25 Best Hill Stations in South India (2024)

Coonoor is a Taluk and a municipality in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. About 18 km from Ooty, & 71 km from Coimbatore, it is one of the must invlude places in < Tamilnadu Tour Packages, and among the best places to visit near Bangalore.

At an altitude of 6,000 feet above sea level, Coonoor is famous for its verdant environs and for a variety of wildflowers and birds. It is the second-largest hill station in the Nilgiri hills after Ooty. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (Toy Train) is one of the oldest mountain railways in India. The train ride in the midst of the Nilgiris, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an unforgettable travel experience as part of Coonoor packages. Besides, this stunning hill station is well-known for its production of Nilgiri tea.

Coonoor can be visited along with Ooty tour. Sim's Park, Lambs Rock, Dolphins Nose, St. Catherine Falls, and Law's falls are some popular tourist places in Coonoor. It is an ideal base for many trekking expeditions leading into the Nilgiris.

Yercaud is a beautiful hill station in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu. At a distance of 31 km from Salem, and 249 km from Bangalore, it is one of the best Tamilnadu tourist places, and among the most famous places to visit near Bangalore.

At an altitude of 1515 m in the Shevaroy hills, Yercaud town got its name from the Yercaud Lake located at its center. Stone-age implements have been found from the ancient shrine located near Shevaroy Hills, which is about 5 km from Yercaud Lake, among the must include places in Yercaud tour packages. Anna Park, Lady's Seat, Shevaroy Temple, Small Lake, Bear's Point, Pagoda Point, Killiyur Falls, and Botanical Garden are some of the prominent tourist places in Yercaud.

Yercaud is known for its plantations majorly of coffee, orange, jackfruit, guava, cardamom, and black pepper. Summer Festival celebrated in Yercaud in the month of May is a special attraction. This festival is marked by a 7-day exhibition of flowers, dog shows, boating races, and a village fair.

At a distance of 27 km Madanapalle, 76 km from Rayachoty, 128 km from Cuddapah, 123 km from Chittoor, 116 km from Chikkaballapura, 128 km from Tirupati, 166 km from Bangalore and 531 km from Hyderabad, Horsley Hills is a famous Hill Station in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh and also one of the best Tourist places in Andhra Pradesh. This is one of the popular Bangalore getaways for a weekend trip and also one of the top hill stations near Bangalore.

Situated at an altitude of 1265 meters, Horsley Hills is an exciting place to visit. The old name of Horsley Hills was Yenugu Mallamma Konda. According to the legend there used to be a little girl named Mallamma who was taken care by Elephants. She used to heal tribal people on the hills. When she disappeared suddenly, people thought she was a goddess and built a temple for her. Later the place is named after W.D. Horsley, the Collector of Cuddapah district. He visited this place and was impressed by the beauty of the hills and chose this spot for his summer residence. Now the Governor of Andhra Pradesh uses this house as a summer residence and hence this house is called the Governors bungalow.

The scenic drive to Horsley Hills is exciting and has thick vegetation of various species of plants and wild animals. Covering ...

At a distance of 85 km from Rajahmundry, 112 km from Kakinada, 118 km from Bhadrachalam, 233 km from Khammam, 241 km from Vizag, 245 km from Vijayawada and 432 km from Hyderabad, Maredumilli is a village situated on Bhadrachalam - Rajahmundry highway in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Amidst the semi evergreen forests, it is one of the top places to visit near Rajahmundry and among the best places to visit in Andhra Pradesh. Maredumilli is one of the top attractions you must include in Vizag tour packages.

Located in the dense forests of Eastern Ghats, this quaint little village has been developed by the Forest Department as an Eco-tourism Centre. Maredumilli is a place of wildlife, nature and of tribal people. This forest area is conserved and developed by the tribals who have habituated the lands for generations. The entire region is amazing and picturesque with green grasslands encircled by hills with many streams flowing over undulating rocks.

The semi-evergreen forests of the village make it a wonderful place to have some adventure in the wild and immerse oneself with nature. The Maredumilli Community Conservation & Eco Tourism Area is situated on Maredumilli - Bhadrachalam road, nearly 4 km away from Maredumilli village. Jungle Star Nature Camp is a nature lover's paradise which provides an excellent opportunity to explore the Eastern Ghats. Located adjacent to the river Valamuru, the camp has a stream ...

At a distance of 60 km from Rajahmundry, 180 km from Vijayawada, 20 km from Polavaram, 260 km from Vizag & 410 km from Hyderabad, Papi Kondalu is a breathtakingly beautiful hill range bounded by River Godavari in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Papi hills are a set of three hills which form a beautiful gorge on the Godavari River spread across East Godavari and West Godavari districts. Entire area of Papi Kondalu is covered by tropical rain forests and it was recently declared as a protected National Park and is one of the top places to experience the Tourism in Andhra Pradesh. Papikondalu is one of the top attractions you must include in Vizag tour packages.

The original name for this hill range was 'Papidi Kondalu'. Papidi is a rough translation for partition in Telugu. It is believed that the place was visited by Lord Rama and goddess Sita during their exile. Papi Kondalu has to be reached by boat from Rajahmundry, Pattisam (35 km from Rajahmundry), Polavaram (40 km from Rajahmundry), Kunavaram (50 km from Bhadrachalam) or Sriram Giri (60 km from Bhadrachalam). The boat service from Rajahmundry to Bhadrachalam is a wonderful experience and it is operated in post monsoon season.

Apart from enjoying the view of the hills, valley ...

Sakleshpur is a quaint hill station in the Hassan district of Karnataka. Situated at an altitude of 3061 feet, Sakleshpur is one of the least explored hill stations in Karnataka and among the must include tourist attractions in Karnataka tour packages. It is about 151 km from Mangalore and 220 km from Bangalore.

Lies in the Malnad region, this beautiful hill station is very popular for its fascinating mountains, scenic beauty, and pleasant weather as well, which are the must-experience things to do as part of Sakleshpur holiday packages. Manjarabad Fort, Sakleshwara Temple, Agni Gudda Hill, Magajahalli Waterfalls, Betta Byraveshwara Temple, Hemavathi Dam, and Pandavar Gudda are some of the popular places to visit in tourist places in Sakleshpur. Besides, this lesser-known hill station is famous for trekking activities in Bisle Reserve Forest Trail and Kumara Parvatha trail, in which one can explore the rich biodiversity of the place.

Sakleshpura is the gateway to the Western Ghats from Bengaluru & Hassan side. Sakleshpur is among the major producers of coffee and cardamom output in India.

Marayoor or Marayur is one of the popular places of heritage in Kerala. It is situated about 41 km from Munnar, and 164 km from Kochi. It is among the best places to visit as part of Munnar tour packages.

Nestled in the shadows of the Western Ghats, Marayoor is a pre-historic site and also the only tourist place in Kerala that has natural sandalwood forests. This scenic town claims to be a part of a Stone Age civilization that is as old as 10,000 BC. The jungles and hillsides dotted with remnants of Megalithic age Dolmens called Muniyaras are the prime attractions of Marayoor tour packages. Marayoor is also famous for its ancient rock paintings located in Attala, Ezhuthu Guha (near Kovilkadavu), and Manala.

Along with prehistoric dolmens, cave paintings, and sandalwood forests, Lakkam Falls, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary & Thoovanam Waterfalls, and Amaravathi Dam are some important tourist places in Marayoor.

Yelagiri is a hill region located in between the towns of Vaniyambadi and Jolarpettai in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. About 178 km from Bangalore, and 230 km from Chennai, this is one of the best places to visit near Bangalore, and among the least explored hill stations in Tamilnadu.

Yelagiri is a cluster of 14 hamlets that lie between four mountains spread over an area of 30 sq km having an altitude of 3500 ft. This is one of the famous hill stations near Chennai. The highest point in Yelagiri is the Swamimalai Hill, standing tall at 4,338 ft with spectacular views. The hill provides a good number of trekking trails through thick reserved forests as part of Yelagiri tour packages.

Javadi Hills, Palamathi Hills, Punganur, Velavan Temple, Jalagamparai Waterfalls and Nature Park are the other prominent tourist places in Yelagiri Hills. Yelagiri Summer festival celebrated in May end is organized by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development. Stalls from different departments, flower shows, various cultural programs, and Dog Show with a variety of dog breeds are conducted every year.

Also known as Korra Bayalu, Lambasingi is one of the hill stations in Andhra Pradesh and among the must include places in Vizag Tour Packages. It is about 92 km from Araku Valley, and 115 km from Vishakhapatnam.

Fondly called the 'Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh', the little hamlet of Lambasingi is situated at an altitude of 1025 m in the beautiful and lushly forested Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. One of the best-kept secrets of Andhra Pradesh, the tiny village is known for its majestic hills, quaint valleys, and chilling temperatures. This village is the only place in all of South India that experiences snowfall as the temperatures drop significantly.

Surrounded by mesmerizing hills, and dense forests, Lambasingi makes for a perfect weekend getaway from Visakhapatnam as this tiny village is covered with an ethereal white mist throughout the year that swirls with the wind. Thajangi Reservoir, Kothapalli Waterfalls, Susan Garden, Bojjanakonda, Kondakarla Bird Sanctuary, Annavaram Temple, and Yerravaram Waterfalls are some of the top places to visit in Lambasingi. Also, this village offers myriad interesting opportunities to adventure seekers ranging from trekking and mountain biking to hiking and camping. Lambasingi is famous for its tea and coffee plantations along with little apple and strawberry farms.

Nestled in the thickly forested Malnadu region of the Western Ghats, Agumbe is one of the most mesmerizing offbeat tourist places in Karnataka, and among the must-visit places as part of Karnataka tour packages. It is located about 112 km from Mangalore and 342 km from Bangalore.

Situated at an altitude of over 2100 feet, the scenic village of Agumbe lies in the Western Ghats belt with some of the last remaining lowland rainforests. The place is nicknamed 'The Cherrapunji of the South' as it receives the heaviest rainfall in the southern part which makes it a perfect home to some of the scenic waterfalls, dense forests, and rivers. Prominent Agumbe tourist places are Sri Gopala Krishna temple, Kunchikal Falls, Barkana Falls, Onake Abbi Falls, Jogi Gundi Falls, Koodlu Theertha Falls, Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, Narsimha Parvatha trek, Kudremukh National Park, Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, etc. It can be visited as part of Mangalore holiday packages.

Agumbe is home to the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, the only rainforest research station in India, and was established as a sanctuary for the King Cobra. It is also the place where RK Narayan has filmed his novel Malgudi Days.

Sirsi is a small hill station located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. About 99 km from Shimoga, 102 km from Hubli, 395 km from Bangalore, it is the main commercial center and a business hub in the Malnadu region, and among the top tourist places in Karnataka.

Situated at an altitude of 2000 feet, Sirsi is surrounded by thick forests and towering hills, among the must-experience things to do as part of Sirsi tour packages. This pristine hill station is also known as 'Gateway of Malenadu' or 'Gateway of Western Ghats'. Unchalli Falls, Vibhuthi Falls, Marikamba Temple, Magod Falls, Benne Hole Falls, Shivaganga Falls, Muregar Falls, Burude Falls, Mattighatta Falls, Manjuguni, Sahashralinga, Sodhe / Sonda, Devimane Ghat, Banavasi, and Gudavi Bird Sanctuary are some of the top place to visit in Sirsi/a>.

Sri Marikamba Jatra is the main festival held every alternate year in March at Sirsi. The fair attracts nearly 5 lakh devotees, tourists, and pilgrims from throughout Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra. It is said to be the most famous and biggest fair in the state of Karnataka.

Idukki is is one of the stunning places to visit near Kochi, and among the most prominent Kerala tourist places. It is situated about 47 km from Munnar, 105 km from Kochi, 239 km from Trivandrum, and 171 km from Madurai.

Idukki is the second-largest district in Kerala state (Painavu as headquarters). The name Idukki is supposed to be derived from the Malayalam word Idukku which means a narrow gorge. Periyar which is one of the largest rivers of Kerala, flowing through the Idukki gorge formed between the two high massive rocks called Kuravan and Kurathi, which is the site of the gigantic Idukki Arch Dam, among the must-visit places as part of Idukki packages. Idukki can be visited along with Munnar tour packages.

Idukki has a mix of diverse attractions like wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations, spice plantation centers and mountain treks. Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki Dam, Thommankuthu Waterfalls, Ramakalamedu, Kalvari Mount / Calvary Mount, Malankara Dam, and Ilaveezha Poonchira are some of the prominent tourist places in Idukki.

Originally known as Poonachimalai, Valparai is one of the least explored hill stations in India. About 65 km from Pollachi, 105 km from Coimbatore, it is among the top tourist place to visit in Tamilnadu.

Situated at an altitude of 3500 feet, Valparai is a little piece of heaven tucked away in the cradle of the Anamalai mountain range of the Western Ghats. Sholayar Dam, Aliyar Dam, Nallamudi Viewpoint, Loam's View Point, Balaji Temple, Monkey Falls, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnakallar Waterfalls, Birla Falls, Koolangal River, Grass Hills, Nirar Dam, etc. are some of the popular places to visit in Valparai as part of Valparai tour packages.

Valparai is famed for its numerous coffee and tea plantations that are surrounded by thick forest.

Also called 'Kashmir of Kerala', Ponmudi is a secluded hill station situated in the Trivandrum district of Kerala. It is one of the pristine hill stations near Trivandrum. It is situated about 57 km from Trivandrum, and 233 km from Kochi.

Ponmudi, meaning the Golden Crown, is nestled in the lap of rolling hills of the Western Ghats that run parallel to the Arabian Sea. Situated at an altitude of 1100m, Ponmudi is surrounded by scenic hills, spice plantations, tea estates, natural springs, and winding streams. Ponmudi Waterfalls, Deer Park, River Kallar, Kallar Meenmutty Falls, Golden Valley, and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary are some of the must-visit tourist places as part of Ponmudi packages.

Apart from sightseeing, Ponmudi is also famous for Ayurvedic medical treatments. Trekking to Agasthyakoodam, Ponmudi tourist places, is the most popular activity here for adventure buffs. Ponmudi can be vsited along with Trivandrum tour packages.

Megamalai or Meghamalai is a beautiful hill town in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu. About 126 km from Madurai, and 127 km from Munnar, it is one of the offbeat hill stations in South India and among the top places to visit near Madurai.

Popularly called Highwavys Mountains, Meghamalai is an unexplored paradise in the Western Ghats and is very little known even to the people of Tamilnadu. Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Highwavy Dam, Megamalai Viewpoint, Manalar Dam, Suruli Falls, Iravangalar Dam, and maharaja Mettu are some of the top places to visit in Meghamalai.

If you are looking for a calm and tranquil weekend from the hustle-bustle of city life, Megamalai is the perfect place to visit in Tamilnadu.