The distance between India's northernmost state and its southernmost state is the distance between Spain and the Arctic Circle or Canada to Central Mexico. With such a large north-south distance, there are inevitably some regional differences.
So, what is different between North India and South India? How to choose between them? Which is better to visit? You will find some answers and travel inspiration in our article.
- North India vs South India: Quick Facts
- North Indian vs South India: Views
- North India vs South India: Things to Do
- North India vs South India: Length of Stay
- North India vs South India: Best Times
- North India vs South India: Culture
- North India vs South India: Food
- North India vs South India: People and Language
North India vs South India: Quick Facts
North India | South India | |
---|---|---|
Features | The Taj Mahal The Ganges River Imperial style Himalayas Desert |
Beaches Bollywood Colonial style Wild animals Tropical scenery |
Main tourist destinations | Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur), Varanasi, Shimla | Kerala (Cochin, Mararikulam), Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Madurai, Thanjavur), Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore |
Things to Do | Visit temples, palaces, and forts Take an Indian cooking class Take a camel ride across the desert Explore local markets |
Relax on a beach Explore wild animals in national parks Visit temples and grottoes |
Culture & Religion | More diverse: Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism… | Hinduism dominates, more traditional |
People & Language | Indo-Aryan languages such as Hindi, Punjabi, and Bengali | Dravidian language such as Tamil and Malayalam |
Food | Centered on wheat Moderately spicy |
Centered on rice Spicier |
Length of stay | 7 to 14 days | 7 to 12 days |
Best times | October to March June to August |
December to March October to May |
We Recommend Visiting North India if You:
- Are a first-time visitor to India
- Are going for a honeymoon
- Want to see imperial buildings and historical relics
We Recommend Visiting South India if You
- Prefer a more relax and leisurely holiday
- Want some beach time
- Prefer off-the-beaten-track travel
- Like to explore India's religion and traditions in depth
China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


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Sharon the advisor that helped me was so thorough & informative and explained the details of the tour including questions about visas and what is included vs what is not included in the tour packages. I would recommend them to explain tour packages that would fit the schedule of your pending travels. More
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Stress free Thailand
Alisa has organised our 14 day Thailand holiday for 2024 for my family & I. She has been very accommodating & super quick with all of our requests & we cannot wait for a stress free holiday! Thank you Alisa! More
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Family Trip to Thailand-Cambodia
All of our guides were very nice and knowledgeable, but we have a special mention to our guide in Cambodia, Chan, he was very kind with us and it was very amusing. He went the extra mile for us. We really enjoyed our holidays! More
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Asia Highlights and Sharon
Asia Highlights, specifically Sharon, has been wonderfully helpful as we get ready for a 2024 excursion to Thailand. We are beyond excited, and much of that has to do with the personalized attention that we have experienced with Sharon. She has been extremely responsive, obliging, and focused as she helped us design a tailor made itinerary. All of our questions have been addressed, our needs have been met, and the path has now been set for a very exciting trip.... thanks to Sharon. More
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I was planning a trip to Thailand to…
I was planning a trip to Thailand to especially see the Lantern Festival this year for our birthdays!! It’s been on our bucket list, but we were completely lost on how to go about planning for our trip. We’ve never really booked tours before but Alisa was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, flexible and efficient in providing all the information we needed to make our decision on the best tours and tickets to purchase. Thank you so much!! More
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I would definitely recommend Asia…
All of our guides were wonderful (Mr. Bank - Bangkok and Ms. Kai in Phuket & Khao Sok plus antoher guide who assisted in Koh Samui). Sharon took care of tours, private drivers, flights and hotels within Thailand and our trip went off without a hitch. The hotels were great and the transportation always arrived on time and with a clean, More
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Great Experience
WOW! I’ve traveled Asia some & I must say Sharon & Asia Highlights made this trip so much more enjoyable and easy More
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Alisa has has been great to work with
Alisa with Asia Highlights has has been great to work with. Very friendly and responsive. More
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Using Sharon right now to book our…
Using Sharon right now to book our upcoming trip to Thailand. She has booked everything that we asked for. Has answered all of my inquiries, which has been many! Looking forward to having a great girls trip in Thailand More
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Thailand, Singapore, Bali
In Thailand, Tanny and Nori(Suparp), were both incredible! They were both fun, funny, and full of knowledge and made sure we got the full experience. They went the extra mile and always made sure we had cold bottled water and towels to cleanse our hands. In Singapore, Nicole was an absolute gem. She was so kind and knowledgeable and guided us in the right direction to make our day as enjoyable as possible. She helped us choose a top notch local lunch and coffee spot in China Town and taught us so much about the country! In Bali, Emon was an absolute joy. He was very knowledgeable and kind and absolutely made sure we were feeling comfortable and was willing to be flexible with us. He was fun to converse with and made our time traveling between destinations so enjoyable! I cannot recommend Asia Highlights enough! Accommodations, travel arrangements and guided tours were all a breeze. More
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Very supportive
Very supportive ! I have received eticket for Sky Lattern Festival very fast More
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My experience in Chang Mai with Asia Highlights
I greatly enjoyed my experience with Asia Highlights for a trip I booked to Thailand.All of my interests were catered too. My guide in Chang Mai Gemma was excellent.I truly felt the soul of Thailand culture and Buddhism. More
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A pleasure to plan with
Well, this has been a painless and pleasurable process to find such a wonderful company. I had specific dates and places to be and Sharon worked with me diligently to refine the schedule and costs to suit my travel needs and budget. She informed me of a special tour on the dates I am to be in Thailand and I added that to my previous plans. More
Chris Williams,
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Large multi-generational holiday in Thailand
The holiday was wonderful. Our guides, Mr Monchai (Bangkok), and Ms Tipagorn (Tippy) (Chiang Mai) were exceptional. Travelling in a large multigenerational group with many children requires patience and our guides truly understood that. Mr Monchai and Ms Tippy shared their extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. While everyday was busy, having them greet us with patience and a smile truly made this a memorable holiday. The hotels we stayed at were equally wonderful and went above and beyond to celebrate not only my parents 50th anniversary but also celebrate 2 milestone birthdays that occurred. We will cherish this holiday for many years to come. We hope to use Asia Highlights again. More
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Jul 2023
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I never used a travel agent in my life
I never used a travel agent in my life, but Sharon for Asia Highlights did a phenomenal job helping planning and coordination a family vacation. The best part of working with Sharon was that she maintained an open line of communication and provided answers to my question well within 12-24 hours. Additionally, Sharon was flexible and customized our vacation to my families needs. Overall great experience. More
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Jul 2023
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Great company to plan a trip to Southeast Asia!
Sharon Haung has been wonderful to work with! Very patient and accommodating. Responds immediately given time change and is prepared, prompt, and professional. More
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Jul 2023
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We took a 15 days trip (10 days Vietnam and 5 days Thailand …
It was an amazing experience the guides and drivers were there awaiting for us at each airoport for a transfer to the hotels also on time for all the tours all the guides were so lovely , very experienced and spoke very good English , one of the days on tour in Thailand I lost my phone in a temple in Bangkok mr chai went out of his way in a middle of thousands of visitors and managed to find an bring it back to me I found that amazing , also while on a trip I contacted Jason li out tour organizer few time via whatup and he replied and helped on the spot I recommend asiahilights 150% The quality of the service hotels the guides the drivers outstanding From start to finish ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ???? More
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1. North Indian vs South India: Views

North India has a higher elevation. The famous Himalayan foothills are located in its northeast. There are also desert landscapes in the northwest.
North India has more splendid palaces, temples, and forts with an imperial style and noble temperament.
Conversely, south India is located in low latitudes and embraced by the sea. The tropical landscapes and beaches are its highlights. Architecture in the south is more colonial because of its colonial history.

2. North India vs South India: Things to Do
Things to Do in North India

Many of the world-famous attractions you are familiar with are located in north India. Thus, iconic landmark visiting is a must-do for your north India trip, and there are also some unique experiences:
- Visit the famous Taj Mahal to envision the romantic story behind it.
- Go to Agra Fort and have a romantic dinner there.
- Visit the "Palace of Wind" (Hawa Mahal) and explore the secret of its name.
- Watch the faithful worshiping at Jama Masjid.
- Take a camel safari in a Jaiselmer desert.
- Witness pilgrims performing ancient rituals by the Ganges River.
- Have a tiger safari in Ranthambore National Park.
Things to Do in South India

Things to do in south India revolve around more relaxing activities, and also there are some cultural experiences, like:
- Relax on a beach.
- Enjoy the tropical views with a unique houseboat experience.
- Enjoy the colorful traditional dances of Kerala.
- Experience a boat safari in Periyar National Park.
- Visit some iconic temples like Brihadisvara Temple and Meenakshi Temple.
- Explore Bollywood to discover India's film industry.
3. North India vs South India: Length of Stay

As for the recommended length of stay, there is no big difference between north India and south India.
A trip to north India lasting for 7 to 14 days is picked by most travelers. 7 days is a basic requirement for the classic combination of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur — India's golden triangle
If you want to explore more, you can go to Rajasthan, which is best for experiencing Indian culture and history. Varanasi is best for experiencing Indian religion. If you want an off-the-beaten-path experience, Shimla and Amritsar are recommended.
- 7-Day Golden Triangle India Tour
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- 10-Day North India Tour (Delhi to Shimla)
- 14-Day Classic Rajasthan Tour
Similarly, you will need 7 to 12 days for a popular trip to south India. Mumbai (usually visited for 2 days) is the main hub. Then, Goa (2–4 days) and Kerala (9 days) are the choice of most for a trip to south India.
4. North India vs South India: Best Times
For most cities in north and south India, the best times to travel are similar — from November to March. During this period, the weather is cool(er) and dry.
The biggest difference between the best time to travel in north and south India is between the mountainous area in the north and beaches in the south.
For the furthest-north areas like Leh, the best time to visit is in summer. For the religious Gangetic sites in the Himalayan foothills, the best times to visit are from March to May and October to November.
For the beaches in south India like Goa, the best times to visit are from October to May.

5. North India vs South India: Culture
India is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country. There are also some cultural differences between the north and the south.
Religion
In terms of religion, most people in most areas of north India and south India believe in Hinduism. Varanasi is considered to be the Hindu holy city.
Islam and Sikhism are far more prevalent in the north. Punjab is home to the majority of Sikhs. >>>Sikh vs Hindu — 2 Similarities and 7 Differences
Kerala, in the south, is a state where people of different religions live, like Christians, Muslims, and also Hindus.
Check out more on Religion in India — The 5 Most Popular Religions You Should Know
Festivals
As for festivals, many of the festivals are celebrated across the country, but there are few festivals that are confined only to the southern region, like Ugadi and Onam.
Some festivals are celebrated with more gusto in the north than in the south, like Diwali and Holi.
See more on The Top 37 Festivals of India.
6. Food
The staple food is different between north and south India. Wheat is the staple food in the drier north. North Indians eat bread-like parathas, chapattis, puris, and rotis.
Rice or rice-made products are the staple food in south India like dosas and idlis. South Indians also eat more coconuts and seafood as more of their population is close to sea.
The curries in the north are creamier, heavier, and less spicy than in the south. South India is more vegetarian.
Check out our Best Indian Foods: 15 Indian Dishes to Try.
7. People and Language

North Indians are generally taller and lighter brown of skin, whereas southerners are shorter and darker.
Hindi and English the main languages of India, while each region has different dialects and ethnic languages.
The languages spoken by north Indians belong to the Indo-Aryan family, which is closely related to modern European languages, primarily Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi.
South Indians speak Dravidian languages, mainly Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada, which are unrelated to the world's better-known Indo-European linguistic families.
Related reading: Languages of India and Hello in Hindi — Learn How to Say Hello/Hi in Hindi
Tour India with Us
All our tours can be adjusted based on your group's travel time, budget, and other requirements. Just contact us. Or see some suggested itineraries:
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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