Monsoons are the best time to visit areas around Bangalore because of its many waterfalls. Car rentals in Bangalore will give you the best rides to enjoy the amazing landscape around these hotspots:
Chikmagalur is around 250 km from Bangalore by road via:
1. NH 7: Shortest, 4.5 hours covering picturesque Hassan town and the historic Belur town. 2. NH 75 and 73: 5 hours covering Belur and Halebid cities. 3. NH 48: 6 hours, best if you want amazing views of the landscape here. On the way, you can check out Kunigal, Begur lake, religious abode Adichunchungiri, Shravanabelagola, famous Jain Gomateshwara statue, Gorur Dam on river Hemavathi and Drowning Church that literal drown during rains. Other tourist attractions are Mullayangiri, tallest peak in Karnataka; Baba Budangiri peak named after Muslim saint Baba Budan, coffee plantations; Kemmangundi hill station; Hebbe Falls; sunset Z point; rafting hotspot River Bhadra.
If you love adventures, you can also take a tougher ride to Shettihalli church on Halebidu-Belur route.
Skandagiri is a hill station (1400 altitude) 60-70 km from Bangalore. Take a day taxi trip via NH-7 Hyderabad-Bangalore highway with a travel time of around 1.2 to 1.5 hours. Fantasy Golf Resort is a good place to stay on NH7 because Chikkballapur does not have its own accommodation. You will find few tea stalls and small snack shacks for refreshments on the way.
Places to eat in Chikkballapur are Hotel Aditya, Hotel Babuji and B.K. Restaurant. It is ideal for early morning sunrise point treks, camping and bird watching amid its banyan trees and lush greenery that becomes more gorgeous during rains.
Famous sightseeing spots are Tipu Sultan’s fort, Papagni Matt (Kalawara village temple), two caves, 6 Samadhis.
November to February is the best times to visit.
Savandurga Hills is Asia’s biggest monolithic rock. It is around 50-60 km from Bangalore, off Magadi road. A monsoon trip in a cab is awesome amidst the Savandurga reserved forest, Magadi. There are two routes that one can take via road, for this trip:
1. Savanadurga – Manchnabele Road: Takes 1 h 34 min; 55.6 km stretch.
2. SH 3: Time taken is 1 h 44 min and distance covered is 69.3 km.
Savandurga is a favourite destination of rock climbers. You can trek up the hills after parking your car below. Once on the top, you will love the river landscape below, views of Manchanda bele reservoir and can seek blessings at two architecturally-rich ancient temples of two Hindu Gods. You can also take a night ride by car to the base camp and safely park the car there.
One the way you can stop at Thippagondanahalli Reservoir, Thirumale temple, the lotus-filled lake at the foothills, and folk museum. Summers are too hot for treks here, monsoons area ideal as the greenery is at its best in the forest areas.
Dandeli must be travelled by road as it does not have a railway station of its own. The nearest station ate either at Belgaum, Londa, Alnavar, Dharwar or Hubli. Once you hit the road in a taxi or a cab you will not regret it.
There are 3 routes:
1. NH48: 7 h 52 min (463.4 km)
2. NH150A and NH48: 9 h 37 min (526.9 km)
3. Bangalore – Hyderabad Highway/Srinagar – Kanyakumari Highways and NH48: 9 h 54 min (550.7 km)
En route you can also visit Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary on River Kali (Supa Dam), monolithic granite Syntheri Rock, Kavala Caves, Jeep Safari, Sathodi Falls, Magod Falls.
Take a taxi to Bangalore and get started!!!
