Top Places near Rivers & Lakes in South India

Known For : Devi Lake Pallivasal Falls Thoovanam Falls

A lake with a legend of its own, greenest sceneries, waterfalls and tea plantations are what offer its charm to Devikulam, a hill station in Kerala.

Best Time: November to May

4 Devikulam Attractions

Known For : Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Chembara peak Soochipara Falls

62 kms off Kozhikode is Vythiri, a popular resort town famous for its old world charm of cottages, log huts & tree house accommodations cosily nestled in the forests of Wayanad. Situated at an altitude of 700 metres, Vythiri in Wayanad comprises of 18 villages.

Best Time: October to Apr

5 Vythiri Attractions

Known For : Houseboats in Alleppey Alleppey Backwaters Kuttanad

Extremely famous for its beautiful backwaters, the city of Alleppey in Kerala is also known for its beaches, temples and traditional boat races. This popular tourist destination also has some very well reputed Ayurvedic spas and wellness centres.

Best Time: June to March

37 Alleppey Attractions

Known For : Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Kumarakom Backwaters Thanneermukkom Bund

Situated on the banks of Vembanad Lake, Kerala's largest lake, Kumarakom is a cluster of many small man-made islands reclaimed from the lake.

Best Time: October - February

18 Kumarakom Attractions

Known For : Thread Garden, Malampuzha Udan Khatola Malampuzha Dam

Malampuzha in Palakkad district a place with rich lush green vegetation popular for its scenic beauty as well as the dams and exotic wildlife that it offers as tourist attractions.

Best Time: August to April

8 Malampuzha Attractions

Known For : Emerald Lake, Yercaud Pagoda Point Botanical Garden, Yercaud

Nestled in the Eastern Ghats, Yercaud is a hill station called poor man's Ooty with abundant forests, vast coffee plantations and some unique species of flora and fauna resulting in gorgeous views.

Best Time: October to June

20 Yercaud Attractions

The second-highest plunge waterfall in India, Jog Falls is a major tourist attraction in Karnataka and is the highest waterfall in the state. Second, to the Nohkalikai Falls of Meghalaya, Jog falls drops about a huge 253 m (850 ft. ) in a single fall. However, due to the construction of Linganamakki Dam which is a hydroelectricity plant closeby, the flow in the falls is hugely restricted before monsoons. So, it is best to go during the Monsoon season to see the falls in its full form.

Best Time: July to December

9 Jog Falls Attractions

Known For : Banasura Sagar Dam Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Chembra Peak

Replete with enchanting waterfalls, historical caves, comfortable resorts and home stays, this popular town is famous for its spice plantations and wildlife.

Best Time: Throughout the year

35 Wayanad Attractions

Known For : Bekal Fort Bekal Beach Kappil Beach

Located on the wide expanse of the Malabar coastline, Bekal is famous for its forts, backwaters, and beaches.

Best Time: October to March

12 Bekal Attractions

Known For : Cauvery Fishing Camp Doddamakali Nature Camp Boat Rides in Bheemeshwari

Bheemeshwari is a small town in Karnataka's Mandya district, with a soft background of the unembellished and true to life rural India, with bullock carts in place of noisy vehicles, mighty rivers instead of swimming pools and tall green trees in place of skyscrapers. Away from the cruel concrete circus of the city, Bheemeshwari is the perfect getaway for a short trip from Bangalore, one that is close to nature and adventurous, in the most real sense of the word. It has long been known as a paradise for fishing enthusiasts, with some fishing camps set amidst the area. Due to its proximity with the Cauvery River and its extensive forest cover with a variety of flora and fauna, tourists can go on boating rides, attend adventure camps, trek up the hills, visit handicraft markets and go bird watching. It is the natural habitat of the toughest freshwater sports fish called the Mahseer (roughly translated to Mahi - fish and sher - tiger) and attracts many visitors for this reason.

Best Time: Throughout the year

8 Bheemeshwari Attractions

Known For : Papi Hills Pattiseema Godavari Bridge

Founded in the 19th century by Chalukya king Raja Raja Narendra after whom it was named Rajamahendri or Rajamahendravaram but now is known as Rajahamundry.

Best Time: October to March

12 Rajahamundry Attractions

Known For : Poovar Beach Thirparappu Falls Vizhinjam

Poovar is a lovely island with long stretches of glowing sand, serene surroundings and refreshing gentle breeze. It is a small rustic town situated 27 kms from Thiruvananthapuram with unspoilt, unexplored beaches and beautiful backwaters of Kerala highlighting the most striking features of the town.

Best Time: August to March

9 Poovar Attractions

Known For : Thevally Palace Amritapuri Mahatma Gandhi Beach and Park

Steeped in rich past, entangled with unique culture and attributed with nature divine, Kolam lies on the southwest coast of India and has many more hidden treasures troves to be explored. It is one of the oldest ports in Arabian Sea bustling with the activities since the time of ancient Rome.

Best Time: September to February

41 Kollam Attractions

Known For : Yaganti Belum Caves Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary

A place of much historical value with beautiful surrounding areas, Kurnool, is a small town in Andhra Pradesh where much of history left its imprints.

Best Time: December to February

30 Kurnool Attractions

Known For : Nilgiri Mountain Railway Ooty Lake Emerald Lake, Ooty

The Blue Mountains have always been shrouded in mysticism, and Ooty is no exception to that. For every mountain lover, the very idea of travelling to the city known as the Queen of the Hills holds an allure like no other. Once regarded as the summer headquarters of the East India Company (and for a very good reason), Ooty, also known as Udagamandalam, is a hill station in Tamil Nadu which serves as a very popular tourist destination for anyone looking for a picturesque place to relax and unwind. Ooty is nestled amidst the Nilgiri hills at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level and enjoys a favourable climate all year round.

Best Time: Throughout the year

43 Ooty Attractions

Known For : Papi Kondalu Hills Gandi Pochamma Temple Perantapalli Village

Papikondalu mountain range runs along the River Godavari (Western Godavari) and is located in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. Papikondalu is a sheer fest to the eyes in terms of its scenic beauty. As the hills become closer and closer to the visitor, the width of the mighty Godavari becomes narrower. In accordance with this view resembling the middle partition of a woman's hair, it was initially named as 'Papidi' Kondalu- Paidi in Telugu means the middle partition of a woman’s hair. Later, it came to be known as Papikondalu in the local language. The river narrowing, its twists and turns along with the Papi Hills form a breathtaking visual experience.

Best Time: October to March

5 Papi Kondalu Attractions

Known For : The Elembalai Hill Adyanpara Waterfalls Teak Museum

Enriched with raw nature, a unique blend of culture, exquisite art forms and shadows of colonial rule, Nilambur is located in Malappuram District of Kerala. Nestled at the bank of Chaliyar River in proximity to Nilgiri Range, this small town is popularly known as 'Land of Teak Plantations'.

Best Time: October to March

12 Nilambur Attractions

Known For : Ethipothala Waterfall Nagarjunasagar Dam Nagarjunasagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Nagarjunasagar is a site of spectacular man-made marvel flanked by equally enchanting panoramic vistas of lush green surrounding. Lying in the Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh, the most popular landmark of the town is world's tallest masonry dam Nagarjunasagar dam built over Krishna River.

Best Time: October to March

5 Nagarjunsagar Attractions

Known For : Kodachadri Jog Falls Agumbe

With nature in its full bloom, the town of Shimoga has been a home to several great dynasties and kingdoms. Steeped in rich heritage and culture, this main city of Shimoga District derives its name from the words 'Shiv-Mukha' implying 'Face of Lord Shiva'.

Best Time: July to December

37 Shimoga Attractions

Known For : Kunduvada Kere Bagali Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple

Steeped in rich past, culture and heritage, Davanagere is a place to witness the beautiful architectural marvels. Linked to many Chalukya Dynasty and Tipu Sultan, this place today is best known for its cotton mills and thus often referred to as the 'Manchester of East'.

Best Time: October to March

11 Davanagere Attractions

Known For : Kallanai Dam Rockfort Ganpathi Temple Tiruchirappalli Rock Fort Samayapuram Amman Temple

Trichy is a mid sized, fast emerging city in Tamil nadu. It is a refreshing change from cities that are either completely religious and some that are nothing but concrete jungles. Trichy is one of those places that you can explore in a weekend and will hold secrets even after several years.

Best Time: October to March

15 Tiruchi Attractions

Known For : Bharathapuzha River Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary Keraladeshpuram Temple

Located on NH213, 50 kms southeast of Kozhikode and being a one-time headquarters of British troops, Mallappuram is replete with colonial history.

Best Time: July to March

21 Malappuram Attractions

Known For : Abbey Falls Talacauvery Namdroling Monastery

Generally covered as a part of trips to Coorg, Madikeri is a quaint hill town in Karnataka with vast coffee plantations, lush forests and misty hills, all culminating into a breathtaking view.

Best Time: February to September

18 Madikeri Attractions

Known For : Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary Mallaram forest Nizamsagar

Nizamabad, a district in Andhra Pradesh, is aptly know as a rich heritage site. It is a place where time tells stories of the glorious history of the Nizams who once ruled this place and where different communities and cultures co exist in perfect harmony.

Best Time: November to February

6 Nizamabad Attractions

Known For : Gopalaswamy Hills Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Situated in the state of Karnataka, Bandipur National Park was once the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Mysore. It was later established as a reserve in 1974, and these deciduous forests rich in wildlife and flora have become a popular tourist attraction since then. Due to a lot of wildlife casualties due to tourist traffic, a ban on traffic between 9 PM to 6 AM has been established to ensure the safety of the animal population.

Best Time: October to May

2 Bandipur Attractions

Known For : Bhavani Island Kanaka Durga Temple Undavalli Caves

With scrumptious fruits, sensational sweets and scenic marvels, Vijayawada literally translates to 'The Place of Victory'.

Best Time: September to March

25 Vijayawada Attractions

Known For : Kumararama Bheemeshwara Swamy Temple Thalupulamma Thalli Kakinada

Samalkot is a small quaint town with a charm that can only be experienced by visiting it. Situated in the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, this place is regarded as holy by the devotees of Lord Shiva.

Best Time: October to March

7 Samalkot Attractions

Known For : Abbey Falls Raja's Seat Mandalpatti

Located amidst imposing mountains in Karnataka with a perpetually misty landscape, Coorg is the place to be for all nature lovers.  This popular coffee producing hill station is not only popular for its beautiful green hills and the streams cutting right through them. It also stands as a popular destination because of its culture and people. The Kodavas, a local clan specialising in martial arts, are especially notable for their keen hospitality.

Best Time: October to March

37 Coorg Attractions

Known For : Green Valley View (Suicide Point) Kodaikanal Lake Bear Shola Falls

Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal is one of the most famous honeymoon destinations in India. When you think of Kodaikanal, you think of a wonderful climate, cliffs covered in mist, cloud-capped mountains and beautiful lakes and valleys, and once you visit this hill station, you will find that every bit of what you have imagined it to be is true. Nestled amidst the rolling slopes of the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal stands at an altitude of 7200 feet above sea level and has a cool, pleasant climate all year round. Kodaikanal means the gift of the forests.

Best Time: September to May

35 Kodaikanal Attractions

Known For : Pathala Ganga Srisailam Tiger Reserve Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple

Srisailam is a celebrated hill town set on a lofty natural setting on the banks of the River Krishna, in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Srisailam is identified with its many ancient temples including a Jyotirlinga, a wildlife sanctuary and a dam.

Best Time: October to February

16 Srisailam Attractions