Weekend travel
Chikmagalur weekend trip from Bangalore
Chikmagalur is a weekend getaway from Bangalore that feels far enough to be a real escape and close enough to reach in a morning. The drive is the part to plan well. Here is how to get there, when to leave, and how to use a Saturday and a Sunday without spending them in the car.
How to get there
- By car: about 245 to 250 km, usually 5 to 5.5 hours. The fastest route is NH 75 via Kunigal, Channarayapatna, Hassan and Belur. Other routes via Tiptur and Halebidu, or via Tumkur and Kadur, can be longer or narrower.
- By bus: KSRTC and private buses run from Bangalore via Hassan and Belur, usually taking about 4.5 to 5.5 hours.
- By train: Chikmagalur has its own railway station, but only a few trains run from it. A daily unreserved train links it to Yesvantpur in Bengaluru, and the journey is long, around 6.5 hours. Many travellers take a faster train to Kadur, about 40 km away, and then a bus or taxi for around 45 minutes. Check current timetables before you plan.
Check traffic before you travel. Our how to reach us page has directions for the last stretch into the hills.
A Saturday to Sunday plan
Leave Bangalore by about 5 or 6 AM to beat the traffic. Stop for breakfast around Hassan or Belur. The Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebidu are worth a stop if you have time.
Reach your stay, settle in and have lunch. Keep the afternoon light, as the drive is tiring.
Go to a nearby viewpoint for sunset, then enjoy a bonfire if your stay has one.
Go up Mullayanagiri while the air is clear. Add Seethalayyanagiri or Baba Budangiri if you have energy. See places to visit near Mullayanagiri.
Have a late lunch and start back by about 2 PM. Sunday evening traffic into Bangalore can be heavy.
Making a weekend work
- Pick one peak and one other stop, not five. Hills and roads are slow.
- If you can, take Friday evening or Monday morning off. A late Friday departure gives you a full Saturday.
- Book your stay early on long weekends and from October to February.
- Download offline maps. Signal can be patchy on hill roads.
- Carry what you need. Some stays are far from shops. See what to pack.
- Budget for fuel, tolls, a stay and a couple of jeeps. See the trip budget guide.
If you have a third day
Add a waterfall or a jeep safari and head back on Monday morning. Our 2-day itinerary and the waterfall guide show what fits. For the best season, see the best time to visit Chikmagalur.
Plan your weekend getaway
Tell us your dates and group size and we will help with timings and local plans. See our stay options, experiences and tariff. The last 150 metres to our house is a mud road, so we will guide you in.