Discover Places

Pearl Valley

A tranquil picnic spot with waterfall, rocks and a pool.

Distance: 44 km Location: Anekal
Best time to visit: Aug-Nov

Ramanagaram

Famed for its rock formations where the cult film Sholay was shot. Great for rock climbing. Also a silk centre.

Distance: 50 km
Location: Bangalore-Mysore Highway
Best time to visit: Oct-Mar

Channapatna

Crafts village hub for indigenous wooden toys, lacquerware and silk.

Distance: 60 km
Location: Bangalore-Mysore Highway
Best time to visit: Oct-May

Mekedatu

A narrow gorge through which River Cauvery passes. Enjoy trekking, coracle rides and waterfalls.

Distance: 90 km
Location: Kanakapura (towards Sangama)
Best time to visit: Aug-Jan

Shivanasamudram

Picturesque waterfalls cascading 90 meters down. Source of Asia’s Second Hydro Electric Power Station called Shimsa.

Distance: 129 km
Location: Skirts Cauvery wildlife sanctuary
Best time to visit: Jul-Sept

Kotilingeshwara

Temple with one of the largest Shivalingas in the world. Peaceful and green retreat with huge Shivalinga of 108 ft, 35 ft tall Basava, surrounded by lakhs of small shivalingas spread over 15 acres. Special festival Maha Shivaratri.

Distance: 94 km
Location: Kammasandra Village, Kolar
Best time to visit: All year

Yercaud

Popular hill station 4920 feet above sea level. Coffee plantations, orange groves, and orchidarium run by Botanical Survey of India. Botanica gardens, boating and trekking.

Distance: 227 km
Location: Sheveroy Hills, Tamil Nadu
Best time to visit: Feb-Jun & Sept-Nov

Mysore

City steeped in history with world famous Mysore Palace, other palaces, Mysore zoo, Karanji and Kukkarahallu lakes, Krishnaraja-sagar Dam and adjoining Brindavan Gardens with musical fountain.

Distance: 139 km
Location: 12 km from Srirangapatna
Best time to visit: Oct-Mar

Yelagiri Hills

Ideal for a relaxed weekend with trekking, nature walks, boating. Punganoor artificial lake-cum-park, Jalagamparai waterfalls, Swamimalai (the highest peak in the area), Murugan Koil temple and Telescope House.

Distance: 170 km
Location: Near Jolarpet station, Tamil Nadu
Best time to visit: Nov-Feb

Ooty

Short for Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam, it South India’s best known hill station, set among the Nilgiris, with green forests, valleys, tea plantations, streams and mountains. Tea plantation visit, trekking, botanical gardens, sightseeing in scenic natural beauty.

Distance: 297 km
Location: Niligiris, at a height of 7440 feet
Best time to visit: Apr-Jun & Sept-Nov

Thiruvannamalai

Sacred temple town in Tamil Nadu, significant for pilgrims, peace-seekers and tourists from around the world. Frozen in time, and abound with legends of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

Distance: 206 km
Location: Beyond Krishnagiri
Best time to visit: Oct-Mar

Bheemeshwari

Fishing camp with jungle lodge in the forests of Karnataka, nestled along the Cauvery, sacred river of South India.

Distance: 100 km
Location: Banks of Cauvery
Best time to visit: Dec-Mar

Kabini

One of the most popular wildlife destinations, with a large scenic lake, elephant and bird sightings, spread over 55 acres of forestland.

Distance: 208km
Location: Backwaters of Kabini River
Best time to visit: Oct-May

Mudumalai

Mudumalai National Park lies on northwest of Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri District. Elephant Feeding Camp, Moyar river, Kallatty falls, Pykara lake, Elephant Safari.

Distance: 220 km
Location: Northern Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
Best time to visit: Feb-Jun

Bandipur National Park

One of India’s best known sanctuaries at Western Ghats foothills. It is home to tigers, Asian elephants, leopards, dholes, gaur and sloth bears.

Distance: 218 km
Location: Forests of Mudumalai
Best time to visit: All year, but preferably in monsoon with wildlife and greenery in abundance.

Coorg

Dubbed as Scotland of India, one of the most beautiful hill stations with verdant trekking routes amidst lush forests and hills. Madikeri Fort, Raja’s Seat, Nagarahole National Park, Iruppu Falls, Abbey Falls, Brahmagri hills, Dubare forest, Elephant Camp and white water rafting.

Distance: 252 km
Location: Heart of Coorg’s coffee country
Best time to visit: Oct-May

Pondicherry

Union Territory of Pudhucherry (earlier Pondicherry), with quaint French charm, cobbled streets, elegant restaurants and houses, statues of Dupleix and Joan of Arc. Famous for Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville with its pretty native crafts.

Distance: 296 km
Location: Bay of Bengal, south of Chennai
Best time to visit: Oct-Mar

Nagarhole

Enchanting 247 square-mile park in coffee land of Coorg, with Asian elephants, marsh crocodiles, monitor lizards, rock pythons, aquatic and terrestrial tortoises, frogs, toads, tree frogs, a myriad insects and butterflies.

Distance: 222 km
Location: Part of Nilgiri biosphere reserve
Best time to visit: Oct-May

Belur and Halebid

Twin temple towns, world famous for their historical sculptures, Hoysala architecture and very intricate carvings cut from soft stone. They are comparable to Khajuraho temples of Madhya Pradesh.

Distance: 226 km
Location: Foothills of Western Ghats
Best time to visit: Oct-Feb

Pondicherry

Distance: 296 km
Location: Bay of Bengal, south of Chennai
Best time to visit: Oct-Mar

Hampi

World Heritage Site, ruins of the glorious Vijayanagar Empire with over 500 monuments. Nearby attractions include Anegondi, Pampa Sarovar, Gagan Mahal, Hospet and Tungabhadra Dam.

Distance: 350 km
Location: Bellary district
Best time to visit: Oct-Mar

Chikmagalur

Full of hills, valleys, streams and snow-white coffee blossoms, nestled in Baba Budan hills. Trekker’s delight with rugged mountain trails, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kemmanagundi hill station, Hebbe Falls, Kalhatti Falls and Kudremukh hill station.

Distance: 235 km
Location: In Chikmagalur district
Best time to visit: Oct-May

Shimoga

Colourful district with attractive landscape, waterfalls, forests, river valley, bountiful areca palm and paddy fields, with world famous rivers and waterfalls. Rice bowl of the state fed by Tunga, Bhadra, Sharavathi, Varada and Kumudvathi rivers.

Distance: 277 km
Location: Karnataka
Best time to visit: Oct-Mar

Wayanad

Unspoilt expanse of virgin rainforests in Western Ghats with misty environs, famous for trekking, plantation visits and wildlife tours.

Distance: 255 km
Location: Western Ghats
Best time to visit: Oct-May

Mangalore

A city of multiple cultures on Konkan coast known for its temples and beaches. Sightseeing includes Sultan Battery watchtower, Mangalore Port, beaches of Ullal, Taneerbhavi and Panambur.

Distance: 347 km
Location: Southern tip of Karnataka coast
Best time to visit: Dec-Feb

Gokarna

A pilgrimage centre and beach lover’s paradise.

Distance: 485 km
Location: North Karnataka, close to Goa
Best time to visit: Oct-Mar

Mahabalipuram

Also called Mammallapuram, historic 7th-9th century monuments, classified as World Heritage Site. Spotlighted recently with Prime Minister Modi and Chinese Premier Xi’s meeting ground.

Distance: 330 km
Location: North Tamil Nadu coast
Best time to visit: Oct-Mar

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