Photo by Ahamed Sameel
By Kahaani Studio
With a relentless summer in the offing this year, we cannot help but think of pine forest and mountain days. Blissful mountains without crowds to make it through the summer, and what better than the bliss of South India’s most offbeat hill stations for some respite. Here, we share a list of our most-loved hill stations in South India that are off the tourist radar too.
Credit: Arpan Sharma
Uncrowded tea estates, lush Western Ghats, sprawling teak plantations and a tiger reserve too—Valparai is the stuff summer dreams are made of.
Credit: Rohit Varma
Devikulam is one of the most offbeat hill stations in South India, and is a surprise find near the forever-popular Munnar. It has the pretty Devikulam Lake at its centre, verdant mountains, pine-lined roads and hikes for those in love with nature.
Credit: Nandhu Kumar
With its deep woods, rich fauna, a wildlife sanctuary and more, Ranipuram might just be the prettiest mountain village in Kerala. Sans the regular crowd.
Credit: eldhose kuriyan
Here’s your chance to explore the highest tea plantations in the world! Close to Munnar again, this is for those seeking misty hillsides, alluring forests and ample options of camping and off-roading in the wild.
Credit: Sujin c
If coffee and Kashmir-like lure is what you are keen on, head to Lambasingi. With weather on your side, you might even experience snowfall here! Yes, we did not mention that it feels like Kashmir in vain; it is.
Credit: Raghavendra
A very offbeat hill station in South India, Kemmanagundi is for those keen on a more active holiday. This is the place for those into hiking, trekking, waterfall climbs, and some scintillating mountain views.
Credit: Aswin Chembath
Live your Wuthering Heights fancies at Kudremukh in Karnataka—a charming place that will grow over you slowly and irrevocably with its solitary meadows and rolling hills. All in good jest though.
Credit: Shashank Hegade
Lovedale is for those looking for something very unlike Wuthering Heights for this is as charming as hill stations get. A heritage train run by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway will take you to Lovedale in an endearing way that’s straight from cinemas.
Credit: Ranjini Hemanth