One of the best parts about living in Bangalore is the plethora of options you have, for day trips from Bangalore. Doesn’t even require a lot of planning. You can just simply hop on your bike and ride away to one of the many escapades in Karnataka. If you’ve lived in Bangalore long enough, we know the struggle of choosing which place to ride down to. So let’s check out some of the must visit places, in different directions from Bangalore.
Here are five of our favorite one day bike trips from Bangalore that you should consider for your next adventure.
Ramanagara
Probably the easiest one in the list, considering it’s just around 48 kms away from Bangalore, on Mysore Road. So you will need approximately one hour to reach. That of course doesn’t include the infamous Bangalore traffic. One of the best parts about visiting Ramanagara is you have so much to do there. You can check out the Sholay Hills. Yes, the site where the famous bollywood movie Sholay was shot.
The site is also famous for Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary. It’s really amazing for birdwatching and also for being the only vulture sanctuary in India. Best part is, just another 30-40 minutes ride away lies the Kanva Reservoir. The peaceful vibes surrounding this artificial lake is really uplifting. Especially considering it’s such a short ride away from Bangalore. You could easily spend a couple of hours here
Ramangara also has plenty of good restaurants. So you don’t have to worry about starving. If you’re looking to splurge a little, you could always go to Rasta Cafe, which is just about 15-20 minutes away from the Sholay Hilltop site.
Shivanasamudra Falls
Along the same Mysore road, if you go further ahead, you can reach this beautiful island town. Shivanasamudra Falls is about 131 kms away and can take you around 3 hours to reach. The road leading to the town is great but the site is pretty spectacular. Here the Kaveri River is divided into two waterfalls as the island town runs directly through it. You also have the option of enjoying a fun Coracle Boat ride here on the Kaveri River.
You can also go checkout the Ranganathaswamy Temple. Don’t miss the hydro-electric power station of Shivanasamudra. You might need to arrange for a permit beforehand to get entry. There are options for snacks and a few local eateries so you should be fine in that regard. If you love seafood, there are a couple of really good joints which sell delicious seafood. Then again, you can always pack your own food if you prefer it that way.
You can easily spend 2-3 hours here and enjoy the greenery surrounding you. The town is perfect for adventure lovers and nature lovers. And after riding for around 3 hours, Shivanasamudra Falls can be really refreshing.
Chitradurga
A city that’s situated to the north of Bangalore. Visiting Chitradurga on a one day bike trip can be really fun, given what lies ahead. History buffs will especially love the archeological site Chandravalli Caves and the Chitradurga Fort. Take your time to explore the archaeological site and the lake surrounding it. Do charge your phone completely, as the cave will require your phone’s flashlight. If you have a portable torch, you could carry that.
Then just about 10-15 minutes away from Chandravalli Caves, you will come across the Chitradurga Fort. A fort that has been around since centuries, the way it spreads across various hilltops is a phenomenal sight. You can easily spend 2 hours exploring the fort and the several temples within the fort. Getting a taste of Karnataka’s heritage is well worth the ride, which is enjoyable in its own way. The National Highway 48 will make sure of that.
Overall, it will take you about 3 and a half hours to reach Chitradurga, for a distance of approximately 202 kms. Finding a place to eat here wouldn’t be a problem too. There are many good restaurants that serve delicious food.
Yelagiri Hills
This particular bike ride is a great opportunity to ride to one of the neighbouring states of Karnataka. Yelagiri is a hill station to the south of Bangalore that’s situated in Tamil Nadu. The roads are in really good condition and you get to enjoy a 6-lane road for most part. There’s also a certain charm about riding past the little villages. Quite frankly, these roads are a rider’s dreams, especially when you start riding uphill.
Keep in mind that there’s not really a lot of activities you can engage in at Yelagiri Hills. But the place is undoubtedly a perfect peaceful escape for you to just relax and be pampered by nature for some time. You can also visit the scenic Yelagiri Lake. They also have boating services, so you can experience that if it’s your thing. One place you should definitely visit is the Jalagamparai Waterfalls if you’re looking for some thrill. The place is fantastic.
Getting to Yelagiri Hills is also not too long a ride. Should take you approximately 3 hours from Bangalore, for a distance of approximately 150 kms. The roads are really good so it doesn’t even feel like three hours.
Sakleshpur
Another hill station that’s located to the west of Bangalore, at a distance of approximately 225kms. The ride would take you around 4 hours. This is the longest ride on the list and is well worth it. You first start off at the highway with primarily 4 lane roads. But then as you start ascending, you feel as though you’re riding through a forest. The curvy roads of the hills are simply stunning. You also feel the difference in temperature.
Once you reach here, you can explore the Manjarabad Fort. It’s a pretty cool fortification which was built by Tipu Sultan using fired bricks, granite stones and lime mortar. The fort is also known as Star Fort because of the entire structure of the site that has. You will definitely enjoy the road leading to the fort. Keep in mind that it will be a little rough in small patches. But the backdrop of your ride will be green and serene.
You should also go check out the Mookana Mane Waterfalls (Abbi Falls). It might take you another hour to reach there, but trust us, it will be worth it.
Honourable Mentions
Nandi Hills: If you live in Bangalore, you’ve either been here or you’ve been planning to go here. One of the most famous places amongst Bangaloreans. It’s a very short ride away. Just about 62 kms which you can cover in an hour and a half. While you’re there, you can also visit the Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple.
Vani Vilasa Sagara Dam: It’s a really famous place that’s always on the bucket list of those living in and around Bangalore. What makes Vani Vilasa Sagara Dam is that it’s the oldest dam in Karnataka. It’s around 182kms away from Bangalore. It’s also a place you can combine with Chitradurga if you have the time.
See also: Bangalore to Mysore | Bangalore to Hampi
Useful Resource: Cheap Bike Rentals in Bangalore
