Hill Stations in South India offers lush green mountains, dense forests, tea garden tours, water sports, temples, toy train rides, flora and fauna, and adventure activities, like hiking, trekking, cycling, etc.
However, the problem is how we find which hill stations are worth visiting and which are not because there are more than a hundred hill stations in South India. But don’t be sad; we are here to help you out.
In this blog post, we will discuss the top 10 hill stations in South India that you must visit at least once in your life because all of them are worth your time and money. Before continuing, let’s review some stats and reports about South India.
According to the report on Statista, the southern state of Tamil Nadu had the largest share of domestic tourism, with spending amounting to over 97 billion U.S. dollars.
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Coorg, Karnataka
Coorg is a charming place in Karnataka. It is famous for its tea farming, valleys, waterfalls, and forests, and it is rich in Flora and Fauna.
Travelers love to go trekking and camping in Coorg. You can also do many activities here, like river rafting, elephant riding, jeep safari, rock climbing, and bungee jumping.
You can reach Coorg via bus, car, or flight. The Mysore airport is the nearest airport to Coorg. You can reach Coorg by bus to major cities like New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, etc.
- Things to do – Bird watching, Holy bath, Camping, Hiking, Trekking, Jeep Safari, Elephant Ride, Tea Garden, and Coffee Garden.
- Best time to visit – March to July
Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu
Kotagiri is mainly known for its peaceful climate. It is the best place for picnics, relaxation, and adventure. It is also a popular hill station in South India among travelers.
Kotagiri is reached through beautiful rivers, forests, waterfalls, and tea gardens. It is also called the Switzerland of India. You can explore Catherine Falls, Longwood Shola Forest, Kodanad View Point, and John Sullivan Memorial.
You can reach Kotagiri by train. The Coonoor railway station is the nearest railway station to Kotagiri. You can also get to Kotagiri via car.
- Things to do – Elk Falls, Trekking, Camping, and Longwood Shola
- Best time to visit – January to April
Yelagiri, Among the best hill stations in South India
Kotagiri has a mountain called Swamimalai Hill. It is one of the highest mountains in Yelagiri hill station. It is a heaven place for trekkers and adventure lovers and is also among the best hill stations in South India.
People come here for trekking, camping, rock climbing, and ziplining. There are some famous places in Yelagiri that you can explore, like Fundera Park, Swamimalai Hills, Velavan Temple, and Yelagiri Nature Park.
You can reach it via train. Jolarpettai Junction is the railway station in Yelagiri. You can take the train to Yelagiri from major cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore.
- Things to do – Trekking, Rock climbing, Fundera Park, Velavan Temple, Ziplining
- Best time to visit – October to January
Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Ooty also has one of the highest mountains, Doddabetta Hill. It has lovely rivers, forests, lakes, villages, and giant trees. It is also famous for its rainforests.
Nilgiri Mountain, Pykara Lake, Pykara Falls, Upper Bhavani Lake, Doddabetta Peak, and Avalanche Lake. You can also do toy train rides, boating, camping, and exploring the rose garden.
Ooty has almost all transportation services, such as flights, trains, and buses. Coimbatore is a domestic airport near Ooty. Mettupalayam is the nearest railway station.
- Things to do – Botanical Garden, Boat House, Rose Garden, St. Stephen’s Church, Tea Factory
- Best time to visit – April to July
Munnar, Kerala
Munnar is one of my favorite destinations. Famous for its tea plantations, it has beautiful scenery and an excellent climate at any time of the year.
Munnar also has waterfalls, such as Atukkad, Lakkam, Naimakkadu, etc. A flower called Kurunji blooms only once a year and is a popular tourist attraction.
Munnar offers many places to explore, such as the National Park, Mattupetty Dam, Tea Museum, Anamudi, and Attukad waterfalls. It is an excellent place to travel solo in India.
You can reach Munnar, Kerala, via flight. Cochin Internation Aiport is the only nearest airport to Munnar. You can get here from cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
- Things to do – Trekking, Camping, Hiking, and Elephant ride
- Best time to visit – March to June
Coonoor, Among the best hill stations near Tamil Nadu
Like all the hill stations in South India, Coonoor is also a wonderful hill station. It is famous for its production of Nilgiri tea. It is also one of the most significant hills in Coonoor.
Coonoor offers many activities, such as Sim’s Park, Catherine Falls, Droog Fort, Acres Wild, Pony Needles, Hidden Valley, and Nilgiri Mountain Railways.
People also come to do various activities like Rock Climbing, Trekking, Photography, Camping, and Paragliding.
You can reach Coonoor by train, bus, or flight. Coimbatore Airport is an airport in Coonoor. You can get here from major cities like Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore.
- Things to do – Trekking, Camping, Photography, and Rock Climbing
- Best time to visit – November to February
Nandi Hills, Bangalore
Nandi Hills are famous for their beautiful sunset. There are few things to do in Nandi Hills except watch the evening, but it is a must-visit hill station in South India.
People come here with their family and friends, especially to enjoy the view of the sunset and sunrise. It is an excellent spot for planning a picnic with your family or friends.
You can do activities in Nandi Hills, such as cycling, hiking, camping, and biking. It is an excellent place for relaxing and spending time with your loved ones and is also the best hill station in South India.
You can get here by bus or train. Chikkaballapur Railway Station is the nearest station to Nandi Hills. Bus transport service is available here from major cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and New Delhi.
- Things to do – Sunset, Sunrise, Trekking, Cycling, Camping, and Biking
- Best time to visit – October to March
Idukki, Kerala, The best hill station in the South India
Idukki is a small but peaceful town located in Kerala. It is famous worldwide for its spices. There is nothing more to explore in Idukki, Kerala, except spices.
It is also a rich place in Flora and Fauna. Idukki is also the greatest and greenest district of Kerala, South India. It is a delightful place; if you have time while traveling in Kerala, visit it.
You can visit places in Idukki, like Idukki Dam, Hill View Park, Idukki Arch Dam, and Cheruthony Dam. It is an excellent place to visit with your friends in India.
Railways and airline services are available in Idukki. Kottayam Tucked Railway Station is the only nearby station. Cochin Airport is the only airport near Idukki. You can also get here via bus or car.
- Things to do – Long Walks, Sightseeing, Photography, and Lake
- Best time to visit – October to January
Gavi, Kerala
Gavi is an unseen or hidden place in South India. Most people don’t know about it, but it is a heaven for trekkers and adventure lovers and is among the best hill stations in South India.
Gavi is the best place for explorers or bloggers because it offers boating, rock climbing, trekking, and waterfalls. It is one of the untouched places in India.
Some tourist attractions in Gavi include Periyar National Park, Green Mansion, Gavi Dam, and Sabarimala View Point. You can also enjoy wildlife safaris, bird watching, and nature walks here.
The only way to reach Gavi is by car. Rs.50 is charged per vehicle entering Gavi, Kerala, and Rs.25 is charged per person at entry time.
- Things to do – Trekking, Camping, Nature Walk, Bird Watching, Boating, and Wildlife Safari
- Best time to visit – July to September
Kudermukh, A popular hill station in the South India
It is an excellent place to explore animal species in South India. It is a national park in South India. Malabar, Pigeon, and Malabar Trogon are notable species of birds.
There is nothing special to do in Kudermukh, but if you want to learn about different bird and insect species, you might visit this place in South India.
You can explore places in Kudermukh, like Kudermukha Peak, Hanumana Gundi Falls, Jamalabad Fort, Kyatanamakki Hill Station, and Sri Annopoorneshwari Temple.
You can easily reach Kudermukh by bus and train. Mangalore is a railway station located in Kudermukh. You can get here from major cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Hyderabad.
- Things To Do – Trekking, Kalasa, Hanumana Gundi Falls, and Kundermukh National Park
- Best Time To Visit – March to June
Conclusion on the top 10 outstanding hill stations in South India
It’s all about the best hill stations in South India. South India is becoming more popular every day because of many reasons, like charming hill stations, breathtaking activities, and places to enjoy with loved ones.
There are plenty of hill stations left that we can visit, but not all of them are worth visiting. The above-mentioned hill stations are the filtered ones that are worth visiting and worth your time and money.
So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, call your friends, and start exploring all these hill stations one by one. Don’t forget to share your travel experience in the comments with other readers.
Thank You.
Frequently asked questions regarding hill stations in South India map.
Below are the answers to the most asked questions on the internet by people regarding South India hill stations.
Q1. What are the best hill stations in south India for summer?
1. Yercaud
2. Wayanad
3. Vagamon
Q2. What are the best hill stations in south India in July?
1. Ooty
2. Coorg
3. Munnar
Q3. Which is the coldest hill station in south India?
Coorg is the coldest hill station in South India.
Q4. Is Ooty better than Munnar?
Ooty is much better than Munnar in terms of climate, activities, and transport facilities.
Q5. Which is the best hill station in South India?
Yelagiri is the best hill station in India, which a few people have explored.
