Travel Tips for South India: 10 Places to Fall in Love, Marvel, and Stay

If you are searching for travel tips for South India, you are probably thinking of Kerala or Tamil Nadu. Indeed, these two states located in the far south of the subcontinent are a popular choice for any South India trip. Tropical landscapes, lush mountains, tea plantations, ancient temples, and Hindu pilgrimage sites make up a large part of these two states. However, South India has a lot more to offer – Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka are rich with attractions – bustling metropolises, historic temples, medieval cities and palaces, and peaceful beaches.

Here are our recommendations for the top 10 places in South India you must visit!

Mumbai

A part of Maharashtra in Western India, Mumbai is located in the southern half of India. With more than 22 million inhabitants, Mumbai is one of the largest and definitely one of the most exciting cities in the world. There is always something happening everywhere. It is also the location of our India Someday office and home to many of our employees.

As tourists, you will most likely stay in South Mumbai, where most of the major attractions are located. Visit the Gateway of India and the grand Taj Mahal hotel. Take a taxi from there and weave through the traffic past magnificent colonial buildings like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and St Thomas Cathedral. Drive past luxurious hotels and chic apartments toward Malabar Hill, take a detour to the Dhobi Ghats, India’s largest outdoor laundry, and dine at the legendary Cafe Leopold at Colaba Causeway. Catch a sunset at Marine Drive, also known as the Queen’s Necklace.

If you enjoy walking and have time to spare, you can visit the many art galleries around Kala Ghoda, or explore the trendy Bandra neighborhood with its old villas and a huge range of cafes and restaurants.

Mumbai is one of the most fascinating places in the world, a melting pot of tradition and modernity, of Indian and Western influences. It is also a perfect starting point for a trip to South India.

Pondicherry

A tiny, picturesque coastal town in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry was once the headquarters of French India. Even today, you can find a French vibe throughout the city, with names like Rue Souffren, Cafe des Arts, Crepe Suzette, or Hotel La Promenade. Tourists find a taste of home in this European-influenced town in the middle of South India. Explore the Catholic churches, gorge on European cuisine, or relax at one of the beaches.

A must-do in Pondicherry is a day trip to the planned city of Auroville. Dive deeper into Indian culture by visiting the Sri Aurobindo Ashram or the Hindu Temple where hundreds of people gather after dark to receive blessings from the temple elephant.

Hampi

Italy has ancient Rome, Cambodia has Angkor Wat, and India has Hampi. The South Indian ruined city dates back to the mid-14th century, during the reign of Vijayanagar rulers, who built magnificent palaces and temples amidst a bizarre rocky landscape and lived there in luxury. We recommend at least two days to explore the palace and temple ruins, since it is a vast area that can be easily explored on foot. After a quick visit to the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi Bazaar, for example, you can walk to the Vitthala Temple. Along the way, you may have to navigate around a herd of cows, and you will repeatedly come across small stalls where you can pause to enjoy fresh coconut water or a chai. The remaining sites, such as the Lotus Mahal or the Hanuman Temple, can be explored by rickshaw or bicycle.

Of course, you can also spend your days in Hampi simply lounging in a hammock with views of the green rice fields and the gently flowing river.

From Hampi, you can then continue your journey to Kerala.

Madurai

The famous Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai is one of the most impressive, oldest, and still active temples in India, and a must-visit on your trip to South India. To get the ultimate experience, you should visit the temple complex twice: once during the evening, when the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is celebrated with great fanfare, and once during the day, when a large number of pilgrims from all over the country pray at the shrine, celebrate sacred ceremonies, and even unpack their picnics in the courtyard during lunch. You will notice a lively hustle and bustle in this vibrant temple, a great example of how spirituality is integrated into everyday life in India.

If you have time, you can also visit the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, an old palace in Madurai. Every evening, a light and dance show takes place there.

Fort Kochi

You might have seen the widely photographed Chinese fishing nets, one of the biggest attractions of Fort Kochi, a port city in Kerala once ruled by the Portuguese. Obviously, a photo-stop at the fishing nets is a must, along with a visit to St Francis Church, the Santa Cruz Basilica, the Dutch Palace, the synagogue in Mattancherry, and the largest spice market in the country.

The city also has an impressive art scene. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the largest contemporary art exhibition in India, takes place in Fort Kochi every winter. There are also a variety of shops with products from local designers and art galleries.

Fort Kochi is an oasis and one of the places in India that we love to visit repeatedly and have never found boring. This is why this port city is one of the top travel tips for South India. Thanks to the city’s good transportation connections, it is the ideal starting point for any Kerala vacation.

Kerala Backwaters

The  backwaters of Kerala are an extensive network of waterways like rivers, lakes, and canals, winding through many small villages located by the water. A beautiful place to relax and unwind, the Kerala backwaters are a must visit on a trip to South India.

For a unique, luxurious experience, you can stay on a houseboat for the night in the backwaters. Alternatively, you can go for a boat ride or paddle a canoe over the waters, observing the local life and daily hustle along the water’s edge. Another option is renting a homestay with a view of the water – this way, you get a direct insight into the lives of the locals. If you prefer to be more active, explore the villages and backwaters by bicycle or on foot. The most famous and touristy place in the backwaters is Alleppey. However, Kumarakom, a peninsula near Kottayam, is much more authentic.

Houseboat in the backwaters of Alleppey

Chettinad

Popular among art and architecture lovers, Chettinad was named after the Chettiar, a Tamil merchant caste that became wealthy through trade with the rest of Asia and invested some of their fortune in magnificent residences. Today, many of these grand houses are empty, but some can be visited, while some can even be stayed at. The region around the city of Karaikkudi is still one of the hidden travel tips for South India.

You might find it difficult to tear yourself away from the cozy lounges in the shaded courtyards, but you have to visit the surrounding villages. The architecture is a mix of Tami design, colonial style, and Art Deco.

(Credit: David Tarifa – Flickr)

Munnar

If the tropical coast of Kerala or the vast plains of Tamil Nadu get too hot for you, visit the hill station of Munnar, a verdant town in the Western Ghats. Easily accessible from the backwaters and Fort Kochi in Kerala as well as from Madurai in Tamil Nadu, the peaceful town of Munnar is a good addition in the South India tour ideas.

Stay at the small hotels or homestays outside of Munnar Bazaar. Go for a long hike through the forests with spice and tea plantations, and end the afternoon with fresh tea and a piece of chocolate made from locally harvested cocoa. Enjoy the gorgeous sunset at the end of the day.

If you want some activity, visit the Tea Museum and try your hand at picking tea! Plus, the road trip to the hill station is extremely scenic.

Thanjavur

If you were impressed by the temple in Madurai, Thanjavur, or Tanjore, will not disappoint you. The Brihadeshwara Temple, more than a 1000 years old, is one of the oldest temples in South India. Everything in this temple is gigantic – the statue of the black Nandi, Lord Shiva’s vehicle in Hindu mythology, the Shiva Lingam, the phallic symbol of Shiva, as well as the tower above the sanctum.

Built by the architects of the Chola dynasty, the temple complex is so impressive that you could spend hours exploring and admiring the intricate structures or attending the ceremonies. If you are interested in temple architecture, Thanjavur is a must-see destination.

Mysore

Mysore is famous in India and the world for four major things: sandalwood, incense sticks, silk, and the Maharaja Palace, whose facade is illuminated by 90,000 light bulbs every day.

The vibrant Devaraja Market is a vegetable and flower market, a feast for the senses. After this, take a rickshaw to Chamundi Hill, Chamundeshwari Temple dedicated to Goddess Durga, and the massive black Nandi. You can also visit the summer palace of the Tiger of Mysore in Srirangapatnam. You can also relax with a cold beer or hot tea at  a rooftop terrace at one of the palaces.

Mysore also has many yoga centers, particularly in the Gokulam neighborhood, where you can practice Ashtanga Yoga. We at India Someday always enjoy returning to Mysore, and we want to highlight this place as one of the special travel tips for South India.

Feeling intrigued by South India?

This list covers just a few travel tips for South India. There’s so much more to see! For nature lovers, we plan more time in the Western Ghats, the mountain range that separates Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Here, national parks like the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and hill stations such as Wayanad, Kodaikanal, or Ooty are waiting to be explored.

From Pondicherry, it’s not far to Tiruvannamalai with its sacred mountain Arunachala, where meditation retreats are offered. Also easily reachable from Pondicherry is Mahabalipuram, which has made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage list due to its numerous medieval temples.

From Madurai, it’s worth taking a detour to the southernmost tip of India, Kanyakumari, one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites. As you can see, South India is incredibly diverse.

To fully experience this diversity while enjoying a relaxing vacation, we are happy to assist with the planning. Tell us about your plans in our 2-minute form, and we’ll get started!