South India is large, but it is well connected. Fast trains link the big cities, domestic flights cut long journeys to an hour or two, and state bus networks reach almost every town. The best trips combine them: a train between cities, a car for the hills and a ferry or two on the way.
Trains
Indian Railways is the backbone of travel in the region. Overnight trains are a comfortable way to cover long distances, such as Bengaluru to Hampi or Chennai to Madurai, and faster daytime trains, including Vande Bharat services, run on several busy routes.
- Book on the official IRCTC website or app. Popular trains fill weeks ahead, especially around holidays.
- Air-conditioned sleeper classes (2A and 3A) are the most comfortable for overnight journeys.
- The coastal line through Kerala, from Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram, is one of the most scenic in India.
- The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO-listed rack railway, climbs from Mettupalayam to Udhagamandalam (Ooty); book well ahead.
Flights
Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi are the main hubs, with smaller airports including Thiruvananthapuram, Madurai, Coimbatore, Mangaluru, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Vijayawada. Flying makes sense between regions that are far apart by land, such as Hyderabad and Kochi.
Buses
Each state runs its own bus corporation, such as Kerala’s and Karnataka’s KSRTC, Tamil Nadu’s SETC, APSRTC in Andhra Pradesh and TGSRTC in Telangana, with services from ordinary buses to air-conditioned sleepers. Many routes can be booked online. Private overnight buses are common too; choose well-reviewed operators.
Hiring a car and driver
For the hills, coffee country, Rayalaseema or any trip with many short stops, a car with a driver is the most practical option. Agree the route, daily distance, driver’s night allowance and tolls in writing beforehand. Self-driving is possible but demanding: roads are busy, and ghat roads are narrow and winding.
Ferries and city transport
- Kerala: state ferries cross the backwaters, and Kochi has a Water Metro linking the islands; both are cheap and scenic. See our Fort Kochi walk.
- Metros: Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi all have metro systems that beat road traffic across town.
- Autos and app cabs: agree a fare or insist on the meter for auto-rickshaws; app-based cabs and autos are widely available in cities.
Rough journey times
- Chennai to Mahabalipuram: about 1.5 hours by road; on to Puducherry: about 2 more.
- Kochi to Munnar: about 4 hours by road.
- Bengaluru to Mysuru: about 3 hours by road or train.
- Bengaluru to Hampi (Hosapete): an overnight train.
- Madurai to Munnar: about 4 hours by road.
Times are approximate and depend on traffic, roadworks and weather, especially in the monsoon. For routes that put these together, see our South India planner.
Sources and image credits
Facts that can change were checked on 30 October 2026:
- IRCTC (official train booking)
- UNESCO: Mountain Railways of India (including the Nilgiri Mountain Railway)
- Wikipedia: Kochi Water Metro
- Wikipedia: Vande Bharat Express
Photography: Ashwin Kp via Pexels (Pexels License). A stock image, not the author’s own.
Timetables, fares and booking rules change. Check IRCTC and the relevant state transport corporation before you travel.
