The best hill stations to visit in Tamil Nadu have a lot to offer to each type of tourist – couples, backpackers, leisure travelers, and families.
Since around 28 hill stations Tamil Nadu has under its belts, it’s confusing to pick the one that suits you! All of them are scattered around the western, southern, and northwestern parts. Keep scrolling if you are planning a fun and relaxed getaway to Tamil Nadu.
10 Famous Hill Stations in Tamil Nadu (With Districts)
| Hill Stations in TamilNadu | District |
| Ooty | Nilgiris |
| Kodaikanal | Dindigul |
| Yelagiri | Tirupattur |
| Coonoor | Kodagu |
| Valparai | Coimbatore |
| Velliangiri Hills | Coimbatore |
| Meghamalai | Theni |
| Yercaud | Salem |
| Kotagiri | Nilgiris |
| Javadi Hills | Vellore and Tiruvannamalai |
To create glorious memories, plan a trip to these 10 top hill stations in Tamil Nadu.
1. Ooty – Pride of Blue Mountains (Nilgiri Hills)
- Ideal Duration: 3 days
- Nearest Airport to Ooty: Coimbatore International Airport, 88 km/3 hours
- Nearest Railway Station to Ooty: Mettupalayam Railway Station, 2 hours/52 km
The headquarters of Nilgiri district, Ooty is one of the romantic hill resort towns in the Western Ghats mountains. It is located at an elevation of 2,240 m (approx.) above sea level. Also called, Udhagamandalam, Ooty will leave you with its vast expanse of greenery.
Walk through the lush green tea estates with your sweetheart. Families will love a visit to the 55 acres of terraced layout Botanic Garden lying on the lower slopes of Doddabetta Peak. While backpackers would love to hunt the peaceful moments at Pykara Falls.
Travel Highlight to Ooty for Couples: Camping at Avalanche Lake, Enjoying boating at artificial Ooty Lake, and indulging in a 10 km trek to Doddabetta Peak with your beloved one.
Travel Highlight to Ooty for Families & Friends: Buy eucalyptus oils and shawls, visit the 5 terraced Rose Garden, and embrace the beauty of tea estates around Catherine Falls.
Best Places to Stay in Ooty:Kurumba Village Resort, Sinclairs Retreat Ooty, and Sherlock Hotel
Must Read:
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Plan a Relaxed Trip to Ooty With Customized Ooty Packages
Coonoor with Ooty 
Bangalore Mysore Ooty Tour2. Kodaikanal – Princess of Hill Stations
- Ideal Duration: 3 days will be enough
- Nearest Airport to Kodaikanal: Madurai Airport, 134 km/3 hours
- Nearest Railway Station to Kodaikanal: Madurai Junction, 115 km/3 hours
Kodaikanal is known as the Princess of Hill Stations in South India due to its unparalleled lush green quotient. That’s why couples and shutterbugs are also drawn to this stunning hill station in Tamil Nadu. The elevation of Kodaikanal is 2,133 m above sea level entices everyone!
For instance, the man-made Kodaikanal Lake allows boating excursions. Coaker’s Walk serves as an excellent paved pedestrian path for trekking. While the Vattakanal Waterfalls in the forested setting is a calming place to get away from the city’s noise and madness.
Travel Highlights to Kodaikanal for Couples: Stroll in the evening at Coaker’s Park, exchange romantic talks over boating at Kodaikanal Lake, and trek to Thalaiyar Falls.
Travel Highlight to Kodaikanal for Families & Friends: Embark on 3 hour (approx.) trek to Doddabetta Peak, visit Bryant Park for boating, and jogging, and enjoy the hike to Bear Shola Falls
Best Places to Stay in Kodaikanal: Nandanvan Estate, The Tamara Kodai, Le Porche by Sparsa
- Before you plan the trip know the Best Time to visit Kodaikanal.
- Get details on how to reach Kodaikanal.
3. Yelagiri: Quench Your Thirst for Adventure Activities
- Ideal Duration: 3 days
- Nearest Airport to Yelagiri: Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, 192 km, 4 hours
- Nearest Railway Station to Yelagiri: Jolarpettai Junction, 20 km/40 min
From zorbing to trekking and zipping lining and rock climbing, Yelagiri is one of the top hill stations to visit in Tami Nadu with friends. The famous hilltop Velavan Temple (Murugan Temple) is the travel highlight for spiritual seekers.
The Jalagamparai Waterfalls make a natural swimming pool for bathing. And the Government Herbal Farm produces Ayurvedic Herbs, which you can come across on a day trip.
Aside from all this, the man-made Nilavoor Lake and the Telescope Observatory are counted as one of the best attractions in Yelagiri for every age group.
Plan a Trip to Yelagiri From Bangalore with our tour package.
Travel Highlight to Yelagiri for Couples: Enjoy sunset boating at Punjanoor Lake, seek blessing from Jalagandeeswarar Temple, and visit Yelagiri Forest Hill and enjoy views of the lush paddy fields.
Travel Highlight to Yelagiri for Families & Friends: Visit Nature Park for kids-friendly activities, explore the Herbal Farm where Medicinal Plants flourish
Best Places to Stay in Yelagiri: Zeenath Taj Garden, The Amethyst Resort, Woodland Holiday Resort
Short Escape Ooty Tour3 Nights / 4 days
Bandipur To Ooty Tour3 Nights / 4 days
Bangalore Mysore Bandipur Tour 6 Nights / 7 days
Ooty Kodaikanal Munnar Tour8 Nights / 9 days
4. Coonoor – Second Highest Hill Station in the Nilgiris
- Ideal Duration: 3 days
- Nearest Airport to Coonoor: Coimbatore International Airport, 71 km/2 hours
- Nearest Railway Station to Coonoor: Mettupalayam Railway Station, 35 km/1 hour
Coonoor is the cousin of the Ooty with a much quieter quotient. The unspoiled lush grass of Coonoor is a treat to sore eyes. Shutterbugs will love spending many hours at Catherine Falls, Rallia Dam, and Dolphin’s Nose.
Coonoor is also within the Nilgiri district, and hence, thriving flora and fauna emerge here. Coonoor is the bird watcher’s paradise with various songbirds.
Ride a whimsical Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Coonoor to Mettupalayam to feel the Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka train travel vibes.
Take your loved ones to enjoy a relaxing vacation with our well-crafted Coonoor Tour Packages.
Travel Highlight to Coonoor for Couples: Feel mini Sri Lanka on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway ride, go on a chocolate-tasting excursion
Travel Highlight to Coonoor for Families & Friends: Tour the Highfield Tea Factory, trek through lush green rainforests to reach Law’s Falls, and visit the famous outpost of Tipu Sultan – Droog Fort.
Best Places to Stay in Coonoor: The Hornbill House, The Pepper House, Oland Plantation Stays
For more information about Coonoor, click these links:
Know the Best Time to go for Coonoor
How to reach Coonoor: By Air, Train, Road
5. Valparai – Drenched with Lush Deciduous Vegetation
- Ideal Duration: 2 days
- Nearest Airport to Valparai: Coimbatore International Airport, 114 km/3 hours
- Nearest Railway Station to Valparai: Mettupalayam Railway Station, 142 km/4 hours
Valparai is another scenic hill station in Tamil Nadu near Kerala’s Ernakulam town. Its staggering elevation of 2,287 m (approx.) above sea level is ideal enough for tea production. There are tea estates you can visit, and waterfalls you can explore. Look out for dramatic views at Alamuddin View Point.
Valparai has many hairpin bends crisscrossed around the rolling green hills of tea. Moreover, the presence of Nirar Dam, Sholayar Dam, and Anamalai Tiger Reserve has a distinct charm.
To promote tourism in Tamil Nadu, a three-day summer festival is conducted here during May, where food, recreational games, and local folk music thrives.
Travel Highlight to Valparai for Couples: Visit the second dampest place on earth – Chinnakallar Falls,
Travel Highlight to Valparai for Families & Friends: Embark on cycling at Grass Hill meadows, and explore the Aliyar Dam as it has a park, aquarium, and a mini Theme-Park.
Best Places to Stay in Valparai: VVV Grand, River View Hill Stay, River View Homestay
Must visit:
Plan your 4 Days Coonoor with Ooty Tour
Take a Short Trip to Bangalore from Coonoor
Book Bandipur to Ooty Tour
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Plan a Spiritual Journeys Tour Package of Rameshwaram Madurai Kanyakumari
6. Velliangiri Hills – Kailash of the South
- Ideal Duration: 2 days will be enough
- Nearest Airport to Velliangiri Hills: Coimbatore International Airport, 50 km/1 hour
- Nearest Railway Station to Velliangiri Hills: Mettupalayam Railway Station, 67 km/2 hours
A place of Lord Shiva and his Wife’s connection at Velliangiri Hills – a cluster of 7 hills perched at an elevation of 1,778 m (approx.) above sea level. Velliangiri Hills is an offbeat hill station of Tamil Nadu and a must-visit place with family because there is a Lord Shiva Temple which has a story that Lord Shiva performed a celestial dance on demand of his wife.
You will love your visit to Velliangiri Hills as it is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, where trekking is the main highlight. Camping here on the 6th hill of Velliangiri Hills is a blissful experience.
Travel Highlight to Velliangiri Hills for Couples, Families & Friends: Pray for peace and harmony at Velliangiri Shiva Temple,
Best Places to Stay in Velliangiri Hills: Tuskers Hill by Poppies, Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Race Course, Coimbatore
Read more: Places to Visit Near Chennai on 3 Day Trip
7. Meghamalai – An Offbeat Hill Station
- Ideal Duration: 3 days will be enough
- Nearest Airport to Meghamalai: Madurai Airport, 107 km/3 hours
- Nearest Railway Station to Meghamalai: Madurai Junction, 118 km/3 hours
If you are looking to visit a hill station in Tamil Nadu with a light tourist influx, add Meghamalai to your itinerary. Located at an average elevation of 1,500 m (approx.), this offbeat hill station in Tamil Nadu has plenty of trekking trails that pass through the thick forests.
There is a bed of green tea plantations in Meghamalai where you can even stay and brew tea with your travel partner. Feel like walking on the cloud gliding into ecstasy at Meghamalai. The USP of Meghamalai is a striking resemblance to Scotland in many aspects.
Travel Highlight to Meghamalai for Tourists: Go for wildlife hunting at the nearby mountains of Meghamalai, visit the private land of Woodbriar Estate to enjoy swimming in Oothuthadi Waterfalls
Best Places to Stay in Meghamalai: Manallar Cottage, Sand River Cottages, Jungle Valley Farm
Must Read:
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8. Yercaud – Lush Green Hill Stations of Western Ghats
- Ideal Duration: 4 days
- Nearest Airport to Yercaud: Salem Airport, 48 km/1 hour 30 min
- Nearest Railway Station to Yercaud: Salem Junction, 45 km/1 hour
Imagine the excitement of hiking the seasonal waterfalls at the height of 1,623 m (approx.). Alongside, there are many hairpin bends in Yercaud for mountain bikers.
Tourists will be spoiled with choices as the boating option in Emerald Lake is whimsical. Enjoying a hike to the Lady’s Seat is for thrill-seekers, and the 32 km Loop Road passing through the manicured coffee and tea plantations is drenched with smells of the aromas.
Indeed, Yercaud in Tamil Nadu is a hill station for every traveler. During your stay in Yercaud, capture the orange groves, and explore the spice, tea, and coffee plantations. The boathouse at Yercaud Lake is surrounded by thick woods and grasses.
Travel Highlight to Yercaud for Tourists: Enjoy 20 minutes boat ride at Emerald Lake, witness peacock and deer at Deer Park, hike to the Tippery View Point, and go camping at Kottachedu Teak Forest.
Best Places to Stay in Yercaud: Cliffhanger Retreat Yercaud, WOW Bison Wood, Grand Palace Hotel and Spa Yercaud
Plan a Relaxed Trip From Chennai to Pondicherry tour package
9. Kotagiri – A Year-Round Hill Station of Tamil Nadu
- Ideal Duration: 3 days
- Nearest Airport to Kotagiri: Coimbatore International Airport, 70 km/2 hours
- Nearest Railway Station to Kotagiri: Coonoor Junction, 21 km/40 min
Kotagiri is crowned as the third-highest largest hill station in the Nilgiri district at an elevation of 1,847 m. This hill resort town in Tamil Nadu has emerald meadows and manicured tea plantations.
Moreover, Kotagiri enjoys the climatic advantage because it is shielded by the Doddabetta ranges from the heavy monsoon rain.
Kotagiri is also the third oldest hill resort town in Nilgiris, and hence, old-world charm is sure to spellbind you in Kotagiri. Stay in the tea plantations’ estates and seek blessings from the Kota Temple.
You can club Coonoor and Ooty with Kotagiri as the three of them are distanced within 30 km from each other.
Travel Highlight to Kotagiri for Tourists: Trek to the Longwood Shola Forest Reserve, hear the birds chirpings at Rangaswamy Peak, and marvel at the Nilgiri Hills from Kotanad viewpoint.
Best Places to Stay in Kotagiri: Teanest Nightingale – Nature Resorts, Nahar Retreat & Spa
Explore the best of Kotagiri with these tour packages.
Chennai with Temple Tour
Chennai Pondicherry Tour
6 Days Cordelia Cruise - Chennai Colomba Galle
Andaman Tour from Chennai10. Javadi Hills – The Part of Eastern Ghats Extension
- Ideal Duration: 3 days
- Nearest Airport to Kotagiri: Vellore Airport, 88 km/2 hours
- Nearest Railway Station to Kotagiri: Katpadi Junction, 83 km/2 hour
Dive into the perfect delight for nature’s lush green quotient in Javadi Hills. It is another offbeat but must-visit hill station in Tamil Nadu for nature lovers.
The presence of waterfalls like Beeman Falls and the bluish-gray peaks are sure to enchant the new age couples as photography opportunities will be endless.
Embark on the short treks around the hill and ditch the outlandish staycation over the peaceful accommodation in the colonial-style bungalows dotted around the manicured spice, tea, and coffee plantations.
Travel Highlight to Kotagiri for Tourists: Bathe at the Beeman Maduvu Falls, go on a day trek to Amirthi Forest, enjoy boating at Kommuteri Lake
Best Places to Stay in Javadi Hills: Green Coconut Resort, Sterling Days Inn Resorts Yercaud, and St James Court Beach Resort.
Wrapping Up
The days when only the famous hill stations in Tamil Nadu were enough to persuade tourists to pack their bags are long gone. Nowadays, many offbeat hill stations in Tamil Nadu are gaining popularity because of mass tourism’s unspoiled and untouched nature.
Of course, there is a specific season to indulge in activities mainly concentrated around the waters and hills. But most of the hill resort towns of Tamil Nadu are year-round destinations.
Still not sure about what activities are season-specific in the hill stations of Tamil Nadu? Take a look at our theme-based Tamil Nadu tour packages from Chennai to determine when is the right time for you to plan a Tamil Nadu tour.
Questions People Also Ask for Hill Stations in Tamil Nadu
Q. Which hill stations in Tamil Nadu are the coolest places to visit in summers? -
Q. Which hill station in Tamil Nadu is called the Princess of Hill station and gift of the forest? -
Ans: Kodaikanal is a famous hill station in Tamil Nadu, which translates to the Princess of the hill station and gift of forests.
Q. Which Tamil Nadu Hill station is near Chennai? -
Ans: Kolli Hills, Yelagiri, Yercaud, Coonoor are famous hill stations in Tamil Nadu near Chennai.
Q. Where is the Yercaud hill station in Tamil Nadu located? -
Ans: Yercaud hill station in Tamil Nadu is located in the Salem district.
Q. Which hill stations in Tamil Nadu are referred to as Queen of Hills? -
Ans: Ooty hill station in Tamil Nadu is called the Queen of Hills because of its extensive tea plantations, prismatic lakes, and unblemished greenery.
Q. What are some adventurous things to do in Tamil Nadu hill stations? -
Ans: You must try paragliding in Yercaud, hill trekking in Kodaikanal, jungle trekking in Mudumalai, and camping in Valparai, Meghamalai.
Q. Which hill station in Tamil Nadu has tea, coffee, cinchona plantations? -
Ans: Most Tamil Nadu hill stations have tea, coffee, and cinchona plantations. If you wanna go where the crowd is less, visit Valparai.
Q. Which is the second highest hill station in Nilgiris? -
Ans: Coonoor is the second highest hill station in Nilgiris, with an average elevation of 1,850 meters (6,070 feet) above sea level.
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