5 Best Weekend Getaways from Bangalore

Bored with the mundane? Take a break and head out of town! We explore some of the best places to visit near Bangalore.

Nandi Hills: For budget travellers and those looking for a quiet retreat, Nandi Hills is one of the most popular Bangalore weekend getaways. Located in the Chikkaballapur district, 60 km from Bangalore, it’s a great place for a picnic and a restful weekend with your loved ones. There’s much to see here, including the Amruth Sarovar lake, Tippu’s summer palace and fort, and the Gavi Veerabhadra Swamy Temple.

Ramanagara: Of Sholay fame, this is one of the best known tourist places around Bangalore, located about 50 km southwest of the city. It is a great place for trekkers, campers, rock climbers and bird watchers. There are seven major hills here, namely Yatirajagiri, Shivaramagiri, Somagiri, Revannasiddeshwara Betta, Krishnagiri, Sidilakallu Betta and Jalasiddeshawara Betta. Ramanagara is also an excellent place to find fine quality silk products. You can also visit the fort at Magadi or go for a picnic at Mekedaatu.

Chikmagalur: Among beautiful places to visit around Bangalore, the district of Chikmagalur is another popular choice. With a number of coffee estates, thick forests, picturesque hill stations, tall peaks and waterfalls, the district has it all. Some of the places of interest you should check out include the hill station of Kemmangundi, Mullayanagiri (the tallest peak in the region), the Kudremukh and Baba Budangiri ranges, as well as the Manikyadhara, Kallathigiri and Hanumana Gundi waterfalls.

Wayanad: Another interesting tourist place near Bangalore is the district of Wayanad, which offers many interesting trails for trekkers. Chembra Peak is the tallest peak in the region ad offers a challenging climb. Neelimala is another delightful place for trekkers, with many trails to explore. You can also visit the Meenmutty and Chethalayam waterfalls for some wonderful views. Bird watchers are sure to have a great time here.

Ooty: The queen of hill stations makes a great place for some cool, calm weekend breaks from Bangalore. With grasslands, tea gardens and lakes, Ooty is truly a hidden paradise. The best time to visit is in the off season, when you will be treated to a lot of spectacular views. You can easily spend a quiet weekend here, although even longer stays promise to be very rewarding.

Those were some of our favorite weekend getaways from Bangalore. Happy exploring!