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10 Best Places to Visit in South India- For First-Time International Travellers
South India is the gentlest, greenest introduction to the country and for many travellers, the most rewarding. Instead of one overwhelming city after another, you get tea-covered hills, palm-fringed canals, temples taller than office blocks, surreal ancient ruins and a coastline made for slow days. It's spread across three main states: Kerala (backwaters and hill stations), Tamil Nadu (temples and coast) and Karnataka (ruins and palaces), with the little French enclave of Puducherry thrown in.
You can't see all of it in one trip, so here are the ten places in South India international visitors fall for most- what makes each special, what not to miss, and how they fit together into a journey.
The 10 Best Places in South at a glance:
- Alleppey & the Kerala Backwaters- houseboats and waterways
- Munnar- tea hills and cool mountain air
- Fort Kochi- colonial old town and Chinese fishing nets
- Thekkady & Periyar- spice plantations and wildlife
- Madurai- the spectacular Meenakshi Temple
- Mahabalipuram- UNESCO shore temples by the sea
- Pondicherry- The French Quarter and Auroville
- Hampi- UNESCO ruins in a boulder landscape
- Mysore- The City of Palaces
- Coorg- Coffee country, the "Scotland of India"
1. Alleppey & the Kerala Backwaters
If you do one thing in South India, make it this. The backwaters are a vast network of canals, lagoons and lakes running inland from the coast, and Alleppey (Alappuzha) is the hub. The signature experience is an overnight cruise on a kettuvallam- a converted rice barge fitted out as a private houseboat, complete with bedrooms, a deck and a cook who serves fresh Keralan fish curry as you drift past villages, paddy fields and swaying coconut palms.
Don't miss: a sunset cruise across Vembanad Lake; watching daily village life unfold along the narrower canals; the thunderous Nehru Trophy snake-boat race if you visit in August.
Plan it: Always choose at least one overnight on a private houseboat over a quick day trip- the magic is in the early morning and dusk. October to March has the best weather.
This is the heart of our Exotic Kerala tour.
2. Munnar
Climb into the Western Ghats and the landscape turns into an endless green carpet. Munnar, at around 1,600 metres, is Kerala's most famous hill station- rolling tea estates, cool misty air and winding roads with a viewpoint around every bend. It's a welcome change of pace and temperature after the coast.
Don't miss: Eravikulam National Park, home to the rare Nilgiri tahr; the Tea Museum to see how the leaf is processed; Mattupetty Dam and the Top Station viewpoint. If you're extraordinarily lucky, you'll catch the Neelakurinji flowers that blanket the hills in purple- but only once every 12 years.
Plan it: The nearest airport is Kochi (COK), about 110 km away. Munnar is lovely year-round and doubles as a cool escape between April and June.
3. Fort Kochi (Cochin)
Six hundred years of trade have left Fort Kochi with a character you won't find anywhere else in India- a walkable old town layered with Portuguese, Dutch, British, Jewish and Arab history. It's relaxed, arty and easy to love, which makes it a perfect first or last stop.
Don't miss: the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against the sunset; Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town; the spice markets; a evening Kathakali dance performance, with its elaborate make-up and storytelling.
Plan it: Kochi is the main gateway to Kerala, with the state's biggest airport, so it slots naturally into the start or end of almost any southern itinerary.
4. Thekkady & Periyar
Between the tea hills and the backwaters lies South India's wild heart. Thekkady is spice-plantation country wrapped around the Periyar Tiger Reserve, one of the most accessible wildlife parks in the south.
Don't miss: a boat safari on Periyar Lake, where elephants, gaur (Indian bison) and deer come down to drink; a guided spice-plantation walk to see cardamom, pepper, vanilla and clove growing; bamboo rafting and nature trails for the more active.
Plan it: Thekkady fits beautifully between Munnar and Alleppey, completing a classic Kerala loop of hills, wildlife and water.
A natural fit alongside our Spice Route tour.
5. Madurai
Crossing into Tamil Nadu, the mood shifts from nature to temples and Madurai is the place to feel it. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, its skyline is dominated by the Meenakshi Amman Temple, a riot of thousands of brightly painted gods and creatures climbing its towering gateway gopurams. It's not a museum piece- it's a living temple, thronged with worshippers.
Don't miss: the temple's Hall of a Thousand Pillars; the nightly ceremony where an image of the god is carried to "sleep"; the bustling bazaars in the surrounding old city.
Plan it: Madurai is the cultural capital of the south and the natural anchor for any temple-focused trip.
Explore it on our South India Temple Tour.
6. Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
On the coast just south of Chennai sits a 1,300-year-old open-air gallery of stone. Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Pallava-era sculptors carved temples and reliefs straight out of the granite, right beside the sea.
Don't miss: the elegant Shore Temple standing against the waves; Arjuna's Penance, one of the largest rock reliefs in the world; the Five Rathas (chariot-shaped shrines); and the gravity-defying boulder known as Krishna's Butterball. Stone-carving workshops still ring through the town today, and there's a laid-back beach scene too.
Plan it: It's an easy add-on from Chennai and pairs perfectly with Pondicherry further down the coast.
7. Pondicherry (Puducherry)
A former French colony, Pondicherry feels like a slice of the Mediterranean dropped onto the Tamil coast- which is exactly why international travellers adore it. The French Quarter ("White Town") is a grid of mustard-yellow villas draped in bougainvillea, with a breezy seaside Promenade and some of the best cafés in the south.
Don't miss: cycling the quiet colonial streets; the spiritual township of Auroville and its golden Matrimandir; the fusion of French and Tamil cuisine; and slow mornings with a coffee by the sea.
Plan it: About 160 km south of Chennai. Two nights is enough to soak up the atmosphere.
8. Hampi
Few places on earth look like Hampi. In northern Karnataka, the ruins of the once-mighty Vijayanagara Empire are scattered across a surreal landscape of giant golden boulders- more than 500 monuments spread over some 25 km. It's a favourite of independent travellers and history lovers alike, and it rewards a slow, unhurried visit.
Don't miss: the still-active Virupaksha Temple; the famous stone chariot and "musical pillars" of the Vittala Temple; and sunset from Matanga or Hemakuta Hill, when the whole valley glows orange.
Plan it: Give it at least two days. The handiest access is by train to Hospet, or the airport at Hubli.
9. Mysore (Mysuru)
Known as the City of Palaces, Mysore is clean, green and full of royal grandeur. The showpiece is the Mysore (Amba Vilas) Palace, a lavish blend of architectural styles that is lit up by nearly 100,000 bulbs on Sunday evenings and during festivals- a genuinely jaw-dropping sight.
Don't miss: the hilltop Chamundi Temple overlooking the city; the colour and aroma of Devaraja Market; and, if your timing is right, the spectacular Dussehra festival with its lit-up palace and processions. Mysore is also famous for silk, sandalwood and yoga.
Plan it: About 140 km from Bengaluru, it combines naturally with Coorg for a Karnataka loop.
10. Coorg (Kodagu)
Rounding off the list is Coorg, a misty district of coffee and spice plantations so green it's nicknamed the "Scotland of India." It's the place to slow right down- the appeal is as much about doing nothing in beautiful surroundings as ticking off sights.
Don't miss: an estate walk to smell coffee and pepper growing; Abbey Falls; the Dubare Elephant Camp; and the serene Namdroling (Golden Temple) Monastery at the Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe, one of the largest outside Tibet.
Plan it: The monsoon (June–September) leaves Coorg impossibly lush. Pair it with Mysore to round out a Karnataka leg
Beyond the top 10: a few more worth your time
If your trip is longer, or you want a particular flavour, these are also big favourites with international visitors:
- Kanyakumari- India's very southern tip, where you can watch both sunrise and sunset over the ocean, beside the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
- Varkala & Kovalam- Kerala's cliff-backed and crescent beaches, with great Ayurveda and seafood.
- Ooty & Kodaikanal- Tamil Nadu's classic hill stations, complete with a heritage "toy train."
- Wayanad- Kerala's quieter wildlife district of caves, waterfalls and plantations.
- Gokarna- A laid-back Karnataka beach town long loved by international travellers.
- Chennai- The main southern gateway, with temples, museums and the long sweep of Marina Beach.
How to combine these into one trip
You don't have to choose just one- the best itineraries string several of these together. Here's a simple way to think about it:
- About 10 Days → Bangalore → Mysore → Wayanad → Ooty-Coimbatore → Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey → Varkala → Kochi See: South India Motorcycle Trip
- About 12 days → Mumbai - Calicut - Vythiri - Kochi - Vembanad - Marinajpuza - Marari See: A Trip to Lesser Known Gems of Kerala
- Around two weeks → the grand south, end to end: Tamil Nadu temples, Karnataka's Hampi and Mysore, and Kerala's backwaters, without rushing. See: The Dance of Shiva (14N/15D).
Every one of our trips is private and fully customisable, so we can build any of these places into an itinerary shaped around your dates, pace and interests. Browse all our South India tour packages →
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best place to visit in South India for first-timers?
Kerala is the easiest and most rewarding starting point- backwaters, hills and Fort Kochi in one compact, relaxed state. Add Tamil Nadu's temples if you want more culture and history.
How many days do you need to see South India?
A week covers one region well (usually Kerala); 10–11 days lets you pair two states; two weeks gives you the full sweep of temples, hills and ruins at a comfortable pace.
What is the most famous place in South India?
The Kerala backwaters, the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai and the ruins of Hampi are the three best-known icons- and most travellers try to fit in at least one of each type: water, temple and heritage.
When is the best time to visit South India?
October to March is the peak season with the most comfortable weather almost everywhere. April to June is ideal for the hill stations, and June to September (monsoon) is the traditional time for Ayurveda and at its greenest.
Ready to see it for yourself?
Tell us which of these places caught your eye and your travel dates, and we'll put together a private, tailor-made South India itinerary with an honest, all-in quote- free, and with no obligation.
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