Residents of Bengaluru have no dearth of shopping, entertainment and weekend getaway options. Whether you are the adventurous kind who loves to trek up mountains or if you just prefer to put your feet up and relax by a beach, there are plenty of weekend getaways from Bengaluru that are perfect for you.

Mysore

Mysore is about 150 km from the Kempegowda Bus Stand. You can travel from Bengaluru to Mysore via road and rail. Once the royal city of Karnataka, Mysore is one of the closest weekend getaways from Bengaluru. The city is the perfect escape for history and nature lovers with its lush gardens and historical sites. Visit the Mysore Palace, the Mysore Zoo, Brindavan Gardens, Jaganmohana Palace, Sand Sculpture Museum, Chamundeshwari Temple, Blue Lagoon, Rail Museum, Regional Museum of Natural History, and St. Philomena’s Church. The best place time to visit is during Dasara when the people come out in large numbers for a massive procession.

Coorg

Coorg is one of Karnataka’s most popular tourist locations and only an overnight journey away from Bengaluru. Coorg is 263 km from Kempegowda Bus Stand. You can travel from Bengaluru to Coorg by road. Located in the Western Ghats, these hills are rich with flora and fauna with three wildlife sanctuaries and a national park. A few places to visit in Coorg are the Namdroling Monastery, the Golden Temple, Talakaveri, Raja’s Seat, Abbey Falls, Dubare Elephant Camp, Nagarhole National Park and Irpu Falls. With its mist-covered coffee plantations, pleasant weather and clean air, it is the perfect spot for nature and adventure lovers.

Ooty

Ooty, also renowned as the ‘Queen of the Hills’, is a hill station known for its tea, chocolates and misty hills. Ooty is 270 km from Kempegowda Bus Stand. You can travel from Bengaluru to Ooty via road and rail. A few places to visit in Ooty are the Government Botanical Gardens, Rose Garden, the Wax Museum, the Chocolate Museum, the Ooty Lake, Doddabetta, Avalanche Lake, and Pykara, among many others. This quaint hill town and its neighbors boast of forest-covered hills, lovely weather and is perfect for nature lovers, families and solo travelers.

Pondicherry

Popularly known as Pondy, Pondicherry is a union territory that maintains a culture not seen in too many places in India. Pondicherry is 321 km from Kempegowda Bus Stand. You can travel from Bengaluru to Pondicherry by road and rail. A few places to visit in the city are Auroville, Promenade Beach, Romain Rolland Library, French Institute of Pondicherry, Puducherry Botanical Gardens, Eglise de Notre Dame des Agnes, Rock Beach, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. History geeks will enjoy this city with its colonial architecture, churches, temples, and statues. A lot of the town preserves that European feel with its systematically planned roads and neighborhoods.

Mangalore

Called the ‘Gateway of Karnataka’, Mangalore is an amazing seaside getaway. Mangalore is 350 km from Kempegowda Bus Stand. You can travel from Bengaluru to Mangalore by road, rail and air. The city is a tropical paradise with its beautiful beaches, delicious seafood, and greenery all around. A few places to visit in the Mangalore city are Tannirbhavi Beach, Mangaladevi Temple, Panambur Beach, Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park, Pilikula Golf Club, Milagres Church, Someshwara Temple and Beach and NITK Lighthouse. It’s an excellent escape for solo travelers, couples and families with its numerous attractions and restaurants.

Madurai

With one of the oldest histories in India dating back to the 3rd Century B.C., Madurai is fondly called the ‘Athens of the East’. Madurai is 439 km from Kempegowda Bus Stand. You can travel from Bengaluru to Madurai by road, rail and air. A few places to visit in the city are Sri Meenakshi Temple, Pazhamudhir Solai, Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, Gandhi Museum, Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal, Vaigai Dam and Idaikattur Church. It is the city of temples, Tamil and tradition and is certainly worth a visit.

Kodaikanal

Located in Dindigul of Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal has earned the name the ‘Princess of the Hills’ with its beautiful landscape. Kodaikanal is 468 km from Kempegowda Bus Stand. You can travel from Bengaluru to Kodaikanal by road and rail. It has long been a getaway for people who needed to escape the heat of the plains and continues to be one today as well. A few places to visit in the town are the Kodaikanal Lake, Berijam Lake, Coaker’s Walk, Kurunji Andavar Temple, Bryant Park, Chettiar Park, Shembaganur Museum of Natural Historical, Silent Valley View Point, and Guna Cave. The town has a number of scenic attractions that nature and adventure lovers will enjoy.

Munnar

Nestled away in the mist-covered hills of Idukki is Munnar, a popular hill station in Kerala. Munnar is 480 km from Kempegowda Bus Stand. You can travel from Bengaluru to Munnar by road and rail.   The town is perfect for honeymooners, solo travelers, families, and groups. A few places to visit in the town are Mattupetty Dam, Photo Point, Attukal Waterfalls, Pallivasal Falls, Lock Heart Gap, CSI Christ Church, and the Tea Gardens. There are several protected areas within the hill station that protects wildlife. You can visit them with special permission.