Best Tourist Places in South India – Your Travel Guide to Explore Gem Places

India has a diverse landscape, culture, and many eye-catching locations perfect to explore in different seasons. If you want to enjoy snow and chilling weather in winter, head to the northern or Himalayan part of India. If you want to enjoy walking on the exotic seashore, explore the flora and fauna of western ghats, or visually stunning backwaters, head to the southern part of India. If you want to explore untouched valleys and places, the northeastern part of India is always welcoming. However, in this article, we are going to take you through some best tourist places in South India that deserve accolades for its plethora of medieval-times temples, diverse culture, and incredible art forms.

South India is home to amazing locations like Goa, Hampi, Kerala, Ooty, Coorg, Pondicherry, and many more. While Mysore and Hampi will capture your heart with their incredible architecture, Coorg and Kumarakom will wow you with their amazing natural beauty. While Pondicherry and Gokarna will entice you with their stunning beaches. Every place in South India has its tale to describe. You can explore these places by train, bike, or by car. So, let us dive into the list of top tourist places South India offers.

Top 10 Tourist Places in South India

1. Munnar

2. Bangalore

3. Hampi

4. Coorg

5. Pondicherry

6. Gokarna

7. Wayanad

8. Ooty

9. Kodaikanal

10. Visakhapatnam

Let’s explore each place in detail!

1. Munnar

Let’s start with Munnar, the most visited and one of the best tourist places in South India for 3 days. This heavenly, beautiful, hilly region of Kerala is synonymously called “Kashmir of South India,” offering many things to tourists. From tea estates to national parks and waterfalls, Munnar has everything that can create a vibrant memory within you. When visiting this hill station in Kerala, don’t expect just tea and coffee hills. A healthy dose of culture, the aroma of fresh flowers in botanical parks, and the peaceful waterways of various dams will all enchant you. You can visit many such places, from Eco Points to Munnar Botanical Garden, Rajamalai National Park, and Attukad Waterfalls.

You can use car rental services if you want to explore Munnar comfortably and at your convenience. Car rental services in Kerala offer you a vehicle of your choice and a professional chauffeur who will take you to Munnar and the outskirts.

2. Bangalore

Although Bangalore or Bengaluru is also a metro city facing traffic jams and congested roads, the city still has a different vibe. Mixed culture, locations for entertainment, and great food make this IT hub worth exploring. The lush green terrain surrounding Bangalore is dotted with waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries, brooks, and rivers begging to be explored. It has earned the nickname “Garden City of India” due to its abundance of lush gardens and pastoral terrain. 

The city’s marvels include Cubbon Park, Ulsoor Lake, Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park, and Lumbini Garden. Take a self-drive car in Bangalore (Bengaluru) and explore multiple locations conveniently.

3. Hampi

Hampi is a historic tourist place in the Karnataka village with ruins of Vijayanagar Empire temples and forts. Also known as Kishkindha in the Ramayana age, Hampi is located on the banks of the River Tungabhadra. Take a tour of the Virupaksha Temple, which dates from the seventh century. There is also the Achyutaraya temple and Vijaya Vitthala, both places of worship with remains from the previous century. 

One of the fascinating and essential locations to visit in Hampi is Anjaneya Hill, where Lord Hanuman was born. You can also enjoy a boat ride down Tungabhadra, a river named after its reddish bedrock.

4. Coorg

Another interesting location in Karnataka is Coorg. This hilly place is known for its coffee plantations, religious places, and unique customs. Book a self-drive car in Bangalore and travel to Coorg, which is 250 km from the city. You will enjoy the zig-zig road journey offering a beautiful view of the hills around. The foggy terrain is breathtaking, and it boasts a rich culture and a distinct indigenous clan – the Kodavas, who specialize in martial arts and are well-known for their hospitality. 

Don’t miss visiting the Madikeri Fort, the enthralling adventure at Abbey Falls, or the spicy curries to the sweet heart-melting handmade truffles; Coorg will make you feel wanting for more.

5. Pondicherry

Three hours of journey from Chennai, you will reach the most iconic and visually stunning location called Pondicherry. Once the home for French settlements until 1954, Pondicherry is the capital of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Also known as Puducherry, don’t miss visiting the French Colony, blessed with colourful walled lanes. The city is quite happening with bustling cafes and foreign tourists. Surrounded by the Bay of Bengal, the culture, language, and heritage are similar to Tamil Nadu.

While in Pondicherry, don’t miss visiting Auroville, an experimental town near Pondicherry where people of various nationalities coexist and attempt to create a global community. Explore the many churches, including Hallelujah Assembly of God Church and Zion Methodist. Relax on Rock Beach and eat at some quiet cafes, including Baker Street and Satsang. Don’t miss the French fare, which is quite popular here.

6. Gokarna

Looking for an ideal location to visit during the summer season? Gokarna is your destination. One of the best tourist places in South India during summer, Gokarna is blessed with serene beaches. Once a land for hippies, Gokarna is today’s most preferred beach location after Goa. Located in Karnataka, Gokarna is famous for the Mahabaleshwar temple, where Lord Shiva is worshipped. 

Located 238 km from Mangalore, there are a total of 10 beaches in Gokarna, but the most visited ones are- Gokarna Beach, Om Beach, Half-moon Beach, Kudle Beach, Paradise Beach, Nirvana Beach, Small Hell Beach, Belekan Beach, Alvekodi Beach. Most beaches here offer watersport activities, including scuba diving, snorkelling, parasailing, and jet skiing. Summer is considered the best time to witness calm beaches, but there is high humidity.

7. Wayanad

Wayanad, known for its pleasant weather throughout the year, is one of the summer tourist places in South India. Located in the hilly region of Kerala, Wayanad not only offers a cool climate, but it also includes pristine woodlands, misty mountains, and long-spread plantations. Wayanad, often known as India’s spice garden, is home to numerous tourist attractions and vast plantations of spices such as cardamom, black pepper, fenugreek, and cumin. 

These lush orchards of diverse spices give this location a particular scent, further enhanced by the aroma of coffee plantations, organic fruits and vegetables, and waving paddy fields.

8. Ooty

From hillside plantations to botanical gardens, Ooty is 264 km from Bangalore and is a tourist paradise. Ooty, historically the summer capital of the British Madras Presidency, can be reasonably called “India’s Switzerland”. John Sullivan, the then-collector of Coimbatore, highlighted this place in the nineteenth century. Following independence, Ooty became a major tourist destination, which is understandable given its qualifications. 

The place has  nature’s abundant blessings in terms of climate, a wealth of birds and beasts, and homegrown beverages such as tea and coffee.

9. Kodaikanal

Yet another interesting tourist location in South India, Kodaikanal, is best suited to visit during winter. Located 524km from Chennai, Kodaikanal is one of the tourist places in South India for 3 days, where you can spend ideal quality time exploring this hilly region. Kodaikanal is the Switzerland of the East and offers a wide range of adventures, thrilling activities, and destinations to visit. It gives you a fresh emotion every time you tour different areas because of its pure and pristine natural beauty, bringing you closer to Mother Nature’s splendour. 

Every year, a large number of visitors and travellers, as well as national and international explorers, visit Kodaikanal. Take a tour of Coakers Walk, Kodaikanal Lake, Bryant Park, and others.

10. Visakhapatnam

The port city of Visakhapatnam is an industrial centre located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Being a metropolitan city, Visakhapatnam attracts tourists due to its happening lifestyle. Vizag harbor is home to mainland India’s oldest shipyard. Year by year, the footfall of tourists to this city is increasing thanks to its enticing terrain and picturesque beaches. 

Visakhapatnam provides a variety of activities for tourists. You can take a day tour of Vizag to visit the beaches, which include RK Beach, Rushikonda Beach, Bheemili Beach, Appikonda Beach, and Yarada Beach. Most of these beaches feature a variety of cafes where you may sample the authentic flavours of local street food. Rushikonda Beach is the most popular beach in Vizag. Book a rental car service Visakhapatnam and explore Visakhapatnam at its best. 

Top Reasons to rent a car

No matter which tourist location you visit in South India, renting a car is the best option. Here are a few reasons why:

Freedom to plan

 You have the freedom to schedule your trip according to your convenience. There are chances that your partner may not be comfortable travelling around using public transport. So, you can both plan locations to explore together and visit around.

Cost-effective

Travelling with a car rental service is cost-effective because you don’t have to worry about the extra car maintenance costs.

Self-Driving Option

You can even drive the car by yourself and explore places. For instance, if you are visiting Bangalore, professional car rental companies offer self-drive cars in Bangalore to explore the city, and you don’t have to worry about going at the driver’s convenience.

Safety and Entertainment

Most rental cars have cutting-edge features like GPS to improve your driving experience and feel safe. Besides, you can even rent a car with television screens for children to enjoy watching movies during the journey. Some car rental providers may also provide a hotline number for support.  

Conclusion

South India has some exotic locations to explore, irrespective of the season. To enjoy your time while exploring the best tourist places in South India, booking a rental car offers complete convenience. If you are looking forward to planning your next South India trip and want to book a rental car, Safarcabby is at your service.

Here, you can book a rental car in Kochi or any other city to explore different tourist spots and have a great time. You can choose the car rental service provider and accordingly book for your next trip.