When summers hit South India with scorching heat and humidity, the enchanting hill stations with incredible landscapes and pleasantly cold climate comes to the rescue making South India a fabulous summer getaway to beat the unbearable heat. Holidaying become a fascinating and rejuvenating experience during summers especially in such pristine and picturesque hill stations in South India which are sprinkled with lush greenery, scenic locales, sprawling tea and spice plantations, emerald lakes, ravishing waterfalls, gorgeous valleys and exotic flora and fauna.
Numerous hill stations are there in South India that offers a delightful setting for a wonderful and memorable vacation all year-round. Here we have listed some of the Best Hill Stations To Visit In South India During Summer. Check out!
Munnar
Munnar, one of the most popular and picturesque hill stations in Kerala, tops the list of best hill stations to visit in South India during summer. It is beautifully set amidst the Kannan Devan Hills and overlooks lush tea plantations. The scenic landscapes, never-ending carpets of greenery, craggy peaks, delightful ambiance, refreshing air, abundant wildlife and all-embracing natural beauty make Munnar an ultimate cradle of nature that offers utter bliss and respite.
Things To Do- Trekking, Strolling, Rappelling, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Camping, Tree House Stay, Elephant Safari, Bird Watching, Watersports, Shikara Ride.
Places To Visit
Tata Tea Museum, Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, Blossom Park, Pothamedu Viewpoint, Attukal Waterfalls, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Kundala Lake, Mattupetty Dam, Eravikulam National Park, Anamudi Peak, Cheeyapara Waterfalls, Marayoor Dolmens, Indo Swiss Dairy Farm, Lock Hart Gap, Lakkam Waterfalls, Rose Garden, Life of Pie Church, Meesapulimala, Echo Point, Photo Point, Chokramudi Peak, Hydel Park.
Ooty
Things To Do– Toy Train Ride, Boating, Trekking, Bird Watching, Camping, Cycling, Shopping, Sightseeing, Strolling.
Places To Visit
Botanical Garden, Rose Garden, Ooty Lake, Pykara Lake, Doddabetta Peak, Shooting Point, Tea Museum, Wax World Museum,Avalanche Lake, Deer Park, Mudumalai National Park, Emerald Lake, Mini Car Museum, Ooty Boat House, Thread Garden, Government Museum.
Kudremukh
Kudremukh is a picture-perfect hill station with cool delightful weather that offers an absolute heavenly setting to relax and unwind during the summer. It serves as a part of the mighty Western Ghats and is situated in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. Famed for its rich biodiversity and enchanting natural beauty, Kudremukh is full of emerald dense forest, mountainous paths with scenic views and rolling grasslands embellished with rare varieties of orchids and gorgeous rivers.
Things To Do- Trekking, Strolling, Sightseeing, Shopping.
Places To Visit
Kudremukh Peak, Kudremukh National Park, Hanuman Gundi Falls, Kalasa, Gangamoola, Janta Market, Lakya Dam, Horanadu, Kadambi Falls.
Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal, better known as the “Princess of Hill Station”, is yet another charming hill station in South India, a must-visit for an enjoyable summer getaway. It lies on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu.Kodaikanal features cloud-capped mountains, cliffs covered in mist, nature trails, quaint resorts. charming lakes and beautiful valleys and the summers are delightfully cool and comfortable here making it a favourite haunt for tourists during summer.
Things To Do– Trekking, Boating, Strolling, yoga, biking, exploring the cave, night safari.
Places To Visit
Kodai Lake, Pillar Rocks, Bear Shola Falls, Thalaiyar Falls, Green Valley View, Devil’s Kitchen, Coaker’s Walk, Berijam Lake, Dolphin’s Nose, Bryant Park, Silver Cascade Falls, Silent Valley View, Kurinji Temple, Shenbaganur Museum, Subramanya Temple, Pine Forest, Vattakanal Falls.
Wayanad
Wayanad offers an ideal place to escape the blazing heat of the summer. Located within the Nilgiri biosphere reserve, Wayanad is one of the most popular hill stations and above all, a natural treasure trove in Kerala. The place is blessed with delightful surroundings, breath-taking sceneries, never-ending spice plantations, serene hills, dense forests, rich flora and fauna, grand waterfalls, and scenic look-outs and the place embraces you with a comfortably chilling climate.
Things To Do– Trekking, Hiking, Cycling, Boating, Village Tour, Heritage Trails, Jeep Safari, Wildlife Safari, Bird Watching, River Rafting, Bamboo Rafting, Camping.
Places To Visit
Chembra Peak, Banasura Sagar Dam, Edakkal Cave, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Heritage Museum, Kuruvadweep, Soochippara Waterfalls, Neelimala Viewpoint, Karapuzha Dam, Kanthanpara Waterfalls, Meenmutty Falls, Puliyarmala Jain Temple, Thirunelly Temple, Ghat Viewpoint, Koottamundu Glass Temple.
Nandi Hills
Places To Visit
Tipu’s Drop, Tippu’s Summer Resort, Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple, Amritha Sarovar, Muddenahalli, Brahmashram, Yoga Nandeeshwara Temple, Nehru Nilaya.
Coorg
Better known as “Scotland of India” because of its beautiful landscapes and enchanting climate as that of Scotland, Coorg is one of the scenic hill stations to visit in South India during summer. It is nestled amid emerald hills of the Western Ghats that dot the southernmost tip of Karnataka. Coorg is indeed a mini paradise embraced with beautiful green hills, hanging valleys, deep gorges, dense forests, alluring waterfalls, pleasantly flowing streams and rivers, and traditional dark tiled cottages.
Things To Do- Trekking, Sightseeing, Shopping, Jeep Safari, River Rafting, Mountain Biking, Nature Walks, Wildlife Safari, Plantation Walk, Micro Flight Flying, Rock Climbing, Rappelling.
Places To Visit
Abbey Falls, Dubare Elephant Camp, Raja’s Seat, Golden Temple/ Namdroling Monastery, Chiklihole Reservoir, Harangi Dam, Omkareswara Temple, Madikeri Fort, Nalknad Aramane Palace, Padi Igguthappa Temple, Talacauvery Temple and Waterfalls.
Vagamon
Things To Do- Trekking, Rock Climbing, Mountaineering, Paragliding, Jeep Safari, Cycling, Boating, Fishing.
Places To Visit
Vagamon Pine Forest, Marmala Waterfalls, Thangal Para, Barren Hills, Vagamon Lake, Mundakayam Ghat, Vagamon Fall, Idukki Dam, Vagamon Meadows, Ulipooni Wildlife Sanctuary, Kurisumala.
Thekkady
Thekkady is another wonderful hill station in South India that offers an exuberant getaway during summer. It is located in the Idukki district of Kerala and is home to the largest tiger reserve in the country, Periyar. Thekkady is enveloped by unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations and it is an awesome place to explore nature in its pristine form. The picturesque waterfalls and cascades and the dense think forests embellished by the presence of wild animals are its added charm.
Things To Do- Trekking, Boating, Nature Walk, Spice Walk, Jungle Safari, Elephant Ride, Periyar Tiger Trail, Jungle Night Patrol, Bamboo Rafting, Tribal Heritage Program.
Places To Visit
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Mangala Devi Temple, Murikkady, Kadathanadan Kalari, Ramakalmedu, Mullaperiyar Dam, Chellarkovil, Pandikuzhi, Suruli Waterfalls, Periyar Lake.
Yercaud
An unexplored hill station with mesmeric beauty, Yercaud is an ideal place to enjoy this summer vacation. It lies in the Shevaroys range of hills in the Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu. The climate of Yercaud is so relaxing and the place is known for its heavenly beauty, orange groves, and coffee, fruit and spice plantations, natural waterfalls, gorgeous views, abundant forest with an exquisite range of flora and fauna, beautiful resorts and architectural marvels.
Things To Do- Boating, Trekking, Hiking, Nature Walk, Sightseeing.
Places To Visit
Killiyur Falls, Lady’s Seat, Emerald Lake, Bear’s Cave, Pagoda Point, Shevaroy Hills, Botanical Garden, Tippery Viewpoint, Annamalaiyar Temple viewpoint, Anna Park, Karadiyur Viewpoint, Shevaroy Temple, Kottachedu Teak Forest, Deer Park.
Araku Valley
An exceptionally picturesque hill station in South India, the Araku Valley offers a wonderful getaway during the hot summers. Known for its sprawling coffee plantations and mesmerizing landscapes, this beautiful hill station is located to the south of Andhra Pradesh, in the Visakhapatnam district. Araku Valley is naturally bestowed with beautiful streams, enchanting waterfalls, rolling hills, undulating meadow and lovely weather and is better known for its matchless tranquility.
Things To Do- Trekking, Sightseeing, Hiking, Explore the Cave.
Places To Visit
Borra Caves, Araku Tribal Museum, Padmapuram Botanical Garden, Chaparai Waterfalls, Ananthagiri Hills, Talimada Waterfalls, Katiki Waterfalls, Dumbriguda Waterfalls.
Ananthagiri Hills
The beautiful and charming Ananthagiri Hills is another best hill station in South India to escape the scorching summers. This enchanting hill station is set amid the lofty Eastern Ghats in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ananthagiri Hills is noted as one of the cleanest and greenest hill stations in India, known for its salubrious environment, misty appearance, visually delighting greenery, cascading waterfalls, mumbling streams, enthralling scenic vistas and amazing trekking trails.
Things To Do- Trekking, Camping, Hiking, Explore the Cave.
Places To Visit:
Borra Caves, Araku Tribal Museum, Musi River, Padmapuram Gardens, Dolphin’s Nose, Tyda Park, Lord Anantha Padmanabha Temple, Chilkur Balaji Temple, Bhvanasi Lake.
Ponmudi
The second highest hill station in South India, Ponmudi makes for a lovely destination to visit during the summers. Snuggled in the laps of rolling hills of the picturesque Western Ghats, this amazing hill station is a much-loved tourist spot in Kerala. Ponmudi enchants its visitors with an endless stretch of tea plantations, lush green hills, alluring valleys, lofty mountains, rich flora and fauna, breathtaking waterfalls, sparkling streams, thick woodlands and thrilling trekking trails.
Things To Do- Trekking, Hiking, Sightseeing, Wildlife Spotting.
Places To Visit
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Koyikkal Palace, Agasthyakoodam Peak, Meenmutty Falls, Mankkayam Falls, Varayattumotta, Golden Valley, Kallar, Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary, Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
Kotagiri![]()
Nestled in the lap of gorgeous Nilgiri Hills, Kotagiri is one of the best hill stations to visit in South India during summer. It is one of the smallest and oldest hill stations located in the state of Tamil Nadu. The spellbinding hill station of Kotagiri is bounded by tea estates and lush green valleys as well as offers a picture-perfect environment that exhibits peace and tranquility. It has an awesome climate so soothing to beat the summer heat.
Things To Do– Trekking, Hiking, Photography, Sightseeing.
Places To Visit
Elk Falls, Longwood Shola, Catherine Falls, Rangasamy Peak and Pillar, Kodanad View Point, John Sullivan Memorial.
Vythiri
Things to do- Trekking, Hiking, Cycling, Boating, Village Tour, Heritage Trails, Jeep Safari, Wildlife Safari, Bird Watching, River Rafting, Bamboo Rafting, Camping.
Places To Visit
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Chembra Peak, Soochippara Falls, Pookot Lake, Banasura Dam, Lakkidi.
This summer, beat the heat, relax and rejuvenate and enjoy a fun-filled vacation at the beautiful hill stations of South India.
