Whenever we hear about hill stations, we automatically think of North India like Kashmir, Shimla, Manali, Darjeeling, Nainital, and Mussourie. But southern India also has beautiful hill stations, which are equally mesmerizing and breathtaking. The hill stations in South India do not have snow-capped mountain ranges but have beautiful serene hills with tea and coffee plantations, national parks, and numerous lakes and waterfalls.
10 Hill Stations In South India You Must Visit
1. Ooty
State– Tamil Nadu
Best time to visit– October to June [Avoid June to September because of heavy rain]
Places to visit-
- Avalanche Lake-created in the 1800s due to a landslide
- Ooty Lake-popular for boating,
- Ooty Botanical Gardens- A tree that is said to be around 20 million years old,
- Dodabetta Peak- The highest peak in Nilgiris,
- Kalhatty Falls- Great Hindu saint Agastya is said to have lived here,
- Needle view Hillpoint- Stunning 360-degree view of the valleys,
- Ooty Rose Garden- winner of Garden of Excellence Award for South Asia from the World Federation of Rose Societies,
- Ooty toy train
How to reach-
Air- Coimbatore International Airport
Rail- Ooty Railway Station
2. Coorg
State– Karnataka
Best time to visit- October to March
Places to visit-
- Abbey Falls- Hanging bridge gives a stunning view of the waterfall
- Chiklihole Reservoir- Calm and relaxing view of the water
- Honnamana Kere Lake- The largest lake in Coorg
- Omkareswara Temple- Lord Shiv temple built in 1820
- Kotebetta Peak- Fort-resembling hill; the third highest peak
- Mallalli Falls- Good for trekking
- Nalknad Aramane Palace- Built in 1792, the palace has an underground tunnel that ends at Madikeri.
How to reach-
Air- Mangalore Airport
Rail- Mysore Railway Station
3. Coonoor
State- Tamil Nadu
Best time to visit- October to March
Places to visit-
- Sim’s Park- Botanical garden with many exotic species of trees
- Droog Fort- Built by Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. This place also finds its mention in the Mahabharat as the residence of the local demon Bakasura
- Dolphin’s Nose View Point- Surrounded by tea plantations, provides a beautiful view of the valleys
- Law’s Falls
- All Saints Church- English architectural style built Anglican Protestant Church.
- St. George’s Church- A gothic church built during the British rule
- Hidden Valley- Unexplored valley great for trekking and rock climbing
- Highfield Tea Estate
How to reach-
Air- Coimbatore International Airport
Rail- Coonoor Railway Station
4. Munnar
State- Kerala
Best time to visit- December to February
Places to visit-
- Tea gardens
- Top station- The highest railway station in the area covered with beautiful blue Neelakurinji flowers
- Chokramudi Peak- Offers a stunning view and is ideal for trekking
- Pothamedu View Point
- Kundala Lake- Has crystal clear water and can be enjoyed on boats and even Kashmiri Shikaras.
- Lakkom Waterfalls- A picturesque fall with silk-like waters
- Lockhart Gap- Heart-shaped gap naturally formed between two mountains accompanied by the smell of fresh tea
How to reach-
Air- Cochin International Airport
Rail- Kochi or Ernakulam Railway Station
5. Wayanad
State- Kerala
Best time to visit- October to May
Places to visit-
- Banasura Dam- Largest earthen dam and the second largest in Asia
- Chembra Park- Tallest summit of Wayanad
- Edakkal Caves- Pre-historic cave with rock and wall carvings
- Soochipara Falls- Spectacular three-tiered waterfall
- Vythiri- A small town surrounded by lush rainforest
- Pookode Lake- Natural freshwater lake with aquarium and a greenhouse
- Lakkidi View Point- Offers a bird’s eye view of Wayanad
How to reach-
Air- Calicut International Airport, Kozhikode
Rail- Kozhikode Railway Station
6. Kodaikanal
State- Tamil Nadu
Best time to visit– October to March
Places to visit-
- Kodai Lake- A star-shaped artificial lake
- Pillar Rocks- The rock’s height goes up to 400ft
- Green Valley View- Misty woodland provide a mystical experience
- Thalaiyar Falls- Highest waterfall in Tamil Nadu
- Mannavanur- A quiet village for those who want to live away from the hustle and bustle of the city life
- Vattakanal- Houses eucalyptus trees
- Berijam Lake
- Silver Cascade Falls- The water from the falls resembles silver.
How to reach-
Air- Madurai Airport
Rail- Kodai Road Railway Station
7. Yelagiri
State- Tamil Nadu
Best time to visit- November to February
Places to visit–
- Velavan Temple- Beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Murugan
- Punganur Lake- Man-made lake with a fountain in the middle
- Nature Park- Houses a variety of flowers, waterfall, children’s park, fish aquarium, multi-colored fountain
- Jalagamparai Falls
- Telescope Observatory- Has Asia’s largest telescope
- Moksha Vimochana Temple- Dedicated to Lord Vishnu
How to reach-
Air- Bengaluru Airport
Rail- Jolarpettai Junction
8. Idukki
State- Kerala
Best time to visit- November to February
Places to visit-
- Idukki Dam- Asia’s first arch dam and world’s second arch dam
- Kalvari Mount
- Thommankuthu Waterfalls- Seven steps cascading waterfall
- Thekkady- India’s best wildlife sanctuary
- Vagamon- Known as the Scotland of Asia and has tea plantations
- Hill View Park- Offers a panoramic view of the Idukki Dam
- Malankara Dam & Lake- A beautiful backwaters spot
How to reach-
Air- Cochin International Airport
Rail- Kottayam Railway Station
9. Araku valley
State- Andhra Pradesh
Best time to visit- December to February
Places to visit-
- Borra Caves- One million years old naturally occurring limestone caves. The deepest cave in India
- Chaparai Falls- Has endless streams flowing across each other
- Tribal Museum- A treasured place that stores tribal culture of the Eastern Ghats
- Mastyagundam- A mysterious pool where the rocks disappear among the stream
- Duduma Waterfalls-
- Lambasigni- Called the Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh
- Tatipuri Reservoir- This reservoir is responsible for providing water to the entire Vizag city
How to reach-
Air- Vishakhapatnam International Airport
Rail- Araku Railway Station
10. Kudremukh
State- Karnataka
Best time to visit- November to February
Places to visit-
- Kudremukh National Park- Declared as a Wildlife Protected Area under the Global Tiger Conservation Priority I
- Kudremukh Trek- Beautiful trekking trail and has stunning views
- Kalasa- Literally meaning water pot, this place has its mentions in mythology with the marriage of Shiva and Parvati
- Gangamoola- A UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Horanadu Temple- Dedicated to Annapoorneshwari, goddess of food
- Kadambi Falls- Majestic waterfall
How to reach-
Air- Mangalore International Airport
Rail- Mangalore Railway Station
Happy travels!
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