Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka and India's technology hub, a high-altitude city of gardens, lakes, palaces, and a famously inventive food and craft-beer scene. Colonial-era cantonment avenues, Tipu Sultan's fort, and the Lalbagh Botanical Garden sit alongside glass-walled tech parks and the cafes of Indiranagar and Koramangala.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Nandi Hills sunrise
A 1,478-metre granite hill fortress and former summer retreat of Tipu Sultan that rises above the Deccan plateau, best known for sunrise above a sea of cloud.
Highlights: Sunrise view above the clouds · Tipu's Drop cliff and Tipu Sultan's fort remains · Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple at the base · Cycling and paragliding-friendly slopes at the top
Mysuru (Mysore) city
The former capital of the Wodeyar kings, known for its Indo-Saracenic palace, Chamundi Hill, sandalwood and silk, and the Devaraja market.
Highlights: Mysore Palace, Indo-Saracenic showpiece · Chamundi Hill temple and monolithic Nandi · Devaraja Market flowers and sandalwood · Brindavan Gardens by the Krishnaraja Sagara dam
Ramanagara and Ramadevara Betta
A granite hill town known as Silk City and the shooting location of the Hindi film Sholay, with popular rock-climbing and vulture-habitat hills.
Highlights: Ramadevara Betta hill climb · Sholay filming hills · Long-billed vulture sanctuary · Rock climbing and bouldering
Channapatna toy town
Known as Gombegala Ooru, the toy town, Channapatna makes lacquered wooden toys and dolls, a Geographical Indication craft.
Highlights: Lacquered wooden toys and dolls · Working lathe workshops · Government emporiums with fixed prices · Easy add-on to Mysuru or Ramanagara
Savandurga hill
One of Asia's largest monolith hills at 1,226 metres, with a short but challenging rock-face trek and a fort ruin.
Highlights: Monolith trek to the summit · Narasimha temple at the base · Fort ruins · Arkavathi river views
Shivanasamudra Falls
Twin waterfalls on the Cauvery, Gaganachukki and Bharachukki, that plunge about 75 metres, fed by the river during monsoon.
Highlights: Gaganachukki and Bharachukki falls · Historic hydroelectric station · Coracle rides when water allows · Riverside views
Lepakshi
A 16th-century Vijayanagara temple with hanging pillar, monolithic Nandi and richly painted ceilings.
Highlights: Hanging pillar · Monolithic Nandi bull · Vijayanagara ceiling paintings · Naga linga carving
Bannerghatta Biological Park
A zoo, butterfly park, and lion and tiger safari on the southern edge of Bengaluru.
Highlights: Lion and tiger safari · Butterfly park · Zoo enclosures · Elephant rehabilitation area
Melkote
A hilltop Vaishnava temple town with the Cheluvanarayana Swamy temple, stepped tank and Sanskrit college.
Highlights: Yoganarasimha temple on the hill · Cheluvanarayana Swamy temple · Stepped kalyani tanks · Sanskrit academy
Srirangapatna
An island fortress town on the Cauvery with Tipu Sultan's summer palace, mausoleum and the Ranganathaswamy temple.
Highlights: Dariya Daulat Bagh · Gumbaz mausoleum · Ranganathaswamy temple · Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Chikmagalur coffee country
Karnataka's coffee heartland, with Mullayanagiri, Karnataka's highest peak, waterfalls and plantation stays.
Highlights: Mullayanagiri peak · Coffee plantation stays · Hebbe Falls · Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
Coorg (Kodagu)
Hill district of coffee and spice plantations, with Abbey Falls, Raja's Seat and the Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe.
Highlights: Abbey Falls · Raja's Seat · Namdroling monastery, Bylakuppe · Dubare elephant camp · Coffee estate stays
Hampi
UNESCO World Heritage ruins of the Vijayanagara empire capital, with the Virupaksha and Vittala temples.
Highlights: Vittala temple and stone chariot · Virupaksha temple · Sunrise at Matanga Hill · Coracle rides on the Tungabhadra
Belur and Halebidu
The Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebidu, with intricate soapstone carving, are a candidate UNESCO World Heritage site.
Highlights: Chennakeshava temple, Belur · Hoysaleswara temple, Halebidu · Sravanabelagola Gomateshwara statue
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Day tours to Mysuru and sunrise coach tours to Nandi Hills are sold in the city, typically from ₹1,500 (approx $16 USD) for shared coach trips and from ₹6,000 (approx $62 USD) for a private car with driver.
- Private
- A private car with driver costs about ₹3,500-5,500 (approx $36-57 USD) for a local half-day and ₹5,000-8,500 (approx $52-89 USD) for a full day to Mysuru; overnight runs to Coorg, Chikmagalur or Hampi cost ₹9,000-14,000 (approx $94-146 USD) or more. Tolls and driver allowance are usually extra; agree them beforehand.
- Public
- Fast trains from KSR Bengaluru City serve Mysuru and, with a road link, Srirangapatna; KSRTC buses run from Majestic to nearly every destination on this list. Overnight trains reach Hosapete for Hampi.
- Rental
- Self-drive rentals start around ₹2,500 (approx $26 USD) per day plus fuel. Traffic leaving Bengaluru is heavy, and the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway has speed cameras and tolls.
Multi-day tours from Bengaluru
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from BengaluruWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Leave the city before 7am on weekends to avoid the heaviest traffic on Mysuru Road and Hosur Road
Book reserved trains through IRCTC as soon as bookings open, since Mysuru trains fill on weekends
Nandi Hills has weekend vehicle limits; weekdays are easier
Hampi, Coorg, Chikmagalur and Belur-Halebidu are better as overnight trips
October to February is the practical season for every trip; monsoon adds waterfalls but brings slippery trails and landslides in the Western Ghats
Carry photo ID for train travel and monument ticket counters
Lepakshi is in Andhra Pradesh, so rental cars need the correct interstate permit