For avid travellers who are caught up the entire week in hectic schedules, a weekend is the only time to escape the rush and trudge to a quiet and peaceful place. Luckily each state in India is replete with places that guarantee quick rejuvenation even to the most exhausted souls. The state of Karnataka and its neighbouring states are the best possible example for a refreshing holiday. There are many places in and around Karnataka that offers complete refreshment in the lap of nature. So, we thought it will be indeed nice to pick out destinations that are best for a nature weekend tour in and around Karnataka. We hope you appreciate our gesture and plan for yourself a refreshing weekend trip after reading this blog.
Also Check Out: Popular Karnataka Tour Packages
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary – Somnathpur – Shivasamudram
An ideal weekend tour in Karnataka would be the one where one gets to see different shades of nature. Therefore, a single trip planned to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Somnathpur and Shimsha sounds ideal for those living in Mysore. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is situated at a distance of 18kms from Mysore city and is just the right place to spend a superb weekend.
It is a small sanctuary that is famed for its crocodiles and 170 species of birds. Boating tours are available in Ranganthittu, which is obviously the best way to explore this sanctuary. From Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Somnathpur is located at a short distance of 38kms. Somnathpura is known for its Hoysala architecture and the temple called Chennakesava.
At a distance of about 55kms from Somnathpura is a beautiful place and is popular for its waterfalls called Shivasamudram (collective name given to two waterfalls Gaganachukki and Bharachukki). Covering the three destinations on a single weekend is pretty much possible and believes us; it will only triple the fun for you!
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Nandi Hills – Muddenahalli
For those making a living in Bengaluru, an outing on a weekend is much anticipated. Fortunately, the strategic location of this cyber city bestows it with some gorgeous places which are located in close proximity to it. If one plans to escape the city on a particular weekend, then a weekend trip to Nandi Hills and Muddenahalli can be ideal. Nandi Hills, which is situated about 61kms from the city of Bangalore, is famed for its temple and the spectacular panoramic views.
The Karnataka state horticulture department has set up a garden here that attracts a lot of tourists here. Other than the Tipu Fort, there is another attraction of Nandi Hills. About 55kms from Nandi Hills is a beautiful village called Muddenahalli.
The main attraction of the place is the memorial of Sir Murali Vulaganti; however, the recently prepared 140 acres garden project of Karnataka State Horticulture Department is being viewed by many as the next big attraction of the place.
Both Nandi Hills and Muddenahalli are far from the reach of hustle and bustle and therefore a perfect place for those planning to retire to nature for some time.
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Hogenakkal Falls – Krishnagiri Dam
For those living in either Bengaluru or Mysuru crossing the state border over a weekend is nothing new. Near the border of Karnataka are two beautiful places of the state of Tamil Nadu, namely Hogenakkal and Krishnagiri. Both these small villages are blessed with nature’s bounty.
While Hogenakkal is famous for its natural waterfall called Hogenakkal Falls, Krishnagiri attracts tourists with its man-made fall or Dam called Krishnagiri Dam. Now for those travelling from Bengaluru can first visit Krishnagiri (about 90kms) and then move further to Hogenakkal (151kms from Bengaluru and 89kms from Krishnagiri).
However, those planning a weekend getaway from Mysuru can first visit Hogenakkal (182kms) and then from Hogenakkal go to Krishnagiri (226kms from Mysuru and 89kms from Hogenakkal). Krishnagiri apart from the reservoir is also known for its ancient temples and large number of trekking/hiking options it offers. Hogenakkal, on the other hand is famed as a scenic location that is even ideal for film shoots.
Also Check Out: Top Weekend Getaways from Bangalore
Sangam – Mekedatu
If you are up for a short trek/hike then Sangam to Mekedatu is ideal for you on a weekend. Sangam is a name given to the place where the confluence of two rivers of South India namely, Arkavathi and Kaveri can be seen. It is an ideal getaway for people from both Mysuru and Bengaluru city.
At a short distance from Sangam is Mekedatu, which can easily be trekked. At Mekedatu, one has the opportunity to sit by the beautiful river Kaveri. This can be one of those weekend trips where you reconnect with nature and feel prepared for a fresh week ahead.
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Mysore – Ooty – Coonoor – Kodaikanal
Now, who doesn’t know about Ooty; it is indeed South India’s most popular hill station. What better place to escape to on a weekend than Ooty in Tamil Nadu? Being in close proximity to Mysuru (126kms) and Bengaluru (267kms), Ooty is an ideal place to enjoy a weekend break. This beautiful hill station allures the visitors with its salubrious climate, green sprawling coffee and tea estates, gorgeous hill views.
One can enjoy a trip to Coonoor also, which is situated at a distance of about 19kms from Ooty. Unlike Ooty, Coonoor is lesser explored and thus maintains a very tranquil environment. It is a lovely place to attain peace of mind. Are you looking for more fun?
Well, you can enjoy much more by adding Kodaikanal to this already adventurous weekend trip. Situated around 235kms from Coonoor, Kodaikanal is yet another wonderful place to visit in South India. A serene town, Kodaikanal boasts about its picturesque landscape and how it magically takes away people from their anxieties. Taking a tour of these three hill stations on a weekend is the best idea for a nature tour.
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Mercara/Madikeri Local Sight Seeing
A beautiful hill station, Madikeri or Mercara is yet another great place to visit on a weekend break in Karnataka. Madikeri is situated between Mysuru and Mangaluru. At about 117kms from Mysuru and around 137kms from Mangaluru, Mercara/Madikeri offer visitors a taste of rustic Karnataka. From Bangalore, Madikeri is situated about 252kms.
Apart from its beautiful landscape, the town boasts a 17th century fort and temples. Raja Seat, Madikeri Fort and Omkareshwara Temple are the main attractions in Madikeri. Being a laid-back destination, Mercara/Madikeri offers visitors quite a comfy ambiance to shed all their anxieties.
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Nagarahole – Madikeri – Nisargadhama
This tour has the potential to become one of the most memorable weekend trips you ever took! Giving you the opportunity to explore the rich wildlife of Karnataka, this Nagarhole – Madikeri – Nisargadhama trip is ideal for nature and wildlife lovers. While one has the chance to seek the rich wildlife at Nagarhole National Park and Nisargadhama, one can also bask in the sun or walk on the lonely roads of Madikeri.
Nagarhole National Park is situated at a distance of 90kms from Mysuru; it is a place where one can see a large number of wildlife species including 250 species of birds. At Madikeri enjoy the rustic side of Karnataka and explore the rich architecture. As your last destination of this nature weekend tour, visit Nisargadhama, which is about 30kms from Madikeri. Nisargadhama or Kaveri Nisargadhama is an island formed by river Kaveri.
It is 64 acres of land that has lush foliage and can only be accessed through a hanging rope bridge. For someone who is a nature lover, there are deer, peacocks and rabbits to witness. Elephant rides and boating is also available.
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Shimsha – Male Mahadeshwara Hills – Biligiri Ranga Hills – Kyathadevara Gudi – Nanjangud – Mysore Palace
If you are keen on taking a nature tour along with performing a pilgrimage, the trip that combines Shimsha, Male Mahadeshwara Hills, Biligiri Ranga Hills, Kyathadevera, Nanjangud and Mysore Palace is ideal for you. Beginning from Shimsha in Mandaya district of Karnataka, one can begin the tour by witnessing the two very beautiful waterfalls called Gaganchukki and Barachukki Falls.
At a distance of about 91kms from Shimsha is the famous pilgrim town Male Mahadeshwara Hills. The town is known as the centre of Shaiva pilgrims. Apart from the temple, Male Mahadeshwara Hills is also known for its pristine beauty; a lush forest of sandalwood and bamboo can be found here and elephants can be seen in large numbers as well.
Another stop on this spectacular trip can be Biligiri Ranga Hills, which are also known as B R Hills. These hills are the part of a unique eco-system as it is located at a place where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet. At BR Hills is also the Tiger Reserve and wildlife sanctuary, which offers an interesting twist to the weekend tour. Situated in BR Hills is Kyathadevara Gudi or K.Gudi. It is a perfect place to spot wild animals and enjoy trekking. Resorts are available here and thus staying here is hassle free and full of fun.
From B R Hills one can drive to Mysore via Nanjangud, which is known for the temple called Srikanteshwara Temple. Nanjangud is also known as Dakshini Kashi and is famed for the wide variety of bananas found here.
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Belur – Chikmagalur – Mullayanagiri – Kemmannugundi
One can also plan for shorter trips that include both nature and spiritual destinations. One such trip can be from Belur to Kemmannugundi via Chikmagalur and Mullayanagiri. Belur is known for its temple complex built by Hoysala Kings. This place indeed opens the door for those in search of spiritual bliss and also have an interest in architecture.
From Belur, one can leave for Chikmagalur, which has the highest point of the state of Karnataka called Mullayanagiri. Chikamagalur is a scenic place and is known as the land of coffee. In the close proximity of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary lies Kemmannugundi, which is a beautiful hill station. Situated about 61kms from Chikamagalur, Kemmannugundi is known for gorgeous cascading mountain streams, and lush vegetation.
One can witness spectacular sunset view from the Raj Bhavan here. Z Point, Rose Garden, Hebbe Falls, Kallathi Falls and Mullayanagiri are the main attractions of this place. This trip from Belur to Kemmannugundi is indeed one of the best weekend trips one can plan!
Also Check Out: Popular Weekend Hill Station Tour Packages from Bangalore
Sigandhur and Jog Falls Tour
Spend your weekend exploring two of the most beautiful places in Karnataka. Sigandhur and Jog Falls are situated in the Sagar district of Karnataka; the two places are at a distance of about 45kms from each other. Sigandhur is a small village that has scenic backwaters of River Sharavathi and a temple called Sigandur Chowdeshwari Temple.
Jog Falls makes one of the best places for sightseeing in Karnataka. It is also reckoned to be one of the highest waterfalls in India. A weekend tour planned to explore these two destinations in Karnataka is truly worth it!
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Mysore – Srirangapatna – Brindavan Gardens – Nanjangud – Ooty – Coonoor – Doddabetta
A trip from Mysore in Karnataka to Doddabetta in Tamil Nadu can be counted amongst the most memorable weekend tours from Karnataka. You can head out for Srirangapatna (21kms from Mysore), which is famed for its temples and heritage. Ranganathaswamy temple is amongst the major attractions of Srirangapatna.
After taking a spiritual tour here, you can move on to see the exotic Brindavan Gardens. Lying in the adjoining area of Krishnarajasagara dam which is built across the river Kaveri, these gardens are a major tourist attraction. One has the opportunity to witness distinct variety of plants and trees here.
The colorful play of light over the fountains at night in Brindavan gardens in truly worth seeing. Stopping by another spiritual destination called Nanjangud is a good idea during this trip. Seeking the blessing at Srikanteshwara Temple, you can head to Ooty in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu.
Ooty is situated about 104kms away from Nanjangud and is famed as the Queen of the hill stations. A wonderful place to enjoy a weekend, Ooty is also the gateway to fascinating places like Coonoor and Doddabetta.
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All these places are close to each other with Ooty being only 18kms from Coonoor and 8kms from Doddabetta. Coonoor is a quiet hill station that will help you rejuvenate, whereas at Doddabetta you have the opportunity to witness the second highest peak in South India after Anamudi.
The entire trip promises to be a refreshing experience and can help motivate you to start the new week with a fresh mind.
Udupi – Agumbe – Kudremukh
To not just escape for a weekend, but also to explore a bucket-full of places in Karnataka and experience nature from different viewpoints, this best nature tour continually keeps you introducing to the amazement. You will explore various popular sites of Karnataka in Udupi, Agumbe, and Kudremukh.
56 kilometers from Mangalore, start from the coastal tourist destination Udupi, not just known for its temples but pristine seasides and nature. Explore the white sand beaches of Malpe or imitate the expedition of Vasco De Gama on St. Mary’s lush Island. Backed with coconut trees, these beautiful beaches and islands have unique monolith rock formations and sea wildlife. Perhaps find the time to tick out other spots like Kemmannu Hanging Bridge, Koup Lighthouse Beach, and Arbi Falls, and drive 60 kilometers from Udupi to the Agumbe.
Highly praised for its lush enigma of greenery, Agumbe is a beautiful vacation spot of Karnataka every person craves. It rains high in Agumbe, which makes it a beautiful nature paradise, especially for pluviophiles. Apart from the fact that the famous retro 80s TV show the ‘Malgudi Days’ was filmed here, Agumi is popular for things like the view from Sunset Point, and its waterfalls like the Barknar fall and Abbi waterfall. The Rainforest Research Station of Agumbe is a thick rainforest known for its extensive wildlife and soothing backdrop that cannot be missed if you are a nature appraiser.
Now make way for another perfect landscaping weekend destination in Karnataka – Kudremukh. Kudremukh is encircled by rolling hills of western Ghats and uncovers various trekking adventures for you to complete in a short time. Although 65 kilometers from Agumbe, you can stop by the cascading Kadambi Falls and Hanumana Gundi waterfall en-route to Kudremukh. Furthermore, Choose from various hiking options like the Kudremukh Summit, Gangadikar Peak, Kurinjal Trek, or Sita Bhumi Peak. One who just loves to explore the thickets can choose to spend time exploring Kudremukh National Park, its spectacular scenery, rolling hills, shola forest, meandering streams, animals, and birds.
Karkala – Kundadri Hill – Keladi – Honnemaradu – Banavasi
If you were longing for a weekend trip in Karnataka to refresh your senses, what could be better than spending some time in the pristine nature. Take a detour from daily hassle to Karkala, Kundadri Hill, Keladi, Honnemaradu, and Banvasi; a journey in the midst of charming nature, captivating views, fun activities, and exploring little history and culture too.
50 km from Mangalore and 362 km from Bengaluru, make Karkala your starting point. This rich-in-history destination has St. Lawrence Shrine, a Roman Catholic church from 1759 with brilliant architecture, colorful build, and pleasing aesthetics. There’s a hilltop Jain temple in Karkala with a 41 ft high statue of Lord Gomateshwara or Lord Bahubali carved from a single stone with a breathtaking 360° hilltop view of western ghats.
The next stop in your Karnataka weekend trip, Kundadri Hill, awaits 64 km from Karkala. In a relaxing realm of nature, a mild hike of 7 km, and you have a lot of beautiful pictures to describe after this trip. The 17th-century Jain temple with various monolithic statues and two beautiful emerald lakes creates a landscape of fantasy.
About a hundred kilometers ahead is Keladi, a town with a rich heritage. It was the capital of one of the most prosperous empires, the Keladi Empire. Visit Keladi Rameshwara temple, a heritage with flamboyant architecture and elegant detailing. Also, experience a smooth coracle ride or Kayaking, just 28 kilometers away from Keladi in spellbinding backwaters of Honnemardu in Karnataka.
Expect an introduction to the ancient heritage at the next stop, Banavasi. The town is landlocked between picturesque landscapes and remnants of ancient history. The 4th-century Madhukeshwara temple and the archaeological site of Gundapur village depict the long history influenced by various kingdoms like Kadamba, Chalukya, Hoysala, Sonda, and Vijayanagara.
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About the author
From the Lake District, Nainital, Nidhi Singh is a travel writer whose love for mountains can be seen in her write ups. Talk about solo travelling, indulging in adventure activities, binging on good food, planning budget trips or the Aurora Borealis and you will get all her attention. It is the wanderlust that keeps her going and if at all she could get one wish granted she would love to live a life less ordinary. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.
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