Top Religious Places in South India

Known For : Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal Vaigai Dam

Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India located in Tamil Nadu. It was ruled by Pandya kings for the longest time in its history and is constructed in the form of a lotus.

Best Time: October to March

20 Madurai Attractions

Known For : Sri Venkateswara Temple Akasaganga Teertham Silathoranam

The very name Tirupati is enough to evoke strong spiritual feelings, and while the name ‘God’s Abode’ indeed does justice to the place, Tirupati has quite a few other tourist attractions as well that make it a city worth visiting. Situated in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is one of the most popular pilgrimage centres in the country. Home to many heritage sites, and a plethora of ancient temples and monuments, Tirupati is one of the oldest cities of India, and finds mention in plenty of ancient texts.

Best Time: September to March

40 Tirupati 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 : Punnathurkotta Elephant Palace Mammiyoor Shiva Temple Guruvayur Temple

A small town in the district of Thrissur, Guruvayoor is most famous for the Guruvayoor Temple- India's third largest temple housing Lord Krishna.

Best Time: October to February

12 Guruvayur Attractions

Known For : Kamakshi Amman Temple Varadharaja Perumal Temple Devarajaswami Temple

Widely known for its beautiful ‘'Kanchipuram sarees' and also referred to as the 'golden city of a thousand temples', Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu is a popular tourist attraction.

Best Time: October to May

16 Kanchipuram Attractions

Known For : Ayyappa Temple Makaravilakku Malikkappuram Devi Temple

More than 30 million pilgrims visit the temple in Sabarimala annually, making it the largest in India and second largest in the world, after Hajj Pilgrimage of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Best Time: September to Apr

6 Sabarimala Attractions

Known For : Chaitanya Jyoti Museum Sathya Sai Ashram Wish Fullfilling Tree

The holy abode of the apocryphal figure, Saythya Sai Baba, Puttaparthi is a town which takes you back to the days of ashrams and the ways of living in those times with an equal influence of the present.

Best Time: September to February

13 Puttaparthi Attractions

Known For : Papi kondalu Hills Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy Temple Parnasala

Bhadrachalam can be a refreshing place to visit with a share of instances from the Ramayana, a glorious palace, a vibrant river and mystical terrain and surroundings.

Best Time: September to Apr

6 Bhadrachalam Attractions

Known For : Rameshwaram Temple Dhanushkodi Temple and Beach Jatayu Tirtham

Rameshwaram is one of the holiest places in India and is located on a beautiful island. It is separated by a small Pamban channel from Sri Lanka. According to the Hindu mythology, this is the place where Lord Rama created a bridge across the sea to Sri Lanka.

Best Time: Throughout the year

22 Rameswaram Attractions

Known For : Dharmasthala Temple Bahubali Statue Netravathi River Barrage

A famous pilgrim location for the Shaiva, Vaishnava and Jaina communities, Dharmasthala meaning the Land of Charity is a beautiful blend of heritage, culture and religion.

Best Time: October to March

8 Dharmasthala Attractions

Known For : Sringeri Mutt Kigga Sharadamba Temple

Best Time: Throughout the year

9 Sringeri Attractions

Known For : Annapoorneshwari Temple Kalaseshwara Temple

Horanadu is a quaint little village boasting of pristine nature in and around. It is most famous for the Goddess Annapoorneeshwari Temple and its beautiful sights. It lies in Malnad, about 330 km from Bangalore and 136 km from Mangalore.

Best Time: Throughout the year

2 Horanadu Attractions

Known For : Brahadeshwara Temple Gangaikonda Cholapuram Shiva Ganga Garden

Also known as Tanjore or the city of temples, Thanjavur has a lot of cultural value and is known for its famous Tanjore paintings, antiques and handicrafts, textiles and saris , its Carnatic music and musical instruments and of course the temples.

Best Time: October to March

11 Thanjevur Attractions

Known For : Kallanai Dam Rockfort Ganpathi Temple 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

14 Tiruchi Attractions

Known For : Srikalahasteeswara Temple Veyilingala Kona Waterfall Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple

Located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, the holy city of Srikalahasti is a popular tourist destination due to its famous Srikalahasti Temple, one of the most important Shiva temples of South India built during the ancient Pallava period. Overflowing with rich and vivacious yesteryears, this place has showcased its potential to allure the visitors with its extravagant shrines and pristine beauty.

Best Time: July to March

9 Srikalahasti Attractions

Known For : Raghavendra Swami Temple Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple

Mantralayam is a holy town situated 74 km from Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh and 250 km from its state capital, Hyderabad. It is located near the border of Karnataka and on the banks of the river Tungabhadra. Mantralayam is known for Sri Guru Raghavendra Swami, a saint who entered into a samadhi alive in front of his disciples in 17th Century. He was a Madhwa saint who is considered to be a reincarnation of Prahlada (A daitya king who was saved by Lord Vishnu's Narasimha avatar).

Best Time: October to March

2 Mantralayam Attractions

Known For : Matrimandir Marc's Cafe Arka

Auroville is one of those towns which appear to come to life right out of fiction. In the union territory of Pondicherry, this township runs on the principles of peace, harmony, sustainable living and 'divine consciousness' which was the philosophy of the Mother of Sri Aurobindo Society, Mirra Alfassa.

Best Time: November to March

21 Auroville Attractions

Known For : Gingee Fort Sathanur Dam Annamalaiyar Temple

A town that offers a significant history adorned in its countless temples and ashrams, Thiruvannamalai is where Hindu Mythology takes the form of stunning architecture

Best Time: October to March

9 Thiruvannamalai Attractions

Known For : Velankanni Church Velankanni Beach Velankanni Church Museum

Quaint and calm, Velankanni is a little hamlet tucked away in the state of Tamil Nadu, on the coast of Bay of Bengal. It is a famous Roman Catholic pilgrim centre and is visited by thousands of devotees for its shrine of ‘Our Lady of Good Health’ aka Mother Mary. Inspired by the Lourdes in France, Velankanni is also known as the “Lourdes of the East”. It has become one of the vital Marian sanctuaries of the world.

Best Time: October to March

6 Velankanni Attractions

Known For : Ahobilam Temple ISKCON Temple, Anantapur Bugga Ramalingeswara Swami Temple

Reverberating with flashes of India's glorious history, Anantapuram is a must visit if history and heritage fascinates you.

Best Time: November to February

12 Anantapur Attractions

Known For : Sri Venkateshwara National Park Srikalahasti Temple Nagalapuram

Steeped in religion, devotion and architecture, Chittoor is a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.

Best Time: September to February

11 Chittoor 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

Known For : Adi Kumbeshwara Temple Nageswaran Temple Shopping in Kumbakonam

Sandwiched between two great rivers of southern India, Cauvery and Arsala, Kumbakonam is a gorgeous temple town in the heart of the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.The town is a place for the lovers of history and those seeking to understand India's cultural roots and Hinduism.

Best Time: November to February

25 Kumbakonam 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

19 Madikeri Attractions

Known For : Chettinad Palace Chettinad Museum Chettinadu Mansion

Located in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, Chettinad showcases the rich heritage, striking art and grand architecture of the state. The word "Chetti" is a Sanskrit term meaning wealth. It is derived from the original traders of the region who dealt in salt and spices for marbles and other decorative items used in the construction of their properties. The place is touted as a temple town, but it is also a foodie’s paradise. There is more to Chettinad other than just an exotic cuisine. It has an elaborately vibrant culture and an over the top extortionate township comprising of ridiculously opulent mansions, palatial homes, magnificent temples and fascinating museums.

Best Time: November to March

11 Chettinad Attractions

Known For : Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctuary Papanasam Agasthiyar falls

Tirunelveli is a big city in the midst of numerous small towns, each with its own bounty of beautiful sights, temples, waterfalls and much more. Unlike many temple towns, it also does offer many other sites to its tourists, including some breathtaking waterfalls. The city is located on the west bank of the Thamirabarani River. 

Best Time: October to February

32 Tirunelveli Attractions

Known For : Murudeshwar Temple Netrani Island Murudeshwar Beach

With its major attraction as the huge Shiva temple, Murudeshwar is a religious site which also serves as the connecting point for popular scuba diving destination Netrani.

Best Time: October to May

8 Murudeshwar Attractions

Known For : Trekking in Shivagange Temples in Shivagange

Shivagange, a hillock situated 56 km from Bangalore, is a combination of temples and scenic beauty that makes it both a pilgrimage as well as an adventure spot. From a distance, the hillock looks like a 'Shiva Linga' - A form of Lord Shiva.

Best Time: October to March

2 Shivagange Attractions

Known For : Veerabhadra Temple Lepakshi Temple Nandi Bull and Paintings

Lepakshi is a small quaint village with a trail of several great kingdoms that once ruled the area. Lepakshi was founded in 1535 AD by Maharaja Aliya Rama Raya of the Vijayanagara empire. Located in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh and 120 km from Bangalore,  this place is a trove of several fascinating archaeological sites, beautiful ancient temples and rich culture.

Best Time: September to February

4 Lepakshi Attractions

Known For : Durga Temple, Aihole Lad Khan Temple Ravanaphadi Cave Temples

Well known as the temple complex of Karnataka and home to about 125 Chalukyan temples, this city is a splendid touristy destination.

Best Time: October to March

23 Aihole Attractions