South India is famous for its tourist places, as one can enjoy the pristine beaches, waterfalls, hill stations, etc. in the southern states of India. Kerala and Karnataka are the two popular states because of the pleasant weather and monsoon. Tamilnadu is another state where one can enjoy pilgrimage visits, hill station vacations, beach visits, etc. Every destination in South India has its attraction with lush greeneries, misty hills, etc. Here we will discuss the places to visit in South India to make your holidaying experience a memorable one.
1. Coonoor, Tamilnadu
The first place that comes under this list for best places in South India is Coonoor. It is in Tamilnadu state where one can enjoy the lush greeneries of Nilgiris. This place serves as a piece of heaven for visitors to enjoy their romantic trip and melt in the beauty of nature. With its cool breezes blowing over the land, it serves as one of the best places to visit in South India. Visit this place during summer to enjoy the pleasant weather condition.
Major Tourist Attractions Coonoor, Tamilnadu: Droog Fort, St. George Church, Ketty & Hidden Valley, and Sim’s Park
Things To Do in Coonoor, Tamilnadu: Sightseeing, Nature walking, Trekking
Best Time To Visit Coonoor, Tamilnadu: October to March
2. Wayanad, Kerala
Wayanad is a picturesque district in the state of Kerala, and it serves as the top choice for tourists to visit in Summer. The land is full of beautiful paddy fields, that adds beauty to this place. With rich paddy fields, it is known as the green paradise that lies in the Western Ghats and enjoys the monsoon wind. The land is full of flora and fauna, so it is best to explore beauty through nature walks.
Major Tourist Attractions at Wayanad, Kerala: Edakkal Caves, Ambukuthi Hills, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Tiger Reserve, and Nagarhole National Park
Things To Do in Wayanad, Kerala: River Rafting, Trekking, Visiting Edakkal Caves
Best Time To Visit Wayanad, Kerala: October to May
3. Ooty, Tamilnadu
One of the famous hill stations in Tamilnadu is Ooty, which is famous for tea estates. One can enjoy the picturesque view of gardens, tea estates, hilly tracks, and pristine lakes, etc. A perfect place for honeymooners, and plan to make a stay for at least 3 days. Not only honeymooners, but the place also welcomes families and friends too with its pleasant weather. To take a break from the summer heat, plan your vacation to Ooty with your spouse or family members.
Major Tourist Attractions at Ooty, Tamilnadu: Ooty Rose Gardens, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Kalhatti Falls, Tiger Hills, Thread Garden, Ooty Lake, Emerald Lake, and Doddabetta Peak
Things To Do in Ooty, Tamilnadu: Toy train riding, Trekking, Sightseeing, Photo shooting
Best Time To Visit Ooty, Tamilnadu: October to June
4. Coorg, Karnataka
If you are planning for a summer vacation to one of the holiday destinations in South India, then Coorg will be the right place. The hill station in Karnataka boasts cloudy mountain peaks, stunning waterfalls, etc. Coorg serves as the favourite place for honeymoon couples in South India. Plan your trip to Coorg in such a way covering the spice and coffee plantations too in your list. Spend 3 days in Coorg to explore the major tourist attractions.
Major Tourist Attractions at Coorg, Karnataka: Abbey Falls, Raja’s Seat, Nisargadhama, Iruppu Falls, Nagarhole National Park, Brahmagiri Peak, Dubare Elephant Camp
Things To Do in Coorg, Karnataka: Boating, River Rafting, Trekking, Camping
Best Time To Visit Coorg, Karnataka: September to June
5. Nandi Hills, Karnataka
The popular weekend getaway in Karnataka for the locals is Nandi Hills. The place owns this name due to the presence of Nandi Idol in the Yoga Nandeeshwara Temple. The temple is present on the hilltop, and one can see the Nandi Idol outside the temple. The place is a piece of heaven for nature lovers and adventure seekers, as locals can reach the place by motorbike riding. During summer, most locals choose this place as a picnic spot to get some relief from their work and spend some time here with their families and friends.
Major Tourist Attractions at Nandi Hills, Karnataka: Nandi Temple, Tipu’s Drop, Brahmashram, Amrita Sarovar
Things To Do in Nandi Hills, Karnataka: Biking, Shopping, Cycling, Paragliding
Best Time To Visit Nandi Hills, Karnataka: October to June
6. Yelagiri, Tamilnadu
For best adventurous activities, explore this tourist spot in Tamilnadu. The place serves as the home to the purest form of honey. Though the place is not much popular, it is now gaining popularity among South Indians. Starting from trekking to paragliding, hiking, you have a lot more activities to explore. Most tourists visit this place at the end of May to participate in the annual summer festival. An attractive landscape and thrilling adventurous activities make this spot, one of the best places to visit in South India.
Major Tourist Attractions at Yelagiri, Tamilnadu: Jalagamparai Falls, Swamimalai Hills, Punganur Lake, Velavan Temple, Nilavoor Lake
Things To Do in Yelagiri, Tamilnadu: Participating in Summer Festival, Paragliding, Trekking, Hiking, Nature Walking
Best Time To Visit Yelagiri, Tamilnadu: November to February
7. Gokarna, Karnataka
The place serves as both for vacation and pilgrimage visits, as it is famous for temples and beaches. When you consider the beaches of Goa, it is over-crowded, but the beaches in Gokarna are free from crowds and give you calm and peace. The weather condition in Gokarna is so good that you don’t like to leave the place after your vacation. Enjoy the beautiful views of the beaches and visit the temples to get some peace.
Major Tourist Attractions at Gokarna, Karnataka: Kudle Beach, Om Beach, Mahabaleshwara Temple, Gokarna Beach, Yana
Things To Do in Gokarna, Karnataka: Banana Boat Riding, Shopping, Trekking, Boating
Best Time To Visit Gokarna, Karnataka: October to March
8. Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu
The place is famous for impressive beaches, carved temples, and architectural caves and sculptures. The spot serves as to be perfect for religious travellers and people who love to explore history. Mahabalipuram boasts this name due to the demon king named Mahabali, as it was the home to the king once. The place lies along the Bay of Bengal Coastline. Enjoy the peace of Mahabalipuram, which you will not get at any other place.
Major Tourist Attractions at Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu: Shore Temple, Five Rathas, Mahabalipuram Beach, Alamparai Fort, Arjuna’s Penance
Things To Do in Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu: Shopping, Strolling around the beach, Exploring historical statues, Visiting temples
Best Time To Visit Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu: Throughout the year
9. Thekkady, Kerala
Thekkady is the perfect place to visit in South India during the summer. The place boasts the largest tiger reserve in India. Thekkady is the home to rich spice plantations, lush greeneries, tea estates, etc. The place attracts plenty of tourists to enjoy the pleasant climate and natural beauty. Though the best time to visit this place is summer, one can still visit the place all year round. Explore exotic species of animals in the Thekkady and never miss out on this place in your list of holiday vacation spots.
Major Tourist Attractions at Thekkady, Kerala: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Elephant Junction Thekkady, Kadathanadan Kalari Centre, Periyar Lake, and Mangla Devi Temple
Things To Do in Thekkady, Kerala: Boating, Sightseeing, Visiting tiger reserve, Bamboo rafting
Best Time To Visit Thekkady, Kerala: Throughout the year & best during summer
Conclusion
Some other places that you can show your interest to visit include Varkala, Idukki, Hampi, Kudremukh, Puducherry, Alleppey, Yercaud, Ponmudi Hills, Goa, etc. The best time to visit South India is from September to June. At that time, you can explore the hill stations in Tamilnadu, and other places in Kerala and Karnataka. With so many best spots in South India, plan your itinerary in such a way to complete visiting most of the above-mentioned places.