What are the best tourist places in South India?

That depends on what you enjoy. Hill stations such as Coorg, Munnar and Ooty suit cool air and scenery. Hampi, Madurai and Thanjavur suit history. Alleppey and Gokarna suit water and coast, and Kabini and Thekkady suit forest stays.

Is this a complete list of tourist places in South India?

No. South India has far more places than any one page can list. These are the places TripBanao plans trips to, with the distance from Bengaluru, the best months and a sample plan for each. If your place is not here, ask and we will check what is possible.

Which South Indian state has the most places to visit near Bangalore?

Karnataka has the most places within a day’s drive of Bengaluru, followed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Longer trips go further into Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

What is the best time to visit South India?

October to March is the most comfortable period for most places. The Tamil Nadu hill stations are also popular from March to June, and the monsoon months suit waterfalls and green hills but bring heavy rain.

Tourist places in South India: by state and by type

Looking for places to visit? This guide to tourist places in South India lists the 30 places TripBanao plans trips to across Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry, with the distance from Bangalore and what each is best for.

Request a quote See distances from Bangalore

How to use this guide

Pick a state if you already know where you want to go, or a type of trip if you only know the mood. Each name links to a page with the road distance from Bengaluru, the best months, a sample plan and answers to common questions. This is not every attraction in South India. It is the set of places we plan, and we check whether we can help with others on request.

Tourist places in South India by state

Karnataka

Bangalore to MysoreRoyal heritage city of palaces, gardens and markets.about 145 to 150 km
Bangalore to KabiniRiverside jungle stays near Nagarhole.about 215 to 225 km
Bangalore to BandipurForest landscapes and wildlife country.about 215 to 220 km
Bangalore to SakleshpurWestern Ghats greenery and plantation stays.about 220 to 225 km
Bangalore to ChikkamagaluruCoffee country with peaks and mountain trails.about 245 to 250 km
Bangalore to CoorgHill station known for tea and coffee plantations.about 250 km
Bangalore to HampiUNESCO World Heritage Site of ancient ruins.about 340 km
Bangalore to MangaluruCoastal city of beaches, seafood and old churches and temples.about 350 km
Bangalore to Jog FallsOne of India’s tallest waterfalls on the Sharavathi river.about 380 to 420 km
Bangalore to UdupiKrishna temple town with a long beach and island boat trips.about 405 km
Bangalore to BadamiRock-cut cave temples and red sandstone cliffs.about 450 to 510 km
Bangalore to GokarnaTemple town with quiet beaches along the Karnataka coast.about 490 km

Tamil Nadu

Bangalore to YercaudQuiet Shevaroy hills getaway.about 210 to 220 km
Bangalore to OotyThe "Queen of Hill Stations" in the Nilgiri hills.about 270 km
Bangalore to ChennaiCoastal capital of Tamil Nadu.about 345 km
Bangalore to MahabalipuramShore temples and rock-cut architecture.about 350 km (via Chennai)
Bangalore to ThanjavurChola capital with the Big Temple and a royal palace.about 390 km
Bangalore to MaduraiTemple city of Meenakshi Amman and lively night streets.about 435 km
Bangalore to KodaikanalLake town in the Palani hills.about 460 to 470 km
Bangalore to RameswaramIsland temple town at the tip of the Palk Strait.about 550 to 610 km
Bangalore to KanyakumariThe southern tip of India where three seas meet.about 665 km

Kerala

Bangalore to WayanadMisty hills, waterfalls and spice plantations.about 270 to 280 km
Bangalore to KeralaBackwaters, beaches and hill escapes.about 450 to 750 km, depending on the area
Bangalore to MunnarTea-covered hills, cool air and mountain viewpoints.about 475 to 520 km
Bangalore to ThekkadyPeriyar forest, lake boating and spice plantations.about 510 km
Bangalore to KochiHarbour city of Chinese fishing nets and heritage lanes.about 550 km
Bangalore to AlleppeyBackwaters, canals and houseboat stays (Alappuzha).about 590 km

Puducherry

Bangalore to PondicherryFrench-quarter streets and a laid-back coast.about 310 to 320 km

Telangana

Bangalore to HyderabadCity of pearls, palaces and Charminar.about 570 km

Andhra Pradesh

Bangalore to TirupatiHill temple town and a busy pilgrimage stop.about 250 km

Tourist places in South India by type

Hill stations

Cool air, estates and viewpoints. Most are best from October to March, and the Tamil Nadu hills are also popular from March to June.

Yercaud · Sakleshpur · Chikkamagaluru · Coorg · Ooty · Wayanad · Kodaikanal · Munnar

Wildlife and forests

Forest stays, safaris, lake boats and waterfalls. Sightings are never guaranteed, so plan for the landscape as much as the animals.

Kabini · Bandipur · Jog Falls · Thekkady

Temples and heritage

Palaces, ruins, rock-cut caves and pilgrimage towns. Cooler months make walking much easier.

Mysore · Tirupati · Hampi · Mahabalipuram · Thanjavur · Madurai · Badami · Rameswaram

Coast and beaches

Beaches, backwaters and seafront towns. The sea is often rough in the monsoon, so the dry months suit most plans.

Pondicherry · Mangaluru · Udupi · Kerala · Gokarna · Alleppey · Kanyakumari

Cities

Larger cities that work as stays, as the start of a longer tour, or as a base for business travel.

Chennai · Kochi · Hyderabad

Planning a trip across South India

Most travellers from Bengaluru combine two or three places that sit on one road, for example Mysuru, Coorg and Wayanad, or Madurai, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari. Tell us how many days you have and which part of the south you prefer, and we will suggest a route that does not waste time on the road. Prices are quotes, and we confirm the final price before anything is booked.

You can also read how to choose the best holidays near me, plan family trips near me, or browse all destinations and recommended stays.