Bangalore, the capital of the Southern state of Karnataka in India, is not just blessed with a wonderful weather throughout the year, but is also located centrally to explore most of the tourist destinations in Southern India. With road conditions improving significantly over the years (most of the National Highways are either a 4-Lane or 6-Lane), driving down to these destinations has become a big hit with the travelers. Cometh a long weekend, one can practically see a fleet of cars heading out of Bangalore’s arterial roads. 🙂

Few years back, planning a road trip was a time consuming activity. Finding the right route to drive, road conditions and places to visit had to be planned meticulously after speaking to friends and fellow travelers. With the advent of technology and social media, this information is available over finger tips. This could be another factor for the increasing interest amongst tourists on road trips. Infact, there are amazing sites like http://www.GoRoadTrip.com which help you plan your road trips in less than 30 minutes.

Click here for Road Trip Planner

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to drive down to many places around Bangalore.  If you are new to Bangalore and enjoy driving down the scenic roads, following are the list of road trips that I would recommend to you. I have mentioned the distance, duration of the drive, the best route that you can take (I have learnt it the hard way not to always trust the recommendations of maps 🙂 ) and few recommendations on the places to visit.

1) Mysore

  • Destination type: Historical, Heritage
  • Distance from Bangalore: 145 Kms
  • Driving time: 3 Hrs 15 Mins
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Bidabi -> Ramanagara -> Channapatna -> Maddura -> Mandya -> Srirangapatna -> Mysore
  • Places to Visit: Mysore Palace, Brindavan gardens and musical fountain, Chamundi Hills, Tipu Sultan’s Palace, Lalit Mahal Palace, Mysore Zoo

2) Kabini

  • Destination type: Nature, Wildlife
  • Distance from Bangalore: 180 Kms
  • Driving time: 4 Hrs
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Bidabi -> Ramanagara -> Channapatna -> Maddura -> Mandya -> Srirangapatna -> Mysore -> Kabini
  • Places to Visit: Jungle Safari, Elephant Safari, Kabini Dam, Boating, Nagarhole National Park

3) Yercaud

  • Destination type: Hill Station
  • Distance from Bangalore: 230 Kms
  • Driving time: 4 Hrs 30 Mins
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Dharmapuri -> Salem -> Yercaud
  • Places to Visit: Yercaud Town, Emerald Lake, Arthur Seat, Lady’s Seat, Gent’s Seat and Children’s Sea, Bell Rock, Pagoda Point, Kiliyur Falls, Bears cave, Fairholme Bungalow, Kottachedu Teak Forest

4) Bandipur

  • Destination type: Nature, Wildlife
  • Distance from Bangalore: 230 Kms
  • Driving time: 5 Hrs
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Bidabi -> Ramanagara -> Channapatna -> Maddura -> Mandya -> Srirangapatna -> Mysore -> Nanjangudu -> Begur -> Bandipur
  • Places to Visit: Jungle Safari, Biligirirangan Hills (BR Hills), Mudumalai National Park, Malai Mahadeshwara Hills

5) Chikmagalur 

  • Destination type: Hill Station
  • Distance from Bangalore: 250 Kms
  • Driving time: 4 Hrs 30 Mins
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Nelamangala -> Channarayapattana -> Hassan -> Belur -> Chikmagalur
  • Places to Visit: Plantation trails, Mullayanagiri peak, Halebidu and Chennakesava temple in Belur.

6) Coorg

  • Destination type: Hill station, Heritage
  • Distance from Bangalore: 250 Kms
  • Driving time: 5 Hrs 30 Mins
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Bidabi -> Ramanagara -> Channapatna -> Maddura -> Mandya -> Srirangapatna -> Mysore -> Hunsur -> Kushalnagar -> Madikeri
  • Places to Visit: Maikeri Fort, Raja’s tomb, Raja’s seat, Abbey falls, Bylakuppe, Irrupu falls, Omkareshwar temple, Tadiyendamol peak and Plantation trails.

7) Masinagudi

  • Destination type: Nature, Wildlife
  • Distance from Bangalore: 250 Kms
  • Driving time: 5 Hrs 30 Mins
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Bidabi -> Ramanagara -> Channapatna -> Maddura -> Mandya -> Srirangapatna -> Mysore -> Nanjangudu -> Begur -> Bandipur -> Masinagudi
  • Places to Visit: Jungle Safari, Moyar Falls, Elephant Camp Theppakadu, Treks in the surrounding hills.

8) Wayanad

  • Destination type: Hill Station
  • Distance from Bangalore: 290 Kms
  • Driving time:  5 Hrs 45 Mins
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Bidabi -> Ramanagara -> Channapatna -> Maddura -> Mandya -> Srirangapatna -> Mysore -> Nanjangudu -> Sultan Bathery -> Wayanad
  • Places to Visit: Edakkal Caves, Meenmutty Falls, Kuruva Dweep, Pookot Lake, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Chembra Peak.

9) Ooty & Coonoor

  • Destination type: Hill Station
  • Distance from Bangalore: 310 Kms
  • Driving time:  6 Hrs 30 Mins
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Bidabi -> Ramanagara -> Channapatna -> Maddura -> Mandya -> Srirangapatna -> Mysore -> Nanjangudu -> Begur -> Bandipur -> Gudalur -> Ooty
  • Places to Visit: Dodabetta Peak, Toy train ride from Coonoor to Ooty, Ooty Lake, Kalhatty Waterfalls, Droog Fort, Avalanche, Lamb’s Rock, Fernhill Palace

10) Mahabalipuram

  • Destination type: Historical, Heritage, Beach
  • Distance from Bangalore: 350 Kms
  • Driving time:  6 Hrs
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Vellore -> Kanchipuram -> Chengalpattu -> Mahabalipuram
  • Places to Visit: Shore Temple, Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna Mandapam, Mahishasuramardhini Mandapam , Varaha Mandapam, Panch Rathas.

 11) Hampi

  • Destination type: Historical, Heritage
  • Distance from Bangalore: 350 Kms
  • Driving time:  6 Hrs 15 Mins
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Tumkur -> Sira -> Chitradurga ->Kudligi -> Hosapete -> Hampi
  • Places to Visit: Hampi Bazar, Monolith Bull, Old Palace, Royal enclosures, Queen’s bath, Narsimha statue, Elephant stables, Zanana enclosure.

12) Pondicherry

  • Destination type: Historical, Heritage, Beach
  • Distance from Bangalore: 380 Kms
  • Driving time:  7 Hrs
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Vellore -> Arcot -> Vandavasi -> Tindivanam -> Pondicherry
  • Places to Visit: Auroville, Paradise Beach, Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, Serenity Beach, Auro Beach

13) Bekal

  • Destination type: Historical, Heritage, Beach
  • Distance from Bangalore: 415 Kms
  • Driving time:  7 Hrs   45 Mins
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Nelamangala -> Hassan -> Sakleshpur -> Mangalore -> Kasargod -> Bekal
  • Places to Visit: Bekal Fort, Bekal Fort Beach, Kappil Beach, Chandragiri fort, Valiyaparamba Backwaters, Hosdurg Beach, Ananthapura Temple

14) Kodaikanal

  • Destination type: Hill Station
  • Distance from Bangalore: 470 Kms
  • Driving time:  8 Hrs
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Dharmapuri -> Salem -> Namakkal -> Karur -> Dindigul -> Vattalagundu -> Kodaikanal
  • Places to Visit: Berijam Lake, Coakers Walk, Bryant Park, Kodai Lake, Devil’s Kitchen, Dolphin’s Nose, Silver Cascade falls, Pine Forest, Kurinjiandavar Temple

15) Munnar

  • Destination type: Hill Station
  • Distance from Bangalore: 480 Kms
  • Driving time:  9 Hrs
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Dharmapuri -> Salem -> Bhavani -> Avinashi -> Udumalpet -> Munnar
  • Places to Visit: Mattupetty , Pothamedu , Devikulam , Pallivasal , Attukal , Nyayamakad , Chithirapuram , Lock Heart Gap, Rajamala , Eravikulam National Park

16) Gokarna

  • Destination type: Heritage, Beach
  • Distance from Bangalore: 550 Kms
  • Driving time:  8 Hrs   30 Mins
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Tumkur -> Sira -> Chitradurga -> Ranebennur -> Haveri -> Hubli -> Yellapur -> Ankola -> Gokarna
  • Places to Visit: Gokarna Beach, Kudle Beach, Om Beach, Half Moon Beach, Paradise Beach

17) Hyderabad

  • Destination type: Heritage, Historical
  • Distance from Bangalore: 570 Kms
  • Driving time:  8 Hrs
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Devanahalli -> Anantapur -> Gooty -> Kurnool -> Hyderabad
  • Places to Visit: Golconda Fort, Charminar, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Chowmahalla Palace, Salar Jung Museum, Hussain Sagar Lake, Ramoji Film City, Birla Mandir, British Residency

18) Kumarakom

  • Destination type: Backwaters, Beach
  • Distance from Bangalore: 600 Kms
  • Driving time:  11 Hrs
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Dharmapuri -> Salem -> Bhavani -> Avinashi -> Palakkad -> Ernakulam -> Kumarakom
  • Places to Visit: Houseboat Stay, Vembannad Lake, Aruvikkuzhi Waterfall, Marari Beach, Alappuzha Beach, Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple, Sree Subramanya Swami Temple, St. Mary’s Forane Church, St. Andrew’s Basilica Arthunkal

19) Goa

  • Destination type: Beach
  • Distance from Bangalore: 670 Kms
  • Driving time:  11 Hrs
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Tumkur -> Sira -> Chitradurga -> Ranebennur -> Haveri -> Hubli -> Yellapur -> Ankola -> Goa
  • Places to Visit: Dudhsagar Waterfalls, Agonda beach, Palolem Beach, Mandrem beach, Vagator beach, Anjuna Beach, Calangute and Baga beaches, Miramar, Panjim, Utorda beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

20) Kovalam

  • Destination type: Beach
  • Distance from Bangalore: 730 Kms
  • Driving time:  12 Hrs
  • Best Route: Bangalore -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Dharmapuri -> Salem -> Namakkal -> Karur -> Dindigul -> Madurai -> Tirunelveli -> Nagercoil -> Kovalam
  • Places to Visit: Lighthouse Beach, Kovalam Beach, Hawa Beach, Samudra Beach, Neyyar Dam, Vellayani Lake

For more road trip from Bangalore you can explore “Road Trips from Bangalore”

Why wait any further, pick one of the locations mentioned above based on your interests and start exploring culturally diverse Southern India.

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For any other queries, contact me at planettrekkerblog@outlook.com