8 Amazing Road Trips To Help You Explore The Best Of Every South Indian State

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Photo of 8 Amazing Road Trips To Help You Explore The Best Of Every South Indian State by Adete Dahiya

They say it's the journey, not the destination that matters, and to some extent I feel they are right. If you've been following my journey here on Tripoto, you know that I am a huge fan of road trips. That feeling of going on unexplored territory, taking in the views, enjoying the music, and anticipating what you'll do when you reach your destination, that makes every road trip a unique experience.

Sadly, when you search for road trips online, more often than not, it is the northern states that show up. The southern part of the country is relatively less explored in this context. So, I've put together of eight of the most interesting road trips down south to help you explore the beauty and culture of the region.

Hyderabad to Araku Valley (via Vishakhapatnam)

They don’t call it the complete trip for nothing. You get to witness the best of everything – plains, beaches, and hill stations. The route from Hyderabad to Vishakhapatnam and then from Vizag to Araku is an absolute delight. During the first part of the route you get to pass through scenic routes and lush green stretches. Once you reach Vizag, you can enjoy views of the Eastern Ghats and blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. The route from there to Araku is dotted with beautiful green hills. The weather is pleasant and makes for a very enjoyable drive.

Distance: 732km

Best time to visit: From November to February is considered to be the best time for this trip as the temperatures are moderate and the vegetation in full bloom.

Places on the route: Hyderabad, Suryapet, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Vishakhapatnam, Araku.

Araku Valley (source)

Photo of Araku, Andhra Pradesh, India by Adete Dahiya
Photo of Araku, Andhra Pradesh, India by Adete Dahiya

Chennai to Munnar (via Pondicherry)

If you’ve got a weekend free and Chennai’s weather just isn’t cutting it, then escape to the hills of Munnar and make sure you travel by road. The well-maintained roads, great views of the sea and the tea plantations, and amazing weather make this a road trip to remember. The route is replete with amazing dhabas (local shacks) for some delectable food on the go. Make a pitstop at Pondicherry for its unique French-influenced culture, beautiful beaches, and hospitable people.

Distance: 583km

Best time to visit: From October to March is considered the best time for this trip as the temperatures are moderate and the weather pleasant.

Places on the route: Chennai, Pondicherry, Tiruchirapalli, Dindigul, Munnar

Munnar (source)

Photo of Munnar, Kerala, India by Adete Dahiya
Photo of Munnar, Kerala, India by Adete Dahiya

Bangalore to Ooty (via Mysuru)

The road from Bangalore to Ooty is a journey every travel enthusiast must take. Nestled in the lap of the Nilgiri hills, it offers unparalleled sights of the green mountains and winding roads. The roads are in great condition and dotted with plenty of eateries. Make a stopover at Mysuru for a day to explore the rich history of this ancient city before diving right back into the lap of nature.

Distance: 276km

Best time to visit: Either during monsoons (July to September) to view the vegetation in full bloom or during winters (November to March) to enjoy cooler temperatures in the area.

Places on the route: Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Srirangapatna, Mysuru, Nanjangudu, Mudumalai National Park, Ooty

Ooty (source)

Photo of Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India by Adete Dahiya
Photo of Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India by Adete Dahiya

Goa to Kodagu (Coorg)

Ever thought of driving into the sunset with the sea by your side? The Goa to Coorg journey is the ultimate road trip for beach lovers. This journey through India’s Western Ghats will give you stunning views of the Arabian Sea all through your drive. You can make pit-stops at pristine beaches and stop for coconut water at the roadside stalls. Stop at Gokarna for a glimpse into what paradise looks like and make a stop at Murudeshwar to try your hand at the best scuba diving on the western coast.

Distance: 501km

Best time to visit: For beach bums, winters are the best months (November to February) while for nature enthusiasts, monsoon (June to September) is the best time.

Places on the route: Goa, Gokarna, Murudeshwar, Bhatkal, Udupi, Mangaluru, Madikeri, and Kodagu.

Goa (source)

Photo of Goa, India by Adete Dahiya
Photo of Goa, India by Adete Dahiya

Kochi to Kanyakumari

Another sea-view road trip, this one takes you to the southern-most tip of the country. The route is beautiful and passes through some of the most popular tourist spots in Kerala.

Must Read: best road trips in IndiaRoad trip from India

You get to witness everything from hills to the backwaters and it is definitely an experience that should be on your bucket list. This trip isn’t just about nature though, it also takes you on a cultural-journey, passing through some of Kerala’s most important historic and political destinations. You can take this journey over the weekend or stretch it out by stopping over at some of the more prominent places along the route.

Distance: 303km

Best time to visit: Once again, the months of November to March are perfect for this region. You will want to avoid the summers and the monsoons as they can get pretty intense.

Places on the route: Kochi, Alappuzha, Kollam, Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, Poovar, Periyakadu, and Kanyakumari.

Kanyakumari (source)

Photo of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India by Adete Dahiya
Photo of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India by Adete Dahiya

Bangalore to Munnar

Just like the Chennai-Munnar route, you’ll be mesmerised on this route by the expansive tea plantations. The winding roads and the large green cover will make you You’ll be mesmerized by the expansive tea plantations on the Bangalore - Munnar route. Not to forget, the route has various food joints at regular intervals that will force you to stop by and pamper your taste buds.

Distance:

Best time to visit: The season between October and March (post-monsoon) is considered best for this road trip.

Places to visit during this trip: Bangalore, Mysore, Bandipur, Masinagudi, Ooty, Coonoor, Coimbatore, Munnar

Source

Photo of Bangalore, Karnataka, India by Adete Dahiya
Photo of Bangalore, Karnataka, India by Adete Dahiya

Bandipur to Periyar (via Coimbatore and Kodaikanal)

This one is for wildlife lovers. Bandipur and Periyar are both tiger hotspots with a huge variety of other species of flora and fauna. In fact the entire route is lined with forests and can be a great way to explore the wildlife in this region. The area is also rich in elephant population and coffee plantations. This route is also the one with the maximum number of tourists hotspots on the list. It can be a great way to explore the Tamil Nadu region. You can stop to explore the ancient temple architecture in Coimbatore and gorgeous views of the Nilgiris in Kodaikanal.

Distance: 531km

Best time to visit: Monsoon months from July to September are the best time to visit this place.

Places on the route: Bandipur, Ooty, Coimbatore, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kodaikanal, Periyar

Source

Photo of Bandipur, Karnataka, India by Adete Dahiya
Photo of Bandipur, Karnataka, India by Adete Dahiya

Chennai to Kodaikanal (via Tiruchirapalli)

Another great trip to explore the State of Tamil Nadu, this one takes you from Chennai at its northern-most corner to Kodaikanal, which lies on the opposite side of the southernmost end. This is a very popular weekend road trip for city dwellers in Chennai. The route is picturesque and lined with some of the best eateries. Tiruchirapalli is also know for its beautiful temples. You can easily stop over here for a night and leave after exploring some great architecture. Villupuram is another place on the route that has a number of temples. You will pass through a number of villages and small districts which are great for understanding the culture and lifestyle of the people of Tamil Nadu.

Distance: 526km

Best time to visit:

Places on the route: Chennai, Villupuram, Ullundurpet, Tiruchirapalli, Kallupatty, Dindigul, Batlagundu, Manjaluru Dam view point, Kodaikanal.

Kodaikanal (source)

Photo of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Adete Dahiya
Photo of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Adete Dahiya

This is by no means an exhaustive list. The best part about being the road is that you can chart out your own route. So if you think this list is missing a trip you find exceptionally delightful, do let us know in the comments. You can also make your own list and share it with millions of readers on Tripoto.

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