South India is regarded as a popular tourism destination. There is no doubt that tourists from all over the world frequently visit this location and this post we will dive into 15 best places to visit in South India in December.
Even though South India often has pleasant temperatures, visitors can still have a great time there in the winter. You must travel to South India at the appropriate time of year if you intend to do so.
South India is the ideal region to travel to in December. At this time of year, neither excessive heat nor rain is present in the area. Since the weather is often mild, you may easily go to numerous locations.
Additionally, South India celebrates its festivals in December, so you can take part in the festivities and experience the local culture.
Visitors may come to South India in December for a variety of reasons. One of the primary causes is that South India experiences a lot of activity at this time. In South India, this is also the time when travelers have the most opportunity for exploration.
15 Best Places to visit in South India in December
South India is undoubtedly a large region with numerous states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, there are many choices if we’re talking about the best places to visit in South India In December. For tourists and other guests, we’ll endeavor to make the best choices we can.
Kasaragod
December is a good time for travelers to travel to Kasaragod. The location is in God’s own City, Kerala State. Visit Aptly, also known as the Sacred Land, here.
There are other historic monuments and heritage buildings there as well. In December, you can go to some of the top temples, like Bekal Fort, Lake Temple, Thonikadavu Waterfalls, etc. This area is particularly well-known for its holiday celebrations.
Kochi
Kochi, a well-liked tourist destination in South India that has a city surrounding it and has been a significant port since the 19th century, draws a tonne of visitors throughout the year. It is the ideal starting point for your unforgettable tour to Kerala and was formerly known as Cochin.
The World Travel & Tourism Council ranks Kochi as one of the top three tourist destinations. Kochi is renowned for its clean beaches, ancient ruins, verdant hills, and diverse range of flora and wildlife.
Following the monsoon, winter is another excellent time to visit Kochi because the temperature is pleasant. The ideal time to visit Kochi’s beaches and other tourist attractions is when it’s between 17 and 30 degrees outside.
Additionally, Kochi’s picturesque beauty looks enhanced and appealing in the winter, making it one of the best places to visit in South India in December with family.
Alleppey
Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha, is a city in Kerala’s southern region. Lord Curzon referred to it as the “Venice of the East” because he thought Alleppey’s natural splendor reminded him of Venice, Italy. Alleppey has established a reputable reputation in backwater tourism and is also referred to as Kerala’s houseboat capital.
One of Alleppey’s biggest draws is its network of interconnected waterways, which allows visitors to access the suburbs. In addition, the spotless beaches, lagoons, and lush paddy fields make it a destination-worthy location in South India.
One of South India’s top winter travel destinations is Alleppey. The area, noted for its backwater tourism, is referred to be Kerala’s Houseboat Capital. The biggest benefit of visiting this location in winter is that during this season, the waterways are restored following the monsoon’s fury.
People can take pleasure in reserving a houseboat on the lake and touring the interior settlements on the backwaters. The weather is another factor. People can comfortably go around Alleppey as the weather turns pleasant and moderate.
Chennai
There is undoubtedly no other location comparable to Tamil Nadu and Chennai, the state’s capital. Similar to Mumbai, this city is well-known for its open malls, shopping centres, beaches, drives, and busy streets.
December is the ideal month for travelers to celebrate Christmas, New Year’s, and several other holidays. You get to take part in the extended Carnival that lasts the entire month of December. With the ultra-modern metropolis, Vallur Temple, Covelong Village, National Park, and Zoological Park, you can enjoy local culture here.
Tiruvannamalai
On December 2nd, this location celebrates the Karthigai festival, during which time the entire city is illuminated and music is played. Each home in the city is lit up by Diyas and other lights. During this time, several Pujas and Archanas are performed in all of the city’s temples.
Throughout the month, several temples are adorned with decorations and flowers. During the festival season, one can take in a lot of fireworks displays and food. In addition to this, you can also go to the Virupaksha Caves, Sri Rama Ashram, Annamalaiyar Temple, and many other places.
Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram is the ideal location in Tamil Nadu if you enjoy the beach and the coastal environment. The area is known for being a fishing community and is close to the coastal plains of Tamil Nadu. The area celebrates the fishing season in December with loads of food and entertainment!
You can go to the beach town and the historic temples. For visitors who don’t enjoy excessive heat, December is the perfect time to visit because the area gets 25-degree temps in the winter.
Ooty
Ooty, a resort town nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats mountains, is one of the top winter getaways in South India. It is located in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris District and is known by the formal name Udhagamandalam.
Ooty is well-known for several things, including lakes and dams, gardens and parks, tea factories, tribal museums, historical structures, and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which dates back to the British era and was formerly known as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency.
Ooty is well-known in India as a winter getaway. Ooty’s wintertime natural beauty is peaceful and calming to the senses. As the neighboring hills get foggy and misty in the winter, the entire scenery changes and becomes breathtakingly gorgeous.
When white clouds float above the verdant tea plantations on the hillslope, they become even more lovely and appear like something out of a postcard. Additionally, the cold weather makes it possible to explore the area comfortably.
Coorg
Coorg, one of the well-known tourist destinations in South India, is home to gushing waterfalls, historic structures, and evergreen woods, as well as its rich flora and fauna and numerous tea and coffee plantations. This hill town, which is surrounded by the Western Ghats Mountains, is also known as Madikeri.
The area, also known as Kodagu, is recognised as “The Scotland of India” because of its stunning scenery and natural beauty. The finest aspect of visiting this lovely hill station is the scented tea, coffee, and spice plantations.
Coorg, one of the best places in South India to visit in the winter, becomes comfortable and cool as the season progresses. It is now simpler to explore all of these locations because of the thick vegetation, stunning waterfalls, and plantations that line the hills’ incline.
Additionally, since the forests are dry yet still green, winter is the greatest season for hiking and camping in them. In the Nishani Hills and Kabbe Hills, jeep safaris are also the perfect activity at this time of year for wildlife enthusiasts.
Dakshina Kannada
This area is a stunning coastline location and is thought to be Karnataka’s southernmost point. The destination is best visited in December because of the chilly weather.
Therefore, this is the greatest destination for you to come if you enjoy sunsets, the beach, or interesting landscapes.
You can have a great time while visiting Dakshina Kannada at the beaches of Tannirbhavi, Kudle, Paradise, Sultan Battery, Mirjan Fort, and many other locations.
Araku Valley
Araku Valley appears to be a magnificent location when the yellow light of a winter day shines on the huge expanse of paddy fields that are visible through the gaps between the hills.
The peaceful valley quickly transforms into the ideal location for winter photography, producing a beautiful combination of many tones including blue, green, and golden.
The ideal postcard of Araku Valley can be seen in the background as exotic birds fly from one location to another, resting on a tree branch.
In addition to this, there is another typical explanation for choosing South India for Winter Break, which is undoubtedly the nice wintertime climate of Araku Valley.
There is another feature that contributes to its popularity as a winter travel destination. Araku Valley only ever experienced snowfall when it was below zero degrees.
Pondicherry
The best time to fully explore Pondicherry is from November to February when the weather is pleasant. The weather is ideal for taking part in water sports activities, strolling along the beaches, and relaxing in cafes.
Additionally, as winter is the best time to spend hours in the sea, numerous organisations offer scuba-diving and surfing training. I
If taking these courses has been on your bucket list for a while, Pondicherry is the location where you can do it throughout the winter at a reasonable price. The International Yoga Festival, which takes place in Pondicherry in January, is another unique winter event.
Because you can learn many types of art and yoga at this festival, this could be one of your life-changing experiences.
Wayanad
Wayanad experiences nice winter weather, making this the ideal season to visit. The months of November to January are the best for traveling to Wayanad because of the pleasant days and chilly evenings, as well as the lower humidity.
It is breathtaking to see the rural landscapes with their lush green patches of land and white clouds soaring above the lush valleys. Aside from this, Wayanad’s winter is the finest season for adventure.
Wayanad will make the most of your winter family vacation, with activities like climbing Chembra Peak and discovering the flora and animals on Kuruva Island.
Munnar
One of the coldest hill stations is Munnar, a popular winter tourist destination in South India. It is frequently referred to as the “Kashmir of southern India.” The tea gardens’ new leaves appear more revitalising when they are covered in an ice-crystal layer after being covered in white snow.
Additionally, Munnar’s nice winter weather makes it a great location for bird watching and easy, high-altitude hikes.
If you’re fortunate, you could even get to see a spectacular snowfall at Munnar during the winter. For instance, when the temperature dropped to -2 degrees in February of 2021, snow fell there.
Kodaikanal
One of the best reasons to visit this winter retreat is the ethereal beauty of the misty Kodaikanal Lake. In Kodaikanal, it gets a little chilly in the winter and occasionally drops below five degrees. The second explanation is that the fog condenses into ice crystals that fall as snow on the ground and other objects.
The greatest time to see gaur in the woodlands is during the winter, according to the last point. The animals are enticed to appear when Kodaikanal gets less touristy.
Lambasingi
A little village in Andhra Pradesh called Lambasingi is about 100 km from Visakhapatnam. It is 1,000 metres above sea level and has lower temperatures than the surroundings. This eccentric winter resort was formerly enveloped in thick forests and served as a refuge for tigers and birds.
Numerous enthusiasts come to this area to explore the diverse array of wildlife. The town is home to plantations for coffee, eucalyptus, and pine trees. This region is made even more lovely by the lovely lush slopes and peaceful rivers.
Lambasingi, known as the “Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh,” frequently experiences winter snowfall. Sometimes, when it gets below freezing at night, the area’s normally overcast scenery turns white with snow.
The area is also referred to as Korra Bayalu, which roughly translates to “if someone stays out in the open they would freeze like a stick!”
Conclusion
Consequently, the best time to visit this small community is during the winter, which lasts from November to January. The optimum time to experience snowfall is also between 4 and 9 in the morning. In the past few years, this surreal phenomenon has begun to draw tourists from all across the nation.
We sincerely hope that this South India Winter Travel Guide will assist you in deciding which part of South India would be the best places to visit in South India in December this coming winter.