8 weekend getaways from Bangalore for a 2-day trip

Bangalore is a good city to leave on a Friday. Within an hour or two you can be watching the sun come up over the clouds, and within five or six you can be in the coffee hills of the Western Ghats, in a tiger reserve or on a hill in Tamil Nadu.

The hard part is working out what actually fits into two days. Many lists of weekend getaways from Bangalore mix in places that are 400 km away or more, and they rarely agree on the distances. So we checked each one. Here are eight getaways that work for a weekend, all within about 265 km by road, with the distance, the drive time, whether you can do it by bus or train, and the best time to go.

Distances are by road from central Bangalore. Times are rough. Getting out of the city on a Friday evening can add an hour or more, so leave early if you can.

1. Nandi Hills and Skandagiri, for a sunrise

Nandi Hills is the getaway most people in Bangalore try first. It's about 60 km north of the city, roughly one and a half to two hours by road on NH44 towards Chikkaballapur, and the top sits at 1,478 m. On a clear winter morning you can find yourself above the clouds.

The hill has a long history. The Gangas built a fortress here around the 11th century, and Tipu Sultan used it as a summer retreat. After Cornwallis's forces captured it in 1791, British officials used it to escape the heat too.

According to Karnataka Tourism, the gates open at 6 am and close at 6 pm, so you can't drive up in the dark, however early you leave. It gets very crowded on weekends. Without a car, take a government bus or a train to Chikkaballapur, about 9 km from the hill, and a taxi or auto from there.

If you'd rather walk to the sunrise than drive, Skandagiri is next door, about 62 km from Bangalore. The trek is run by the forest department and has to be booked in advance on the state's Aranya Vihaara portal. There are no walk-ins. The sunrise slot starts around 4 am, numbers are capped per slot, and weekend slots fill days ahead. Carry a government photo ID that matches your booking.

Nandi Hills is close enough for a day trip. To make a weekend of it, stay the night near Chikkaballapur and do Skandagiri one morning and Nandi Hills the next.

It suits first-timers, early risers and anyone who wants a short trip.

2. Shivanasamudra, for waterfalls after the rains

At Shivanasamudra the Kaveri splits in two and drops off a plateau as two waterfalls, Gaganachukki and Bharachukki. It's about 130 to 140 km from Bangalore, three to four hours by road.

Gaganachukki is the taller of the two at about 90 m, and you see it from above, from a watchtower and the viewpoint near the dargah. Bharachukki is a wider, stepped fall of about 69 m, with a stairway of around 200 steps down towards it. Karnataka Tourism lists Bharachukki as open from 8 am to 5 pm. The two viewpoints are 15 to 20 minutes apart by road, so see both.

The falls are fullest from July to October. The views are best then, but water access is restricted and the crowds are bigger. September to January is the most comfortable window, and from March to June the water is low. Coracle rides near Bharachukki depend on the water level, so check on the day.

Many people make it a day trip, or carry on to Mysuru, about 80 km away, for the night. Without a car it's hard to reach.

It suits monsoon lovers, photographers and anyone who wants a quick drive.

3. Mysuru and Srirangapatna, for palaces and history

Mysuru is about 145 km from Bangalore, and it's the easiest getaway on this list without a car. Trains run through the day, and most take two to three hours. The Vande Bharat is the fastest, at about two hours. By car, the Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway was built to bring the drive down to about 90 minutes. Two-wheelers have been banned from its main carriageway since August 2023 and have to use the service roads.

Stop at Srirangapatna on the way. It's about 15 km before Mysuru, just off the highway, with the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Daria Daulat Bagh, the teak summer palace Tipu Sultan built in 1784, and the Gumbaz, where Tipu and his parents are buried. The Ranganathittu bird sanctuary is close by.

In Mysuru, the palace is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm. It's lit with close to 100,000 bulbs every night of Dasara. Outside the festival it's usually lit for a short while on Sunday and public holiday evenings, from around 7 pm, but the palace board doesn't publish the timing, so check locally before you plan around it. Then eat your way through the city.

It suits first trips, families and anyone travelling by train.

4. Kabini, for a safari weekend

Kabini is where Bangalore goes to see elephants. The river and its backwaters run along the southern edge of Nagarahole National Park, about 205 to 225 km from the city and 73 km beyond Mysuru. Jungle Lodges and Resorts, which runs Kabini River Lodge, puts it at 223 km by road.

Most weekends here follow the same rhythm: a jeep safari into the park in the early morning, a slow afternoon by the water, then a boat or another jeep safari in the evening. Book safaris through your lodge, Jungle Lodges or the Karnataka Forest Department's online booking, and do it early, since weekends fill up. Mobile phones are no longer allowed on safaris in Karnataka's tiger reserves, so bring a camera if you want photos.

Most guides suggest November to May. Some safari routes can close in the heaviest monsoon weeks, so if you go between June and September, ask your lodge what's running.

If Kabini is full, Bandipur is a similar distance, about 224 km, on the road from Mysuru to Ooty and Kerala. Jungle Lodges runs morning safaris from about 6:15 to 9 am and afternoon ones from about 3:15 to 6 pm. The highways through the park are closed to traffic from 9 pm to 6 am, so plan to arrive before dark.

It suits wildlife lovers, couples and a slow weekend.

5. Yercaud, for a cool weekend in Tamil Nadu

Yercaud is the one hill station on this list across the state border. It's about 225 to 230 km from Bangalore via Hosur, Krishnagiri and Salem, five to six hours by road. The last 30 km from Salem climb the Shevaroy hills on a ghat road with 20 hairpin bends.

The town sits at about 1,515 m around a lake, with boating right in the middle of town. Drive out to Lady's Seat and Pagoda Point for the views over the plains, and visit Kiliyur Falls, which is at its best just after the monsoon.

Tamil Nadu Tourism suggests October to June. In May the town hosts a summer festival with a flower show at Anna Park, and it gets busy and more expensive then. December and January are the coolest months, with nights around 12°C.

Without a car, take a bus to Salem. From Salem bus station, about 32 km away, regular buses go up to Yercaud.

It suits couples, families and anyone who wants a cool, unhurried weekend.

6. Sakleshpur, for the monsoon and coffee country

Sakleshpur is a small town in the Western Ghats, about 220 to 240 km from Bangalore on NH75 via Hassan. The drive takes five to six hours, and the town is usually quieter than Coorg or Chikmagalur.

Climb up to Manjarabad Fort, a star-shaped fort Tipu Sultan built in 1792 on a hill just outside town. Drive out to the Bisle viewpoint, about 35 km away, for a view across the forested ranges. Most stays are homestays on coffee and pepper estates.

Sakleshpur is on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru railway line, so it works well without a car. The faster trains from Yesvantpur take roughly three and a half to four hours, and timings change, so check the current schedule on IRCTC. The line is known for its tunnels and bridges through the ghats, but walking on the tracks is prohibited and unsafe, so look at it from the roadside viewpoints.

This is a monsoon getaway. Rain falls from June to September, July is the wettest month, and July and August are the greenest. Expect sudden downpours, carry rain gear and drive the hill roads in daylight.

It suits couples, monsoon lovers and quiet weekends.

7. Chikmagalur, for coffee and Karnataka's highest peak

Chikmagalur is about 245 to 250 km from Bangalore, about five hours by road. Indian coffee growing is said to have started in these hills: the story goes that the Sufi saint Baba Budan brought seven coffee seeds back from Yemen around 1670 and planted them on the hills now named after him, Baba Budangiri.

Start early for Mullayanagiri, which at 1,925 m is the highest peak in Karnataka. A road goes most of the way, then about 460 steps lead to the small temple at the top. Since 2025 the district has run timed vehicle slots with a cap per slot and online booking for the road up, and it can suspend visits in bad weather, so check the current rules with the Chikkamagaluru district administration before you go. Then carry on to Baba Budangiri and the waterfalls around it. Hebbe Falls near Kemmangundi is best after the monsoon, from August to January. The Coffee Board's coffee museum in town explains the crop from plant to cup.

Without a car, there's one daily train from Bangalore, which leaves in the afternoon and takes a little over five hours.

Winters are mild to cool, around 11°C to 20°C, which makes November to February a good time to go.

It suits couples, coffee drinkers and anyone who wants a proper hill view.

8. Coorg, for estate stays and waterfalls

Coorg, or Kodagu, is the most popular hill getaway from Bangalore and the furthest on this list. Madikeri, the main town, is about 250 to 265 km away, five to seven hours by road via Mysuru and Kushalnagar.

Kodagu grows about a third of India's coffee, and the classic weekend is a night or two in an estate homestay. On the way in, stop at the Golden Temple in the Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe, near Kushalnagar, and at the Dubare elephant camp on the Kaveri. Around Madikeri, see Abbey Falls, about 5 km from town, and the sunset from Raja's Seat. If you have time, drive to Talakaveri, the source of the Kaveri.

Kodagu has no railway. KSRTC buses from Bangalore take about six to seven hours, and KSRTC also runs a Fly Bus from Bangalore airport to Madikeri.

Kodagu gets some of the heaviest rain in Karnataka. The monsoon is beautiful, but landslides have closed roads in heavy years, and in 2018 the district ordered homestays and resorts to cancel bookings for most of August. If you go between June and September, check the weather alerts and avoid driving the ghats at night. November to February is the most comfortable time.

It suits couples, groups of friends and a longer weekend.

A longer one: Hampi

Hampi, the ruined capital of the Vijayanagara empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comes up on most lists of weekend getaways from Bangalore. It's about 340 km by road, so it doesn't fit a 2-day trip by car. It can work by train: the overnight Hampi Express runs between Bangalore and Hosapete, about 13 km from Hampi, so you can travel both ways at night and spend the day among the ruins. Even so, it's better saved for a long weekend.

If you'd rather see the sea on a long weekend, see our guide to the best weekend getaways in Konkan.

When is the best time for a weekend trip from Bangalore?

October to February is the most comfortable time for most of this list, with cool mornings and clear views. The monsoon, from June to September, is when Sakleshpur, Coorg and Chikmagalur are greenest and the waterfalls run, but expect heavy rain, slippery roads and the odd closure. Shivanasamudra is fullest from July to October. For safaris at Kabini and Bandipur, November to May is the usual season.

Weekend getaways from Bangalore in November and December

November and December are the best months for the hills. If you're looking for cold places near Bangalore, go up. Chikmagalur's winter days run around 11°C to 20°C, and Yercaud's nights drop to about 12°C in December and January. Nandi Hills sees 10°C to 25°C through the cooler months, and Karnataka Tourism calls September to February the best time to visit. Coorg is at its most comfortable from November to February. Pack a jacket for the mornings, and book early for the Christmas and New Year weekends.

Whatever the season, check the weather and any local orders before you set off.

Plan your next weekend from Bangalore with Weekend

You've probably saved a few of these already. A Coorg homestay reel, a Kabini safari someone posted, a Chikmagalur vlog a friend sent to the group chat. Then the long weekend comes and nobody can find them.

That's why we built Weekend. Share an Instagram reel or a YouTube video with the app, and it finds every place the video mentions, checks each one on Google Maps and saves them on your map, with the creator's tips and the moment in the video where each place appears. When you're ready, send the plan to your friends. They vote without installing anything, and you pick a weekend that works. See how it works.

Going with a group? Here's how to plan a group trip with friends so it actually happens. Your next weekend might already be in your feed, too. Read why your next weekend might already be in your saved reels, or see our weekend getaways from Pune.

FAQ

What are the best weekend getaways from Bangalore within 200 km?

Nandi Hills and Skandagiri (about 60 km), Shivanasamudra (about 130 to 140 km) and Mysuru with Srirangapatna (about 145 km) are all well within 200 km. Kabini and Bandipur are just over, at about 205 to 225 km.

Which is the best 2-day trip from Bangalore without a car?

Mysuru. Trains run through the day and take two to three hours, and you can stop at Srirangapatna on the way. Nandi Hills also works, by bus or train to Chikkaballapur and a short taxi ride.

Which weekend getaways from Bangalore are good for couples?

Coorg and Chikmagalur are the classic choices, with estate homestays, coffee and waterfalls. For something quieter, try Sakleshpur in the monsoon, a cool weekend in Yercaud, or a lodge on the Kabini.

What are the best weekend getaways near Bangalore in December?

Go to the hills. Chikmagalur, Coorg and Yercaud are cool and clear in December, and Nandi Hills is at its best for sunrise. Book early for the Christmas and New Year weekends.