Ancient Ruins, Ayurvedic Spas and More Reasons to Visit Southern India Right Now

​​There’s a good reason so many first-time visitors to India focus on the north, home to the likes of Agra’s Taj Mahal and Jaipur’s rose-tinted palaces and bazaars. But a 10-day tour of southern India that appeals to history buffs and wellness-minded sybarites in equal measure—with stays in otherworldly palace hotels, private tours through ancient ruins and wellness programs designed to boost longevity—is exactly the kind of ambitious, high-value itinerary that makes a big points redemption feel worth it.

After touching down in Mumbai, first make your way southeast to Hyderabad, a historic cultural center turned global tech hub, where a lavish past and a cutting-edge future collide at every corner. From there fly to Hubli Airport (HBX) in Karnataka, and make the 3.5-hour drive to Hampi, the glittering seat of the Vijayanagara Empire for some 200 years (you could also hop a train from Hyderabad, which takes roughly nine hours); today the distinctive boulder-strewn terrain is home to a vast expanse of palace ruins, temples and monuments. End your visit in Kerala, where it’s quickly apparent why the coastal state has been dubbed “God’s Own Country.” Crisscross your way across the state’s tranquil backwaters, ivory beaches and verdant mountainscape, making time to indulge in a treatment—or a whole multiday retreat—at one of Kerala’s famed Ayurvedic spas. It’s a jam-packed circuit with something for everyone.

Where to Stay

Set along the coast in southern Kerala, The Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel, teeters over the Arabian Sea.

It’s not every day that one of the most recognizable landmarks in a city’s skyline is also somewhere you can stay, but that’s exactly what The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai is: an architectural icon that doubles as the city’s most elegant hotel. The location, in the heart of the historic Colaba area, will let you make the most of a quick stopover.

In Hyderabad, you’ll find a hotel for every one of its eras: High atop a hill overlooking the Old City, Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad is a 19th-century princely abode preserved as a time capsule of the city’s most opulent period; the recently opened Leela Hyderabad in the heart of tony Banjara Hills is a marble-clad study in contemporary elegance; near the city’s tech hub, home to sprawling campuses of many major international companies, ITC Kohenur takes a modern spin on the city’s jewelry heritage. In Hampi, an hour’s flight (plus a 3.5-hour drive) away, Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace, Hampi finds inspiration in the 14th-century palaces of the Vijayanagara Empire, with arched hallways, lily ponds and romantic poolside pavilions. And don’t miss the Vijayanagara Thali, the signature meal at Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace, Hampi’s Tuluva restaurant with more than a dozen components, like rasam soup, spiced okra and lentil fritters.

Fly from Hampi to Kochi via Bengaluru to start your explorations of Kerala’s varied landscapes with a stay at Brunton Boatyard in Fort Kochi, a seaside enclave where layers of Dutch, Portuguese and British influences have mingled over the centuries. On the banks of Vembanad Lake, Taj Kumarakom Resort & Spa, Kerala inhabits a 19th-century colonial bungalow amid the state’s alluring backwaters. Farther north in the mist-shrouded hills of Wayanad, Taj Wayanad Resort & Spa, Kerala is a draw for both its panoramic views as well as its age-old Ayurvedic wellness rituals. And on the coast in the state’s southern reaches, The Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel, clings to a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Eat and Drink

In Mumbai, Papa’s pushes the envelope with its 12-seat chef’s counter experience, which offers surprising dishes, including a vignette of grilled rabbit sprinkled with red ants.

MumbaiOpens overlay is one of Asia’s most exciting culinary capitals, with restaurants like MasqueOpens overlay and Papa’s pushing the boundaries of what modern Indian food can be: The former, in a minimalist warehouse space, serves inventive tasting menus with ingredients foraged from across the country, while the latter is an intimate chef’s counter experience with quirky dishes like grilled rabbit sprinkled with red ants.

The thing to get in Hyderabad is the city’s legendary biryani. The best place to try is the subject of fierce debate, but Shadab in the Old City, not far from the iconic Charminar landmark, is always a good bet. In the newer part of the city, Terrāi is a contemporary take on cuisine from the state of Telangana, known for its fiery heat, while Manam Chocolate Karkhana, a sprawling confectionery in Banjara Hills, is a dessert lover’s fantasy—though the savory fare should not be overlooked in pursuit of a sugar high.

There’s no shortage of charming dining options in atmospheric Fort Kochi, but you can’t go wrong with mango prawn curry and fish moilee enjoyed overlooking the water at Fort House Restaurant, or a quick coffee surrounded by artsy types at Pepper House. For a traditional feast in Wayanad, head to Olan and order a sadya, a classic Kerala meal served on a banana leaf. And come sunset in Kovalam, head to the Taj hotel where the restaurant Bait serves, as the name suggests, fresh seafood steps from the sea.

Things to Do

The former seat of the Vijayanagara Empire, which ruled from the 14th to 17th centuries, Hampi remains home to a vast expanse of palace ruins, temples and monuments.

Mumbai is home to the world’s second-largest collection of Art Deco buildings—and you can learn all about them on a walk through south Mumbai, exploring its layered architectural legacy.

A century ago, Hyderabad’s ruling nizam was reportedly the world’s richest man—and remnants of the city’s erstwhile opulence still linger. Take in the glittering chandeliers of Chowmahalla Palace and climb up part of the iconic Charminar monument on a half-day private tour. The ruins of Hampi are vast, and the best way to see as much as possible is on a jam-packed circuit that includes stops at the seventh-century Virupaksha Temple, the 500-year-old Queen’s Bath, the ornate Lotus Mahal and more.

In Kerala, don’t miss the vibrant art scene in Fort Kochi—even when the celebrated Kochi-Muziris Biennale isn’t going on, galleries like Pepper House and Muziris Contemporary Kochi are worth a look. Or embark on a boat cruise through the lush backwaters or with holistic Ayurvedic treatments rooted in 5,000 years of tradition at the spas at Taj Wayanad Resort & Spa, Kerala or The Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel.

How to Go Big

Want to squeeze even more out of your southern India itinerary? You’ll have to fly through Bengaluru on your way from Hampi to Kochi, so consider spending a night there to get a taste of why the dynamic city has earned a name for itself as one of India’s culinary capitals. You can take advantage of a Points Boost, worth up to 2x on The Edit hotels like Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru at Embassy ONE, when you book with your Sapphire Reserve card—and you can use your $100 property credit toward drinks at the 21st-floor Copitas, which has made appearances on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list.