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Paddy straw and stubble, shade trees for coffee on the hill slope, Balamuri, Coorg, Karnataka, India

Weekend getaways

Weekend getaways from Bengaluru

Coorg, Mysuru, Chikmagalur, Kabini, Gokarna and 9 more weekend trips from Bengaluru, with drive times, overnight-bus tips and 2-night budgets per person.

Fact-checked 5 min readBy the Elitech Travels editorial desk
14 trips60–480 km away
This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email · CC BY-SA 4.0

Quick answer

For coffee country, Coorg or Chikmagalur are about five hours away; for heritage, Mysuru by train or Hampi by overnight train; for wildlife, Kabini's jeep and boat safaris; for the beach, Gokarna or Puducherry. Leave the city before 6 am on Saturday, or take a Friday-night sleeper bus and wake up at your destination.

14 weekend trips from Bengaluru

  1. Paddy straw and stubble, shade trees for coffee on the hill slope, Balamuri, Coorg, Karnataka, India1

    Coorg (Madikeri)

    260 km · 5–6 h via the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway and Kushalnagar; no railway, overnight KSRTC buses to MadikeriOctober–May; July–August only if you love rainCoffee estates, couples, families

    Stay at a working coffee-estate homestay, walk to Abbey Falls, watch sunset from Raja's Seat and stop at Namdroling Monastery at Bylakuppe on the way. Estates outside Madikeri are calmer than town hotels. The Madikeri ghat has had landslides in heavy monsoons, and the Dubare elephant camp has limited morning hours.

    Plan Coorg
  2. The windows inside Mysore Palace, Karnataka2

    Mysuru & Srirangapatna

    145 km · 2–2.5 h via the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway; Shatabdi or Vande Bharat in about 2 hOctober–March; Dasara in September–OctoberHeritage, families, first-timers

    Tour the palace, climb or drive up Chamundi Hills, see Tipu Sultan's summer palace at Srirangapatna, and catch the musical fountain at Brindavan Gardens. The palace is lit up for a short while on Sunday and holiday evenings. Book hotels months ahead for Dasara, when the city is at its busiest.

    Plan Mysuru
  3. Landscapes of Western Ghats captured on our way to the summit of Mullayyanagiri Betta3

    Chikmagalur

    245 km · 4.5–5 h via NH-75 and Hassan; no direct trainSeptember–MarchCoffee estates, viewpoints, treks

    Drive to Mullayanagiri, at about 1,930 m the highest point in Karnataka, then on to Baba Budangiri, and take a jeep to Hebbe Falls near Kemmangundi. Estate homestays serve the best food. The district has at times capped vehicles and introduced slot bookings for Mullayanagiri on weekends, so check current rules before you go.

  4. Indian coracle on the Kabini River, Karnataka, India.4

    Kabini

    210 km · 4.5–5 h via Mysuru and HD Kote; no trainOctober–May; March–May for elephant herds on the backwatersWildlife, photographers

    Book a stay that includes jeep and boat safaris, such as Jungle Lodges' Kabini River Lodge or the private resorts around Karapura. In summer, large elephant herds gather on the receding backwaters, and the forest is known for leopard and black panther sightings. Rates are high; this is a splurge weekend, not a budget one.

  5. The tea estate situated in the beautiful Nilgiri hills of tamilnadu. Also known fondly by tourists as Ooty.5

    Ooty & Coonoor

    270 km · 6–7 h via Mysuru, Bandipur and Mudumalai; the forest road closes to traffic at nightOctober–JuneFamilies, tea gardens, toy train

    Ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway between Coonoor and Ooty, walk Sim's Park and the Botanical Garden, and drive up Doddabetta. Coonoor is quieter than Ooty for a stay. Vehicles entering the Nilgiris have needed an e-pass in recent seasons, and the Bandipur–Mudumalai road shuts roughly from 9 pm to 6 am, so time your drive to cross in daylight.

    Plan Ooty
  6. Iconic Stone Chariot @ Vittala Temple, Hampi, Karnataka6

    Hampi

    340 km · 6–7 h via NH-48 and Chitradurga; Hampi Express overnight to Hosapete (about 9–10 h)October–FebruaryHeritage, photographers, backpackers

    Cycle or take an auto between the Virupaksha temple, the Vittala temple's stone chariot and the Royal Enclosure, ride a coracle on the Tungabhadra and climb Matanga Hill for sunrise. Stay in Hosapete or Kamalapura for hotels, or in a Hampi guesthouse for atmosphere. From March, daytime temperatures pass 38°C.

    Plan Hampi
  7. This image shows the sun rising, piercing the clouds in the skies. captured on an early morning after a 6km night trek.7

    Nandi Hills

    60 km · 1.5–2 h via the airport road (NH-44); no trainSeptember–FebruarySunrise, cycling, quick escape

    The classic Bengaluru sunrise: drive up before dawn, watch the clouds fill the valley, then visit the Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple at the foothills. Turn it into a weekend with a resort stay near the base and a tasting at one of the Nandi Valley wineries. Weekend crowds are heavy and the gate timings change with the season, so check before leaving.

  8. View on Chembra Peak from En Ooru Tribal Heritage Village / Wayanad, Kerala8

    Wayanad

    280 km · 6–7 h via Mysuru and Gundlupet, or via Mananthavady; no trainOctober–MayFamilies, forest stays, treks

    See the Neolithic carvings in Edakkal Caves (closed on Mondays), walk the Banasura Sagar dam and stay in a treehouse or plantation homestay around Vythiri or Kalpetta. The Chembra Peak trek runs only when the forest department allows it. The 2024 landslide area around Mundakkai and Chooralmala is not a tourist zone; respect closures and monsoon advisories.

  9. People and Beach Om Beach Gokarna, Karnataka9

    Gokarna

    480 km · 8–9 h by road; overnight KSRTC buses to Gokarna or Kumta, or overnight trains to Gokarna RoadOctober–MarchBeaches, backpackers, spiritual trips

    Visit the Mahabaleshwar temple in town, then walk the headland trail from Kudle Beach to Om, Half Moon and Paradise beaches and take a boat back. Stay in a beach café-cottage at Kudle or Om for the scene, or a resort for comfort. There are few lifeguards and strong currents, and drownings are reported most years, especially in the monsoon.

  10. This is a photo of ASI monument number10

    Sakleshpur

    220 km · 4–4.5 h via NH-75 and Hassan; trains to Sakleshpur via HassanSeptember–February; July–August for rainLesser-known pick, estate stays, monsoon greenery

    A smaller, cheaper version of Coorg: cardamom and coffee estates, the star-shaped Manjarabad Fort and the drive to Bisle viewpoint. Most stays are plantation homestays with home-cooked meals. Do not walk the railway line of the old 'Green Route' trek; it is illegal and trains run on it.

  11. Promenade Hotel on Puducheery beach road11

    Puducherry

    310 km · 6–6.5 h via Hosur, Krishnagiri and Tiruvannamalai; overnight buses, no convenient direct trainNovember–MarchCouples, cafés, beach walks

    Walk or cycle the French Quarter, see Auroville's Matrimandir from the viewing point (visits inside need advance booking), and spend a morning at Serenity Beach or take the Chunnambar boat to Paradise Beach. Stay in White Town for walkability. Saturday-night rates there roughly double, so a Sunday-night stay is cheaper on a long weekend.

    Plan Puducherry
  12. SH-80 down from K. Gudi to Hondarabalu, through drought-affected forest, BR Hills, Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, India12

    BR Hills

    180 km · 3.5–4 h via Kanakapura and Kollegal, or via Mysuru and Yelandur; no trainOctober–MayLesser-known wildlife, quiet forest stays

    Biligiri Rangana Hills is a tiger reserve where the Western and Eastern Ghats meet, with the hilltop Biligiri Rangaswamy temple and jeep safaris run by Jungle Lodges from K Gudi. Elephants, gaur and birds are seen often; tigers are rare. Stays are few, so book the forest lodge early and expect simple food.

  13. Facade of Tirumala Venkateshwar garbhagriha in the background.13

    Tirupati & Tirumala

    250 km · 4.5–5.5 h via Kolar and Chittoor; trains to Tirupati (5–7 h)Year-round; avoid Brahmotsavam and Vaikuntha Ekadasi unless you are going for themSpiritual trips, families

    Book a Special Entry Darshan slot on the TTD website as soon as your dates open; it cuts a day-long queue to a few hours. Stay in Tirupati town, or in TTD rooms on Tirumala if you can get them, and follow the traditional dress code. Weekends and holidays draw very large crowds, so plan a Saturday-night or early-Sunday darshan.

  14. Kali river white water rafting near Dandeli. From Ganeshgudi to Maulangi14

    Dandeli

    460 km · 8–9 h via NH-48 and Hubballi; overnight buses to Dandeli, or trains to Londa or Alnavar, then by roadOctober–May; rafting depends on dam releasesWhite-water rafting, kayaking, birding

    Raft the Kali river's Grade II–III rapids, kayak on the calmer stretches and look for great hornbills around the riverside resorts. Jungle Lodges' Kali Adventure Camp and private resorts handle rafting bookings. Crocodiles live in the Kali, so swim only where your operator says it is safe.

How do you leave Bengaluru without losing half a day?

Every exit has a choke point on Friday evenings: Tumakuru Road and Nelamangala for Chikmagalur, Sakleshpur and Hampi; Kengeri and the expressway entry for Mysuru, Coorg and Ooty; Hosur Road and Electronic City for Puducherry; and the airport road for Nandi Hills. From Whitefield or Sarjapur, simply crossing the city can take two hours on a Friday. The practical answers are a 5 am start on Saturday, the NICE Road where it helps, or a Friday-night sleeper bus that has you in Madikeri or Gokarna by breakfast.

Train, bus or self-drive?

Mysuru by Shatabdi or Vande Bharat and Hampi by the overnight Hampi Express are the two trips where rail clearly wins. Coorg, Chikmagalur, Wayanad and Kabini have no useful railway, so KSRTC's Airavat and sleeper buses or your own car are the options. Drive if you want to hop between estates; most homestays are down narrow lanes far from bus stops.

What does a two-night weekend cost?

Trip2 nights, per person (twin sharing)
Mysuru by train, 3-star hotel₹5,000+
Hampi by overnight train, guesthouse₹4,500+
Coorg or Chikmagalur estate homestay with meals, self-drive₹7,000+
Kabini resort with safaris₹16,000+

These are starting land costs. Kabini's figure reflects all-inclusive jungle lodges, which is why it is a splurge. Ready-made options are on our weekend getaway packages page.

Long weekends worth planning around

Republic Day is a Tuesday in 2027, so one day of leave gives you 23–26 January for Hampi or Gokarna. Good Friday (26 March) gives three days, and Kannada Rajyotsava on Monday 1 November 2027 gives Karnataka a long weekend of its own. Expect Coorg and Chikmagalur to fill up on all of them. More in our 2027 long weekends guide.

Monsoon roads in the Western Ghats

Between June and September, the Charmadi and Shiradi ghats and the Madikeri–Mangaluru road see landslides and temporary closures, and the Nilgiris district issues regular rain alerts. Check KSNDMC and IMD warnings, drive in daylight, and avoid parking below cut slopes. Read our Coorg seasonal guide and things to do in Mysuru before you plan.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best weekend getaway from Bengaluru for couples?
Coorg and Chikmagalur estate homestays are the classic choices, with misty mornings, coffee walks and home-cooked meals. Puducherry's French Quarter suits couples who prefer cafés and the sea. For something quieter and cheaper, Sakleshpur is about four hours away and has the same estate feel as Coorg.
Is Coorg worth visiting in the monsoon?
Only if you want rain. July and August bring very heavy rainfall, leeches on walks and occasional landslides on the ghat roads, though waterfalls are full and rates are lower. October to March is easier, with clear viewpoints and dry estate walks, and coffee blossom usually appears in March after the first showers.
Do I need an e-pass to drive to Ooty from Bengaluru?
In recent seasons, vehicles entering the Nilgiris have needed an e-pass under court-ordered rules, with caps on weekend numbers at times. The rules have changed more than once, so check the Nilgiris district portal before you leave. Also remember that the Bandipur–Mudumalai forest road is closed to traffic at night.
Which weekend trip from Bengaluru works without a car?
Mysuru, about two hours away by Shatabdi or Vande Bharat, and Hampi, by the overnight Hampi Express, both work well on public transport plus local autos. Coorg and Gokarna are reachable by overnight KSRTC buses, though you will need taxis once you arrive.
How far ahead should I book Kabini?
For October to May weekends, book four to eight weeks ahead, and earlier for Christmas, New Year and summer holidays, when the few lodges with safari access fill first. Safari seats are usually tied to your resort booking, so confirm how many drives are included before you pay.

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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.