Top 10 Best Places To Visit in South India on Your Next Trip

By Alice Ross | ASIA

Sep 24
best places to visit in south india

Visiting in India itself is a fascinating experience for anyone as this country offers a range of regions with unique geographical and climatic settings, diverse cultures and religions, an extensive variety of traditions and customs.

India boasts some of the world's most magnificent travel destinations worth of a visit such as picturesque magnificence of hill stations, snow-peaked mountains, pristine beaches, clear lakes, remarkable islands, ancient palaces, wildlife, and deserts.

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South India alone brags its own unique brand of fascination on visitors who roam down the coastline of India to its Southern end. Gifted with heartfelt sunshine, lavish foliage, and cushioned by three beautiful oceans, South India is worth visiting part of the country.

From remarkable sceneries to soothing spas to mystical cleansing, a trip to this region will surely revitalize your mind, body, and soul. The striking traditions, humble tribes, and delicious gastronomy whet your desire to travel leaving you asking for more.

An exhilarating landscape scattered with old temples and fascinating resorts, exploring this part of the country will bring you through a labyrinth of history and time that will make your travel unforgettable.

With the countless tourist trappings, South India has always enticed travelers from different parts of the world. Though this unique region has an abundant amount of excellent spots to go, we chose out top 10 favorite places to visit in South India on your next trip that makes for the most amazing reward for yourself.

1. Idukki

The Treasure House of Spices

The Treasure House of Spices

Via en.wikipedia.org

Located at 2500-feet above the sea level, Idukki is one of the most stunning districts of the state of Kerala. If you want to experience what really the south of India has to offer, this place should be included in your itinerary.

The district of Idukki has much to offer that staying here for a week is not enough for you to experience them all. Bordered by the Western Ghats in the East, this small destination has a lot of thin steep-sided vales.

On the top of this, this South India destination boasts the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary that fascinates tourists for its big wildlife forest. It is rich in both fauna and flora. By going here you might easily see different animals such as the sambhar, elephant, deer next to a wide range of birds and snakes such as the laughing thrush, jungle foul, and others. Without a doubt, visiting this place is definitely a pleasure for everyone who is fascinated by nature and wildlife.

2. Fort Kochi

Gateway to Kerala

 Fort Kochi

Another one from the state of Kerala, Kochi also made it to our list of 10 best places to visit in South India for an apparent reason. This is a fascinating city that has had a very diverse influence. The British, Arabs, Dutch, Portuguese, and Chinese have had a fair share of the mark left in this city.

Most people who are familiar with this place recognize it from images of the well-known Chinese fishing nets that line the seaside. Fort Kochi is filled with historical sites and architecture and is a wonderful place to wander around and explore under your own steam. This is also a perfect place to get an Ayurvedic treatment and see a Kathakali dance performance.

3. Alleppey

Venice of East

Alleppey

It's called Venice of the east for its famous backwater tourism. What you'll love most about it are the scenic backwaters and houseboats which float on the serene backwaters.

Above all, Alleppey houseboats offer visitors a great opportunity to enjoy the rich charm of backwaters the best way possible. So, if you're planning to visit one of the south's backwater destinations, then this is the best place you may end up at.

Furthermore, it's famous for the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat race that's being organized annually. Big snake boats are used by the teams of rowers, trying to compete for the trophy founded by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister.

4. Chennai

The Detroit of India

Chennai

Chennai is a big city packed with skyscrapers, hotels, and offices, but it's still possible for you to find a great solace and serenity in this place. This beautiful city is actually snuggled by the naturally sanctified Bay of Bengal and has a fair share of sparkling beaches and pristine foliage.

What claims to be one of the longest beaches in the world, Marina Beach, offers great opportunities for romantic walks along with pampering in different exhilarating watersports.

Ancient landmarks such as Vivekananda House and Museum and Madras War Cemetery offer this place a distinctive personality. A lot of blessed churches and temples add a divine dash to core essence of the city and literally leave one reveling over their choice of buying plane tickets onboard Chennai flights.

5. Ooty

Queen of Hill Stations

Ooty

This place is positioned at an elevation of 2, 240 meters above sea level and is, therefore, a pleasant honeymoon spot. Dubbed as the 'Queen of Hill Stations', Ooty is where you can be greeted by a pleasant charm of bright sunshine, great mountains, and wonderful foliage that can leave you asking for more.

The weather here is simply soul-soothing and so are the panoramic sights of beautiful tea plantations speckled all over this mesmerizing hill station. It's for the charming sites such as Annamalai Temple, Doddabetta peak, Botanical Gardens, and Ooty Lake that you can admire while here.

6. Coonoor

Little Switzerland

Coonoor

Your South India trip is not complete without experiencing the beauty offered by Coonoor. This city is a most famous hill station in the Nilgiri hills and situated almost 19 kilometers from Ooty, which will surely remind you of some places in Europe.

Coonoor is the second biggest hill station in the Nilgiri hills and also well-known for the Sim's Park. The Sim's park is one of the most popular tourist attractions that were built in the year 1874 and the best assembly of some of the distinctive trees and vegetation.

On top of this, some of the other famous sights for tourist are Lamb's Rock, Lady Canning's Seat, and Dolphin's Nose. Moreover, if you're in search of some exciting outdoor activities, then this place has a lot of mounds which are ideal for hiking. On top of this, fishing in Sita Devi Lake is another exciting activity you may do here.

7. Tirupati

Best Heritage City

Tirupati

Tirupati is a sure glee for all people who book flights for a holiday in India. Here you will experience the immersing divine Hindu spirituality of the country and unmatchable cultural combination.

Maybe the most popular pilgrimage site in India, Tirupati is a little town in the Andhra Pradesh state and is crowded by visitors from all different parts of the world. The town's main attraction is an ancient temple located on a hill in the mountain range of Tirumala.

This holy temple is devoted to lord Vishnu, and witnesses crowds of cultural and devotees enthusiasts alike going here for the divine 'Tirupati Darshan. It's supposedly the richest temple in India and catches the extravagant of crowds of International travelers setting them on a mission for affordable tickets on India flights. The eternal architectural splendor of the temple is also one of the main reasons for visiting.

8. Peermade

Hill of the Peer

Peermade

Located 915 meters above sea level, Peermade is yet another must-visit southern Indian destination. This place is one of the most beautiful hill stations you will find in Southern India.

Peermade was once a summer getaway for the Maharajas of Travancore, but nowadays it has much more things to offer. In this beautiful hill resort, you can find extensive tea, coffee, rubber, eucalyptus, and cardamom plantations alongside natural pine forests and grasslands.

On the top of this, the waterfall located in this area is another great attraction for visitors. And, if ever you're in search of adventure, then there are a lot of trekking trails. Horse riding and cycling are some other activities you shouldn't miss when you visit Peermade.

9. Kumarakom

Kashmir of South

Kumarakom

Kumarakom is another exceptional destination for those who are looking for a nature retreat. This place is located along the remarkable Vembanad Lake. It offers its visitors an outstanding opportunity to enjoy the appeal of backwater tourism, houseboat, and Ayurvedic resort retreat, and exploration of Kumarakom bird sanctuary.

The picturesque beauty of the Bird sanctuary and the tourist resorts plus the backwaters make Kumarakom deserve a spot in the list of 10 best places to visit in South India.

10. Hampi

The City Of Ruins

Hampi

The main claim to fame of Hampi is its captivating temples and historical sites that are not only listed on our top 10 best places to visit in South India but also on UNESCO's World Heritage sites.

Going to this prehistoric town, which was once a remarkable capital of Vijayanagar, offers you with a great chance of relaxing into the magnificent heritage and South Indian history. Hampi is home to more than 500 monuments which offer a mesmerizing glance into local culture and history.

Hampi

Countless spectacular sites all over Hampi also leave one charmed to the depths of its being. It's actually one of the main rewards you can get for visiting the country of India.

South India, arguably a fascinating Indian region, attracts hundreds of thousands of travelers from different parts of the world every year.

It has an awe-inspiring mixture of tourist trappings that vary from dazzling beaches to historic monuments and spectacular temple architecture to indulging hospitality of the local. The mesmerizing foliage and rich flora and fauna keep the nature-lover individuals flocking into this part of India all time of the year.

Hopefully, our list of top 10 best places to visit in South India helped you in making your itinerary for when you are going to visit the country. Do you know any must-visit place in India we didn't mention? Tell us about it in the comment below!

Rating: 4.5 (2 votes)

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Alice Ross, a long-term traveler who left the corporate world to travel the world. I chose to live life on my own phase and live day by day while immersing myself in new experiences, new knowledge, and new people in a different walk of life I met along the way.

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(15) comments

SS February 14, 2017

Thanks for the head up! Will keep this in mind!

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MB Patil March 1, 2017

Wonderful blog! I truly love how it’s easy on my eyes as well as the info are well written. I am wondering how I may be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which need to do the trick! Have a nice day!

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    Alice Ross February 10, 2018

    Thank you for supporting my blog <3

    Reply
kanika yadav July 19, 2017

nice post to share
thanks a lot for this valuable information sharing.

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kanika yadav July 22, 2017

10 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN SOUTH INDIA IS GREAT ARTICLE
THANKS A LOT FOR SHARING THIS ONE.

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shalini rana July 31, 2017

10 places to visit in south india is a very great article thank u for sharing this one.

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Poonam September 27, 2017

Thanks for sharing about 10 best places to visit in South India. I really like this post. Your blog is very helpful for me.

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Brian Norman October 10, 2017

Yes true so many places are in south india to visit.
After reading this now i will plan to go on trip with my family .
Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Reply
    Alice Ross February 10, 2018

    Thank you! Hope you will have a great time with your family there 😀

    Reply
Andaman Tour Travel October 27, 2017

Thank you for sharing such an informative article.

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Holiday mango travel November 2, 2017

Hi,

Thank you for sharing such an article. Because am also love to travel. This article so helpful for me.

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    Andaman Bliss January 22, 2018

    Thank you for sharing such an informative article.

    Reply
      Alice Ross February 10, 2018

      Thank you for supporting me 🙂

      Reply
Lifemadeasy Holidays June 6, 2018

Thank You for this amazing article… Can you please give me some more information about the places in Kerala to visit in the monsoon season?

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    Alice Ross June 8, 2018

    Thank you! I would suggest Ashtamudi lake or Alappuzha, they’re always the top destinations to visit. I can’t say much in the comment, but I’m sure my fellow bloggers have covered this topic already, so give it a simple google search!

    Reply
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