Bengaluru is the beating centre of India’s tech story. Its close proximity to the majestic Western Ghats provides access to several spots that are home to magical hill stations, spectacular waterfalls, pilgrimage centres, and wildlife parks. Apart from the beauty offered by the mountains, you have a beautiful 320 km long coastline filled with serene beaches to explore. Let’s take a look at the scenic road trips which’ll take you to some of the great destinations around Bengaluru.
Coorg
Coorg is one of the most popular hill stations around Bengaluru and is a great spot to experience with friends and families. The picturesque route and coffee plantations in Coorg are very famous globally and attract many tourists.The scenic beauty helps you to calm your mind and gives peace to your soul
Best Time To Visit
Coorg is the most beautiful vacation destination in Karnataka and is not too far from Bengaluru.Summers are quite pleasant with temperatures ranging between 30-37 degrees celsius. It is the optimal season if you are an explorer and spend most of the time outdoors. Monsoons are much cooler with temperatures dropping down to 20 degrees celsius, but it’s an off-season owing to steady rainfall and bristling winds. October to May is the best time to visit Coorg as you can enjoy short trips and usually get to see a lot of tourist activities. The days are warm, but the nights go as cold as 14 degree celsius, making the ambience delightful and it’s perfect for a road trip.It is the winter season that’s the best season owing to the crisp air and the lush, green landscape which can transport you to heaven
Best Routes
It’s a great charming road trip via two popular routes when you travel from the depths of Bengaluru to the openness of Coorg. The distance between Bengaluru and Coorg via the NH275 or Mysore Road is 250 km. On the other hand, when you drive through NH75, it takes 275 km.
It takes around 4 hours 50 minutes to reach Coorg via NH275 with regular traffic. Although it is advised to travel early mornings to reach Coorg with lesser fuss and get some time to rest before you explore.
Places Of Interest
Since you drive through the majestic Western Ghats, you can stop at any part of the journey and enjoy the natural delights along the route. If you drive down the Kushalnagar Route, you will be taking the Mysore-Madikeri highway allowing you to pass through tourist attractions such as Bhagamandala Temple, Abbi Falls and the Namdroling Tibetan Monastery.
Nagarhole route is perfect for travellers who wish to enjoy the scenic beauty of the journey. One will reach Coorg via Ramanagara, Mandya, Nagarhole and Gonikoppal. The Nagarhole National Park, and Tiger Reserve and the Nisargadhama Forest are the two places to visit on this route between Bengaluru and Coorg.
Hampi
The austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its marvellous Dravidian temples and palaces continue to win the admiration of travellers.
Best Time To Visit
Hampi is a place offering something for every traveller. Hence, the place does get crowded around the year and it is advised to keep an eye on the destination before driving there. The winter season, which lasts from October to February, is the best time to visit Hampi. Except for the hottest afternoons here, the weather during this period is quite enjoyable.
Breezy evenings make it ideal to explore the World Heritage Site as there are plenty of spots nearby to cover. Summers reach an excess of 40 degrees celsius, so one has to be conscious while making plans around this time. Hampi does receive moderate to heavy rainfall during monsoons, which means outdoor plans could get cancelled.
Best Routes
Sitting on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, Hampi is tucked on the corner of the Ballari district making it convenient for a quick weekend getaway from the busy streets of Bengaluru. The route from Bengaluru to Hampi lets you slowly transcend from the city into pure nature. The shortest and probably the best route from Bengaluru to Hampi is via NH48 and NH50, which passes through Tumakuru, Hiriyur and Chitradurga.It is also the fastest, because the traffic on this route is regular and there are no road closures.
The distance between Bengaluru and Hampi is somewhere around 350 km and takes less than 6 hours to reach via this route. It is frequently used by travellers and has standard highway tolls with better road conditions. The longer route to Hampi is via the Bengaluru-Hyderabad highway, which is slightly longer and takes a bit more time to reach, with variable road conditions. It is advisable to look for live maps and instant traffic updates for the latest updates on the Bengaluru to Hampi route.
Places Of Interest
The route passes through suburbs and small towns of Karnataka into the quieter and greener locales, with fascinating nature, popular sights,monuments and tourist spots along the way. You would pass through Nijagal Betta, which are rolling hills formed out of sandstone, surrounded by beautiful green meadows and are perfect for a quick trek. Then, you can visit the Chitradurga Fort, which is a large, historical fort on the base of rocky hills with many doors and carvings at the main entrance.
If you opt for a different flavour, the Murughaa Mata in Chitradurga is a local museum and art centre, housing creative installations and a park within. Lastly, you can visit the majestic Tungabhadra Dam and garden in Hosapete, which is a popular local dam on the Tungabhadra river, with catchment area and lush gardens for relaxing. It is also great for having a short picnic or taking a look at the spectacular views.
Wayanad
Wayanad is a hill district in Kerala, famous for a large number of camping and trekking trails. It features breathtaking waterfalls, caves, bird watching sites, flora and fauna and an overall plethora of magnificent sights.
Best Time To Visit
Wayanad features a salubrious climate all through the year, but it’s best to visit the beautiful hills during the months of winter, i.e from September to April. Nestled in the Western Ghats, it is considered as one of the best hill stations in Kerala and is not far away from Bengaluru. The weather in Wayanad is mostly great and is perfect for an outing and explorations. The misty breeze flows during these months making the atmosphere apt for tourist activities.
The summer season is pretty hot here with a cool wind coming in through the forests. The rains are unpredictable here, sometimes pouring in torrents. The south west and north east monsoons set in making it the best season to visit Wayanad. The mists cover the mountains turning it into a dreamland as the flora thrives and the animals and birds come in drones.
Best Routes
The travel between Bengaluru and Wayanad features some exotic routes making it an exhilarating drive. People driving from Bengaluru can consider three picturesque routes to rejuvenate themselves on weekends and holidays after a stressful week. The distance between Bengaluru and Wayanad via the popular Mysuru route is 303 km and can be covered roughly in 6 hours. The roads are magical and breathtaking, but plan ahead to ensure you dodge bad weather and traffic.
The other options are the Kanakapura route, which takes closer to seven hours but the vistas along the way can take your breath away as you pass through serene waterfalls and exotic sceneries. Then, you also have the Somnathpur route, which cuts through the heart of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and National Park. It is replete with many spots where you can take some rest and enjoy nature’s enchanting settings.
Places Of Interest
If you are driving up the popular Mysuru route, you can pay a visit to several popular natural sights. One is the Heritage Winery in Channapatna, where you’ll get to know how wine is made. It also offers some lip-smacking local delicacies in the restaurants around Channapatna. The Barachukki Waterfalls situated near Shivanasamudra is immense and offers some great views. Also, you can take a walk around the Bansura Sagar Dam, savouring the magnificence of one of the largest earthen dams in India.
The other routes feature some incredible spots, such as the Chunchi Waterfalls, where you can hike. A well-known destination is the Mudumalai National Park, which is home to unique flora/fauna, elephants, rabbits and deer. You can even visit the Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad Heritage Museum which houses historical antiques, and the popular Edakkal Caves.
Summary
In a bustling city like Bengaluru, the hectic work schedules can make your life quite monotonous. Bengaluru residents are pretty much spoilt for choice, when it comes to planning some quick weekend getaways and trips. Around a reasonable distance, you have some great options among national parks, breathtaking hill stations and historical sites. Since it is situated amongst the beautiful Western Ghats, there is lush greenery all around and the weather is immaculate most of the time.
Many residents in Bengaluru take solo bike trips to drive to their favourite spots nearby or drive in a car with family and friends. Even around a distance of within 100 kms, you can enjoy some spectacular locations from palaces to forts, mountains to hills, lakes to waterfalls and a lot more. There are definitely many places to see on a weekend around Bengaluru, to satisfy the traveller inside you.
