Travel guide
Sightseeing Places Near Bangalore for a Weekend Away
A weekend gives you two days, so the drive has to be worth it. These are the road trips we would suggest for a Friday night or Saturday morning start, with the route-planner distance for each and the cab that suits the trip.
How to choose
Matching the drive to your days
As a rule of thumb, a drive of up to about four hours each way suits a Saturday–Sunday break, while anything longer is more comfortable with a Friday departure or a Monday off. Distances in this guide are route-planner figures from central Bengaluru, without traffic or stops, so add buffer, especially when leaving the city on a Friday evening.
Several of these destinations are outside Karnataka. For Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, interstate permit charges and tolls are extra on top of the fare.
Hills, forest and water
Green escapes in the south
Kabini – about 200 km, about 3 h of driving without traffic. A forest-edge backwater on the Kabini reservoir beside Nagarahole National Park, popular for wildlife safaris and quiet evenings by the water. Safari slots depend on the season, so check with your stay. A sedan is fine on the road; see the Bangalore to Kabini cab page.
Wayanad – about 280 km, about 3 h 45 min of driving without traffic. A Kerala hill district of spice estates and forest, with Edakkal Caves, Banasura Sagar Dam and Chembra Peak as its best-known sights. Two nights lets you see more than one corner of it. Our Bangalore to Wayanad cab page has the route, and an Innova is the usual choice for four to six people.
Ooty – about 295 km, about 3 h 45 min of driving without traffic. The Nilgiri hill station of tea slopes, the botanical garden and the lake, with the narrow-gauge Nilgiri Mountain Railway running up from the plains. The last stretch climbs through hairpin bends, so plan to arrive in daylight. See Bangalore to Ooty cab.
Munnar – about 435 km, about 7 h of driving without traffic. Rolling tea gardens, misty ridges and Eravikulam National Park, home of the Nilgiri tahr. This is a long drive, so most travellers leave on Friday and return on Monday. The Bangalore to Munnar cab page has more.
Cities, coasts and temples
Towns and coasts worth a long weekend
Pondicherry – about 440 km, about 6 h 15 min of driving without traffic. The French-era quarter with its yellow colonial buildings, the seafront promenade, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and nearby Auroville make this a relaxed town to wander. Details are on the Bangalore to Pondicherry cab page.
Coimbatore – about 335 km, about 4 h 30 min of driving without traffic. A busy Tamil Nadu city with the Marudamalai hill temple and the Isha Yoga Center on its outskirts, and a useful base for the Nilgiris and the Anamalai hills. See Bangalore to Coimbatore cab.
Chennai – about 330 km, about 4 h of driving without traffic. Marina Beach, the Kapaleeshwarar temple in Mylapore and Fort St George give a solid two-day city break; the coast road south leads on to the carved temples of Mahabalipuram. See Bangalore to Chennai cab.
Hampi – about 340 km, about 4 h 15 min of driving without traffic. The ruins of the Vijayanagara capital spread across a boulder landscape beside the Tungabhadra, with Virupaksha Temple and the stone chariot at Vittala Temple as highlights. Read the Bangalore to Hampi cab page before choosing between one night and two.
Gokarna – about 485 km, about 6 h 15 min of driving without traffic. A small temple town with a string of beaches nearby, from lively Kudle to quieter coves reached on foot. It is a long drive, so a three-day plan is more relaxed. See Bangalore to Gokarna cab.
Rameswaram – about 555 km, about 7 h 45 min of driving without traffic. The Ramanathaswamy Temple with its famous long pillared corridors, and the Pamban area at the tip of the island. This is a pilgrimage trip more than a weekend one, best with a long weekend and an early start. See Bangalore to Rameswaram cab.
Hosur – about 44 km, about 50 min of driving without traffic. Not a destination in itself, but the doorway to Tamil Nadu on the way to Yelagiri, Hogenakkal and beyond, with a hilltop Shiva temple above the town. Details are on the Bangalore to Hosur cab page.
Booking
Choosing the vehicle and the plan
Couples and small families do well in a Dzire or Ciaz. For hill roads with luggage, an Innova, Innova Crysta or Innova Hycross adds room and comfort. Friends travelling together can look at the Tempo Traveller; the Tempo Traveller rental page explains the option.
Round trips are billed on actual kilometres with a minimum of 300 km per day, so a short out-and-back weekend trip is charged for that minimum. Read round-trip cabs for how it works, or one-way taxi if you only travel in one direction. For more ideas close to the city, try the one-day trips guide.
Vehicle options
Cabs for a weekend away
Vehicle availability depends on your travel date. Tell us your group size and luggage when booking and we will suggest a suitable option.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Which sightseeing places near Bangalore suit a two-day weekend?
Kabini, Wayanad and Ooty all work as two-day trips, with route-planner distances of about 200 km, 280 km and 295 km without traffic. Pondicherry and Munnar are longer and are better with a Friday start.
How far is Wayanad from Bangalore by road?
About 280 km one way from central Bengaluru, which is about 3 h 45 min of driving without traffic or stops in route-planner data. Allow extra for breaks and ghat sections.
Do I need a permit for Kerala and Tamil Nadu trips?
Yes. Interstate permit charges and tolls are extra for destinations such as Wayanad, Ooty, Munnar and Pondicherry. The fare is confirmed when you book.
What is the billing for a weekend round trip?
Round trips are billed on actual kilometres with a minimum of 300 km per day, plus driver allowance. Tolls and parking are extra.
Can we travel as a larger group?
Yes. A Tempo Traveller or a mini bus can be arranged for larger groups. Tell us the number of people when you call 99640 09999.
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