We get you 6 hill stations in South India to visit in May. With the summer sun shining around the corner, temperatures soaring high, it will soon be time to escape the humdrum of life and leave behind the cubicles of office to rush for some refreshment and solace. It’s May!!! Beat the heat this summer by escaping to the hill stations near you.
Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu
With its tranquil forests, gurgling waterfalls, enchanting air and a soothing weather, Kodaikanal is a perfect summer retreat. It is popularly also known as “The Princess of Hill Stations”. The Kurinji flower which blooms in a span of 12 years is one of the major attractions here. You can also get involved in some fun time with activities like cycling, angling, pony riding and much more with your loved ones.
How to Reach
By Air: The nearest airport to Kodaikanal is Madurai airport (120 km). From there you can book a cab to reach Kodaikanal.
By Rail: The nearest Railway stations are Palani Railway Station (64 kilometres) and Kodai Road Station (80 kilometres/3 hours).
By Road: Kodaikanal is well connected with all major cities. There are regular bus services available for the public.
Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Ooty or Udhagamandalam, “the Queen of Hills” or “the blue mountains”, call it as it pleases you. Endowed with pleasant climate similar to the English summer which remains constant throughout the year, Ooty has lot of places to visit. Explore the panoramic view of Ooty from Doddabetta Peak. Apart from places to retreat you can also get involved in local shopping, which include homemade collection of chocolates to aromatic essential oils such as camphor, eucalyptus and citronella.
How to Reach
By Air : Nearest airport is in Coimbatore (105 km) which is connected to all the major cities.
By Rail: Nearest railway station is Mettupalayam (47km). From here you can board the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and experience the delightful ride of toy train.
By Road: Lot of state run, luxury buses and taxis frequently ply from nearby towns to Ooty.
Kudremukh, Karnataka
Located in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka, Kudremukh is a trekkers delight. In Kannada, Kudremukh means “horse face” and hence the name, as one of the hill resembles the face of a horse. A very quaint place to visit as it is enriched with beautiful landscapes. Much of the mountain tracks still remain unexplored. It is up to you to trace out new paths and reach up to your destination.
How to Reach
By Air : The nearest airport is in Mangalore (91 km) which is connected to all major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.
By Rail : Nearest railway station is also in Mangalore from where you can book a taxi or take a bus.
By Road : It is well connected with all the neighbouring cities, you can either take a bus or a taxi, or if you are an adventurous spirit, can drive down yourself.
Rolling hills of Kudremukh (by dhruvaraj)
Munnar, Kerala
Munnar, a popular hill station in Kerala is situated on the confluence of three rivers– Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Known for its vast tea and cardamom plantations, Munnar has many virgin forests and mesmerising valleys which need to be explored and is sure to give you an experience and memories of lifetime. Lucky enough to travel in May, you can get an opportunity to see the mystical hill from the air with hot air balloon festival specially organised in the months of April and May. So don’t miss this opportunity and book a Munnar holiday tour package this season.
How to Reach
By Air : Nearest airport is Cochin International Airport (110 km). From here you can book a taxi or take a private bus to Munnar.
By Rail: Munnar does not have rail connectivity. However, few nearby railway stations are at Aluva (110 km), Ernakulam (130kms) and Madurai (135kms)
By Road: State or private buses ply from neighbouring towns to Munnar.
Coonoor, Tamil Nadu
A small yet enchanting tea garden town set amidst the lap of Nilgiris, Coonoor boasts of natural beauty, amazing weather and quaint environment. Even though it is a small town, it has something or the other for everyone. Youngsters can explore their love for trekking, kids can go for a joy ride in toy train, adults can go for a solitary walk or simply grab a golf stick and try golfing in the lush green golf course. One major attraction in the month of May is the fruits and vegetable festival held at Sam’s Park. Explore more places to visit in Coonoor when you visit here,
How to Reach
By Air : The nearest airport is in Coimbatore, at about 110 km.
By Rail : Coonoor falls in the route of toy train between Mettupalayam and Ooty. Another alternative is from Coimbatore, which takes around 3 hours to reach Coonoor.
By Road : Lower Coonoor is connected by bus to Ooty. The buses are crowded and a little unpredictable.
Vagamon, Kerala
Cascading waterfalls, lush meadows, peaceful surrounding and much more to discover when in Vagamon. The road to Vagamon is fringed with pine trees, so dense that even sun rays find it difficult to intrude! Vagamon is surrounded by three main hills–Murugan, Kurisumala and Thangal, which represent the three religions in Kerala–Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Thus it is rightly said that it is an exciting blend of religious mysticism and European legacy. Some activities that will interest you here are trekking, paragliding, rock climbing and mountaineering.
How to reach
By Air : The nearest airport to Vagamon is the Cochin International Airport (107 km).
By Rail : The nearest railway station is at Kuttikkanam which is 22 km from Vagamon.
By Road : It is well connected with all neighbouring cities.
Paragliding in Vagamon
The list of above 6 hill stations in South India to visit in May is sure to give you a thrilling experience. The mountain air, mesmerising view, far fledged tea estates, cascading waterfalls, and the zigzag journey enroute hills is sure to give you memory of a lifetime. This year, it’s time to give a break to the northern land and explore the untouched beauty of South India. Plan a summer retreat to the majestic hills of south with your family, friends this May, and if you are a solo traveller then we would suggest going for a solo trip.
