Places to visit near Bangalore
For the travel-bugs I have compiled a list of places around Bangalore that are worth paying visit over the weekends. The places here are ideal for the ones who want to go somewhere but do not have enough time to travel long distances. They require a max of 4-5 hours drive. So, wake up on a Saturday morning and drive out. Anyone who can contribute with some other noteworthy places, please add to the list. i will also try to provide pictures for each of them. If you have any images, do add them.
Bannerghatta National Park (22km)
The park is situated in a picturesque surrounding with a variety of fauna, at Anekal Road. The main attractions are bisons, Elephants, Baboons, Panthers, Jackals and Lion taled Monkeys. The park has a snake park and lion and tiger safari.
Open 0900 – 1200, 1400 – 1700, Closed on Tuesday. It covers a 100 sq km, has a lion and tiger ‘safari’ in a ‘caged’ car. The park also offers elephant rides.
Channapatna (60km)
Channapatna is a wonder land of wooden toys. Every person in this town is involved in some aspect of making colourful lacquer wooden toys.
Mekedatu (98km)
It is a beautiful picnic spot were river Cauvery offers an unforgettable site. It tumbles down majestically through a deep ravine, on top of which is a chasm around 5meters wide, narrow enough for a goat to leak across. Mekedatu is on Kanakapura Road.
Ramohalli (28km)
A little away from the city is Ramohalli, a picturesque picnic spot, that boasts of a 400-year old sprawling banyan tree, spread over 4 acres. The region around Bangalore is dotted with gigantic rock formations, the two notable ones being Shivaganga (4599 ft. high) and Savandurga. The latter used to be a fortress and the hideout of Kempe Gowda.
Hesaraghatta (25km)
Hesaraghatta has an artificial lake, a dairy and a horticulture farm. Baoting & windsurfing are the other attractions. Also here is the famous ‘Nrityagrama’ where young dancers are trained al disciplines of traditional dance.
Shivaganga(56kms)
An interesting hill with four faces, rising to a height of 4599ft looks like a Nandi from the East, Ganesh from the West, A Linga from the South and Cobra with it hood spread from the North side. It is accessible by road.
Shivanasamudram
The picturesque waterfalls, the Ganganchukki and the Bharachukki, cascade down 90 meters. These falls are the source of Asia’s first Hydro Electric Power Statin called “Shimsa”. The falls are in full splendour during July-August. The falls are 22 km from the Bangalore.
Hogenekkal Falls (140km)
These are also known as the ‘smoking rocks’ because of the mist. At the bottom of the 90ft water falls, one can ride in a coracle.
Devarayanadurga (60 kms)
This is a hill station of Tumkur road perched at a height of 3940 feet. A few kilometers from foot of the hills is a natural spring called “Namada Chilume”. On the Bangalore /Mumbai national Highway near Dobbospet (50km) take a right turn and proceed to devarayanadurga.
Kolar Gold Fields
98 Km east of the city and south of Kolar town. Prior permission is required to visit the field. Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Banglore can arrange the permission. Visitors are Permitted only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from October to February. Children below 10 years are not permitted. It is world’s deepest gold mine. It is 2,400 meter below the surface and oldest in the country.
Srirangapatna
15 kms from Mysore is the old capital of Tipu Sultan, Srirangapatna. Its fort bears witness to the Tiger of Mysore’s last battle against the British. His mausoleum, the Gumbaz, which sports ivory inlaid doors and the famous tiger-striped emblem is also nearby. Near Srirangapatna is the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.
Somnathpur
40 kms away from Mysore is the Somnathpur Temple, a star-shaped structure built in 1260 A.D, an outstanding example of Hoysala architecture.
Ramanagaram
49 kms from Bangalore city, Ramanagaram is famous for its rock formations, a great attraction for rock climbers. Ramanagaram is also an important silk cocoon market.
Hassan
194 kms from Bangalore is Hassan, from where one can go to Belur, Halebid and Shravanabelagola. Shravanabelagola is a famous Jain pilgrimage with a 17m high monolith of lord Bahubali standing tall.
Nice piece of info. But one correction, its Shivasamudra, not Shivanasamudram. And its 140 KMs from Bangalore, not 22 KMs
More nitpicking: Actually its Shivanasamudra. Literally Shiva’s Sea.
Nope its Shivasamudra, after the village’s name near Gaganachukki and Bharachukki falls.
And to the list we can add —
Savanadurga – a nice place for rock climbing – approx 65 KMs
Nandi
Devarayanadurga – around 70KMs
Kanva reservoir – Donno the distance.
Shivanasamudra(m):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivanasamudra
http://www.karnataka.com/tourism/panaroma/
Amit, IIRC, one has to ride these really rickety ancient buses to get to the actual mekedaatu spot. I even sat on a bus roof there!
Guru Prashanta,
Shiva-samudra allappa. Aathara Kannadalli padane illappa!
Translation:
We dont have the word Shiva-samudra in kannada
(mainly because its disjoint and doesnt make any sense).
What we do have is ShivaNAsamudra – which, as Ambar says, means, literally, Shiva’s Sea/The Sea of Shiva.
(the ShivanasamudraM maybe be due to Nadugannada – Medeival Kannada)
Oops, should be:
Kannadadalli*
Very good listing. I myself have been to quite a few spots. Actually, we should categorize this on basis of seasonal variations. I have seen Shivanasamudram in summer and post-monsoon. I can never forget the post-monsoon effect on the falls and the surrounding areas. Similarly Talakkad is half as beautiful as it is post monsoon.
At Srirangapatna, one can also visit Kaveri Sangama. Supposedly 3 rivers join over there, but you can see only two at this location. The 3rd river joins much upstream.
I would also recommend Nandi Hills and Nandi Village.
BTW – Hogenakkal Falls is just 140 kms from Bangalore? Am not too sure. Maybe it is 140 kms from Mysore. From Bangalore, it is surely in excess of 250 kms.
Thanks for the info! Have made a note to visit as many of them after my return back to Bangalore! Cheers!
Continuing on Ambar’s observation about the rickety bus to Mekedatu, i have few questions. What is the amount one has to pay to use that bus? what if there aren’t enough co-passengers at that particular time? Also, does one have to pay to park a vehicle on the ‘public’ side of the river at Sangama (before proceeding to Mekedatu)? I am asking all these as I have had a bad experience there about every tom, dick and harry coming up with some kind of ‘ticket’ written only kannada and asking for astronomical sums for parking, using the bus etc. etc. Is there any site which provides such information – how much to pay, where to pay and which are free/public access areas and which are not? TIA guys.
Its Shivanasamudra, 120 km from bangalore Really one of the best waterfall I have ever seen.
Hogenekkel is around 165 km from bangalore
Route is Bangalore – Hosur – Krishnagiri – Dharmapuri – Hogenekkal.
In mekedatu there is no official Parking. But some locals are asking for some Rs 10 or so for parking a two wheeler. And regarding the bus, its not more than 20/head. Usually they start service when passengers are full. If u go on holidays u can see a lot of visiters. So dont worry abt the bus service. Ofcourse they will allow u to travel on top of those buses.