8 South India Travel Tips. Things To Know For Travel To South India!
Aside from Goa and Kerala, travel to South India isn’t as popular as travelling around North India which has all of the big sites and cities like the Taj Mahal, the Holy City of Varanasi, the Majestic State of Rajasthan and of course Mumbai and Delhi.
However, South India is a great area of India to travel around! It’s so diverse with the Beaches of Goa, the lush Green-ness of Kerala, impressive Hindu Temples, huge wildlife-filled National Parks, Tea Plantations and a lot more!
I spent 2 months travelling North India and 2 months travelling Southern India in one trip, I enjoyed both sides but I found travel to South India very different to the North.
There’s a lot of information online with travel tips for India but most of these tips are aimed at North India because that’s the most popular part of India to travel to, so here are my South India travel tips and information on travelling to South India only!
Travel To South India Tips!
Keep Reading for all the information you need for when you travel to South India!
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- More of my must-read India posts to help you:
1. In Tourism Terms, South India covers 4 States.
Technically South India is bigger than 4 states but in terms of tourism and where travellers to South India will visit there are 4 main states with the best things to do in South India- Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
All of these states are very different. I had my Marco Polo South India Guide with me on my trip and it covers all the Cities and major tourist sites which was a huge help and helped me understand the difference between the states (because they are very different) and what to see in each.
2. South India is Huge!
On a map South India is much smaller than the North but India is huge so it’s good to note that South India is very big too. I took an overnight train from Goa down the coast to Kerala and it took me 15 hours! My train from Chennai to Mysore took me 7 hours. Make sure you keep this in mind when planning your trip to South India itinerary to see the best places in South India!
3. The East & West of South India are very different.
Another thing to note about travel to South India is the difference between the Eastern and Western side of South India.
Goa is on the West Coast and has all of the dreamy beaches, or at least that’s what people know it for.
Kerala is further down on the West Coast and is extremely diverse with a huge coastline but inland it has coconut palm forests, rice paddies, and hill stations with tea, coffee and spice plantations. Kerala is a really nice state so many people take a holiday to Kerala but I will say that it’s beaches are not as nice as Goa as many are very local, can be quite dirty and are not for sunbathing.
The Eastern Side of South India has the beaches and coastline too but the state of Tamil Nadu is much more known for its Hill Stations and Historical Sites. The Marco Polo Guide informed me that Tamil Nadu, in fact, has the most world heritage sites in this area.
In terms of religion, the West- Goa and Kerala are very much Christian mainly due to the Portuguese influence, the East and Middle of South India- Tamil Nadu & Karnataka are very much Hindu, although you will find both religions and many others in all areas.
The West is also a lot more touristy because of the charm of Goa and Kerala, it attracts backpackers but also many holidaymakers. The East is much less visited by tourists to India in my opinion. This may be good for you or it may not.
Related Post: 2 Week Goa & Kerala Itinerary!
Tamil Nadu Temple
4. Think about your Priorities for travel to South India.
Based on the above differences between the states and the sides of South India, the best way to plan a trip around South India to see the tourist places in South India, especially if you are on a tight timeframe is to think about what your priorities are in my opinion because as I said South India offers a lot.
Do you want to chill on the Beaches? If so, Goa is for you.
Do you want to go Hiking in Hill Stations and to spot Wildlife? If so, Kerala is for you (note that I saw Wild Elephants in Thekkady National Park!).
Do you want to experience Hindu Culture and Cities with past Colonialism? If so, Tamil Nadu is for you.
Do you want to experience a more Modern City, a Royal City and a Rock Adventure Town? If so, Karnataka is for you.
Of course, you can mix and match these, I managed to see all 4 in my 2 months in South India but you don’t want to end up on the East Coast visiting Cities such as Madurai and Chennai if really you wanted to spend your time in South India on the Beaches, Hiking and seeing Wildlife.
The Marco Polo South India Guide was great for helping me work out what was in each state and the map on the back was my go-to in helping me figure out the best route around South India so I’d really recommend purchasing it before you go to South India as it will help you with the planning aspect and it’s nice and small and very lightweight so you can take it to South India with you and it will continue to help you whilst you’re there.
- Related Posts:
- Beaches In Goa For Foreigners To Visit!
- Hiking in the Tea Plantations of Munnar, Kerala!
- Cruising the Backwaters of Kerala from Alleppey!
- Things To Do in Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu!
5. Local Buses are the most popular mode of transport in many parts.
I found how to get around South India to be one of the big differences between North and South India. I took a few trains in South India between Cities and Goa and Kerala but as soon as I started going inland in Kerala and through Tamil Nadu I took my fair share of local buses too.
Local Buses in India are quite tricky. There are no schedules, you don’t pre-book then, there’s no English written on the front to show where it’s going, they get very busy and the roads are bumpy and windy. I’m not selling this to you I know, the best thing about the buses in India though are that they are cheap! It’a also similar to travelling Sri Lanka by bus, so if you have been there, you’ll know what to expect.
Keep this in mind when planning your trip around India as one of the South India travel tips. If you can’t see a train on the official Indian Train site then it’s likely you’ll need to take a bus, and there will be a bus if you’re going between tourist places, but you’ll have to wait until you arrive to sort that out, your accommodation will be able to help you.
- Related Posts:
- How To Book Trains in India as a Tourist Online!
- How To Take A Local Bus In India And What To Expect!
6. There is Less Tourism When You Travel To South India.
As a whole, I’d say South India receives less tourism. The areas of Goa and Kerala are touristy because they are popular holiday destinations in India but if we take the example of backpacker accommodation, for example, North India is full of hostels whereas I found in many cities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka there were only one or two hostels to choose from.
There are plenty of nice hotels though, the Marco Polo South India Guide recommends quite a few hotels in all Cities in South India. For Mysore, they recommend The Green Hotel which I went to for a coffee and it is really nice!
The Green Hotel in Mysore
7. It Does get Cold in South India.
I had this idea that South India would be really hot all of the time. In fact, before coming to India I thought that the whole Country would be hot, this is not correct and also incorrect for South India.
Generally, it is very warm, it has 2 main seasons which are the dry season in Winter and the wet monsoon season in Summer and although the West Coast by the beaches stays pretty warm in the Winter and is the perfect time to visit Goa, when I was in Goa in December it really cooled down at night and was quite chilly. Munnar one of the Hill Stations was so cold at night and a few weeks after I left in January they woke up to frost!
So be sure to include some warmer clothes in your South India packing list.
As the Marco Polo Guide says the best time to visit South India is between November to March.
8. South India is not Safer or less Busy than in North India.
Before I travelled to India myself I had heard many things about the South being a lot more chilled than the North and a lot safer with nicer people.
To the point where I, as a nervous solo female traveller to India, nearly visited the South first as a ‘ease in’ to India. However, firstly I had no need to be nervous either way (you can watch my YouTube video here on why), secondly, I did not find much of a difference between the North and South after 2 months in each in the terms of safety and busyness.
This is good of course in terms of safety as I felt very safe in North India and continued to do so in the South, and the North is very busy, loud and a bit crazy, but if I’m honest, so is the South!
The Beaches of Goa are quiet, chilled and very ‘Un-India’ in that way, but once you’re out of Goa, you really feel like you’re in India!
Auroville in South India.
I hope these points help you plan your trip around South India.
I really enjoyed my 2 months there. Goa was my favourite place in South India with Palolem Beach being my favourite beach, that might have had something to do with the amazing yoga holiday I did there too!
However, I also enjoyed seeing the famous backwaters of Kerala, and the Cultural side to the South Eastern side of India that a lot of travellers miss!
You can purchase a copy of the Marco Polo South India Guide Book on Amazon here for a great price. It was really handy when planning my trip around South India and once I was there too!
- Now you’ll be set for your trip to India! Enjoy!
- See ALL My India Posts Here!
- See My India Adventure on YouTube Here!
This post is in collaboration with Marco Polo Guides but all thoughts, opinions and real use of the guidebook are my own.
South America Visa Free Countries for Indian Citizens
South America Visa Free Countries for Indian Citizens
As I am travelling through South America now, I have curated a list of South America visa-free countries for Indian passport holders. This is based on my first-hand experience.
It is often stressful to obtain a tourist visa to travel. But thankfully as Indians, we are among those few fortunate who can obtain visa-free access to many countries.
BOLIVIA
Often described as the “Tibet” of the Americas. Bolivia is the cheapest travel destination in South America. This landlocked country is home to the world’s largest salt flats, Salar de Uyuni and world’s most dangerous road, The Death Road. Bolivia is flocked by thousands of visitors every year.
Currency: Bolivian Bolivianos (BOB) | BOB 1 – INR 9.8 |
Capital: La Paz
Cost Of Living: Meal in an in-expensive restaurant BOB 10 (INR 99) | 1 Litre Beer BOB 20 (INR 196) | Coffee BOB 15 (INR 147) | Transportation (Per Hour) BOB 10 (INR 99) |
Places To Visit: La Paz | Santa Cruz | Sucre | Potosi | Copacabana |
GUYANA
Guyana is the only English-speaking country on the continent. It is culturally connected to the Caribbean region. The country is popular for its dense rainforest. The British colonial architecture is well-preserved in Georgetown, the capital city.
Currency: Guyanese dollar (GYD) | INR 1 – GYD 3 |
Capital: Georgetown
Cost Of Living: Meal in an in-expensive restaurant GYD 1000 (INR 325) | 1 Litre Beer GYD 300 (INR 97) | Coffee GYD 646 ( INR 210) | Transportation (from) GYD 60 (INR 20)|
Places To Visit: Georgetown | Kaieteur Falls (5x massives than Niagara falls) | Shell Beach |
SURINAME
Once a Dutch colony, Suriname is known for well-preserved Dutch colonial architecture and a melting-pot culture. The official language is Dutch and the country is defined by vast swaths of tropical rainforest.
Currency: Surinamese Dollar (SRD) | SRD 1 – INR 9 |
Capital: Paramaribo
Cost Of Living: Meal in an in-expensive restaurant SRD 25 (INR 229) | 1 Litre Beer SRD 6 (INR 55) | Coffee SRD 6 ( INR 55) | Transportation (One Way Ticket) SRD 1.35 (INR 12) |
Places To Visit: Brownsberg Nature Park | Central Suriname Nature Reserve | Tafelberg, Suriname | Fort Zeelandia |
Visa On Arrival For Indian Citizens with US Visa (Except C1 – Transit Visa) UK Visa or Schengen Visa.
COLOMBIA
Colombia is home to about 10 percent of the world’s species. Which makes it the second most biologically diverse country on Earth, after Brazil. It’s the only country in South America with coastlines both in the North Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Colombia boasts all of South America’s allure.
Currency: Colombian Pesos (COP) | INR 1 – COP 44.5.
Capital: Bogota.
Cost Of Living: Meal in an in-expensive restaurant COP 6,000 (INR 134.5) | 1 Litre Beer COP 2500 (INR 56) | Coffee COP 2000 ( INR 45) | Transportation (one-way ticket) COP 1800 (INR 44) |
Visa On Arrival For Holders Of US Visa (Except C1 – Transit Visa) UK Visa or Schengen Visa.
Peru is as complex as its most exquisite and intricate weavings. Festivals signify ancient rites, nature brims with splendid diversity and the urban vanguard beams innovation. From the wonder of the world Machu Picchu an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains to Lake Titicaca the highest navigable lake in the world to the lush green tropical Amazons. Every return is rich and surprising in the Gastronomic Capital. Click here to see the Peru Travel Guide .
Currency: Peruvian Soles (PEN) | PEN 1 – INR 20
Capital: Lima
Cost Of Living: Meal in an in-expensive restaurant PEN 5 (INR 100) | 1 Litre Beer PEN 5 (INR 100) | Coffee PEN 6 ( INR 120) | Transportation (one-way ticket) PEN 1.50 (INR 30) |
Places To Visit: Machu Picchu | Lake Titicaca | Cusco | Laguna 69 | Paracas | Lima |
Countries issuing a FREE pre-arranged visa to Indian Tourists.
ARGENTINA
From the world’s largest waterfalls, Iguazu in the North-East and the home of Indigenous people in the North-West to Ushuaia the town nicknamed as the “End of the World” in the South, Argentina is home to the famous Malbec and Torrontés grapes that are used to make wine.
Currency: Argentinian Pesos (ARS) | ARS 1 – INR 4.2
Capital: Buenos Aires
Cost Of Living: Meal in an in-expensive restaurant ARS 120 (INR 501) | 1 Litre Beer ARS 20 (INR 83) | Coffee ARS 35 INR 146) | Transportation (one-way ticket) ARS 6 (INR 25) |
Places To Visit: Iguazu Falls | Jujuy | Mendoza | Patagonia | Buenos Aires |
URUGUAY
Sandwiched between Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay is the second smallest country in South America. Uruguay is known for its lush interior and beach-lined coast. The country is referred to as “Switzerland” of South America, not because of the scenic beauty but for its economic stability. The cost of living is not that cheap but Uruguay is worth every penny!
Currency: Uruguayan Pesos (UYU) | UYU 1 – INR 2.3 |
Capital: Montevideo
Cost Of Living: Meal in an in-expensive restaurant UYU 200 (INR 475) | 1 Litre Beer UYU 70 (INR 166) | Coffee UYU 84 ( INR 199) | Transportation (from) UYU 60 (INR 142) |
Prices above are rough estimates based on my experience. Prices may vary. If you have anything to contribute to better data reliability, please leave a comment below or e-mail me at explore@backpackways.com.
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