Travelling solo in India can be both exhilarating and intimidating, especially for foreigners experiencing the country's diversity, pace, and cultural nuances for the first time. Without a local understanding of the language, customs or surroundings, figuring out where to begin can often feel overwhelming. But according to one travel blogger, South India offers a gentler introduction.Read more to find out the travel vlogger's experience in South India.Also Read | Step inside Vande Bharat Sleeper as vlogger reveals premium facilities of coach: ‘The best Indian Railways has to offer’British travel vloggerJack Heaton shared his experiences travelling across South India on Instagram and rated the eight cities he visited on a scale of 1 to 10 based on his overall impressions. In the video shared on June 11, he shared, “South India generally is a winner, it’s like India on easy mode if you are coming for the first time, after seeing a fair bit of the south, here are my ratings.”Chennai – 3/10Jack’s first stop in South India was Chennai, where he stayed in what he described as “the most chaotic area”, making his introduction to the city somewhat overwhelming. Despite the initial hiccups, he was captivated by the sprawling Marina Beach and what he called the city’s “old-world” charm. However, his experience was not without its downsides, as he also recounted being harassed while visiting a local market. He explained, “My first stop, partially my fault, I stayed in the most chaotic area; however, I also got physically harassed at a market. Marina Beach is cool, and I like the traditional ‘old world’ feel of the city.”Munnar – 7/10Jack praised Munnar as a beautiful destination. However, he felt that much of the town was geared primarily towards tourists, giving it a more commercialised feel than some of the other places he visited. He said, “Beautiful scenery, but very touristy in the way yours are organised and the activities available (elephant riding, etc.).”Bangalore – 8/10The travel vlogger described the Silicon Valley of India as “young and energetic”, praising its vibrant nightlife and lively atmosphere. However, the city’s infamous traffic left a far less favourable impression on him, with Jack saying it was the worst congestion he had ever experienced. He noted, “Innovative, young, energetic, great nightlife and surprisingly diverse food scene – however, probably the worst traffic I have seen in my life.”Kochi – 9/10Kochi earned the second-highest rating on Jack’s list. He described it as one of the best places to experience Kerala’s rich culture, pointing to its historic landmarks and cultural performances such as Kathakali. The travel vlogger was equally impressed by the city’s clean surroundings and its warm, friendly residents. He shared, “Love Kochi, beautiful, clean streets, historic, diverse and friendly people. It’s a great place to see Kerala culture first-hand with shows like Kathakali, etc.”Calicut – 6/10According to the travel vlogger, Calicut was a pleasant city with welcoming locals and a decent atmosphere. However, he felt it offered limited options for tourists, saying there was “almost nothing to do” in terms of attractions or activities. Jack highlighted, “A decent city, friendly people, but from a tourist perspective, there is almost nothing to do. Surprisingly busy.”Alleppey – 10/10Alleppey took the crown on Jack’s list, explaining that he had an unforgettable experience exploring Kerala’s iconic backwaters, soaking in the region’s natural beauty at a leisurely pace. He described the calm and serene atmosphere of the city as a “rare slice of peace in India.” The British travel vlogger said, “I had a flawless time on the backwaters of Kerala, it’s hard to compare it, but instantly a 10/10 for being such a unique experience and a rare slice of peace in India.”Palolem – 7/10According to Jack, Palolem is a ‘quaint’ small town in South Goa, where he was quite impressed by the gorgeous beaches and the exciting array of restaurant options. However, the downsides included the city’s unusual crowd of digital nomads and the lack of proper infrastructure. He explained, “Quaint small beach town in South Goa, gorgeous beach with plenty of restaurants to choose from. A great place to relax, but it does attract a bit of an unusual crowd of digital nomads and not so much infrastructure.”Panaji – 9/10While he preferred South Goa over North Goa overall, Jack found Panaji to be the most memorable stop on his trip. He was impressed by the city's Portuguese architecture, well-developed infrastructure, warm locals and diverse dining options across different budgets. Apart from the crowds and touristy chaos at some historic sites, the travel vlogger said his experience in Panaji was positive.“South Goa is better than North, but Panaji is the one. Beautiful Portuguese architecture, great infrastructure, wholesome people, and amazing restaurants at all price ranges. Tourists cause a lot of chaos in some of the historic parts,” he noted. Jack further added, “Special bonus - Baga Beach (1/10) - Just don’t go…”Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only. It is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
British vlogger rates 8 South Indian cities from 1 to 10, calls it ‘India on easy mode’: Bangalore is 8, Chennai is...
Travelling solo in India can feel overwhelming, especially if you're not from the country. A Westerner shares his experience from his time in South India. | Travel









