South India: The Grand Loop

A grand loop through South India, where every kilometer changes everything: the royal cities of Karnataka, the tea hills of Kerala, and the giant temples of Tamil Nadu. Zero relaxation, tons of stories — overflowing buses, sacred cows grazing on sidewalks, palaces that light up like amusement parks at night, and sunsets that set the granite temples ablaze.

Our Itinerary

Bengaluru — the starting point

Landing in Bengaluru (Bangalore), the country's tech capital and gateway to the South. Ordered chaos, epic traffic, and a first taste of South Indian cuisine: dosa, idli, and filter coffee. From here, the loop towards Mysuru begins.

Mysuru (Mysore) — the palace that lights up

Mysore Palace is the heart of the city: by day, a riot of towers, red domes, and Indo-Saracenic arches; on Sunday evenings (and during festivals), it's illuminated by almost a hundred thousand light bulbs and becomes an unreal spectacle. Don't miss Devaraja Market and Chamundi Hill.

Towards Kerala — buses, cows, and mountain roads

The journey between Mandya and Mysuru can also be done on the red KSRTC buses: cheap, authentic, and always full. Climbing towards Kerala, the roads wind through forests and villages, with pickups transporting workers and tools along dusty hairpin bends.

Munnar — the green ocean of tea

In Munnar, among the Western Ghats, tea plantations draw endless hills of an impossible green. Fresh air, morning mist, and views that are worth every curve.

Thanjavur (Tanjore) — the Chola temple

In Tamil Nadu, the Brihadeeswarar Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage site, 11th century) stands tall with its granite tower that turns gold and pink at sunset. One of the masterpieces of Dravidian architecture and a perfect end to the loop.

The day-by-day account is coming soon: send us your journal notes and we'll turn them into an original + curated version, just like for our other trips.