Places to Explore in South India

South India travel highlights include beautiful Hindu
temples, palm-fringed tropical beaches and a chance to see wild
elephants in South India's national parks.

When planning Places to Visit in South India,
it is good to keep in mind that distances are long and travelling
between destinations takes time. Many travellers try to see too much in
too little time and end up spending most of their holiday moving from
one place to another. It is impossible to see all that South India has
to offer during just one trip, but here are some highlights.

Tropical Beaches In South india

Kerala is a lush piece of tropical land on India’s
South-Western coast and boasts some of India’s most beautiful beaches.
Kerala’s most famous beach resorts, Kovalam and Varkala, are busy with
domestic and international tourists alike, but on its Northern coast
beaches become less developed and more peaceful. If sunbathing on a
tropical beach gets boring, a boat trip on Kerala’s backwaters is a
classic South Indian travel experience.

Hindu Temples In South India

Some of India’s most beautiful temples can be found
in its Southern part, from the magnificent Shri Meenakshi Temple in
Madurai to the Shore Temple of Mamallapuram. Many of the South’s most
important Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites are in the state of Tamil
Nadu.

The temples of Belur and Halebid in Karnataka are
stunning examples of Hoysala architecture, and the Virupaksha temple in
Hampi is surrounded by the ruins of this 14th century capital of the
Vijayanagara kingdom.

Nature And Wildlife In South India

Several wildlife sanctuaries come together in the
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu, Nagarhole and
Bandipur in Karnataka and Wayanad in Kerala. It is possible to see
tigers in these woods, although elephants, antelopes and deer are more
common. Coorg, or Kodagu, in Karnataka is filled with coffee
plantations, forests and cosy homestays, and is a popular trekking area.

South India’s hill stations are the best places to
escape to when the heat gets too much. The most popular hill stations in
South India include Munnar in Kerala and Ooty, Coonoor and Kodaikanal
in Tamil Nadu.

South Indian Cities

Indian cities are generally polluted and
overpopulated, and the traffic is chaotic, but there are some South
Indian cities that retain a special charm. Mysore is relaxed and
laid-back for an Indian city, and Pondicherry (now known as Puducherry)
in Tamil Nadu is known for French architecture, the ashram of Sri
Aurobindo as well as delicious food.

When To Travel To South India

The rainy season starts in South India Tours
around June and ends in October-November. The best time to go to South
India is right after the monsoon, in November. In March the heat starts
to build up and makes many areas of Southern India unbearably hot in
April and May. Find more on India Tour Operator.