How should travellers plan Tamil Nadu and Karnataka?
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka reward slower inland planning: temple towns, Mysore, Hampi and food that feels different from the north or Kerala. They are not filler between bigger names.
Answer
A good South India route does not have to orbit Kerala. Tamil Nadu brings temple architecture, ritual life, coastal heat and food with its own rhythm. Karnataka adds Mysore, Hampi, Bengaluru connections and inland stops that can feel very different from the coast. The catch is distance and density: temple towns can blur if you rush them, and Hampi needs enough time to justify the detour. Build this route around a few strong bases, not a string of one-night stops. The reward is a South India trip with more texture than beach-plus-backwater shorthand.