If you thought a holiday meant packing your bags for a week, booking expensive flight tickets, calling up hotels to block rooms or chalking out an itinerary of things to see and things to do, you probably forgot the plethora of places only couple of hours away from Bangalore that require much simpler planning. And who minds a road trip? These destinations are perfect for weekend getaways and more importantly you don’t need to spend a fortune to make them memorable.
Nandi Hills
Straight out of a fairytale of sorts, Nandi Hills is one of those places you go to have chai and mirchi bhaji without any prior planning. It tops the charts of the two-minute plans made over weekends. This small hill station has a lot of trails to chose from. It is recommended to venture on these pathways in groups or with a local guide. Picnic lunches can be enjoyed in the wilderness.
Skandagiri
A picnic lunch, walking shoes and a camera. These essentials are enough to make your trip momentous. Around 70 km from Bangalore, Skandagiri is an ancient mountain fortress. The two-hour trek up the hill might seem strenuous initially but the view from the top relieves the fatigue from the climb. It is recommended to carry water bottles, walking sticks and a torch.
Vanakebe Falls
Situated just 0.5 km from Agumbe village bus station, this trek through lush green foliage can give you the much-needed adrenaline rush. Be careful of the leeches and avoid this trip during monsoons. The entire trek takes around one and a half hours to complete. Carpet after carpet of green unrolls in front of you as you are engulfed in the serene combination of divinity and nature.
Karighatta Trek
Located 20 km from Mysore, this hillock attracts tourists from around the country every year. It lies on the banks of river Lokapavani that allows for water sports like kayaking.
Savandurga
Among the largest monolith hills in the country, Savandurga comprises two hills Karigudda and Biligudda. This 40-minute climb is a little arduous as there are no steps. Proper trekking shoes should be your priority here. The morning hours are best suited for this trek. The weather is cooler and the surroundings soaked in morning dew make for painterly compositions.
Savandurga is approximately 60 km from Bangalore.