Karnataka is one of the most richly endowed states in India. With a mix of natural beauty as well as man-made wonders, the region is full of astounding locales. And many of these places can be visited a short ride away from the capital city of Bangalore. You’ll never be short of weekend getaways from Bangalore. Locals in Bangalore have no dearth of amazing food, drinks and music, but at some point, all of it gets to you. Work gets monotonous, Friday nights at the bar just don’t seem to cut it, and dancing on Saturday isn’t enough to make you feel better. The only thing that will give your brain a rest are the relaxing weekend getaways near Bangalore. Thankfully, the city has a number of choices nearby where you can unwind and give yourself a 3 to 5-day rest. Whether you’re the adventurous kind who loves to trek up Rocky Mountains or if you just prefer to put your feet up and relax by the beach, there are plenty of weekend trips from Bangalore. Here are best Weekend Getaways from Bangalore one can experience.
Located between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, the port city of Mangalore or Mangaluru is known for its swaying coconut palms, beautiful beaches and temple architecture. It is also an important industrial, commercial, educational and healthcare hub of the state of Karnataka.
Despite the growing commercialisation, it provides a quick and soothing weekend getaway from Bangalore city hustle bustle and yet preserves just the right amount of the urban glitter. It offers a pleasant natural environment and is close to perfect with its shopping attractions with grand complexes and a vibrant seafood culture. Major tourist attractions in Mangalore are the beautiful beaches and temples, churches and mosques. Mangaladevi temples, KREC beach, Someshwara beach, Panambur beach, Tannirbavi Beach, Seemanthini Bai Bajai Museum are some of the places one might want to visit. Yaksha Gana, the folk dance of Mangalore is the perfect visual treat to add colour to your trip and cast a spell on you as you witness the beautiful culture that it sustains and glorifies.
Places to Visit In Mangalore
With its pristine beaches and breathtaking landscapes, Gokarna is a Hindu pilgrimage town in Karnataka and a newly found hub for beach lovers and hippies.
Situated on the coast of Karwar, Gokarna is a small town in Karnataka, primarily known for two reasons – its beaches and temples. Gokarna can be different things to different people. Every year hordes of tourists visit Gokarna in search of sanctity and salvation on one hand and respite and relaxation on the other. The out-of-town beaches are a curious contrast to the life inside the town. Palm clad beaches are dotted with foreign tourists in a majority and very few Indians are seen across. Gokarna is not very conventionally touristy. The beaches are meant for a slow, relaxed holiday and everything on the beach goes at the same relaxed pace. Full of coconut and palm trees, the ocean and clean sands, Gokarna is a ‘one of its kind place’ in the country. It is the perfect weekend getaway from Bangalore to have a refreshing break. Checkout the Gokarna Beach Trek.
Places to Visit In Gokarna
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Udupi is a coastal town in Karnataka, most famous for its vegetarian cuisine and South Indian restaurants all over the country. With carefully carved temples, laidback beaches and unexplored forests, Udupi is also the place where the educational hub of Manipal is located. Situated 60 km. from Mangalore, Udupi is famous for its culture.
Surrounded by the Arabian Sea on one side and the Western ghats on the other, this pilgrim centre is the most important city in Karnataka after Bangalore and Mangalore. It is one of the best weekend trips from Bangalore one can go. Being a pilgrim centre, one of the most important attractions here is the Krishna Temple. Udupi is also known as Rajata Peetha and Shivalli locally.
Places to Visit In Udupi
Karwar with its gorgeous scenic beauty and a subtle sparkle of religion and history is a beautiful tourist destination.
The pristine beaches glimmering along the Arabian sea coastline, imposing mountains, and the rich flora and fauna make it a photographer’s delight. It is a place where you can witness the beautiful clash of Konkani, Kannada and Marathi cultures and escape from the hustle and bustle of cities. The place is home to various attractions in the form of beaches, temples and waterfalls. It is also famous for historic monuments and structures like the Sadashivgad Hill Fort which encompasses a temple. It is the ideal weekend getaway from Bangalore who are looking to spend some peaceful time.
Places to Visit In Karwar
Book your Karwar trip
Rameshwaram is one of the holiest places in India and is located on a beautiful island. It is separated by a small Pamban channel from Sri Lanka. According to the Hindu mythology, this is the place where Lord Rama created a bridge across the sea to Sri Lanka.
Rameshwaram is located on a beautiful island in the lower side of India. Lord Shiva is worshipped in this place. Renowned for its magnificent prakaras with massive sculptured pillars on either side, The Ramanathaswamy Temple houses the longest corridor in the world. Agniteertham is famous for its sacred waters and Pilgrims perform poojas in honour of their ancestors at this seashore. The Five-faced Hanuman Temple holds the floating stone which was used to build a bridge between India and Sri Lanka.
Places to Visit In Rameshwaram
Varkala is a coastal town in the southern part of Kerala known for the unique 15m high ‘Northern Cliff’ adjacent to the Arabian Sea. It is popular for its hippie culture, shacks on the cliff serving great seafood and playing global music and the samadhi of Kerala’s saint Sree Narayana Guru. Varkala is also known for Jardana Swami Temple, also known as Dakshin Kashi.
Varkala has some of the best pristine beaches, hills, lakes, forts, lighthouses, natural fisheries and springs – all of this together makes this town a little paradise. You will also find a lot of shops with signboards in Hebrew selling Yoga mats, oxidised silver jewellery and harem pants made of cotton. Ayurvedic spas, affordable resorts, hostels, clean beaches make it one the best weekend trips from Bangalore.
Places to Visit In Varkala
The Blue Mountains have always been shrouded in mysticism, and Ooty is no exception to that. For every mountain lover, the very idea of travelling to the city known as the Queen of the Hills holds an allure like no other. Once regarded as the summer headquarters of the East India Company (and for a very good reason), Ooty, also known as Udagamandalam, is a hill station in Tamil Nadu which serves as a very popular weekend getaway from Bangalore for anyone looking for a picturesque place to relax and unwind. Ooty is nestled amidst the Nilgiri hills at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level and enjoys a favourable climate all year round.
Ooty oozes simplicity, devoid of any boundaries, so anyone who visits the place can feel at one with the local culture. The journey to Ooty itself is dotted with magnificent sights of the awe-inspiring Nilgiri hills, tea gardens, and serene waterfalls. The cool, peaceful landscape of Ooty is almost movie-like – winding country lanes that you can spend hours simply walking on, and the charm of old-world colonial architecture infuses fresh air into the souls of travellers. For anyone looking for a respite from the mind-boggling humidity and the scorching Indian sun, Ooty is the place to be.
Ooty is a very popular destination for couples and honeymooners, and there’s no better way to fully take in all that this city has to offer than to take a trip on the Toy Train, which lets you enjoy panoramic views of this beautiful hill station right from your seat. The whole city is tinged with beautiful hues of green, with oases of sparkling blue waterfalls popping up here and there. The Nilgiri Mountain Railways has the steepest track in all of Asia, and it is one of the best train rides you will ever have the chance of experiencing. Remember the hit song ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ where Shahrukh Khan and Malaika Arora were seen matching steps on top of a train? Remember the breathtaking locales as the train chugged its way across lush greenery? Yes, that was the Nilgiri Mountain Railways, and the Nilgiri Mountains all along.
As every traveller who has ever gone to Ooty knows, once you’re in the city, a visit to the famous Doddabetta Peak is a must. Standing tall at 8,606 feet as the highest point of South India, the Doddabetta Peak trail is flanked by towering Eucalyptus trees, offering you uninterrupted views of the luxuriant valley.
Places to Visit In Ooty
The idyllic hill station Munnar – famous for its tea estates, exotic lush greenery and craggy peaks, is located in the Western Ghats, in the state of Kerala. It serves as the commercial centre for some of the world’s largest tea estates. In addition, Munnar has many protected areas which are home to endemic and highly endangered species like the Nilgiri Thar and the Neelakurinji.
One of the biggest tea-plantation areas of South India, Munnar is one of the most beautiful and popular hill-stations of Kerala. Situated on the banks of three rivers- Madupetti, Nallathanni and Periavaru, Munnar is also blessed with natural view-points apart from the tea-plantations. Munnar is divided into Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located. Eravikulam National Park, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and tea plantations are its major attractions. If you are looking for an exotic weekend getaways from Bangalore the Munnar is the place for you. Checkout places to to visit in Munnar.
Places to Visit In Munnar
Replete with waterfalls, historical caves, comfortable resorts and homestays, Wayanad in Kerala is famous for its spice plantations and wildlife. Walking through the sprawling spice plantations, trekking to the prehistoric caves and experiencing a resort holiday are one of the many things you can do to get a taste of Wayanad.
Wayanad is best known for the wildlife reserves – Wayanad wildlife reserve which is home to an exquisite variety of flora and fauna. Wayanad wildlife reserve is an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve peacefully located amidst the serene hills of Western Ghats. Wayanad homes a wide variety of wildlife like elephants, leopards, and bears. Wayanad is a perfect weekend getaway idea from the cities of South India. If taking a road trip from Bangalore, you will drive through three national parks: Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai.
Places to Visit In Wayanad
This Weekend trip from Bangalore is nestled in the Eastern Ghats, Yercaud is a hill station called poor man’s Ooty with abundant forests, vast coffee plantations and some unique species of flora and fauna resulting in gorgeous views.
Places to Visit In Yercaud
With nature in its full bloom, the town of Shimoga has been a home to several great dynasties and kingdoms. Steeped in rich heritage and culture, this main city of Shimoga District derives its name from the words ‘Shiv-Mukha’ implying ‘Face of Lord Shiva’.
Packed with several marvels of nature in the form of picturesque landscape, gorgeous waterfalls, mystical temples and lush green surroundings, its raw beauty will leave you absolutely enchanted. Blessed with swaying palms and verdant paddy fields, the place has earned itself a nickname of rice bowl as well as the bread basket of Karnataka. With four rivers namely Sharavathi, Kumudavath, Tungabhadra and Varada making their way into the city, gurgling and bubbling adds mystical charm to the region. Pleasant weather, beautiful rolling hills, profusion of areca nuts and endless list of attractions has made this place a must visit Weekend Getaway from Bangalore for enthusiastic vacation makers.
Places to Visit In Shimoga
Famously known as the ‘Coffee Land of Karnataka’, Chikmagalur is situated in the foothills of the Mullayanagiri Range in Karnataka and stands at an altitude of 3400 feet. If you love the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the mornings, you are going to love Chikmagalur, which has a perpetual fragrance of coffee lingering in the air. Famous for its tall mountains, lush green forests and its tranquil environment (apart from its coffee production), Chikmagalur is one of the popular weekend getaways from Bangalore and is a quaint getaway from the busy life of the city.
The name Chikmagalur comes from the Kannada word Cikkamagala, which means – younger daughter’s town. According to legend, Chikmagalur was given as dowry to the youngest daughter of Rukmangada, the chief of Sakharayapatna, a town in the region.
Being the largest producer of coffee in the country, Chikmagalur is mainly all about its coffee. So if you’re a coffee enthusiast as well as a nature lover, taking a walk through one (or a few) of the numerous coffee plantations in the city is a must-do activity. Many of these coffee estates not only allow visitors to take guided tours through the plantations, but they also provide home-stays right within the estates, so you can literally wake up to and end your day with the smell of coffee in the air.
Chikmagalur is a very popular trekking spot and boasts of many incredible trekking trails, such as the Mullayanagiri trek, the Kemmanagundi trek, and the Baba Budangiri trek. Mullayangiri is the highest peak in all of Karnataka and is the best place to get a perfect view of the sun rising from behind the mountains.
Places to Visit In Chikmagalur
Located amidst imposing mountains in Karnataka with a perpetually misty landscape, Coorg is the best weekend place from Bangalore to be for all nature lovers. This popular coffee producing hill station is not only popular for its beautiful green hills and streams cutting right through them. It also stands as a popular destination because of its culture and people. The Kodavas, a local clan specialising in martial arts, are especially notable for their keen hospitality.
Coorg, officially known as Kodagu, is the most affluent hill station in Karnataka. It is well known for its breathtakingly exotic scenery and lush greenery. Forest covered hills, spice and coffee plantations only add to the landscape. Madikeri is the region’s centre point with all transportation for getting around starting from here. On a visit to Coorg, cover the beautiful towns like Virajpet, Kushalnagar, Gonikoppal, Pollibetta, and Somwarpet, and experience the beautiful concept of “homestays” to make your experience more memorable!
Places to Visit In Coorg
Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal is one of the most famous honeymoon destinations in India. When you think of Kodaikanal, you think of a wonderful climate, cliffs covered in mist, cloud-capped mountains and beautiful lakes and valleys, and once you visit this hill station, you will find that every bit of what you have imagined it to be true. Nestled amidst the rolling slopes of the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal stands at an altitude of 7200 feet above sea level and has a cool, pleasant climate all year round. Kodaikanal means the gift of the forests.
Famously known as the Princess of Hill Stations, Kodaikanal offers the perfect mix of culture and nature to tourists, and it’s perfectly manicured slopes, scenic waterfalls, rolling hills and clear lakes all come together to create the perfect setting for an ideal mountain getaway from Bangalore. Kodaikanal is a place you can go to take a break from the rigours of daily city life, and this hill station lets you sit back and connect with nature as you head out on biking or hiking trails or take a stroll through the huge forests surrounding the town.
Places to Visit In Kodaikanal
Hampi, the city of ruins, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in the shadowed depths of hills and valleys in the state of Karnataka, this place is a historical delight for travellers. Surrounded by 500 ancient monuments, beautiful temples, bustling street markets, bastions, treasury building and captivating remains of Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi is one of the best weekend trips from Bangalore for backpacker’s delight. Hampi is an open museum with 100+ locations to explore and a favourite way to see the city from the perspective of its history. Checkout places to visit in Hampi.
Places to Visit In Hampi
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Located in a valley of rugged red sandstone, surrounding the Agastya Lake, Badami (formerly known as Vatapi) is an archaeological delight owing to its beautifully crafted sandstone cave temples, fortresses and carvings.
Once the royal capital of the Chalukyas, Badami continues to enjoy a unique place, being the home to a number of examples of Dravidian architecture which sustains and enhances instances of both south and north Indian style of architecture. There are three Hindu Temples and one Jain Temple in Badami Caves.
Places to Visit In Badami
With the promise of a picturesque view of a mountain in the shape of a horse face, Kudremukh is famous for its biodiversity and scenic beauty.
A popular hill-station among the Bangalore crowd, Kudremukh is actually a hill range in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. With its Rolling Meadows, grasslands and dense forests, this place is a biodiversity hotspot. Kudremukh is an enchanting place to visit, still retaining much of its natural beauty despite persistent threats from various sources to its ecology. At an altitude of 1894 m above sea level, the Kudremukh Peak is a paradise for trekkers and naturists alike, with its mountainous paths and floral and faunal diversity. Varaha Parvatha, another mountain range nearby at a height of 1458m above sea level is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Places to Visit In Kudremukh
Nellore is a beautiful city lying on the banks of River Penna, a Municipal Corporation in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Anciently known as Vikrama Simhapuri, it derived its name from “Nelluru”, a combination of Tamil words “Nel” and “Ooru” where Nel stands for Paddy and Ooru means Place.
This city, situated on the banks of the Penne River is known for its rich agriculture and has been an exporter of Rice, Sugar cane and cane based products, prawns, shrimps and a varied set of crops. It is the 6th most populous city in Andhra Pradesh, also, holding its position as the administrative headquarters of Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District. Even though a large percent of its population is rural and dependent on agriculture, it is witnessing an increase in the number of Educational institutions and businesses, helping it gain a new found stature as a city. The city is also home to several significant temples that witness a large number of devotees throughout the year.
Places to Visit In Nellore
Officially called Alappuzha, Alleppey is a city in the South Indian state of Kerala. Bordering the Laccadive Sea, it is known for its wide network of interlinking, palm-fringed canals called backwaters and rejuvenating Ayurvedic resorts.
Alleppey is also popular for its Houseboat cruises that pass through the serene backwaters, where you can catch glimpses of green paddy fields, choir making activities, beautiful avifauna and witness the life of locals in Kerala. It is one the soothing weekend getaways from Bangalore. Towards the shore lies the Alleppey beach in the Arabian Sea, a beautiful example of the gems you’d find along the Malabar Coast. The appeal of this beach is only amplified by the history attached to it, and a walk down the 137-year old pier is a must. Be sure to catch a traditional snake boat race in the months of August and September and try out some toddy (palm wine) at a local toddy shop for adding a touch of authenticity to your travel experience in Alleppey. Checkout Tourist places to visit in Alleppey.
Places to Visit In Alleppey
Home to the country’s largest Tiger Reserve- Periyar, Thekkady is a great weekend getaway from Bangalore to enjoy a jungle vacation.
Periyar National Park, being a major attraction, is one place where you can enjoy bamboo rafting in the catchment area of Mullaperiyar Dam, hiking, and in the midst of the wilderness, shopping! Popular for its good eating joints, you can also enjoy its vast stretches of spice gardens and various adventure sports. You can also enjoy a night trek in the wilderness of Periyar. The early morning ride in the boat within the sanctuary is an extremely awesome experience and you might be able to spot wild elephants, bisons, wild boars, various kinds of birds, etc. Anakarra is also located nearby which is a great place to enjoy nature. Murikaddy is located around 5 km from the city and is famous for coffee and spices plantations. Chellar Kovil is another area located nearby with a lot of picturesque waterfalls and cascades. Mangala Devi Temple, located at an altitude of 1337 m and at a distance of around 15km from Thekkady opens only on the Chitra Pournami Festival. Checkout places to visit in Thekkady.
Places to Visit In Thekkady
Endearingly known as the ‘Grand Canyon of India’, Gandikota is a twee village in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Flanked by River Pennar on the right side, the village is popular for the spectacular gorges formed by the river cutting through Erramala Hills. The narrow valleys with streams running between them and the steep rocky walls to give them company remind one of the renowned Grand Canyon in Arizona. It required a walk of almost a kilometre from the main gate to reach the boulder from where you can observe the mesmerising view from the viewpoint near the fort.
Located 1.5 hours away from Belum Caves, the highlight of the village of Gandikota are the ruins of Gandikota Fort which was built in the 13th Century. The sturdy fort is flanked by the Pennar gorges on both sides and is protected by a majestic 5-mile wall. Built in red sandstone, the fort boasts of beautiful, intricate carvings in the interior. It also offers sweeping views of the hills and valleys below. Gandikota is the best weekend getaway from Bangalore for the adventure junkies. In addition to a granary, jail and ruins of some temples, there are several structures within the fort that you can visit.
Book your Gandikota and Belum Caves trip
Located in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, Belum Caves are the largest and longest cave system in India still open for tourists. The second largest caves in India after the Krem Liat Prah in Meghalaya and famous for their unique formations such as stalactite and stalagmite formations, the caves were formed over a period of millions of years with the consequent formation of limestone. One of the centrally protected monuments of national importance, the Belum Caves has numerous pathways with intricate patterns of water stream on limestone which are bound to leave you awestruck over the sheer will of nature and the beauty it can create. As of this date, more than three and a half kilometres of the cave has been successfully explored of which only a kilometer and half is accessible to common tourists.
At some places, the depth of Belum Caves goes as deep as 46 meters, this point is known as Pataalaganga. An underground stream flows all year at this point, gliding over the rocks and hiding beneath the surface again. The cave consists of various long passages, galleries, large cavities with fresh water and water tunnels. There are three spectacular sinkholes. The caves are an absolute feast for Geologists as there are three spectacular sinkholes formed due to the movement of subterranean water flow. An enormous forty feet high statue of Lord Buddha was installed outside the caves to commemorate the roles of monks in the caves.
Kodachadri Hills serve as a stunning backdrop of evergreen forests to the town of Maravanthe. Located in the Western Ghats at a height of 4411 feet above sea level, they also proves to be one of the good trekking trails, beginning at the South Kanara Forest.
Hidden like a jewel behind the lush green forests of Andhra Pradesh lies a serene and tranquil place named Nagalapuram. Surrounded by majestic hills and gurgling waterfalls, this place is ideal weekend Getaway from Bangalore to take a break from the buzzing city life and spend some peaceful days amidst soft breezes, flourishing trees and gushing waterfalls. Famously also known as Nagala Hills, this is the place to pump up your adrenaline with the various adventurous activities proffered in this scenic village.
Book your Nagalapuram Trekking
Taking individuals deep inside the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, the Brahmagiri trek is a delight with its myriad offerings. The route traverses lush forests, green grasslands and countless small streams and rivers.
It is located on the border between Wayanad District of Kerala state on the south and Kodagu District in Karnataka on the north side. The peak of the hill is well-forested and is rich in wildlife. The primary attractions around this trek are the Iruppu Falls, the Thirunelli Temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Pakshipathalam which has a cave that is legendary for being a haven for ‘rishis’ primeval times.
Also known as Pushpagiri, Kumara Parvatha is the highest peak in Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. It is 6th highest peak of Karnataka. Spanning over two days, the Kumara Parvatha trek is one of the most challenging treks in the South. In a stretch of approximately 13 kilometers you will attain an appalling height of 4000 feet.
Located in Subrahmanya village (also known as Kukke Subrahmanya) of Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, this towering peak is a must visit for those seeking an adrenaline rush. It is one of the best weekend getaways from Bangalore who love treks and people looking to challenge themselves. Kumara Parvatha does not only enthrall trekkers with its challenging routes but also rewards them with panoramic views of the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. Although from a distance the mountain looks as if one single peak but in reality, it has three peaks called ‘Shesha Parvatha’, ‘Siddha Parvatha’ and ‘Kumara Parvatha’. The Shesha Parvatha faces to the south and looks like a serpent with seven hoods. The Siddha Parvatha, another part of the mountain and it is inaccessible. It is believed that Shri Vishnu Thathacharya is performing penance here even now. You have to cross the Shesha Parvatha, to reach the Kumara Parvatha.
Book your Kumara Parvatha Trek
These were some the best and beautiful weekend getaways from Bangalore that everyone should visit at least once during their stay in Bangalore.
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