Because it’s more than idili, dosa and sambhar...!
India is divided culturally, linguistically, and socially. The variety of culture leads us to a variety of food, and in this big Indian jigsaw, it plays a vital role. Well, for any human to survive he/she should have food but that doesn't mean that you limit your taste buds because that would be an injustice not only to the place but also to ourselves. It would be like coming to Karachi and having plain rice and daal rather than having the bun kebabs, haleem and koftas, I think I should stop the list at that before my mouth starts watering but I am sure there must be a lot more to the cuisine than what I have talked.
It's the same back in the south of India, yes we make a lot of idlis, dosa and sambhar, but south doesn't limit itself there. The South Indian cuisine has a tinge of everything the Portuguese, the French, the Mughals and the traditional Indian, have you ever imagined yourself entering into your house to the smell of camphor and incense sticks and sitting down to eat a sumptuous meal on a banana leaf? Trust me its heavenly, when someone serves you on that leaf and you can eat as much as you want.
Well, a traditional South Indian meal consists of payasam, soaked moong daal, laddoo or Mysorepak, plain rice or mixed rice, parappu(Dal), papad, chips, vada, koshambari, pickle and salt, once all the serving is completed you are ready. Traditional South Indian food is the kind of food you should always try if you come to South India, you might even find it in some restaurants and mess.
Coming to the Mughal part of the southern half you will find in Hyderabad, the maximum population comprises of Muslims, and hence biryani, haleem, kebabs, kofta, korma, everything is available and, of course, the world famous Paradise biryani is also here. One can chomp on this day and night, of course, we mutton too! It is amazing when one smells the hot grilled chicken with ghee poured all over made on blistering hot coal, at that moment my friends we act like Tom who is about to eat Jerry, well, of course, we have sevai, Phirni, falooda and kheer which are amazing too.
But that's not it, we have the Portuguese and the French in our cuisines too, all along the coastal line of India you will find a foreign influence on food, culture and customs. Well at the time when Portuguese, French and English came to India, we weren't that modern, or I believe the right word would be westernised. Hence, when we saw the foreigners we were fascinated; they had brought a new religion with them which had started to influence the ones in the countryside, and many converted to Christianity. People changed their ideologies changed, but it was hard to change the food habits, so they decided to bring changes in the cuisine so as to make it mingle with their new habits and that's where it all started the fusion of Indian, French and Portuguese cuisine. The marriage of these cuisines led to some significant changes like vindaloo which is an Indian version of a dish called 'Carne de vinha' well frankly that's a researched bit. But of course, if you go to one of the coast cities especially Goa you will find this incredible mixture of food.
Fresh produce bought from the dockyards and farms give you a new feel. Fish and prawns and all sorts of carnival food. In Goa do try squid rings and fish thali you will have some impressive stuff there. You will have lots fun food around the coast if you love fish and fresh produce.
Well, in any case, there is one thing you can't miss in any South Indian cuisine, and that is chutney. Did you know you can make a chutney out of every vegetable possible? If you go to Kerala you will find a lot of chutneys beetroot chutney; spinach chutney, coconut chutney, etc. all have a fantastic taste and have a glowing effect on health. One can have so much, stay healthy and get healthier!
In all the South Indian food is a symbol of purity, a strand of mix and twist where you can collaborate western civilization, and traditions get a Mughlai touch or a heavenly bliss of absolute freshness. Do come some time you will have lots of fun.