South India Travel Guide: Best Cities, Itineraries, and Tips

When you think of South India, the culturally rich, temple-lined, and coastal region of India that includes Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Also known as the Deccan Peninsula, it’s where ancient traditions meet quiet beaches, spice-scented streets, and hilltop towns that feel untouched by time. This isn’t just another part of India—it’s a world apart. While North India dazzles with Mughal forts and bustling bazaars, South India whispers its stories through temple carvings, backwater canoe rides, and coffee plantations clinging to misty hills.

You’ll find Mysore, a royal city known for its palaces, clean streets, and calm energy standing out as one of the most beautiful places to explore—not because it’s crowded, but because it’s real. Compare that to Kochi, a port city where Portuguese, Dutch, and British history blend with spice markets and Chinese fishing nets, or Hampi, a vast ruin field of stone temples and boulder-strewn valleys that once housed one of India’s greatest empires. These aren’t just tourist spots—they’re living landscapes where history isn’t behind glass, but under your feet.

How long should you stay? Most people guess wrong. You don’t need weeks to see the highlights—seven days can cover Mysore, Hampi, and a stretch of Kerala’s backwaters if you plan smart. But if you want to feel the rhythm of the region, aim for three weeks. That’s when you stumble on quiet temples at dawn, chat with locals over filter coffee, or catch a village festival you didn’t even know existed. And timing matters. The best month to fly to South India? Usually October or November, when the monsoon has passed, the air is cool, and flights are cheaper. Avoid May—it’s hot enough to melt sunscreen.

And yes, you can eat salad here. Just know where to look. Street vendors in Mysore serve fresh papadums and chutneys that won’t upset your stomach. But skip the raw veggies at roadside stalls unless they’re washed in bottled water. The same goes for drinking tap water—stick to sealed bottles. A Coke costs less than 50 rupees, and a decent meal at a local eatery runs under 200 rupees. South India is one of the cheapest places in Asia to travel, especially compared to Thailand or the Maldives.

What you’ll find below isn’t a list of generic attractions. It’s a collection of real traveler experiences—how to avoid tourist traps in Goa, why trekking in the Western Ghats is better for your health than a gym, and which beaches foreigners actually love. You’ll get clear answers on how many days you really need, what to pack, and where to find the best food without the price tag. No fluff. No hype. Just what works.