What to know about a May Vacation in South India

Photo by: Kerala Tourism

When should you plan a visit to South India? Is May a good month for a Kerala vacation? We’ll explore all the important factors – weather, special events, hotel prices and crowds. This should help you decide if May suits your needs and desires for a South India vacation.
 

What is the weather like in South India in May?

May’s weather is the typical tropical summer. The hills of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka see a natural peak in tourist flow in May. Other parts of Tamil nadu and Karnataka generally have hot winds which greatly affect human comfort during this season. Goa is best kept away from. Kerala is still manageable with the variety of destinations to visit.

Typical tropical summer, hills are of great comfort. Short showers may start by end of the month in Kerala

The average rainfall is dramatically lower than the monsoons but you can expect some short summer showers in the evening especially in Kerala. The below graphic will give you an idea of the weather throughout the year. 

 

Vacation Prices & Crowds for South India in May

May is one of the least visited months in South India when it comes to long distance travellers. In general, some of the popular destinations in Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are not crowded. The hills stations of Ooty, Kodaikanal, Vagamon and Munnar are immensely popular though. There is also a good flow of domestic travellers with families to the hills as the summer vacations are on. 

The hills get a bit pricy with crowds flowing in, other destinations are favourably priced

As per our analysis of the cycle of Kerala resort/hotel rates, May is an excellent month to save on accommodations. In fact, it is one of the cheapest times of the year as you can see from the below graphic. Note that if are travelling only to hill stations then you will still be paying a premium on stays.

 

As per our observation, the airfare rates for May travel to South India tend to be less. Domestic travel will be pushed by summer vacations for kids so just plan a month or 2 in advance to get good fares. That being said, unlike other times last minute deals will certainly be available too at this time of year.
 

Are there any special events, festivals or reasons to go to South India in May?

In May, the action moves to the hills which have a pleasant climate. Flower shows, Vegetable and Spices shows in the hills are major attractions during this time. There are multiple shows in famous destinations like Ooty, Kodaikanal and Munnar.

Tamil Nadu in May

Ooty Flower Show

This 2 day event is the greatest flower show in South India. Around 250 exhibitors participate and you will get to see various kinds of floral decorations. The flower show attracts around 2,00,000 tourists each year from all over the globe.

Venue: Botanical Garden

Location: Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Estimate date: 2 days in mid-May

Kodaikanal Summer Festival

The summer festival at Kodaikanal includes the flower show, fruits and vegetable show. The park also has exotic varies of flowers and ornamental plants to showcase.

Venue: Botanical Park

Location: Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu

Estimate date: 2 days in mid-May

Kerala in May

Kottiyur temple festival

This is an extra-ordinary festival in the dense forest in North Kerala. This is among the few monsoon temple festivals in Kerala. This month long festival is attended by devotees from all over the state.

Venue: Kottiyur Temple

Location: Kannur, Kerala

Estimate date: mid-May – mid June

Have you been to South India in May? How was your experience? If there is something that we have missed or needs updates, feel free to drop a comment. Our intention is to provide the most useful/updated resources for travel planning in this part of the world. Join the conversation with your suggestions for travellers in our comments section below.

This article is part of our month-by-month analysis to help you determine the best times to visit Kerala and South India in general. Check out these links for the other months covered in this series here:January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November and December.