South India has many beautiful places that attract tourists of every kind, be it leisure tourists or adventurous tourists. Nature lovers, history lovers, and those who want to find a quiet corner surrounded by natural beauty would love to explore various beautiful places to visit in South India. The areas include hilly terrains, tranquil backwaters, ancient temples and bungalow-lined cities, making for an exciting tour. So, if you’re planning your next vacation, exploring South India will leave you with memories to cherish.
Every city and state has its different styles, and South tourist places are no exception, from peace-loving Kerala to the Royalty of Mysore. From the misty heights of Coorg to the ancient history of Hampi, you can find many famous spots in the region. Every place represents an interesting narrative of the past and an exciting vision of the future.
Tourist Places In South India: A Land Of Contrasts
From cosy hill stations to lively cities and centuries-old temples in South India. Do you ever ask yourself why these places are such favourites? Here, you are going to see some of the most popular and picturesque places to visit in South India and explore the enchantment you will get. Looking forward to uncovering the beauty of the South? Let’s begin your journey!
1. Munnar, Kerala
Situated in the Western Ghats, Munnar is one of the most soothing hill stations in South India. It is widely known for its natural beauty, from rolling tea gardens, mist-covered hills, to cool climate weather. The town offers you a great escape from a busy schedule and makes your morning feel like heaven. With its natural charm, the spot offers you great places to visit in South India.
Key Attraction: Eravikulam National Park, Tea Museum, Mattupetty Dam
Things to Do: Tea estate walks, trekking, boating, and photography.
How to Reach: The nearest airport is Cochin, about 110 km away. The nearest railway stations are Ernakulam (ERS) and Aluva (AWY).
2. Coorg, Karnataka
The Coorg hill station region is very famous across India, offering you coffee plantations, forested hills, and pleasant weather. Visiting here feels like time gets slower, nights become intensely cold, and the inner soul is asking more and more! Yeah, that’s the beauty of Coorg, surrounded by mountain peaks, flowing streams and quiet villages that make your experience great with serene beauty and make it best places to visit in December in South India.
Key attractions: Abbey Falls, Raja’s Seat, Talacauvery
Activities: Coffee plantation tours, trekking, river rafting
How to Reach: Mangalore Airport (160 km); road access from Bengaluru.
3. Hampi, Karnataka
Hampi is more famous for its spiritual significance than its natural attractions; each step here reminds you of the history, which includes ancient temples, royal ruins, and massive stone boulders. Once, this place used to be the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi is a great choice if you are looking for the best places to visit in South India.
Key Attractions: Vittala Temple, Stone Chariot, and Virupaksha Temple.
Activities: Heritage walks, cycling, and amazing photography.
How to Reach: The nearest airport is Jindal Vijayanagar Airport (VDY), and the railway station is Hospet.
4. Alleppey, Kerala
The Alleppey in Kerala is known for its calm backwaters, palm-lined canals, and slow village life. Being one of the best places to visit in South India, the place offers you houseboats that glide gently through the waterways and a peaceful experience unlike anywhere else in South India. Visiting Alleppey would be a perfect pick for families and newly weds couples for an amazing escape from a boring routine.
Key Attraction: Vembanad Lake, Backwaters, and Alleppey Beach.
Activities: Houseboat stays, Canoe rides, village walks
How to Reach: Cochin Airport is just 85 km away from here. Taxis and Cabs are easily available outside the airport.
5. Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Looking for the best tourist spots in South India, Ooty in the state of Tamil Nadu is the most loved hill station for its cold climate, green valleys, and old-world charms. Imagine sitting at the Nilgari Hills, the town feels like another world, where the pace is getting slower, and life is moving a little slower. Walking through colonial-era building structures, well-maintained Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, and misty hills gives Ooty a timeless feel.
Key Attractions: Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Ooty Lake, and Doddabetta Peak
Activities: Toy train ride, boating, sightseeing, and local shopping.
How to Reach: Coimbatore Airport is about 88 km away from Ooty, and you can also get the toy train from Mettupalayam.
6. Pondicherry
The town blends French architecture with Indian culture in a peaceful coastal setting, and it is one of the most beautiful places to visit in South India that offers quiet streets, pastel-coloured buildings, and sea-facing promenades, creating a slow and calming travel experience. The best way to explore the city is on foot or by bicycle, allowing you to enjoy cafes, beaches and a serene walk near the sea; all these make it one of the great tourist spots in South India.
Key Attractions: French Quarter, Promenade Beach, Auroville
Activities: Cycling, Cafe hopping, heritage walks.
How to Reach: The Chennai Airport is 135 km away and well-connected by railways and roads.
7. Wayanad, Kerala
Some places in Kerala have unmatchable beauty, Wayanad is one of them. This quiet hill district is known for Edakkal Caves, dense forests, rolling hills, and a strong connection to nature. During the rainy monsoon season, the landscape turns lush and refreshing, when the waterfalls stream at full strength. If you're excited to explore the best places in South India, Wayanad offers you a region that feels raw and untouched with serene beauty and wildlife.
Key Attraction: Edakkal Caves, Chembra Peak, Banasura Sagar Dam
Activities: Trekking, wildlife safaris, plantation visits
How to Reach: Calicut Airport is just 95 km away, and Kozhikode is the nearest railway station.
8. Mysore, Karnataka
Excited about good places to visit in South India, Mysore reflects royal history and cultural richness. The city is known for its grand palaces and wide, tree-lined streets, where the city moves at a slower pace. Walking through the city, you will clearly observe the royal influence in its architecture, tradition, and festivals.
Key Attractions: Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills, Brindavan Gardens
Activities: Palace tours, cultural sightseeing, and local shopping
How to Reach: Bengaluru Airport is 170 km away and well-connected with railways and roads.
9. Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu
Situated in southern India, the place feels like a pause button on a busy life. As the road climbs into the Palani Hills, the air turns cooler, the noise fades away when you step around Kodaikanal Lake, and mist begins to wrap around the trees. Looking for places to visit in South India that combine natural beauty and adventure, by offering you numerous spots to explore and enjoy trekking, boating, and local food.
Key Attractions: Kodaikanal Lake, Coaker’s Walk, Pillar Rocks, and Silver Cascade Falls
Activities: Boating, cycling around the lake, nature walks, and viewpoint hopping.
How to Reach: The Nearest airport is Madurai, about 120 km away, and the railway station is Kodai Road Railway Station (KQN)
10. Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Madurai is another destination in Tamil Nadu, which allows you to enjoy its peak natural serenity. Starting early in the morning from Meenakshi Amman Temple bells to late-night food streets, the city feels amazing at every hour. Madurai stands out as one of the top places to visit in South India, which includes devotion, rituals, and everyday life that have continued for centuries.
Key Attractions: Meenakshi Amman Temple, Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace
Activities: Temple darshan, street food walks, heritage exploration
How to Reach: The city itself has both an airport and a railway station.
11. Varkala, Kerala
Another hidden gem in the lap of Kerala, where red cliffs rise above the sea, and hit you differently the moment you step into the city. Unlike crowded beach towns, Varkala has some space to walk, breathe and think. Lakhs of visitors come here each year, not just for its sea and beaches but also for the vibe you were missing in scheduled days.
Key Attractions: Varkala Cliff, Papanasam Beach, Janardanaswamy temple
Activities: Cliff walks, yoga sessions, beach swims, ayurvedic massages
How to Reach: Trivandrum Airport is about 50 km away, and the railway station is Kollam Junction.
12.Chikmagalur, Karnataka
A hill town in Karnataka with misty mountains, rolling coffee estates, and forested hills that set a soothing pace and allow you to go through one of the best spots among places to visit in South India, and experience the serenity of nature where the sun spills over Mullayanagiri (the highest peak in the state) with waterfalls like Habbe & Jhari.
Key Attractions: Mullayanagiri Peak, Baba Budangiri, and coffee plantations
Activities: Trekking, plantation walks, waterfall visits
How to reach: Mangalore Airport is about 140 km away, with easy road access from Bengaluru.
13. Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Standing at the southern tip of the country, the city offers India’s best coastal town with rare sunrise and sunset views over the ocean. The Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. All these three meet here and create a most powerful and meditative atmosphere. From the serene Vivekanandan Rock Memorial to the towering Thiruvalluvar Statue, it is a unique place to visit in South India.
Key Attractions: Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue
Activities: Sunrise and sunset viewing, ferry rides, sightseeing
How to Reach: The nearest airport is 85 km away, and the railway station is Kanyakumari (CAPE).
14. Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
This coastal town in Tamil Nadu is home to historic significance; it is believed that it was a thriving port during the Pallava dynasty. The place is famous for its ancient temples and masterpieces of artistry in rock carvings. If looking for a spiritual places to visit in South India, visiting Mahabalipuram would be a great pick.
Key attractions: Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, and Arjuna’s Penance
Activities: Monuments walks, beach strolls, local shopping
How to Reach: Chennai Airport is about 55 km away, and the railway station is Chennai Central (MAS).
15. Bandipur, Karnataka
Bandipur in Karnataka is where the wild still feel untouched and alive. This lush national park is widely known for its dense forests, open grasslands, and rich wildlife. As it is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, you may spot many animals while driving through jungle roads, like elephants, deer, peacocks, etc, with the natural beauty and wildlife make this one of the best places to visit in South India.
Key Attraction: Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Himavad Gopalaswamy Temple
Activities: Jungle safaris, Nature walks, wildlife photography
How to reach: Mysore is 80 km away, located on the Bengaluru-Ooty highway.
16. Sirsi, Karnataka
Located in the Western Ghats region, the place offers you an amazing viewpoint by covering the surroundings with dense forest, waterfalls, temples and cultural sites, rather than only commercial tourism, all these make it a good place to visit in South India.
Key Attractions: Marikamba Temple, Unchali Falls, Sathodi Falls and Banavasi.
Activities: Visit temples, explore waterfalls, and nature walk
How to Reach: The nearest airport is Hubli (about 100 km away), and the railway station is Hubli.
17. Coonoor, Tamil Nadu
Coonoor is one of the main tourist places to visit in South India, sitting at an altitude of about 1850 metres. The Coornoor is widely known in India for its tea plantations, cool climate, and quiet surroundings. It also offers you the old charm with colonial-era buildings, scenic viewpoints and open landscape.
Key Attraction: Sim’s Park, Dolphin’s Nose, and Lamb’s Rock
Activities: Explore the tea plantation, short treks.
How to Reach: The nearest airport is 70 km away and is connected by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway station.
18. Devikulam, Kerala
This small town is located near Munnar in the Idukki district. This place is less crowded than Munnar and offers you a cool climate, rolling tea plantations, and quiet surroundings. If someone is looking for peace, nature, and short hill getaways, choosing Devikulam among places to visit in South India would be the best pick.
Key Attractions: Devikulam Lake, tea estates and Pallivasal area.
Activities: Nature walks, photography, and plantation visits.
How to Reach: The Nearest airport is Cochin about 120 km away, and the nearest railway station is Aluva.
19. Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh
This valley is situated in the hill region of Visakhapatnam in the Eastern Ghats. This hill station provides you with a relaxed environment and scenic landscape from the moment you step into the town, making it suitable for nature-focused and offbeat travel. Borra Cave replaces outside chaos by offering echoing silence, cool air, million year million-year-old rocks.
Key Attractions: Borra Caves, Araku Coffee Museum, and Tribal Museum.
Activities: Visit the Coffee plantation, sightseeing with a nature walk.
How to Reach: The nearest airport is Visakhapatnam about 115 km away.
20. Horsley Hills
Horsley Hills is a hill station located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, close to the Karnataka border. Situated at an elevation of about 1,265 metres, it is known for its cool climate, dense forests, and peaceful surroundings. This is also known as the “Ooty of Andhra Pradesh”, but it is less crowded than Ooty and offers you the same vibes.
Key attractions: Horsley Hills viewpoint, Gali Banda and Environmental park.
Activities: Nature walks, short treks, and photography points.
How to Reach: The Nearest airport is Tirupati about 95 km away, and the railway station is Madanapalle Road.
Conclusion
South India itself is a land of immense beauty and everyone will have a unique experience in each place they visit. Beginning with the spectacular temples of the past to the beautiful backwaters of Kerala, the places to visit in South India are a perfect blend of culture, wild and lazy. Therefore, irrespective of whether it is a weekend trip or an adventurous trip, the best famous places in South India are there for you.
So pack your bags and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through the magical lands of South India, where every corner promises adventure and beauty! Let Capture A Trip, a reliable and well-established tour operator, help you make your dream of exploring the best places to visit in South India a reality, ensuring every moment of your journey is memorable and stress-free!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best tourist places to visit in South India?
The most recommended places for tourism in southern India include the backwaters in Kerala, the monuments in Hampi, and the hill stations of Ooty and Coorg.
2. Which South Indian state is best for tourism?
Kerala is believed to be the best state to visit in South India for tourists as it comprises the beauty of backwaters, green valleys, and cultural values.
3. What are the unique places in South India?
Some of the exclusive locations in South India are the cave temples at Mahabalipuram, the historical city of Mysore and the shopping streets of Pondicherry.
4. Which is the coldest tourist place in South India?
Ooty is situated in the Nilgiri Hills, and people describe it as the coldest place for tourist attractions in South India during winter.
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