# South India
*Sacred places of the South*
Total entries: 4
## South Indian Sacred Places
South India has a rich Vaishnava tradition, especially through the four sampradayas and the Alvar saints.
**Major Regions:**
- **Tamil Nadu** - Land of the Alvars and ancient temples
- **Karnataka** - Home of Madhvacharya tradition
- **Kerala** - Guruvayur and other sacred sites
- **Andhra Pradesh** - Tirupati and other holy places
**Famous Temples and Cities:**
- **Sri Rangam** - Largest functioning temple complex
- **Kanchipuram** - One of seven sacred cities
- **Tirupati** - Most visited temple in the world
- **Udupi** - Krishna temple of Madhva tradition
- **Madurai** - Ancient temple city
- **Srivilliputtur** - Birthplace of Andal
**Important Sites:**
- **108 Divya Desams** - Temples glorified by Alvars
- **Pandharpur** - Vitthala temple in Maharashtra
- **Kumbakonam** - Temple town with sacred tank
**Traditions:**
- Sri Vaishnava sampradaya
- Madhva sampradaya
- Tamil devotional literature
- Alvar compositions
- Temple arts and festivals
## All Related Entries
- [[index/K#kerala|Kerala]]
- [[index/K#kāñcīpuram|Kāñcīpuram]]
- [[index/M#madurai|Madurai]]
- [[index/S#south india|South India]]
## Related Categories
- [[index/personalities/alvars|Alvars]]
- [[index/places/temples|Temples]]
- [[index/places/pilgrimage-sites|Pilgrimage Sites]]
- [[index/scriptures/tamil-literature|Tamil Literature]]