Five Best Road Trip Destinations around Bangalore

Anyone who has been to Bangalore even once knows about the beauty of the place. Even though the city is full of techies and cars on the roads, the passion for living a joyful life never dies in its residents. Along with adopting the modern lifestyle, the Bangaloreans never cease to forget their traditions. The sun rays still spread the glory of the royal palace walls all over the city. Bangalore, officially known as Bengaluru, is a major attraction for Indians and foreigners alike who wish to see the towering buildings, luxury hotels, vibrant nightlife, and lush green jungles. Read further to know about the five best road trip destinations around Bangalore where you can spend a good time with your family or friends.

  1. Coorg

CoorgCoorg is the most famous weekend getaway from Bangalore and is located at a distance of 240 kilometers from the city. The aroma of coffee and tea soothes the senses as soon as you reach closer to Coorg, which is famous for the plantation of the same. The names given to the place such as ‘Scotland of India’ and ‘Kashmir of South’ aptly suit Coorg. Once you reach the elevation of 3500 feet, the natural beauty of the Western Ghats will mesmerize you. For those who love hiking, trekking, dirt biking, and paintball, Coorg is the place to be.

There is no dearth of activities in Coorg that can let you have a great time. However, you must make sure that you make advance bookings for your accommodation in the town because thousands of tourists come to Coorg, especially during the peak season from October to May. According to the seasoned travelers, the homemade wines and the Coorg Pork Curry are a must try if you are at the place. Why would the Bangaloreans miss the short road trip to such an amazing place where they can reach with such ease?

  1. Mysore

Mysore PalaceThe glorious history of Mysore dates back to more than 700 years at places like the Mysore Palace, Lalitha Mahal, Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion, Jaganmohan Palace, Brindavan Gardens, St. Philomena’s Church, Chamundi Hills, and Mysore Zoo. The city is located only 180 kilometers away from Bangalore, which can be covered in less than three hours. Mysore can be easily covered in just one extended weekend, which is why it attracts visitors from all corners of India and abroad. The charming city welcomes the tourists with bustling markets, cosmopolitan culture, and magnificent monuments. The friendly inhabitants of Mysore have made the city a flourishing center for the manufacturing of sandalwood, incense, and silk. If you want to have an additional dose of heritage, you can visit Srirangapatna. Shivanasamudra Falls are also famous for their exquisite natural beauty.

  1. Horsley Hills

Horsley Hills

What’s better than a breathtaking hill station located just a couple of hours away from your city? Horsley Hills, located at a distance of only 166 kilometers from Bengaluru, is a captivating weekend getaway in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. The place is situated at a moderate altitude of 1265 meters, and it has been a favorite place to spend summers for various luminaries. When you come here, you will hear the legends associated with Horsley Hills. A mere drive to the hill station soothes the senses so much so because of the thick vegetation of hundreds of species of wild animals and plants. You can find on the both sides of the road a thick layer of trees like Jacaranda, Eucalyptus, Allamanda, Reeta, Amla, Gulmohar, Beedi leaves, Sandalwood, and Blue Gum. If you are lucky enough, you can also spot wild animals like bears, jungle fowl, wild dogs, panther, and sambar.

Zorbing is also offered at Horsley Hills, which makes it a major tourist attraction for the people coming from abroad as well. However, it is offered only if the organizers get a prior booking for 20 people or more. Additionally, you can also indulge in trekking and rappelling. Though the peak season begins from February and ends in May, you can visit Horsley Hills round the year to experience the pleasant environment of the jungles.

  1. Chikmagalur

chikmagalurMoving from Bangalore to the western side of the state of Karnataka, you will find Chikmagalur, which is famous for the coffee plantations, natural beauty, and lovely weather. The region is situated only 240 kilometers away from Bangalore. It is believed that Chikmagalur is the place in India where coffee was first tended. Legends have it that Babu Budan, a Muslim saint had brought the coffee seeds from Yemen to this place. After that, the cultivation of coffee boosted in India. In addition to coffee plantations, Chikmagalur is also famous for wildlife, pilgrimage sites, and the thick jungles of Baba Budan Giri.

In Chikmagalur, there are several places to visit such as Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple based on Hoysala architecture; the temple hosts Jatra, an annual festival held in February every year. The Mahatma Gandhi Park is famous for its 2509 kinds of rose plantations, and the place also hosts several musical and cultural events. The popular Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in Chikmagalur houses almost 33 Tigers in addition to animals like leopards, elephants, wild boars, sambars, chital, etc. The ideal time to come to Chikmagalur is from September to May every year.

  1. Ooty

OotyOoty is featured in several Indian movies because of its exquisite natural beauty. The place is located at a distance of almost 270 kilometers from Bangalore, which makes it an ideal destination for a weekend getaway that can be covered in 5-6 hours. You can, of course, take more time to enjoy the road trip if you are enjoying the scenic beauty on both sides of the road. Sitting at an altitude of 2,240 meters, Ooty makes a permanent impression on the minds of tourists who come here even once. The lush green forests are spread all over the rolling terrains of the hills, which make Ooty a perfect place to breathe fresh air all through the year. The weekenders also come to the place to have a picnic in the vicinity of various lakes.

In addition to the natural beauty, Ooty also boasts of its colonial history that reflects from the old-world buildings. Some of the famous attractions of the hill station include Pykara River, Kamaraj Sagar Dam, Wenlock Downs, Mukurthi National Park, Mudumalai National Park, Avalanche Lake, and Emerald Lake. The Toy Train running from Ooty to Coonoor also attracts a huge number of tourists.

Bangalore, being a major metropolitan of South India, attracts lakhs of tourists every year because of its proximity to various other hill stations. In Bangalore, the visitors get the provision of every kind of mode of transport including airplanes, train, metro, bus, taxis, and auto rickshaws for the last mile connectivity. When you have so much to experience in and around just one city, even a month of vacations seems too less. Don’t wait for the next year to visit this mesmerizing place. Just pack your bags and take an awesome road trip to Bangalore!