20 Best Hill Stations near Chennai You Must Visit

You will find many hill stations near Chennai, where you can go for a day picnic or a short holiday. As Chennai has hot and humid weather in the summer months, the people of Chennai escape to these hill stations for a refreshing holiday. There are these 20 best hill stations near Chennai you must visit.

List of the 20 best Hill Stations near Chennai

Some of these hill stations are very close to Chennai and some are located at a distance.

• Horsley Hills
• Yelagiri
• Yercaud
• Kolli Hills
• Sirumalai
• Kodaikanal
• Palani Hills
• Kotagiri
• Coonoor
• Meghamalai
• Sakleshpur
• Ooty
• Thekkady
• Munnar
• Madikeri
• Coorg
• Mullayanagiri Hills
• Chikmagalur
• Wayanad
• Valparai

1. Horsley Hills

One of the best hill stations near Chennai is Horsley Hills. The hills are very scenic and full of lush green forests. You will love the pleasant atmosphere and the mountain views. If you are lucky you might spot wild animals roaming about in the forests.

• Distance from Chennai: 275 km
• Best Time to Visit: November to May
• Places to Visit: Horsley Hill Museum, Lake Gangotri, Horsley Hill Zoo

2. Yelagiri

This is one of the famous hill stations in Tamil Nadu and it is called Yelagiri. This hill station is famous for its rose gardens, picturesque views, valleys, and natural beauty. You can do paragliding here, and have a stroll in the apple orchards.

• Distance from Chennai: 303 km
• Best Time to Visit: November to February
• Places to Visit: Perumal Temple, Punganoor Lake, Jalagamparai waterfalls

3. Yercaud

We have included Yercaud in the list of all the 20 best hill stations near Chennai you must visit. Yercaud is in the Eastern Ghats in Shevaroy Hills. You can spot many jungle creatures in Yercaud.

• Distance from Chennai: 364 km
• Best Time to Visit: October to June
• Places to Visit: Bear’s Cave, 32 Loop Road, Kiliyur Waterfall

4. Kolli Hills

In this list of the 20 best hill stations near Chennai, you must visit Kolli Hills. The hills are like a hidden gem that is yet to be explored. People also call it the New Ooty due to its superb scenic beauty and pleasant climate. You can go for bird watching here and hike on hilly terrain.

• Distance from Chennai: 371 km
• Best Time to Visit: February to December
• Places to Visit: Arappaleeswar Temple, Agaya Gangai Waterfalls, Boat House, Botanical Garden

5. Sirumalai

This hill station near Chennai is famous for its rare herbal plants and wildlife. Weather remains pleasant throughout the year and the dense forests teem with wildlife. You can trek and hike on the hills and spot birds too.

• Distance from Chennai: 460 km
• Best Time to Visit: February to December
• Places to Visit: Sirumalai Lake, Sanjeevani Hills, Saathiyar Basin, Vellimalai Murugan Temple

6. Kodaikanal

This is a very famous hill station near Chennai. It is also the 20 best hill stations near Chennai you must visit and it is Kodaikanal. People call Kodaikanal the Queen of Hill Stations. The forests here are dense and you can spot wildlife creatures and birds here.

• Distance from Chennai: 524 km
• Best Time to Visit: September to May
• Places to Visit: Mannavanur Lake, Kodaikanal Lake, Coaker’s Wal, Berijam Lake

7. Palani Hills

We have included Palani Hills in the 20 best hill stations near Chennai you must visit. Palani Hills has striking visual scenery. They are in the Western Ghats and the thick woods here teem with wildlife. You can spot several creatures in Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Distance from Chennai: 526 km
• Best Time to Visit: September to March
• Places to Visit: Palani Murugan Temple, Idumban Temple, Periyanayaki Amman Temple

8. Kotagiri

This ranks among the best hill stations in Tamil Nadu and it is called Kotagiri. Kotagiri is in the Nilgiri Hills and is full of amazing natural beauty. The British generals first spotted this hill station and later developed it.

• Distance from Chennai: 537 km
• Best Time to Visit: February to May
• Places to Visit: Catherine Falls, Kodanad View Point, John Sullivan Memorial, Longwood Shola, Rangaswamy Peak and Pillar

9. Coonoor

This ranks among the 20 best hill stations near Chennai you must visit. Coonoor is also the second-highest hill station in the state of Tamil Nadu. This hill station is popularly called the Gateway to the Nilgiris.

• Distance from Chennai: 537 km
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Places to Visit: Sim’s Park, Catherine Waterfalls, Dolphin Nose

10. Meghamalai

One of the 20 Best Hill Stations near Chennai You Must Visit is Meghamalai. This hill station ranks among the best hill stations in Tamilnadu. Meghamalai is famous for Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary and its forests are dense.

• Distance from Chennai: 550 km
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Places to Visit: Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Cloudland Falls, Megamalai Viewpoint

11. Sakleshpur

This hill station is famous in the Western Ghats and is in the state of Karnataka. Sakleshpur is famous for its rice fields and the natural beauty of forests. You can go on trekking and camping here. The historical site in Sakleshpur is the Manjarabad Fort.

• Distance from Chennai: 574 km
• Best Time to Visit: November to February
• Places to Visit: Manjarabad Fort, Bisle View Point, Sakleshwara Temple, Agni Gudda Hill

12. Ooty

There is one hill station near Chennai which is very famous, and it is none other than Ooty. This hill station of Ooty is full of natural beauty and scenic landscapes of the Western Ghats. Ooty is famous as the Switzerland of India for its landscapes.

• Distance from Chennai: 553 km
• Best Time to Visit: All the year
• Places to Visit: Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Pykara Falls, Upper Bhavani Lake, Pykara Lake

13. Thekkady

This hill station known as Thekkady is one of the 20 best hill stations near Chennai you must visit. Thekkady is famous for its tiger reserve and thick jungles. Thekkady is famous for its adventure activities like tiger safari, bamboo rafting, and hiking.

• Distance from Chennai: 567 km
• Best Time to Visit: All the time throughout the year
• Places to Visit: Gavi Forest, Green Park Ayurvedic & Spices Plantation, Periyar Lake, Periyar Tiger Reserve

14. Munnar

This is one of the most famous hill stations in the Western Ghats and Southern India. Munnar comes in the 20 best hill stations near Chennai you must visit. You will enjoy the natural landscapes in Munnar. The jungles here are home to Nilgiri Tahr and Malabar Giant Squirrel.

• Distance from Chennai: 585 km
• Best Time to Visit: September up to May
• Places to Visit: Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Megamalai Viewpoint, Cloudland Falls

15. Madikeri

The hill station of Madikeri is famous for its coffee plantations and lush green jungles. The dense forests are home to several wildlife species. Madikeri is also a famous tourist attraction and people visit Madikeri from all over India.

• Distance from Chennai: 585 km
• Best Time to Visit: February to April, October to December
• Places to Visit: Omkareshwara temple, Raja’s Tomb, Madikeri Fort

16. Coorg

This hill station comes in the 20 best hill stations near Chennai you must visit. Coorg is also one of the finest hill stations in South India. Coffee production is very famous in Coorg. People also refer to Coorg as the Scotland of India.

• Distance from Chennai: 584 km                                                                                       
• Best Time to Visit: October up to March
• Places to Visit: Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Madikeri Fort, Abbey Falls, Honey Valley

17. Mullayanagiri Hills

This ranks among the top hill stations near Chennai. Mullayanagiri Hills ranks among the tallest mountains in Karnataka. You will love the view of the rolling pastures, rocky paths, high mountains, and dense forests.

• Distance from Chennai: 594 km
• Best Time to Visit: September up to April
• Places to Visit: Hirekolale Lake, Baba Bundagiri, Jharji Waterfall

18. Chikmagalur

One of the best hill stations near Chennai is Chikmagalur. This hill station is also one of the best for mountain views. You will love the sight of waterfalls here. The weather is pleasant here and you can do most outdoor activities.

• Distance from Chennai: 597 km
• Best Time to Visit: September to May
• Places to Visit: Sringeri Mutt, Hebbe Falls, Jhari Waterfalls

19. Wayanad

The hill station of Wayanad near Chennai is famous all over India. Wayanad is also well known for its forests, lush green hills, fruit orchards, and mountain views. You can also spot many wild animals here.

• Distance from Chennai: 619 km
• Best Time to Visit: The whole year
• Places to Visit: Banasura Sagar Dam, Kuruva Island, Chembra Peak

20. Valparai

The hill station of Valparai is in Tamilnadu and is famous for the Western Ghats landscapes. Valparai is full of dense forests and mountainous terrain. People here grow coffee plantations and tea is also famous here.

• Distance from Chennai: 586 km
• Best Time to Visit: October to November, March up to May
• Places to Visit: Aliyar Dam, Sholayar Dam, Loam’s View Point, Nallamudi Viewpoint

Conclusion

These were the 20 best hill stations near Chennai you must visit on your trip. They are all beautiful and good for trekking and other adventure activities. You must make a trip to these hill stations at least once in your life.

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