A List of Places to Visit in South India This Summer

Drawing flavour from its blissful backwaters, abundant forests and glorious valleys, blended with a hint of history, Southern India offers the perfect recipe for a complete travel experience. Here we’ve listed some of the best places to visit in South India for a perfectly enriching and complete getaway.

1. Munnar

Dubbed the ‘Kashmir of South India’, misty Munnar is located in Kerala’s Idukki district. One of the most exceptionally beautiful places to visit in South India, this splendid marvel is a paradise for nature lovers with evergreen plantations, gushing waterfalls and an amazing biodiversity. Offering experiences like wildlife safari, boating, rock climbing and high-altitude trekking, the town is well-suited for adventure enthusiasts. Moreover, art theatres, music and dance centres here zealously beckon history, culture and art aficionados. When in Munnar, one can visit the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate to explore tea’s history, take a jeep safari at Eravikulam National Park, trek to Echo Point and Lakkam Waterfalls and enjoy the legendary Kalaripayattu Show for a memorable experience. 

2. Ooty 

Boasting an abundance of tea estates, scenic lakes, bountiful gardens and mountainscapes, Ooty has been a premier summer resort town in South India since the British Raj and enjoys the title ‘Queen of Hill Stations’. With plenty of natural locations to relax at, like the Catherine Waterfalls, Botanical Garden, Ooty Lake and Deer Park, this town also houses thematic museums like the Wax World Museum and Honey-Bee Museum, as well as architecturally striking constructs like the St. Stephen’s Church, Mariamman Temple and Stone House. One of the most visually appealing places to visit in South India, a ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Toy Train here promises the most picturesque peeks into Ooty’s hamlets!

3. Coorg

Uniquely charming with its diverse heritage, spellbinding natural beauty, distinct cuisine and religious significance, Coorg offers an experience different from all other places in South India. While adventure buffs can explore the terrains through trekking, whitewater rafting or quad-biking, photographers and nature lovers can spot rare animal species at Nagarhole National Park and Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary or capture the beauty of Abbey Falls. Culture buffs can visit Namdroling Monastery since Coorg is the only place in Southern India with a Tibetan Settlement. Also, if you’re a foodie, remember that the flavours of Coorg are exceptional, especially in the non-vegetarian wing!

Read More: Pench and Tadoba National Park: An Unforgettable Wildlife Safari​

4. Kodaikanal

Nestled in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal is a relaxed and refreshing abode of shola forests, high waterfalls and spectacular viewpoints. With the star-shaped Kodai lake at its heart, the deep Guna Caves awaiting exploration and 6,600 m high Dolphin’s Nose overlooking verdant valleys, this hill station is a delight for peace seekers, terrain troopers and nature photographers. Dotted with laid-back cafes, bakeries as well as yoga and meditation centres, Kodaikanal is one of the leisurely places to visit in South India, best explored as per one’s own palate and preferences.

5. Thekkady

Set along the banks of the Periyar River, Thekkady is surrounded by tropical forests and grassland savannas expanding over green hill slopes. Blessed with an incredible wildlife, spice plantations and tea, coffee & cardamom estates, the unspoiled beauty here can be explored in many exciting ways. One can take a bamboo rafting tour around the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, enjoy elephant rides through spice plantations and take off-the-road jeep safaris for extravagant sightseeing. Chellar Kovil, Anakkara and Mangla Devi Temple here add a quaint charm to make this one of the most picturesque places to visit in South India.

Read More: 6 Breathtaking Kerala Waterfalls You Must Visit

6. Chikmagalur

If you’re a nature lover and a coffee enthusiast, then Chikmagalur is where you’ll find your personal paradise! With acres of coffee estates enhancing the environs, this city in Karnataka is India’s very own coffee land. Trekkers and photographers flock here to explore peaks like the Mullayanagiri, Kudremukh and Bababundangiri hills and marvel at gorgeous spectacles from the top. Here, you can laze under the blue sky and revive the long-lost picnic culture. Plus, species-spotting at the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and rafting in Bhadra River add a sense of adventure. If you’re looking to spend your time outdoors, Chikmagalur is one of the best places to visit in South India.

7. Wayanad

Naturally, culturally and historically rich Wayanad’s motto: ‘Way Beyond’ sums up the unparalleled beauty that attracts troops of tourists to its rural lands every year. With Edakkal Caves preserving stories of its historical past from the Neolithic Age and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary harboring vast populations of elephants, tigers and leopards, this green paradise appeals to both history and nature lovers. One can also visit Wayanad’s famous trekking points like Chembra Peak and Banasura Hill or Meenmutty and Soochipara waterfalls. There are also ancient temples, grand dams and many indigenous tribes here that continue to enthral travellers.

Now that you are spoilt for choice with so many places to visit in South India, deciding upon one destination isn’t an easy thing to do. Fret not and plan your trip with MakeMyTrip for a hassle-free holiday experience. 

Book South India Holidays Now!