Did you know that Bangalore is at a 100 feet greater height than Mysore? If you actually notice, your vehicle consumes more fuel to come from Mysore to Bangalore than the other way around. There are a lot of places to visit on the highway but some definitely goes unseen.
In this post, you will learn about the pit stops you can make in places which serve great beauty and peaceful atmosphere, which are often very easily missed out of your itineraries. There are two major routes to travel from Bangalore to Mysore/Vice Versa. The distances of these two routes are not far apart. But they do have very different places on their ways to visit.
Quick Navigation :
Route 1 (via Mysore Road) & the Places to Visit
Route 2 (via Kanakapura Road) & the Places to Visit
Route 1: Via Mysore Road/ NH275
The distance through this route is approximately 145 kms and takes 3 hours to reach with usual traffic considered. It travels through the below towns.
Bangalore -> Bidadi -> Ramanagara -> Channapatna -> Maddur -> Mandya -> Srirangapatna -> Mysore
Quick Navigation : Places to Visit on this Route
1. Manchanabele Dam
2. Big Banayan Tree
3. Savanadurga
4. Kanva Reservoir
5. Ramadevara Betta
6. Narayanagiri Betta
7. Janapada Loka
8. Brahmalingeshwara Betta
9. Kunti Betta
10. Melukote
11. Ranganathittu
12. Kokkare Bellur
13. Tipu Summer Palace
14. Balmuri & Yedmuri Falls
15. Kari Ghatta
16. Nimishamba Temple
17. Gosai Ghat
18. The Most Obvious Places
1. Manchanabele Dam
It is 40 kms from Bangalore, with a slight deviation near Kengeri – Suburb of Bangalore. The dam is built across Arkavathi river. The water reflecting sunshine, greenery around and away from the busy city, it ranks as a perfect spot to spend a peaceful evening.
The dam water can be accessed by its backwater via Magadi road. There are water sporting activities like boating, etc. The place is made for bird enthusiasts. Birdwatchers are in for a treat. The species of bird that can be spotted are Blue Kingfisher, Purple Heron, Ringed Plover, Booted Wobbler, Pied Bush-cat and many more. It also makes it a very good picnic spot for people wanting to enjoy the scenery.
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2. Dodda Alada Mara (Big Banayan Tree)
It is 28 kms from Bangalore. The tree is the biggest in the whole of Karnataka. It is 400 years old and occupies 3 acres of land. The canopy of the tree is the best for one-day picnics, family outings and relaxing.
It houses variety of birds and a very large number of monkeys. It is best to stay aware at all times when it comes to personal belongings. The soil here has remained consistent for years and serves for research by botanists. The cool atmosphere and off the busy roads has made it a pretty famous tourist attraction.
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3. Savanadurga
Considered to be one of the largest monolith hills in India, Savanadurga is located 46 kms from Bangalore. You can deviate at Hanchikuppe via Mysore road. The hill is in the middle of nature and makes a good one day adventure. Leopards and variety of birds are very often spotted.
Savanadurga is known to be a trekking spot. It is nearly a 700 to 950 feet, not so difficult climb to the top. The trek is 2 kms one way which can be completed in a day’s time. When you ascend to the top, you can find a fortress built by Kempegowda – II. The climb can be tricky during monsoon, but other than that it is a perfect place for an adventure enthusiast.
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4. Kanva Reservoir
It is located at 69 kms from Bangalore. A deviation of 8 kms from Kengal Anjaneya Temple, Ramanagara. Kanva reservoir is an artificial lake built for irrigation purposes and spans for 15 kms in length. The lake rarely stores water to its full capacity, hence bikes and cars can reach closer to the water.
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5. Ramadevara Betta
It is 50 kms from Bangalore and about 3 kms off the Highway from Ramanagara. More famously known as ‘Sholay Spot’, the blockbuster Bollywood movie Sholay was shot here among these huge boulders. The hill is 3000 ft above the ground and gives a beautiful view of the green surroundings.
Did you know that this place was declared as ‘India’s first Vulture Sanctuary’? It is because it nests endangered Long Billed Vultures. Even though the numbers are not as big as it were decades ago, it has remained constant for the past few years.
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6. Narayanagiri Betta
Located approximately 20 kms from Ramanagara is Jalamangala. Narayanagiri hills is a hill lesser known. The ascend will take anytime upto 45 mins – 1 hour. The climb is pretty steep and needs one to hold onto the branches or anything available there.
The ascend and descend of this hill are on two different sides, each steeper in their own way. The cool breeze, thrilling technical climbs and the fact that it is lesser known to people makes it a place perfect to explore.
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7. Janapada Loka
It is located in Ramanagara (approximately 53 kms from Bangalore) and you can spot this place on the main Highway itself. Janapada Loka in Kannada means ‘Folk World’. And as the name suggests, it is a folk museum that has a display of folk arts of Karnataka. It preserves the cultural essence of Karnataka folk and promotes the same to everyone visiting here.
The displays here include life-size dolls of artists who perform Yakshagana, Veeragase and other folk dances of Karnataka. It also houses creative old-school hand-looms, housewares, rustic agricultural equipments and artifacts related to traditional folk music, festivals and literature.
Famous festivals like Dussera and traditional Kite festivals are celebrated here where artists from different parts of Karnataka take part. The place also has a eatery joint which serves authentic North Karnataka food. Something everybody should try and savor on. They also have complexes selling regional food treats and a peaceful environment to sit back and relax in the greenery.
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8. Brahmalingeshwara Betta
This hill is located in Doddabyadarahalli village which is 13 kms from Mandya district. It is 400 meters from above the ground and has steps to reach the top. The view is a panoramic giving a glimpse of the paddy and sugarcane fields of Mandya.
The village has the biggest coconut market in India. It also houses artisans who design and manufacture wooden toys which is exported throughout the country. The Kite festival and their annual Jatre (a traditional festival exclusive for the village) can be witnessed in the months of July and October.
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9. Kunti Betta
The place has a historical importance to it. It is named Kunti Betta because it is believed that Kunti, the mother of Pandavas took shelter here during her exile. Located right in the middle of sugarcane, paddy and coconut trees in Pandavapura village of Mandya, this hill provides one of the best views.
During monsoon season, a green lake is formed at the foot of the hills and is called ‘Kunti Kund’. There is also a temple at the top of the hill. The Pujari of this temple reside in a cave that was used by the Pandavas. Trekking is an option chosen by visitors here. The trek is a steep climb among huge boulders and rocks.
There is a lake called ‘Thonnur Lake’, 10 kms from Kunti Betta Peak. It is the source of water for the nearby villages there. The lake is used for water sport activities and can be reached after the trek.
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10. Melukote
Melukote is located in Pandavapura of Mandya district, 55 kms away from Mysore and 130 kms from Bangalore. It is considered a sacred place and is believed that Ramanuja stayed here for 12 years. The temple Cheluvanarayana is famous for its precious jewels collection which is only brought out during special occasions. It is also believed that Lord Rama has visited this temple.
This rocky fortress is a part of numerous movies and because of its close proximity of major cities, it has become a famous religious/tourist site. The Melukote temple sanctuary protects grey wolves. Birds are found in abundance and is a treat for bird watchers.
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11. Ranganathittu
This largest bird sanctuary in Karnataka is located in Mandya district. The islets in Ranganathittu were formed by a wall built across the Kaveri river. It soon started to attract birds in very large numbers and became their main nesting ground.
They roughly have around 170 species of birds. There are boating facilities available for visitors around the islets. The sanctuary is open from 9 AM to 6 PM and offers a calm surrounding with plenty of colorful birds around.
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12. Kokkare Bellur
Kokkare is the name for Painted Stork in Kannada language. It is located in Mandya district and is 800 meters from the west of river Shimsha. Pelicans and Storks have been coming here to breed for hundreds of years. the story has it that during the Plague in 1916, an entire village had to relocate from across the river and these birds followed the village people.
The main occupation of the people here is agriculture and the bird’s droppings are widely used as manure in this village. The best time to visit might be from November to June where the birds are seen maximum. This co-existence between nature and humans is a must visit.
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13. Tipu Sultan’s Summer palace
Located in Srirangapatna, it is the Summer palace very similar to the one at Bangalore and is also the place where Tipu Sultan faced his death. The entire palace represents perfectly the Indo-Islamic architecture.
It is now a museum to the public. The displays include old inscriptions, Tipu’s clothing and weaponary. It is a two-storey building and the top floor has 4 rooms which was exclusively built for the women of the Royal family. The outside of the palace has abundant greenery, fountains and an atmosphere apt to suit the summer heat of Southern India.
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14. Balmuri & Yedmuri Falls
These two man made check-dams are located in Srirangapatna and are 1 km away from each other. Balmuri means ‘turn right’ and Yedmuri means ‘turn left’ in Kannada language. The water flow turns the respective directions from their points in Srirangapatna and hence the names.
This place is an ideal spot for picnics and family outings. The water falls down from a height of just 6 feet forming a soft sheet. Visitors can walk along the stream of water and this particular reason is why the location is a part of many regional language movies.
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15. Karighatta
Karighatta translates to ‘Elephant Hill’ in Kannada language. Located in Srirangapatna, this hill is 2700 feet high and is accessible in two ways. To reach the hill top, you can use the Karighatta road in your vehicles or choose to climb 450 steps.
On the top there is a temple dedicated to Lord Srinivasa and the panoramic view of Srirangapatna, Mysore and Kaveri river is absolutely beautiful. The hill also has a forest full of tamarind and gooseberry trees.
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16. Nimishamba Temple
One of the very famous temples, it is located a few kms after Srirangapatna. The temple is situated on the banks of river Kaveri and is 300 years old. ‘Nimisha’ means minute in Kannada. The people believe that they will be relieved off their problems within minutes after praying here, and hence the name Nimishamba. The temple’s old architecture and ceremonies celebrated has made it come under the HR&CE of Mysore state of Karnataka.
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17. Gosai Ghat
Pashchima Vahini, Sangama and Gosai Ghat are like the triangle that has to be visited in Srirangapatna. They are all situated at the bank of river Kaveri. If Pashchima Vahini is a branch of Kaveri river, Sangama is the place where two branches of this river meets. Gosai Ghat is in the upstream of Sangama and is a picnic spot for many people. Karighatta hill in the backdrop and a river in the front, makes it a spot worthy to spend a peaceful day.
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18. The Most Obvious Places
1. Wonderla Amusement Park – The largest chain of amusement parks in India, they have 3 operations in Hyderabad, Kochi and the biggest one yet in Bangalore. Located in Bidadi, 28 kms from Bangalore, Wonderla has a great variety of dry high rides and water rides to choose from.
2. Innovative Film City – It is an Indian movie theme park, located in Bidadi, 40 kms away from Bangalore. The 58 acres of property has 3 divisions. One if you are looking to walk around explore and relax, second if you want to get involved in the amusement park games and third to see the world of glamour and movies.
3. Heritage Wine Tour – Located in Ramanagara, it it a perfect day out for all the wine lovers. Visitors will experience the whole wine making process right from the fermentation to the bottling of the wine. You can participate in tasting 6 different variety of wines, savor in an all European-Indian lunch and get a tour of the vineyard.
Route 2: via Kanakapura Road/ NH948
Bangalore -> Kanakapura -> Malavalli -> Bannur -> Harohalli -> Chikkahalli -> Mysore
Quick Navigation : Places to Visit on this Route
1. Bheemeshwari camp
2. Mekedatu & Sangama
3. Muthyala Maduva
4. Chunchi Falls
5. Shivanasamudra
6. Talakadu
7. Somnathapura
8. Thotti Kallu Falls (TK Falls)
9. Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta
1. Bheemeshwari Camp
It is at a distance of around 105 kms from Bangalore. Located in Malavalli Taluk of Mandya district, it takes about an hour to two to reach. It is a nature, adventure and a fishing camp, perfect for a short getaway of about 1 or 2 days. With its very close proximity to river Kaveri and wide forest around, it is often visited by nature and bird lovers looking for some adventure in the side.
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2. Mekedatu & Sangama
You can reach these two places with a diversion after Kanakapura for 33 kms. Mekedatu in Kannada means ‘A Goat’s Leap’. Story has it that, a goat once took a leap across the narrow flow of water trying to escape from a Tiger. And the tiger did not, avoiding the risk. Hence the name. It is at a distance of about 95 kms from Bangalore and is considered to be one of the most famous spots for a weekend getaway. River Kaveri flows here in the narrow ridges sculpting rocks and flowing ferociously.
Sangama is 4 kms ahead of Mekedatu and also makes a perfect weekend getaway. Sangama is where river Kaveri and river Arkavathi meet. The water flow is gorgeous at all times of the year. But in monsoon, the flow might be a bit too strong for a swim.
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3. Muthyala Maduva
It is a 28 kms diversion from Harohalli, located 40 kms from Bangalore and 5 kms from Anekal. This place is also called the ‘Pearl Valley’. The name means pearl droplets of water into a pond. The place is very secluded and is amidst hills. The water fall is nestled in a valley surrounded by greenery. To reach the water falls, it is a climb of approximately 100 steps. If this does not seem like a place to spend a day peacefully, I don’t know what else does.
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4. Chunchi Falls
En route to Mekedatu and Sangama, it is 83 kms from Bangalore. Falling from a height of 50 feet, the water to this falls is fed by river Arkavathi. It is tucked away from the city and makes a good one day visit. Due to its close proximity to the city and its uniqueness, there are quite a big number of visitors planning a quick road trip or a bike ride to this place.
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5. Shivanasamudra
Famous for its stunning waterfalls, it is at a distance of 130 kms from Bangalore with a detour near Malavalli district. This island of Shivanasamudra divides river Kaveri into two streams. Gaganachukki and Barachukki. The place is a rocky terrain and the waterfalls is at its best form in the monsoon season. Asia’s first hydroelectric power station was set up in this falls. So this place is good if you are looking for some trekking, some fishing or just a one day outing.
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6. Talakadu
A detour from Malavalli, Talakadu is a group of temples on the bank of river Kaveri. It has around 30 temples which are buried deep in the sand. This mysterious place is rich in cultural history and attracts visitor from all across. The temples buried in sand are excavated once in 12 years for the special puja, ‘Panchalinga Darshana’. This heritage town is now a chef’s secret. It has exotic wine making factories, horticulture and is a home for diverse Asian cuisines. This place is a package of everything nice for a weekend getaway.
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7. Somnathapura
At a distance of 38 kms from Mysore, the deviation from Malavalli district will lead you to this historic Somnathapura temple. It is a beautiful illustration of the Hoysala architecture. Eight places in the temple are inscribed with date and narrations of the Hoysala dynasty. The most detailed intricate work is a feast to the eyes of people who love history and architecture.
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8. Thotti Kallu Falls (TK Falls)
It is 35 kms from Bangalore and is most visited by college students because of its very close proximity to the city. A reasonable amount of trekking is required to reach the waterfalls and once you do, a cold dip in the water and drying yourself out on one of the rocks is irresistible.
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9. Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta
Located just 16 kms from Kanakapura town, this hill is a sought out trekking spot. The trek goes through a forest and then a stairway to reach the hill top with great views. It can be called an off-beat location that is not preferred by the normal crowd. It comes under the Karnataka Forest Department and one needs permission to get through to the top. Night treks is a famous activity often hosted in this place. The hill top is a peaceful setting for beautiful sunsets and breezy weather.
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Very well articulated! Definitely gonna visit kunti betta.