12 Favourite Picnic Spots Near Bangalore

No matter how much you love the city, you do need a break every once in a while. And Bangalore has much to offer in this department. You’ve got hills that you could reach in under two hours, a riverside spot you could get to in just three hours and much else.

Whether you want to hang out with family, friends or just your spouse, the areas around Bangalore has you covered. Here are the top picnic spots near Bangalore.

Best Picnic Spots Near Bangalore

1. Nandi Hills

Would this be a good list if Nandi Hills wasn’t at the top? Nandi Hills is the go-to destination for many residing in and visiting Bangalore, because of its scenic locales and breathtaking beauty.

Nandi Hills was once the summer house of King Tipu Sultan, who absolutely adored the scenery and, in particular, the sunrise that Nandi Hills has to offer. Enroute to Nandi Hills, one can also visit the Bhoganandishwara Temple.

Unknown to many, Nandi hills also houses a small vineyard near the village of Nandi that one can visit and understand the various processes of winemaking. Head over for a day-long picnic with great weather and beautiful scenery. The absolutely best picnic spot near Bangalore.

• Location: Nandi Hills
• Distance from Bangalore: 60 kilometres

Also Read : Places to Hangout in Bangalore

2. Talakadu

Talakadu is situated on the banks of the river Cauvery, and is also known as the “Kashi of South India” since it attracts a lot of Hindu Pilgrims from all over the country. The quaint little city is known for its temples that are buried under the sand.

Legend has it that a Vijaynagar queen placed a curse on this once thriving city and the entire city was submerged under colossal amounts of sand. Despite its dark past, the city attracts the attention of many and can be a spot for a picnic, particularly if you’re interested in a bit of history. The ideal time to visit is during the day between September and February.

• Location: Talakadu
• Distance from Bangalore: 133 kilometres

3. Ramanagara

Ramanagara is known as the silk town or silk city because of the thriving sericulture industry that is based out of this town. Ramanagara, however, is not just known for its silk; it is also famous amongst many cinephiles as the shooting location for the enormous 1970s hit ‘Sholay’, which has gained a cult status and has a massive fan following.

The city also houses many caves and attracts explorers and regular tourists. You can explore the caves, recreate your favorite moments from the movie, and even try out some of the adventure sports offered by companies in the area.

• Location: Ramanagara
• Distance from Bangalore: 55 kilometres
  

Must Read : Water Parks in Bangalore

4. Hogenakkal Waterfalls

Hogenakkal falls near Dharmapuri is a famous waterfall visited by many. The name when translated from kanna literally means “smoky rock” or “smoky mountain”, which is the effect that it gives of when massive amounts of water hits the carbonite rocks.

Besides being one of the most scenic waterfalls, it also is known for its medicinal baths that many people believe to cure certain types of ailments. Due to the tremendous force of the water flowing here, it is generally advised not to enter the waterfalls; however, in the offseason, the local forest department allows visitors to not only get into the water but even go coracle riding.

The falls are located on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border and is formed where the Cauvery River enters the state of Karnataka.

• Location: Chamarajnagar
• Distance from Bangalore: 180 kilometres

5. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Located approximately 130 kilometres from Bangalore, Ranganathittu is a famous bird sanctuary that is sure to wake up the ornithologist in you. The sanctuary is known for being home to some of the most exotic and endangered species. Some of the species of birds that can be spotted here are storks, herons, partridges, ibises and egrets.

Besides being a bird sanctuary, it is also home to a variety of crocodiles and otters. If you’re lucky enough, you might be able to actually spot one. The best time to visit the place is during the monsoon season and during the winters.

• Location: Mandya
• Distance from Bangalore: 135 kilometres

Also Read : Road Trip from Bangalore

6. Big Banyan Tree

The Big Banyan Tree is a famous picnic spot, located a stone’s throw away from Bangalore. Like its name indicates, the Banyan tree is big — so big that it is spread across five sections of land.

Scientists have estimated the tree to be almost 400 years old. A true marvel of Karnataka, it offers ample space for many picnicking families. Do remember to stay away from the monkeys, though!

• Location: Bangalore-Mysore Road
• Distance from Bangalore: 32 kilometres

7. Bannerghatta National Park

Perhaps the most well-known picnic spot of Bangalore after Nandi Hills, the park is known for its diverse wildlife. It even houses the Royal Bengal Tiger. The park also serves as a sanctuary for elephants and endangered species of tiger.

There are daily safari for visitors at a reasonable rate. Besides the sanctuary, the park also has a one-of-its-kind butterfly park. The park is also abundant in fauna and is a great destination for trekkers and adventure lovers, too.

• Location: Bannerghatta Road
• Distance from Bangalore: 22 kilometres

Also Check : Places to Visit near Bangalore

8. Savandurga

Savandurga is the largest monolith formation in all of Asia, which attracts the attention of trekkers trying to beat the perilous but enjoyable trek. It is formed by the twin peaks Kaprigudda and Billygudda.

Billygudda once housed a famous prison which was used by the Hoysala dynasty. You can visit the prison even today. The monolith is also featured in David Lean’s classic film A Passage to India.

• Location: Savandurga
• Distance from Bangalore: 70 kilometres

9. Sangama & Mekedatu

Sangama, literally meaning “union”, is a favourite amongst many picnickers, owing to the fact that this place is the meeting point of the Arkavathy and the Cauvery Rivers. It is a majestic sight to view the joining of these two tributaries to form the river.

Activities, like swimming or even dipping your feet into the water, are prohibited owing to the strong nature of the currents. However, people can enjoy coracle riding further down the river. Once you cross over from Sanagma you arrive at Mekedatu which further shows us the beauty of the river as it travels through the deep gorges and makes for a spectacular sight.

• Location: Banashankari
• Distance from Bangalore: 100 kilometres

10. Nrityagram

One of the most unique destinations to go out for a picnic, Nrityagram is a dance village that is approximately 35 kilometres away from Bangalore. The village was founded by the famous Odissi dancer Protima Bedi and is dedicated to nurture and protect various dying dance forms.

There are many dance gurukuls ( schools) in this village and one can always find people here trying to learn and hone their dancing skills. This place is frequented by dance enthusiasts from all over and should be on the bucket list of every dance lover. The famous Hessarghatta reservoir is also located quite close to the village and can be visited.

• Location: Hessaraghatta
• Distance from Bangalore: 38 kilometres

11. Balmuri Falls

One of the most famous locales, situated right outside Mysore, Balmuri Falls is popular with residents of Bangalore, too. The falls were made famous by Sandalwood Production House since they featured them in nearly all their movies.

People can enjoy the gentle waterfall by the banks or, if they want to avoid the massive horde of tourists, can move to Edmuri Falls, the lesser known brother of Balmuri Falls.

• Location: Yadathittu
• Distance from Bangalore: 145 kilometres

Also Read : Things to do in Bangalore

12. Anthargange

Anthargange is an ideal place for a quite family outing. However, this place also hosts trekking, cave exploration and rock climbing expeditions. Anthargange is a part of the Shatha Shrunga range and sits at 5000 feet above sea level.

The name, when translated, literally means “Ganga from Within” and comes from the never-ending spring that is situated between the mountain ranges. It is also a popular pilgrimage spot, as the Kashi Vishweshwara temple is situated here.

• Location: Kolar
• Distance from Bangalore: 80 kilometres

A picnic is a great way to rejuvenate. So now that you know where to go from Bangalore, pick one of them and head on out. Do let us know in the comments how your trip went. And also let us know if we’ve missed out on any of your favourite destinations.

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