South India, which comprises the states of Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, is a potpourri of numerous cultures, traditions, religious practices, and languages and cuisines, and is unique in every sense. If you’re a tourist travelling to South India, you will naturally feel the warmth, hospitality, and love of the people that will make you feel at home. With plenty of places to see in South India, there is something for everyone to do here as there are many popular family destinations in South India, backwaters for the lovey-doveys, adventure sports for the daring, trekking trails for the trailblazers, and destinations that offer a panoramic view for nature lovers. We have listed some of the best places to visit in South India state-wise, and they’re all undoubtedly the top tourist attractions in South India for the whole family.
Tamilnadu:
Tamilnadu is a treasure house of tourism and has several top places to visit in South India including the Marina in Chennai, Asia’s longest beach, and the quaint beaches of Mahabalipuram and Tranquebar. Therefore, amidst the vibrantly rich and diverse cultural life of the state, you will be able to turbocharge your spiritual energy at the ancient temples of Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, and the Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram. The gorgeous green hill stations of Ooty, Coonoor, Kodaikanal, and Yercaud are favorite getaways to stay away from the dry and humid climate of Chennai and other districts of Tamilnadu. Upskill your trekking skills to newer heights in the Western Ghats, one of the popular UNESCO recognized World Heritage sites, and also home to some of the most venomous snakes and endangered species like the lion-tailed macaque, etc.
Kerala:
Kerala, God’s own country, as it’s otherwise known, is a ravishing beauty with mind-blowing backwaters and spice plantations. In a state like Kerala, where the topography is varied ranging from extremely picturesque sea beaches to cool hills, Kerala has some of the best tourist spots in South India including the Backwaters of Alleppey, Cochin the hub of tourist activities in Kerala, verdant landscapes of Thekkady, the gorgeous hill station of Munnar hills, balmy sandy beaches of Kovalam, natural marvels of Wayanad, the capital city of Trivandrum, lovely beachside views of Kozhikode and the cultural hodgepodge of Kannur.
Andhra Pradesh:
The exciting state of Andhra is a confluence of history, modernism, and rich culture. The first Indian state that was born post-linguistic freedom of the nation in 1953, Andhra has been at the forefront in every aspect of development. And as such, it has some of the most popular tourist places in South India like the Ramakrishna Beach, Gandikota, legendary Tirupati Venkateshwara temple, Ahobilam, Rajahmundry, the capital city of Amaravati, Araku Valley, Kurnool (also known as “Gateway to Rayalaseema”), city of Vijayawada, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Nallamala, and Nallamala, among others.
Karnataka
With over a population of 6 crores, Karnataka, one of the major South Indian states, is the best of both words tradition and modernism. The state which has 31 districts has some exhilarating tourist destinations in South India such as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Hampi & Pattadakal, the intricately carved cave temple of Badami, Mysuru Palace, Bijapur, St. Mary Islands, Nandi Chamundeshwari Hills, Bandipur & Nagarhole National Parks, Jog Falls, and Dandeli, just to name a few.
Telangana
Telangana, another state that has Telugu as its primary language, is the latest state to be created in Independent India. With 10 districts, Telangana has many top places to visit in South India including the iconic capital and largest city of the state Hyderabad, Warangal, the historical city of Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, the ‘Coal Town of South India’; Adilabad, Mahbubnagar, Medak (which also comprises the lovely Devnoor Village), Nalgonda and Rangareddy (the Osman Sagar Lake located here is one of the must-visit tourist places in South India).
