Most Beautiful Places to Visit In South India

Hello Travel Lovers,

There are so many beautiful places to visit in South India. You would love to visit these places.

HAMPI, Karnataka

One of India's top historical destinations, the laid back village of Hampi in Karnataka was once the last capital of Vijayanagar, one of the greatest Hindu empires in India's history. It has some extremely captivating ruins, intriguingly intermingled with large boulders that rear up all over the landscape. The ruins, which date back to the 14th century, stretch for just over 25 kilometers (10 miles) and comprise more than 500 monuments. An incredible energy can be felt at this ancient place.  Hampi is a popular side trip from Goa.

 Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu

Kodaikanal is also known as Kodai. It is one of the very popular and most sought after Honeymoon and holiday destination hill resorts in South India. This hill station stands 7200 feet above sea level and situated in upper palani hills of the westernghats near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Kodaikanal is also popularly known as the princes of Hill Stations.

The cool and misty weather, the scenic beauty of the rolling hills and the wooded forest of Kodaikanal and its surroundings will mesmerize any visitor throughout the year. Walk through the wooded forests, row in the lake, bath in one of the splashing waterfalls, go for horse riding and cycling around the lake or simply admire the views.

In 1875, the Indian railways extended its line from Chennai to Tirunelveli and a station was created at Ammaianayakkanur and this was later renamed Kodai Road, to provide a gateway to Kodaikanal. Tourists started their journey at Ammaianayakkanur Railway station upto Krishnamma Nayak Thope. This trek was undertaken to Kodaikanal, 18 kms distance away using horses and palanquins, with coolies for assistance.

Today, the charm of Kodaikanal lies in its wooded slopes and gigantic trees. The mighty rocks, bowers, creeks and slopes captivate the visitors. The meadows, the long stretches of forests, beautiful spots and the flocks of sheep grazing on green pastures are a source of joy, delight and thrill to onlookers. The climb to the various jutting rocks at Kodai is rewarding. The arduous climb to the Pillar rocks, to a height of 400 ft, is a must for every visitor to this hill resort. 

OOOTY, Tamilnadu
 
UDHAGAMANDALAM Called the Queen of Hill Stations picturesque, green Udhagamandalam better known, as Ooty is the most popular hill station in the South.ooty Located in the Western ghats at a height of 2240m, Udhagamandalam is the headquarters of the Nilgiris district where the two ghats ranges meet. Nature has been generous with this region, which is by far the most beautiful in the state. Apart from coffee and tea plantations, trees like confiers, eucalptus, pine and wattle dot the hillside in Udhagamandalam and its encirons. Summer temperature is rarely higher than 25°c with a minimum of 10°c and winter is are distinctly cooler with a high of 21°c and a low 5°c. Curiously enough, this slice of paradise remained unknown to the great southern dynasties and it took the British to discover it in the early 1800s. They were, however, not the first inhabitants of this land as a tribe called Todas had been living there long before the British came, claiming that the Nilgiris had been their home since time immemorial. But the credit for modernizing Udhagamandalam and making it accessible goes to the British who constructed the first railway line in the area and made it the summer capital of the Madras Presidency.

Ooty with smaller hill stations of Coonoor - 19 kms and Kothagiri 31 kms from Ooty are the other hill stations of this district. Nilgiri is India's first biosphere. It has been declared as one of the 14 'hotspots' of the world because of its unique bio-diversity. Nilgiri presents a truly breath taking kaleidoscope of visual treats and soul stirring experience.

Mysore, Karnatala

Mysore is the Karnataka's second biggest city, situated in Southern India. It was the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyar dynasty and is considered the cultural capital of the state. Mysore is the second cleanest city in India and one of the most well-planned ones. The people of Mysore are famous for their peaceful attitude and helpful nature.

The city has recorded history dating back a thousand years and a mythical history which explains the origin of the name - apparently, this was the place where the demon Mahishasura was slain by the Goddess Chamundi. You will find a statue of the demon on Chamundi hill which commemorates this event.

In recorded times, the city rose to prominence when it became the capital of a breakaway feudatory of the Vijayanagara empire named Chamaraja Wodeyar in 1584. In 1610, he shifted the capital to nearby Srirangapatna. Hyder Ali who was a commander in the army usurped power in the late 18th century. Hyder Ali was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan, who fought and lost a war with the British, dying in battle in 1799.

The British restored the Wodeyars as their puppet rulers and shifted the capital back to Mysore. The Wodeyars had substantial internal autonomy and the princely state of Mysore (which comprised a large portion of present-day Karnataka) was probably the best administered in India. After independence, the state was merged back to the Indian Union and the capital of Mysore state was shifted to nearby Bangalore where the British maintained their army. The name of the state too was eventually changed to the more accurate "Karnataka" in 1973.

The dynasty is still well-loved and the people of Mysore are still nostalgic for the grandeur of the earlier times. The palaces built by the Wodeyars and the yearly celebration of Dusshera are holdovers of that period.

Mysore has evolved from being a quiet and sleepy city, to a city that is touted to being the most important one in the state after Bangalore. With apartment complexes, supermarkets, a couple of proposed malls, new and improved roads, the advent of IT and BPO firms and a growing young and dynamic workforce , this regal city is trying to strike a balance between the good old days while to keep up pace with the changes affecting it.

A city that is old, yet new. A modern-day paradox in the making, anyone who lives in Mysore for long enough can't help falling in love with this place. 

 

Kerala

A sliver of a state in India's deep south, Kerala is shaped by its landscape – almost 600km of glorious Arabian Sea coast and beaches, a languid network of backwaters and the spice and tea-covered hills of the Western Ghats. As relaxing as an ayurvedic massage, just setting foot on this swathe of soul-quenching green will slow your stride to a blissed-out amble. Kerala is a world away from the frenzy of elsewhere, as if India had passed through the Looking Glass and become an altogether more laid-back place.

Besides its famous backwaters, rice paddies, coconut groves, elegant houseboats and delicately spiced, taste-bud-tingling cuisine, Kerala is home to wild elephants, exotic birds and the odd tiger; and crazily vibrant traditions such as Kathakali plays and snake-boat races. Few visitors neglect to put Kerala on a South India itinerary – the biggest problem is choosing where to linger the longest.

Chikmagalur, Karnataka

Chikmagalur is situated in south western part of Karnataka. Chikmagalur literally means "The town of the younger daughter" in the Kannada language. The district is named after its headquarters town of Chikmagalur. The major commercial crop is coffee. The hill stations around Chikmagalur are famous summer retreats since they remain cool even during summers. Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka is 12 Kms away from Chikmagalur. The district is dotted with many holy spots and tourist places. Number of rivers originates from the hills of Chikmagalur district and flow in all the seasons.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN CHIKMAGALUR

Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka, is located in the Baba Budan Giri Range of the Western Ghats. Standing at an altitude of 1,930 m above sea level, it is the highest peak between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. Tourists can relax at this site that maintains a temperature range of 20 0Celsius to 25 0Celsius. The mountain range features grasslands, rugged rocks along the trek path and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on its peak.

The trek route begins from Sarpadaari, which is connected with Chikmagalur by road. Located in the Baba Budan Giri range of the Western Ghats, the mountain peak is the highest peak between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris after Chembra, Banaura and Vellari Mala peaks located in Kerala.

For adventure enthusiasts, the location offers an opportunity to engage in activities like mountain biking, trekking and road biking.


Baba Budan Giri Hills, famous for its distinct forest range, is a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Muslims. The hill range, also known as Dattagiri Hill Range, is popular among tourists keen on hiking and trekking. Dattagiri along with Mullayanagiri are two famous mountain ranges of the region.

Located 25 km north of Chikmagalur town, the mountain range features beautiful shrines. Adventure seekers can hike through the forest to visit the historic shrine of Deviramma Betta. In addition to this, the hills such as Sitalayanna Giri provide scenic views of the surrounding mountain ranges.

Located in the Western Ghats, the range is a part of Chandradrona Parvatha Shreni, Chandradrona Mountain Range. The highest peak in the Baba Budan Giri Hills is Mullayanagiri, standing at an altitude of 1,930 metres.

Moreover, the first ever coffee cultivation in the country was carried out on sylvan slopes of this range in 1670 AD. Tourists can walk along the coffee plantations, during the flowering season in the months of March and April.

Kalahatti Falls, one of the major tourist spots of the region, is located at a distance of 10 km from Kemmangundi. The 122 m high waterfall along with its beautiful surroundings is a favoured tourist spot. Waterfall is also popular with some other names like Kallathigiri Falls and Kalahasthi Falls.

Nearby the Kalahatti Falls, there is an ancient temple within the rocks, which is believed to be constructed during the reign of the Vijayanagar Empire. The temple and the waterfall are said to have an ancient connection with Maharishi Agastya, a famous Hindu saint. It is considered that Maharishi Agastya prayed at the site for a long time.

Located at Kallattipura in Chikmagalur district, the waterfall is a symbol of brotherhood, as it is worshipped by both Hindus and Muslims alike. Kemmangundi, a nearby site provides a beautiful view of the stream from Chandra Drona Hill.

Veerabhadra Temple that was constructed during the Vijayanagar period hosts an annual three day fair in the months of March and April. Moreover, the location is popular among trekkers who start from Tarikere to climb up the hills to reach the waterfall.