8 Gorgeous Unexplored Places In South India

Take a look at these stunning places that are still fairly unexplored.

1) Belum Caves

The Belum Caves are the second largest caves in the Indian subcontinent, and the longest (3229 mts) caves in the plains of India. Formed in black limestone, the caves have long passages, spacious chambers, fresh water galleries and siphons. The constant flow of underground water helped forming caves that have their deepest point at 150 feet. Engulfed in mystery, there are 16 different pathways, including the main entrance. Moreover, there are deposits of quartz in the caves. The nearest rail-head to reach Belum Caves is Tadipatri, which is 30 kms away. There are daily trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Kanyakumari, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore and Goa, which halt at Tadipatri railway station. From Tadipatri, one can catch a bus to Belum Caves. If you feel somewhat like Indiana Jones, this one must be explored.

2) Skandagiri Hills

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If you haven't been able to figure out a trip down south, thinking there isn't a lot to do, this article is just the wake up call you need. Because no, Goa doesn't count as a trip to the South. There's SO much more that South India has to offer. Take a look at these stunning places that are still fairly unexplored.

A small village located right on the bank of the river Pennar in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, Gandikota is also known as the Grand Canyon of India. Getting there might be a bit of an adventure, but once you're inside the place, there are no means of transportation. Thank god for that. One really needs to spend time enjoying what Gandikota has to offer. There is a great downhill trek through the canyon leading to the riverbed.

The closest railway station is 26 kms away at Muddanuru in Cuddapa district. The nearest place to take a bus ride would be Jammalamadugu (nearest town) Old Bus Stand (Gandhi Statue Junction).

A coffee enthusiast would know the importance of Araku valley. Famous for its coffee plantations, India’s first tribal growers' organic coffee brand was launched in the Araku Valley in 2007. The premium organic "Araku Emerald" brand of coffee sells globally. Inhabited by different tribes, Araku is a hill station in the Vishakapatnam district. A perfect getaway from the hustle-bustle of the city, this valley is surrounded by mountains like Galikonda, Raktakonda, Sunkarimetta and Chitamogondi. The valley is connected by both rail and road to the city of Vishakapatnam. There are two railway stations at Araku on the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line of Visakhapatnam division of the East Coast Railway, on the Indian Railways network. Shimiliguda railway station is located at an altitude of 996 meters above mean sea level. Beautiful, and mostly untouched, this one's been waiting for you to be explored.

Make no mistake, the Belum Caves are the second largest caves in the Indian subcontinent, and the longest (3229 mts) caves in the plains of India. Formed in black limestone, the caves have long passages, spacious chambers, fresh water galleries and siphons. The constant flow of underground water helped forming caves that have their deepest point at 150 feet. Engulfed in mystery, there are 16 different pathways, including the main entrance. Moreover, there are deposits of quartz in the caves. The nearest rail-head to reach Belum Caves is Tadipatri, which is 30 kms away. There are daily trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Kanyakumari, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore and Goa, which halt at Tadipatri railway station. From Tadipatri, one can catch a bus to Belum Caves. If you feel somewhat like Indiana Jones, this one must be explored.

Also known as Kalavara Durga, Skandagiri is a mountain fortress located just 70 kms from the city of Bangalore. Although much hasn't been written about the place, the gorgeous photographs suggest that it's a perfect weekend trip for people living in Karnataka. Off Bellary Road (National Highway 7 Hyderabad-Bangalore Highway), and overlooking Nandi Hills and Muddenahalli, this place guarantees a breathtaking view at an altitude of about 1350 mts.

3) Halebidu

Halebidu, or old city, was the regal capital of the Hoysala empire in the 12th century. Rich in architecture with the beautiful Kedareswara temples, the city, which was originally called Dorasamudra, got the name "Halebidu" because it was ransacked twice during the invasion of Malik Kafur. It's also only 16 km away from another historical place, Belur. It is well connected by road and rail from Bangalore. This temple is now being proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4) Papi kondalu or Papi Hills

Papi kondalu or the “Papi Hills” are a series of mountains that are located in Rajahmundry in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. Simply put, Papi Hills is a just a gorge, but it's a gorgeous gorge. A boat trip on the Godavari river in the Papi Hills region is quite spellbinding and romantic. Boat trips are available from Bhadrachalam, Rajahmundry and Kunavaram. You can choose from a wide variety of trips depending on the time limits. Kunavaram offers the fastest and cheapest way to check out the hills. Tour boats locally called "Launches" are the main transport vehicles. There are two entries to Papi Hills, from Kunavaram or from Rajahmundry. Kunavaram is reachable by road from Hyderabad (351 km), Khammam (170 km) and Bhadrachalam (49km). You can hire a boat or join a tour. Rajahmundry also offers boat services to Papi Hills.

5) Ponmudi Hills

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Another hill station that should be in the priority section of your travel list. Ponmudi (translates to the Golden Hill) is located 55.2 km north-east of Trivandrum at an altitude of 1100 mts or 3600 ft. Ponmudi has a carpet of thick tropical forest that rolls down to the foot of the hill range. Absolutely splendid, nearby attractions also include Kallar, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, and Koyikkal Palace, an ancient palace dating as far back as the 15th century. Thiruvananthapuram is the nearest town from where you can easily get a cab or a bus to this splendid location.

6) St. Mary's Islands

This one's truly a one-of-a-kind type of place to visit. St. Mary's Islands, also known as Coconut Island and Thonsepar, are a set of four small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Malpe in Udupi, Karnataka. They are known for their distinctive geological formation of columnar basaltic lava (check out the rocks in the picture). On research it came up that the basalt of the St. Mary's Islands was formed by sub-aerial sub-volcanic activity around 88 million years ago when Madagascar was attached to India. Since there are no roads connecting the island, the only way of getting to the islands is by boat. Regular ferry services ply the 6-km distance from the Malpe fishing harbour (which has a ship building yard as well) to the islands. However, the frequency of these boats may vary depending on the number of tourists visiting.

7) Gandikota

The closest railway station is 26 kms away at Muddanuru in Cuddapa district. The nearest place to take a bus ride would be Jammalamadugu (nearest town) Old Bus Stand (Gandhi Statue Junction).

8) Athirapilly Falls

The view majestic Athirapilly waterfall at the Sholayar Forest Range is indeed a sublime sight for a traveller in search of the calm environs. The fresh cool spray near the 80ft waterfall and the gushing Chalakudy river is indeed all you want from a refreshing getaway.