South India Itinerary: Kerala & Tamil Nadu in 8 Days
Kerala's coast and hills, then a Tamil temple city.
The route runs from colonial Fort Kochi and the palm-lined backwaters up into the tea-covered Western Ghats at Munnar and Thekkady, then east across the state line to Madurai and the great Meenakshi temple.
Best time: the cool, dry season from about October to March; the southwest monsoon from June–September turns the hills lush but wet, and April–May is hot and humid on the coast.
- Fly into Kochi (COK) and out of Madurai (IXM), often via Chennai.
- A private car with a driver is the simplest way to link the coast, the hills and Madurai.
- The backwater night is on a chartered houseboat out of Alleppey.
- The coast is hot and humid, so pace yourself, carry water, and stick to bottled or filtered water and freshly cooked food to settle your stomach.
Where to Stay
Use five bases across the coast, backwaters, hills and Madurai
Where to Stay
Use five bases across the coast, backwaters, hills and Madurai
Fort Kochi
Choose a heritage homestay near the waterfront for nights 1–2.
The Kerala backwaters
Spend night 3 aboard a houseboat out of Alleppey.
Munnar
Choose a tea-estate or hillside stay for nights 4–5.
Thekkady / Kumily
Stay near the Periyar reserve for night 6.
Madurai
Stay near the Meenakshi temple for night 7.
Official links & tickets
Use national and state tourism sites, the official visa portal and Indian Railways for current details
Official links & tickets
Use national and state tourism sites, the official visa portal and Indian Railways for current details
Official planning links
Confirm current entry, travel and booking details with the relevant official service.
Budget Snapshot
Getting Around
8-Day Itinerary Breakdown
Day 1: Arrive in Kochi & the Fort Kochi waterfront
Cochin International (COK) → Fort Kochi — arrival, waterfront and colonial church
Arrive in Kochi (Cochin) and settle in
Fly into Cochin International Airport and ease into the humidity with a slow first afternoon.
The Chinese fishing nets on the Fort Kochi waterfront
Walk the free, open shoreline to see the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets along the Fort Kochi waterfront.
St Francis Church
Visit the free historic parish church, one of the oldest European-built churches in India.
Day 2: Colonial Kochi & a Kathakali stage
Base: Fort Kochi — a classical dance-drama performance and the Santa Cruz Basilica
An evening Kathakali performance
See a ticketed classical dance-drama performance, usually with a pre-show demonstration of the make-up and gestures.
The Santa Cruz Basilica
Visit the free-to-enter historic basilica in Fort Kochi.
Day 3: Onto the Kerala backwaters by houseboat
Fort Kochi → Alappuzha (Alleppey) — transfer, houseboat cruise and backwater villages
Transfer to Alleppey and board your houseboat
Drive south to Alappuzha (Alleppey), the hub of the backwaters, and board a converted rice-barge houseboat for the night.
Cruising the backwaters
Cruise the palm-lined waterways on the overnight houseboat booked through the day's cruise arrangement.
Backwater village life
Drift past canal-side villages, paddy fields and coir workshops with nothing additional to book.
Day 4: Up into the tea hills of Munnar
Alleppey → Munnar — a winding climb into the Western Ghats and tea-country viewpoints
Drive up to Munnar
Make the winding climb from the backwaters into the Western Ghats, leaving the day open for the ascent and viewpoints.
The tea plantations of Munnar
Stop at free roadside viewpoints over the neatly clipped tea slopes around Munnar.
Day 5: Munnar — the high range & a tea estate
Base: Munnar — Eravikulam National Park and a guided tea-estate visit
Eravikulam National Park
Enter the ticketed high-range national park of rolling grass-and-tea hills, home to the Nilgiri tahr, by shuttle from Munnar; it runs timed online slots, so pre-book. Note the park closes annually for the tahr calving season (roughly Feb 1 – Mar 31), so late-season travellers should swap in the Mattupetty and Top Station viewpoints instead.
A tea-estate walk & the pickers
Join a guided plantation-and-factory tour showing how tea leaf is picked, withered and processed.
Day 6: Spice gardens & a lake safari at Periyar
Munnar → Thekkady — transfer, a Periyar Lake cruise and a spice plantation
Drive to Thekkady (Periyar)
Cross the ridgelines to Thekkady on the edge of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
A boat cruise on Periyar Lake
Take a guided boat cruise on the reservoir inside the Periyar reserve, watching for elephants, deer and birdlife along the shore. The cruises run only a few fixed daily slots and sell out, so pre-book a specific afternoon slot to allow for the 3–4 hour Munnar-to-Thekkady transfer earlier in the day.
A spice plantation tour
Join a guided walk through a cardamom-and-pepper plantation in Kerala's spice country.
Day 7: Across into Tamil Nadu — Madurai's Meenakshi temple
Thekkady → Madurai — cross the state line and explore the Meenakshi temple complex
Cross into Tamil Nadu to Madurai
Descend east from the hills to the temple city of Madurai, one of India's oldest continuously inhabited cities.
The Meenakshi Amman Temple
Visit the living temple complex, where a licensed guide brings its towering gopurams, halls and rituals to life; a small foreigner entry ticket may apply, so dress modestly and expect a security check. The temple closes midday (open roughly 05:00–12:30 and 16:00–22:00), and a mid-morning departure from Thekkady lands you in Madurai around the closure — either leave Thekkady early to arrive before about 11:30, or plan the temple for the 16:00 reopening and evening rituals.
Day 8: A last Madurai morning & departure
Madurai palace quarter → Madurai Airport (IXM) — palace visit and departure
The Thirumalai Nayak Palace
Visit the ticketed 17th-century palace and its huge pillared courtyards near the Meenakshi temple.
Transfer to the airport and fly out
Fly home from Madurai Airport, often via Chennai, or connect onward.
Kochi and Kerala's backwaters and hills to Madurai
Eight master-image anchors trace the route from Fort Kochi through Alleppey, Munnar and Periyar to Madurai.
- 1
Fort Kochi waterfront
Arrival and the Chinese fishing nets
- 2
Kochi
A Kathakali performance and colonial Fort Kochi
- 3
Alleppey backwaters
An overnight houseboat cruise
- 4
Munnar
Tea plantations in the Western Ghats
- 5
Eravikulam National Park
The high range above Munnar
- 6
Periyar
A lake cruise from Thekkady
- 7
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Arrival in Madurai's temple quarter
- 8
Thirumalai Nayak Palace
A final Madurai morning
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for Kerala and Tamil Nadu?
About a week to ten days lets you pair the Kerala coast and hills with a Tamil Nadu temple city like Madurai without rushing.
What is the best time to visit South India?
The cool, dry season from roughly October to March suits this route best. June–September is the monsoon, while April–May is hot and humid.
Do you sleep on the houseboat?
Yes. The classic backwater experience is an overnight charter out of Alleppey, with meals cooked on board.
How do I get around?
A private car with a driver is the simplest way to link the coast, the hills and Madurai. The backwater leg is by houseboat, and trains connect the bigger cities.
Can non-Hindus enter the temples?
You can visit the Meenakshi temple complex, but some inner sanctums are open to Hindus only. Dress modestly, remove shoes where asked and expect a security check.
Do I need a visa for India?
Most visitors need a visa. Many nationalities can apply online for an e-Visa through the Government of India portal before travelling.
Is Munnar or Periyar better for wildlife?
Periyar's lake cruise is the classic wildlife outing for elephants, deer and birds, while Eravikulam near Munnar protects the endangered Nilgiri tahr.
Which airports work best for this route?
Fly into Kochi (COK) and out of Madurai (IXM), often connecting through Chennai.
What should I pack for the hills?
Pack light layers because Munnar and Thekkady are cool in the evenings, plus rain protection in the monsoon and insect repellent for dusk.
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