I have been living in Bangalore for about 24 years of my life now, and I couldn’t have chosen a better city to call home. The people, the delicious masala dosa and idlis, the BMTCs that help me travel effortlessly throughout the city on a budget, and of course the beautiful weather are just some of the things I can mention that I love, which fall short nonetheless!
I‘m sure there are ample things to do in Bangalore in terms of shopping, exploring different cuisines, etc. I’ve already given you a list of wineries to visit from Bangalore if you already haven’t explored them yet.
Going to be listing some roadtrip-worthy places you can visit from Bangalore on a weekend or even the same day!
Cubbon Park
Lush greenery in Cubbon Park
This is truly an escape from the hustle of the city but located right in the city center. Cubbon Park should be the first place on your sightseeing tour in Bangalore especially if you’re a nature lover. The park has a thriving ecosystem with more than 6000 trees and is regarded as the ‘lungs’ of the city. You can also have a quiet picnic in an adjacent area in the park which I loved personally. You can also spot the High Court of Karnataka if you wander deeper into the park!
Budikote Dam
Budikote or the Fort of Ash is a small village situated in Bangarpet Taluk of Kolar District in Karnataka. It is about 75 km from the city of Bangalore and has a general topography that is slightly uneven, with ups and downs with boulders, rocks, and small hillocks. We had a small picnic here with the stunning views of the dam water!
Hesaraghatta Lake
The vast expanse of the lake is thronged with flocks of birds, cows, and other farm animals. This man-made freshwater lake sits across the Arkavathy River in the northwest of Bangalore city. Sprawled over an area of over 1000 acres, Hesaraghatta lake is one of the major suppliers of freshwater to the city. I thoroughly got sun-tanned here as there's not a speck of shade! But the calm views and scarcity of people made it all worth it.
Anthargange Hills
Anthargange Hills and Cave
Anthargange is situated in the Kolar district of Karnataka in the Shathashrunga range, about 70 km from Bangalore. The mountains at an altitude of 1712 meters from sea level with rocky boulders, small caves, and dense plantations are some of the best getaways for trekking, rock climbing, and cave exploration enthusiasts. This trek is one of the most adventurous treks I've gotten to experience around Bangalore because of its unusual bolder paths. It isn't a simple route for sure! We needed a guide's help to navigate through dark caves and crawl amidst the smallest of passageways in order to explore the whole cave.
Avalabetta Hills
This small hill is located 90 km from Bengaluru and is closer to the Andhra Pradesh border. The drive to the base of the hilltop itself is refreshing, thrilling, and impressive. After you park your vehicle or bike, you can head towards the valley and enjoy the breathtaking views. You have to climb some 50 odd stone stairs to reach the Hanuman temple.
Nandi Hills
Nandi Hills
One of the best things about this place is that it can be visited at any time of the year. I'm sure every Bangalorean has visited the all-time famous Nandi Hills! I've personally trekked and visited the Hills by car. In winter (typically around December & January) there's a beautiful phenomenon that occurs every sunrise, a thick blanket of clouds covers the horizon, I was lucky enough to experience this myself!
Pearl Valley
Muthyala Maduvu popularly known as the Pearl Valley is a beautiful picnic spot that lies just 40km from Bengaluru. This quiet and peaceful place surrounded by nature is a perfect getaway from the loud and noisy Bengaluru. Pearl Valley as the name suggests is situated within a valley nestled between beautiful hills. This is an ideal picnic area for those of you who are looking for a day’s break from the busy schedules in Bengaluru.
Mandaragiri Hills
One of my absolute favorite finds in Bangalore. Mandaragiri Betta or Mandargiri Hills is a small hillock in the Tumkur district of Karnataka. This place is gradually gaining popularity due to its uniquely shaped Jain temple. Apart from the Jain temple, Mandaragiri also has a smaller version of the Bahubali statue and offers gorgeous views of the sunset from the hilltop.
Fin.
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