10 Interesting Places To Visit Near Kerala On A 2024 Trip To South India

Kerala is one of the most enchanting places to visit in India. This charming place in South India should be in the bucket list of every traveler who wants to be amused by the beauty of nature, rich art and culture. Located on the Malabar coast in South India, this place is heaven on earth for its pristine beaches, long coastlines, beautiful boat races, surreal backwaters, and rich art and crafts. And while you are visiting Kerala, why not explore some places that are near Kerala. Read on to know of some interesting places to visit near Kerala.

10 Best Places To Visit Near Kerala

Here are some beautiful places that one can cover near Kerala. Have a look before you plan a trip to South India.

1. Madikeri

Madikeri is one of the best places that one can visit near Kerala. This place lies at around a distance of 250 km from Kerala. This is a picturesque hill station that lies in the Coorg district of Karnataka. This place is famous for its ravishing coffee plantation, beautiful climate, and refreshing vibes. Madikeri is one of the best places to visit near Kerala if you want to spend your vacation in a peaceful and fascinating way. This place is also known as the ‘Kashmir of South India’ due to its exquisite beauty.

Things to do in Madikeri:

Visit Madikeri Fort
Plan a visit to Omakreshwar temple to look at the Islamic and Gothic
Style of architecture
Explore the coffee plantation

Ideal for: photographers, nature lovers, and couples
Ideal trip duration: one to two days
Weather: pleasant temperature all year (11°C in summer and 4 °C in winters)
Best time to reach: November to February
How to reach: Nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport, and if you want to visit by rail, the nearest railway station is Hasan and Kasargod.

Must Read: Discover the Best Way To Observe New Year’s Celebrations in Kerala

2. Mysuru

This is one of the most enchanting cities in South India. This city is famed for its glittering royal heritage and amazing monuments and palaces. This city is rich in tradition and culture, and hundreds of travelers visit this place every year to look at the Mysore Palace. For the shopaholics, this place offers amazing opportunities and you can buy different spices and incense sticks with different fragrances. Mysore is also known for Ashtanga yoga school, and hundreds of international tourists visit this place to learn this Yoga form.

Things to do:

Learn Ashtanga yoga
Visit the spice garden
Visit the Vrindavan garden
Buy amazingly beautiful Mysore silk sarees

Ideal for: history lovers, shopaholics, and family who likes to visit ancient places
Ideal trip duration: two to three days
Weather: The wet season is warm and the dry season is hot and partly cloudy
Best time to visit: All round the year
How to reach: Nearest airport is Bangalore international airport, and the nearest railway station is the Mysore railway station.

3. Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is a hill station that is nestled in the Palani hills. If you want to go somewhere which can give you some relief from the heat of the plains, this place is the best choice. Kodaikanal is also known by the name ‘princess of the hills’ and is famous for granitic cliffs and lush green forests. Kodaikanal is the second most visited place in Tamil Nadu, and the people who are on a trip to South India never miss an opportunity to visit Kodaikanal.

Things to do:

Visit the Kodaikanal lake
Offer prayers in Subramaniyam temple
Enjoy a trek to canopy hills

Ideal for: honeymoon couple, a trip with family
Ideal trip duration: two to three days
Weather: cool and pleasant throughout the year
Best time to visit: March to early June
How to reach: Nearest airport is Madurai International Airport, and if you want to visit the place by train, the nearest railway station is the Kodai road railway station.

4. Pollachi

This famous town in Tamil Nadu offers a gateway to the forests and hills in the Western Ghats. This is the starting point if you want to go towards the Annamalai hills and different sanctuaries near the Anamalai hills. The water coming from the Anamalai hills create dams that are amazingly beautiful and make for great picnic spots. This is one of the most beautiful places to visit near Guruvayur Kerala.

Things to do:

Visit wildlife sanctuaries
Plan a picnic at Aliyar dam
Pay a visit to Pollachi Ayyapan temple

Ideal for: adventurous people, a group of friends, and wildlife lovers
Ideal trip duration: one to two days
Weather: pleasant weather all round the year
Best time to reach: March to June
How to reach: if you are traveling by plane to the nearest airport is the Coimbatore airport, and if you like to travel by train, the nearest station is Coimbatore railway station.

5. Madurai

This beautiful city of temples and palaces is situated on the banks of river Vaigai. And the history of this city dates back to 300 BC. This famous city has been ruled by different kings and dynasties like Pandyas, Cholas, the famous Vijaynagar Empire, and Britishers. Madurai is an amazingly beautiful place that you can easily visit if you are in Kottayam, Kerala.

Things to do:

Visit Meenakshi temple
Enjoy delicious idlis
Visit the famous Gandhi Museum
Pay a visit to Samanar hills

Ideal for: History lovers, family vacation, and devotees
Ideal trip duration: one to two days
Weather: hot and dry climate
Best time to visit: Mid December to Mid March
How to reach: Nearest airport is Madurai airport, and the nearest railway station is the Madurai railway station.

6. Kanyakumari

This is the southernmost tip of India and one of the most famous tourist destinations in India. This place is also famous because of the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. In addition to this, eastern and western coastal plains also meet at Kanyakumari. This city is famous for all kinds of tourists, including religious devotees. Kanyakumari is also a major center of art in India. Apart from monuments and historical places, Kanyakumari is also known for its waterfalls and beaches.

Things to do:

Visit Vivekanand rock memorial
A long walk at Kanyakumari beach
Visit BhagavathyAyyappan temple

Ideal for: adventure lovers, History lovers, family trips, religious devotees
Ideal trip duration: three to four days
Weather: high temperature during summer and low temperature during winter (22°C to 35°Celcius)
Best time to reach: December to March
How to reach: Thiruvananthapuram is the nearest airport to Kanyakumari, and the nearest railway station is the Kanyakumari railway station.

7. Coimbatore

This industrial city of South India is famous for its textile production. This was a trade destination even at the time of the Roman empire. This is one of the best places to visit outside Kerala if you are traveling near Kerala. People often stop at Coimbatore if they are heading towards Palakkad and other beach destinations near Kochi.

Things to do:

Visit the Siruvani waterfalls
Trekking and camping
Interesting food tour
Experience the lush green wildlife

Ideal for: adventure enthusiasts, family trips as well as business trips
Ideal trip duration: two to three days
Weather: the wet season is oppressive and overcast and the dry season is humid and cloudy
Best time to visit: November to February
How to reach: Nearest airport is Coimbatore airport, and the nearest railway station is also the Coimbatore railway station.

8. Mangalore

Mangalore is considered as one of the cleanest cities in India. Mangalore is famous for its serene beaches, beautiful churches, and majestic temples. This place has a great significance in ancient history and is a beautiful place to visit near Kerala.

Things to do:

Visit the Bejai museum
Visit the serene someshwara beach
Pay a visit to the famous Kudroli Gokarnath temple

Ideal for: History lovers, nature lovers, and family vacation
Ideal trip duration: two to three days
Weather: Average temperature of 23 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees celsius
Best time to visit: July
How to reach: Mangalore railway station is the nearest, and major railway station and if you are traveling via air the nearest airport is the Mangalore airport which lies at a distance of 15km from the city.

9. Shravanabelagola

This place is a major Jain pilgrimage. The glorious statue of Gomateshwara Bahubali is a must-watch. This a great place to visit if you want to know about the ancient Jain tradition and cultures.

Things to do:

Visit the famous statue of Gomateshwara Bahubali
Visit the Chandragiri hills
You can also pay a visit to Adinath Digambar Jain temple

Ideal for: Jain Devotees
Ideal trip duration: one to two days
Weather: pleasant weather (average temperature is 23 degrees celsius)
Best time to visit: any time of the year
How to reach: Mysore airport is the nearest airport, and the nearest station is the Mandagere.

10. Ooty

Hundreds of Bollywood movies have been shot at Ooty, and it is a famous tourist destination in South India. This has also been a famous honeymoon destination for ages. It is famous for its serene beauty and beautiful landscape.

Things to do:

Visit the botanical gardens
Spend some time in the lap of nature
Click pictures at the Tiger Hills
Visit the Ooty lake

Ideal for: Honeymoon couples and nature lovers
Ideal trip duration: three to four days
Weather: pleasant weather all round the year
Best time to visit: October to June
How to reach: Nearest Airport is Bangalore Airport and the nearest railway station is the Mettupalayam railway station.

Further Read: 6 Unusual Yet Exciting Things To Do In Ernakulam On Your Next Kerala Trip!

These were some of the best places to visit near Kerala. Book your holiday to South India with TravelTriangle and try to cover most of these beautiful towns and cities! Know of more such places near Kerala, then share with us in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions About Places To Visit Near Kerala

Why should one visit Kerala and places near Kerala?

Kerala is one of the most beautiful states in India known for its backwaters, extremely beautiful landscape, and picturesque beauty. Visiting Kerala will make you realize why this place is known as the ‘God’s own country’. If you are visiting Kerala why should you leave the places near it? Visiting Mysore, Ooty, and Kodaikanal will make you realize why Southern parts of India are a major tourist attraction.

Which is the best time to visit places near Kerala?

If you want to look at the natural beauty of Kerala and places around it, December to February is pleasant for traveling.

How many days are required to visit famous places near Kerala?

The number of days depends on the places one wants to visit near Kerala. Any place would require a minimum of 2 days.

Deepti Gupta

A writer by choice, a photographer by passion, a seasonal sailor preferably monsoons and a pilot when the wind is just right! When not in the city, I’m often found chasing sunrises in the mountains or sunsets at the beaches!