyday, the city was the capital of the Vijayanagara empire. Photo: M. A. Sriram
THANJAVUR: Popularly known as the Big Temple, the Brihadeeswara temple was built in 1010 AD by Raja Raja Chola I and turned 1,000 years old in 2010. Photo: R. Ashok
GANGAIKONDA CHOLAPURAM: One of the three 'Great living Chola Temples', the Brihadeeswara temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram was built to commemorate the victory of the Cholas over the Pala dynasty. Photo: Bijoy Ghosh
DARASURAM: The third in the 'Great Living Chola Temples', the Airavateswara temple in Darasuram, Tamil Nadu, was built by Raja Raja Chola II. Photo: M. Srinath
MAHABALIPURAM: Once a bustling sea port under the Pallavas' reign, the modern city of Mahabalipuram was established by the British in 1827. Photo: S. S. Kumar
MAHABALIPURAM: This largest open air bas-relief, Arjuna's Penance or the Descent of the Ganges, is carved over two monolithic boulders. Photo: M. Karunakaran
PERIYAR SANCTUARY: Also known as Thekkady, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is a highly protected tiger and elephant reserve and was declared a national park in 1982. Photo: H. Vibhu
SILENT VALLEY: The Muduga tribal settlement in Silent Valley is the last point of human habitation in this nearly undisturbed tract of mountain rainforests in the Western Ghats. Photo: S. Siva Saravanan
SILENT VALLEY: The pristine Kuntipuzha river in Silent Valley is known for being crystal clear and perennial in nature. Photo: S. Siva Saravanan
NEYYAR SANCTUARY: This wildlife reserve is the drainage basin for the Neyyar river and its tributaries Mullayar and Kallar. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar